The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Mary’s Bandeau vs Floral Aigrette

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This contest matches up a sleek bandeau and a versatile ornament!

JONATHAN BRADY/AFP via Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau vs. The Danish Floral Aigrette
JONATHAN BRADY/AFP via Getty Images

Queen Mary had this sleek diamond bandeau made in 1932 to showcase the County of Lincoln Brooch, which she’d received as a wedding present in 1893. Mary wore the tiara occasionally, but in May 2018, it garnered major attention when it was worn as a bridal tiara by the Duchess of Sussex.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Some believe that this incredible, flexible floral ornament originally belonged to Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia, grandmother of King Frederik IX. We know for sure, though, that in the 1960s it belonged to a famous Danish-American tenor, Lauritz Melchior. He sold it to King Frederik in 1963, and it’s been sparkling on the heads of Queen Ingrid and Queen Margrethe II ever since. Queen Margrethe is especially inventive in the ways she wears the three-sectioned tiara.

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Alexandra’s Kokoshnik vs Belgian Scroll

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It’s time for our first tiara match-up of round three!

ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images, Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik vs. The Belgian Scroll Tiara
ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

This classic diamond tiara was inspired by a kokoshnik owned by Queen Alexandra’s beloved sister, Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia. Alexandra received hers as a silver wedding present from a group of aristocratic women. Later worn by Queen Mary, it’s graced the Queen’s head since 1953, and has been a fixture at galas and state banquets during her reign.
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

This lovely, classic diamond tiara was a wedding gift to Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium on her marriage to the future Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg in 1953. The tiara was given to her by the Société Générale, a French bank. She wore the sparkler on her wedding day, and it’s been a key part of the family’s jewelry collection ever since. In 2009, it narrowly escaped the auction block, but today, it’s worn regularly by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Round Three Preview!

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Get excited, tiara fans: we’ve reached the third round of our Diamonds Are Forever Tiara Tournament! Here’s a preview of the match-ups we’ll see over the next two weeks…

Clockwise from top left: ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images, Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, JONATHAN BRADY/AFP via Getty Images

Our first contest of the round pairs up the “wall of diamonds,” Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik (1), with the elegant Belgian Scroll Tiara (4), the last Luxembourgish sparkler in the contest. Next up, Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau (14), our contest Cinderella, keeps dancing against the Danish Floral Aigrette Tiara (2), the flexible ornament from Copenhagen.
KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images, Dean Treml/Getty Images, PETER NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images, Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The top-ranked Meiji Tiara (1) has tackled all of its competition so far, and now it meets up with the Vladimir Tiara (5) in its all-diamond form. Next, the Queen Mother’s beloved Greville Tiara (3) faces off against one of the grandest tiaras from the Dutch royal collection, the Stuart Tiara (2).
Sean Gallup/Getty Images, AFP via Getty Images, JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images, MAP/AFP via Getty Images 

This region of the bracket has been full of surprises in every round! The Brabant Laurel Wreath Tiara (8), which knocked off the top-ranked Braganza last round, meets up with the Japanese Crown Princely Tiara (4) this time around. Next, another Japanese sparkler, the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara (6), challenges the Connaught Diamond Tiara (7), the final Bernadotte tiara in the tournament.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images, MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images, Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

And finally, we’ve got one of the heavyweights, the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara (1) facing off against Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara (4), Norway’s last hope for tournament glory. In our final contest of the round, the Dutch underdog, Queen Emma’s Diamond Tiara (6), will challenge a massive sparkler with a similar design, Queen Sophie’s Diamond Tiara (2).
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Here’s an updated bracket for our Sparkling Sixteen round! Which tiara match-ups are you looking forward to—or stockpiling chocolate in preparation for?
The first contest will be live early tomorrow! In the meantime, stay tuned for even more sparkle…