The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Vladimir vs Nine Provinces

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Two grand tiaras with significant history are matched in this round!

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The Vladimir Tiara vs. The Nine Provinces Tiara
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Though this classic Romanov tiara is most recognizable with its pearl or emerald pendants, the sparkler can be worn in an all-diamond “widowed” version as well. Originally part of the collection of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (wife of Grand Duke Vladimir), the tiara was smuggled out of the country during the revolution and later purchased by Queen Mary. The Queen, who inherited the tiara from Queen Mary in 1953, wears it in the all-diamond form on occasion.
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The most important tiara in the Belgian royal collection, this sparkler features a meander bandeau topped with removable interlocking arches containing large round diamonds. The tiara was made by Van Bever in 1926 and offered to Queen Astrid as a wedding gift on behalf of the people of Belgium. It’s been worn by the senior royal lady of the land ever since, and it is now part of the collection of Queen Mathilde.

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Meiji vs Prussian

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This contest pairs up tiaras from Japan and Spain!

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The Meiji Tiara vs. The Prussian Tiara
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This classic diamond tiara was the first important Western-style diadem worn by the Empresses of Japan. Since the late nineteenth century, all Japanese empresses have worn the tiara, which has a set of interchangeable round and star diamond toppers. Today, the tiara is worn by Empress Masako.
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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.

Diamond Tiara Tournament: Mary’s Fringe vs Floral Aigrette

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Will it be the fringe or the flowers?

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Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara vs. The Danish Floral Aigrette
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Queen Mary commissioned this classic diamond fringe tiara in 1919 as an alternative to the older and more unwieldy Queen Adelaide Fringe. The new fringe tiara later became a favorite of the Queen Mother, who loaned it to a pair of royal brides: Queen Elizabeth II in 1947 and Princess Anne in 1973. In 2020, it was used as a bridal tiara again by the Queen’s granddaughter, Princess Beatrice of York.
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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.