The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Baden Palmette vs Vasa

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Two Scandinavian sparklers are matched up in this contest!

KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP via Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons

The Baden Palmette Tiara vs. The Vasa Tiara
KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP via Getty Images

This diamond sparkler features a palmette design that resembles romantic hearts. It was made in Germany in the middle of the nineteenth century and given by King Wilhelm of Prussia to his daughter, Grand Duchess Louise of Baden. When her daughter, Victoria, married the future King Gustaf V of Sweden, the tiara came to Scandinavia. Queen Ingrid brought the jewel to Denmark, where it’s worn by Queen Margrethe II today.
Wikimedia Commons

This small but dazzling diamond tiara was a wedding gift from the city of Stockholm to Princess Martha of Sweden on her marriage to the future King Olav V of Norway in 1929. The tiara’s name comes from Martha’s royal heritage from the old Vasa dynasty of Sweden. The tiara was subsequently worn by both of the current king’s sisters. It belongs to Princess Astrid, who has indicated that it will remain with the royal family after her eventual death — hopefully a very long time from now!

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe vs Prussian

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This one’s a battle of diamond sparklers made by Koch!

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images, Rogelio Pinate-Pool/Getty Images

The Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara vs. The Prussian Tiara
LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

This towering diamond tiara, which features tall diamond fringe pieces interspersed with much smaller diamond spikes, was made by Koch for the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg family in 1905. The tiara, which can also be worn as a necklace, entered the royal world when Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg married Princess Benedikte of Denmark. She’s still wearing the sparkler at royal events in Denmark today.
Rogelio Pinate-Pool/Getty Images

The jewelers at Koch made this neoclassical tiara for Princess Viktoria Luise, the only daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, in 1913. The miniature diamond and platinum kokoshnik features laurel wreaths, columns, and a meander base. Viktoria Luise’s daughter, Friederike, brought the tiara with her to Greece; her daughter, Sofia, brought it to Spain. It’s been used twice as a bridal diadem, most recently by Queen Letizia.