Floral Tiara Tournament: Honeysuckle vs Poltimore

It’s time for our final contest of round two!

Queen Mary commissioned this tiara, which features honeysuckle elements throughout in diamonds, in 1914. Later, she had the size of the tiara’s peak reduced. Originally the piece was made to hold one of the Cullinan diamonds; that centerpiece stone was also interchangeable with a sapphire and diamond jewel. When Mary gifted the tiara to her daughter-in-law, Princess Alice, she had a new diamond center element made. Today, the piece is worn by the current Duchess of Gloucester in its all-diamond form, as well as with an emerald center element, or a third stone that is either a kunzite or a pink topaz.

This towering floral tiara was made by Garrard for Lady Poltimore in the 1870s. Princess Margaret bought it at an auction in 1959, and it became iconic when she wore it the following year at her royal wedding. After her death, her children sold the jewel at Christie’s, where it fetched $1.7 million at auction.