This contest matches up two unusual diamond sparklers!

Queen Sofia’s Tiara vs. The Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara

Queen Sofia’s Tiara

This unique diamond sparkler, which is also sometimes called “the Nine-Prong Tiara,” originally belonged to Sofia of Nassau, the wife of King Oscar II of Sweden. The tiara is reportedly a very difficult piece to wear, as it is heavy and inflexible with a rigid base, but it has become one of Queen Silvia’s favorite tiaras. She even selected it for the wedding of her younger daughter, Princess Madeleine, in 2013, and she often chooses it for the annual Nobel Prize ceremony and banquet.

The Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara

This convertible diamond necklace/tiara was Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden’s wedding gift from her new husband’s grandmother, Queen Sofia of Sweden. The laurel wreath was inherited by Margareta’s third son, Prince Bertil, and worn by his wife, Princess Lilian. When she died in 2013, she bequeathed the tiara to her great-niece, Crown Princess Victoria, who now wears it often.

Our final tiara vote of the week will be up this afternoon!

Versatility faces off against sheer size in this tiara match-up…

The Braganza Tiara vs. The Modern Fringe Tiara

The Braganza Tiara

Also known as the Brazilian Tiara, this grand diadem was originally made in France using diamonds that belonged to the Brazilian imperial family. It was originally worn by Princess Amelie of Leuchtenberg, the second wife of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil. In 1873, it arrived in Stockholm when Empress Amelie bequeathed it to her sister, Queen Josefina of Sweden. Queen Silvia, who is half Brazilian, selected this tiara for her first formal portrait as queen. She also wore it at the wedding of her daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, in 2010.

The Modern Fringe Tiara

This antique diamond tiara has been described by the Swedish royal court simply as “personal property,” but most believe it was probably given to Queen Silvia by her husband, King Carl XVI Gustaf. She wore the piece both as a tiara and as a necklace, but it was later given to Princess Madeleine, who wore it as her wedding tiara in 2013.

A major diamond necklace is up next, followed by more tiaras!

This contest features two tiaras with links to the Napoleonic era…

The Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara vs. The Diamond Six Button Tiara

The Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara

This is a rare tiara that manages to sparkle without diamonds or other gems. The jewel is made of gold and highly-polished cut steel, with design motifs including feathers, oak leaves, and acorns. It was part of a set that belonged to Queen Hortense of Holland, who passed it to her niece, Queen Josefina of Sweden and Norway. It languished in a cupboard in the royal silver room until it was re-discovered in the 1970s. Since then, it’s been worn by several royal women, and it’s a particular favorite of Crown Princess Victoria.

The Diamond Six Button Tiara

This tiara, which features diamond buttons in two different patterns, is a relatively new creation; it was made in the 1970s, around the time that Princess Lilian of Sweden married Prince Bertil. The buttons, though, are much older. They were previously affixed to the crown worn by King Karl XVI Johan at his coronation in 1818. (Because of this, the family sometimes calls this piece the “Karl Johan Tiara.”) Today, the tiara has been worn by nearly all of the women of the Swedish royal family, especially Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Christina.

Another tiara vote is coming up next!