The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Scandinavian Sparkler Spectacular: Maud’s Diamond vs Maud’s Pearl

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It’s a Queen Maud tiara battle!

Grand Ladies Site, Chris Jackson/WireImage
Queen Maud’s Diamond Tiara vs. Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara
Grand Ladies Site
This diamond sparkler was one of the wedding gifts that Queen Maud received when she married the future King Haakon VII of Norway in 1896. Originally, the piece featured an alternate turquoise setting, but now it is fixed as an all-diamond tiara. Maud wore the tiara for the coronation of her parents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, in 1902; she also wore it for the wedding of her son, the future King Olav, to Princess Martha of Sweden in 1929. The tiara most recently belonged to King Harald V’s late sister, Princess Ragnhild, but rumor has it that it may have returned to the Norwegian royal vaults after her death in 2012.
Chris Jackson/WireImage
The original version of this convertible diamond and pearl tiara was given to Queen Maud by her parents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, when she married the future King Haakon VII of Norway in 1896. The tiara stayed with the family for almost a century, but in 1995, it was stolen after it was sent to Garrard’s in London to be cleaned and never recovered. An exact replica was made, and that piece is now worn by Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Princess Martha Louise.
Another royal necklace is on the way next, and then more tiara voting!

Scandinavian Sparkler Spectacular: Josefina Diamond vs Norwegian Amethyst

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Our second Norwegian round begins with two significant sparklers!

MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara vs. The Norwegian Amethyst Parure Tiara
MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images
One of the grandest and most intricate tiaras in the Norwegian royal vaults, this early nineteenth-century sparkler first belonged to Queen Josefina of Sweden and Norway, a granddaughter of Empress Josephine. The tiara took an interesting path to Norway: Queen Josefina left it to her granddaughter, Queen Lovisa of Denmark, who willed it to her son, Prince Gustav. In turn, he bequeathed the tiara to his niece, Crown Princess Martha of Norway. Today, it is worn exclusively by Queen Sonja.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
This diamond and amethyst tiara is a convertible jewel, able to be worn as either a tiara or a necklace. The piece is part of a parure that King Harald V gave to Queen Sonja; the set also includes earrings, bracelets, and a brooch. Today, the amethysts are primarily worn by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, but Princess Martha Louise has been known to take them out for a spin, too.
More tiaras coming up next!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Mary’s Edwardian vs Pearl Poire

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A new Danish royal addition faces off against a major family heirloom…

SISSE STROYER/AFP via Getty Images, Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Crown Princess Mary’s Edwardian Tiara vs. The Pearl Poire Tiara
SISSE STROYER/AFP via Getty Images
This tiara came into the Danish vaults in a most delightful way: Crown Princess Mary bought it herself! She reportedly purchased the Edwardian-era convertible necklace/tiara from a Danish auction house. The tiara, made of gold, silver, rubies, diamonds, and spinels, has become one of her favorites in the years since. She’s even had a pair of coordinating earrings made to go with it!
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
One of the most important tiaras in the Danish royal collection, this sparkler came to Denmark via Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It was given to Princess Louise of Prussia when she married Prince Frederick of the Netherlands in 1825, and it was inherited in quick succession by her daughter, Queen Louise of Sweden and Norway, and her granddaughter, Queen Lovisa of Denmark. Lovisa brought the tiara to Copenhagen, where it has been worn by a succession of Danish queens: Queen Alexandrine, Queen Ingrid, and now Queen Margrethe II. It features a coordinating brooch and is often worn with a pearl necklace and earrings given to Lovisa by the Khedive of Egypt.
A grand necklace is on the way next, followed by more tiara voting!