The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Josefina Diamond vs Ruby Aigrette

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This contest matches up a big gun with a miniature jewel…

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Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara vs. Princess Astrid’s Ruby Aigrette
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.
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This unusual diamond and ruby jewel is floral in design, but it also strongly resembles a pair of antenna. Its owner, Princess Astrid, wears it in excellent humor — even reportedly joking that she can get radio signals from both London and Moscow when she wears it! The piece was originally designed to accommodate a feather, a common look worn by women at the turn of the last century.
Another Norwegian tiara vote is coming up next!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Week One Results!

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The results from our first week of tournament voting are in!

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No big surprise here: the Danish Ruby Parure Tiara took home the first win of the tournament with 90.09% of your votes, while the Golden Poppies brought in 9.91% of the vote.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Patrick van Katwijk/DPA Picture Alliance Archive/Alamy
Our second contest of the week was a bit closer! While Princess Thyra’s Sapphire Tiara earned 37.31% of the vote, the Alexandrine Diamond Drop Tiara won the day with 62.69%.
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In this floral battle, Princess Dagmar’s Floral Tiara brought home a victory with 78.44% of the vote, while the Turquoise Daisy Bandeau was chosen by 21.56% of voters.
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This one was a commanding victory for the heirloom! While the new Nuits Claires Tiara was favored by 26.17% of voters, the Danish Emerald Parure Tiara won with 73.83% of the vote.
KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP via Getty Images, Chris Jackson/WireImage
Two romantic tiaras faced off in this contest! The Baden Palmette Tiara claimed victory with 67.73% of the vote, while Crown Princess Mary’s Wedding Tiara brought in a respectable 32.27%.
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Antique flowers or modern flowers? The modern Naasut Tiara was the favorite of 18.21% of you, but the Danish Floral Aigrette triumphed with a whopping 81.79% of the vote!
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Could Romanov provenance triumph over antique versatility? In the end, while the Alexandrine Fringe Tiara was selected by 25.62% of voters, Crown Princess Mary’s Edwardian Tiara won the contest with 74.38% of your votes!
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In our final contest of the week, the heirloom beat out the modern jewel! The Pearl Poire Tiara claimed victory with 68.62% of the vote, while 31.38% of you selected the Midnight Tiara.
We’ve got more Scandinavian sparklers coming your way tomorrow!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Pearl Poire vs Midnight

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Our final tiara vote of the week is here!

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The Pearl Poiré Tiara vs. The Midnight Tiara
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.
Patrick van Katwijk/DPA Picture Alliance Archive/Alamy
This unusual modern tiara pays tribute to Crown Princess Mary of Denmark’s Australian heritage. The designer, Charlotte Lynggaard, incorporated leaves and berries inspired by the Golden Wattle, one of Australia’s national symbols. The tiara is made of oxidized silver, rose gold, white gold, diamonds, and moonstones. Mary has the right to wear the tiara (as well as its coordinating earrings and brooch) as part of a long-term loan with the jeweler.
We’ve got necklace, tiaras, and voting results coming up this weekend!