The Romanian Diamond Loop Tiara

All photos: Queen Marie of Romania


When Queen Marie of Romania shopped for a new tiara in her aunt's Romanov jewel collection, she did not select (or, perhaps, was not offered) the most famous of Maria Pavlovna's tiaras still worn today: the Vladimir Tiara, worn currently by Queen Elizabeth II. There could have been any number of reasons that Marie acquired the sapphire tiara instead, but

The Vladimir Sapphire Kokoshnik Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Ileana of Romania, Archduchess of Austria; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (the Elder) of Russia


The jewel collection of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (the Elder) of Russia -- better known to many as Grand Duchess Vladimir -- was the royal gift that just seemed to keep on giving in

The Edinburgh Turquoise Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Marie of Romania; tiara detail; tiara detail


When Princess Marie of Edinburgh married Ferdinand, the crown prince of Romania, in 1893, she received a veritable treasure trove of wedding presents from her British aunts and uncles. One of them was this piece, a lovely diamond and turquoise tiara.


Marie's father was Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, who

The Romanian Massin Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Elisabeth of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Elisabeth of Romania


When it comes to nineteenth-century jewelers, a consistent favorite among tiara lovers seems to be Oscar Massin. His most famous tiara creation is likely the diamond tiara that belonged to the Duchess of Fife, but while working for

Weekend Bonus: The Norwegian Emerald Parure Tiara

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (born 1932) wears the Norwegian Emerald Parure Tiara (click here for provenance info) along with other jewels from the same parure. Astrid served as first lady of Norway between the death of her mother in 1954 and the marriage of her elder brother, now King Harald V, in 1968

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Margherita Musy Tiara

Queen Marie José of Italy (1906-2001) wears the Queen Margherita Musy Tiara (click here for provenance info) at a reception in honor of the wedding of her daughter, Princess Maria Pia, to Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia in 1955

The Burmese Ruby Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; tiara detail; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom


One of the newest tiaras in the Windsor collection, which is comprised largely of heirlooms from generations past, is this one: the Burmese Ruby Tiara. Aside from the Oriental Circlet, this is the only major ruby tiara

The Empress Joséphine Coronation Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Grace of Monaco; Princess Grace of Monaco; Princess Grace of Monaco; tiara detail


After she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Grace Kelly never again took an acting role. But you can take the actress out of the film, but apparently not the film out of the actress: Grace clearly relished dressing up and playing different parts in other parts of

The Linley Beechwood Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Serena Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley; tiara detail


One of the very most unusual tiaras ever to grace the head of a Windsor is undoubtedly this one: the beechwood tiara made by David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley.



Viscount Linley, who is the only son of the late Princess Margaret, is an aristocrat with a job: he is the founder and

The Savoy Headpiece Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Carey Mulligan; Carey Mulligan; Carey Mulligan; Carey Mulligan; tiara detail


Cartier isn't the only jeweler creating tiaras specifically for film productions these days. Tiffany & Co. has gotten into the tiara game, too. They're the creators of this headpiece, which was used in the new Baz Luhrmann adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.



The

The Papyrus Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon; Serena Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail


Today's British bonus tiara is another piece from the collection of the late Princess Margaret, sister of the current queen. Unlike yesterday's tiara, however, this tiara, the Papyrus, has a lengthy Windsor family history.



The

The Bains de Mer Tiara

All photos: Princess Grace of Monaco


Princess Grace may have taken a loaner sparkler out for a spin a time or two, but she did own some of her own tiaras, too. One of the most unusual pieces from her own collection was this one: the Bains de Mer Tiara.



Made by Cartier, this tiara gets its name from the company who gave it to the Monegasque princess: the Société des Bains de Mer. SBM owns

The Snowdon Floral Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Lady Sarah Chatto; Lady Frances von Hofmannsthal; Lady Sarah Chatto; brooch detail; Lady Frances von Hofmannsthal


It may be hard to believe that Princess Margaret could have owned a tiara and never worn it, but it's true! This piece, the Snowdon Floral Tiara, was a part of Margaret's collection, but never adorned her royal crown.



The tiara was a wedding

The Mike Todd Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Dame Elizabeth Taylor; Dame Elizabeth Taylor; Dame Elizabeth Taylor; Dame Elizabeth Taylor; tiara detail


Liz Taylor may not have been actual royalty, even if she was made a dame by Elizabeth II, but she certainly was Hollywood royalty. It's no wonder that her film producer husband thought she needed her very own tiara!



The husband in question was Mike Todd

The King George VI Sapphire Tiara

All photos: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom


As Baby Cambridge is officially on its way, I think it's only right that we celebrate with a week of British bonus tiaras! Let's kick it off with one of Great-Granny Lilibet's sparklers: the King George VI Sapphire Tiara.



You'll also sometimes see this tiara called the "Victorian Sapphire Suite Tiara," and that's because it was acquired

The Princess Grace Van Cleef & Arpels Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Grace of Monaco; Lily Collins; Julia Roberts; tiara detail


Although she was both an Oscar-winning Hollywood star and a princess of one of the world's most glamorous nations, Grace of Monaco's tiara collection was quite slim. This tiara, which she only wore once, was likely never actually hers, but rather was loaned out for the occasion.



The event

Weekend Bonus: The Brabant Laurel Wreath Tiara

Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Duchess of Brabant (born 1973) wears the Brabant Laurel Wreath Tiara (click here for provenance info). Today, Mathilde becomes the first ever queen consort of the Belgians to have been born a Belgian citizen

Weekend Bonus: The Nine Provinces Tiara

Queen Paola of the Belgians (right, born 1937) wears the Nine Provinces Tiara (click for provenance info). Tomorrow, Paola's son, Prince Philippe, will become king when her husband, King Albert II of the Belgians, abdicates; if tradition holds, this tiara will pass to her daughter-in-law, Mathilde. As an extra bonus, Paola's sister-in-law, the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of

The Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara

All photos: Queen Fabiola of Belgium


Our final ruby and diamond tiara of the week is one of the most versatile tiaras in any royal's jewelry box: Queen Fabiola of Belgium's convertible diamond tiara. The piece can be worn not only in three different configurations but also with three different sets of colored gemstones.


The Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara is named as a such because it was a) a

The Ruby Dragonfly Tiara

Photos: Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro; tiara detail; Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro; Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro



Another day, another tiara belonging to yet another group of former Italian royals. Sometimes it seems like every other person in Italy must be the grandson of an exiled king, prince, or

The Hutton Ruby Necklace Tiara

All photos: Barbara Hutton


Today's ruby and diamond tiara is something of a mystery, one I'm still working on trying to solve. The only photographs I've been able to track down of the piece show it being worn by American heiress Barbara Hutton, but there are claims that it actually has a much more royal pedigree.


Hutton's tiara is actually a necklace set on a tiara frame. You can see her

The Infanta Eulalia Ruby Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Elena Farini de Orleans-Borbón; Beatriz de Orleans-Borbón; Elena Farini de Orleans-Borbón; Elena Farini de Orleans-Borbón


Rubies provide a focal point for the diamond stars that make up this heirloom tiara, one of the few jewels left from a large collection that once belonged to a Spanish princess.



The princess in question was Infanta Eulalia of Spain, the

The Oriental Circlet Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail


In terms of royal provenance, it doesn't get much better in the current Windsor collection than the Oriental Circlet Tiara. This sparkler was not only worn by Queen Victoria but also designed by her

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Sofia Star and Pearl Tiara

Queen Sofia of Sweden (1836-1913) wears her star and pearl tiara

Weekend Bonus: The Princess Dagmar Floral Tiara

Princess Dagmar of Denmark (1890-1961) wears her diamond floral tiara

The Cartier Halo Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; the Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon; tiara detail; Princess Anne, the Princess Royal


Our last Cambridge tiara of the week, the Cartier Halo Tiara, didn't have any associations with the title until two years ago. But after Kate Middleton wore the tiara at her wedding to Prince William, then the

The Teck Crescent Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck; Margaret Cambridge, Marchioness of Cambridge; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail

One of the long-hidden tiaras of the British royal family, the Teck Crescent Tiara, has links to Queen Mary's Cambridge legacy. We've not seen it for years, but unlike many tiaras, we know precisely where it is

The Cambridge Sapphire Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; tiara detail; Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent; the Duchess of Kent; Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent


One Cambridge tiara that will sadly not be available for Kate or her daughters to wear is this one, the originally tiara from the Cambridge family sapphire parure. As is the case with most Cambridge tiaras, this piece's

The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Diana, Princess of Wales; Diana, Princess of Wales; tiara detail


One of the reasons I was pulling for William and Kate to be made Duke and Duchess of Cambridge back in 2011 was actually this tiara. Famously associated with his mother, the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara will surely grace

The Cambridge Star Tiara

All photos: Dorothy Cambridge, Marchioness of Cambridge


As we all wait on tenterhooks for the arrival of Baby Cambridge, the future king or queen of the United Kingdom, why not while away the time with at a week of Cambridge-related tiaras! Let's kick it off with a spangly one to bridge from last week's starry extravaganza, shall we?



This tiara, which features alternating diamond stars and

The Queen Emma Diamond Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; tiara detail; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands


Our final starry sparkler of the week is a bit of a frankentiara -- a piece that features elements of two different items of jewelry mixed together to make a new tiara. As such, it's probably unsurprising that it belongs to one of the

The Queen Sofia Star and Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess of Pfeil and Klein-Ellguth; Carina Axelsson; tiara detail; Queen Ingrid of Denmark


Another unusual Danish star tiara is our penultimate piece of the week, although this one began

Short Tiara Delay...

Inconsistent WiFi + international travel = a short tiara delay. Look for posts to continue as usual on Monday! :-)

The Princess Ingeborg Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Ingeborg of Sweden; Princess Margarethaa of Denmark; Countess Ruth of Rosenborg; Princess Margaretha of Denmark; Princess Anne of Denmark


Even though turquoises are relatively inexpensive semi-precious gems, many royal families do not own significant pieces of turquoise jewelry, let alone tiaras featuring turquoises. But this tiara, once in royal

The Aosta Knots and Stars Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Elena, Duchess of Aosta; Princess Claude of Orléans; Princess Claude of Orléans; Silvia, the Duchess of Aosta; tiara detail


When the heraldic emblem of your noble/royal family is a fancy knot, it should almost be required that you possess at least one tiara that features knots made of diamonds, don't you think? The stars on this sparkler, which belongs to the