Diamond Tiara Tournament: Habsburg Fringe vs Mary’s Wedding

 

This contest pairs up two turn-of-the-century tiaras!

This dazzling diamond fringe was made in 1890 by Köchert for Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, sister-in-law of Emperor Franz Josef. It was later inherited by her daughter, Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie, who married Prince Alois of Liechtenstein. Since then, it’s been the grandest tiara in the princely vaults, worn for portraits and postage stamps as well as weddings. Today, you’ll often see Hereditary Princess Sophie wearing it for grand gala functions.

This lovely convertible diamond tiara was Crown Princess Mary of Denmark’s wedding gifts from her parents-in-law, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik. She’s worn it as both a tiara and a necklace, and in 2011, she commissioned a second setting of the piece from jeweler Marianne Dulong. The newer version of the tiara, pictured in the link above, features pearls at the base and the top of the tiara. It’s still able to be worn in its original all-diamond setting, too.