For Style File Friday this week, we once again return to the royal jewellery vaults. While most of us don’t have many occasions to wear tiaras, the royals do. And thus their impressive tiara collections are not a waste. Given that we are in the midst of Blogmas 2023 and Christmas is drawing ever nearer, I thought we would turn our attention to an appropriately red and vibrant stone- rubies. These are some of my favourite festive ruby tiaras (that I hope to see at a cross-country royal holiday party…)!
Danish Ruby Parure Tiara
This is one of my favourite tiaras ever, as it has a fascinating history. This tiara was originally purchased for Désirée Clary to wear during Empress Josephine’s coronation procession. Interestingly, Clary was first engaged to Napoleon before he met Josephine. Clary would then marry Napoleon’s brother, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. And the tiara was then fit for a royal when Bernadotte was named the Crown Prince of Sweden and then became king.
The tiara is part of a parure that Princess Lovisa of Sweden would take with her when she married into the Danish Royal Family where they have remained since. It has been altered a few times, but the core design of the diamond leaves and ruby sprays remains to this day. Crown Princess Mary has turned to this tiara many a time since she married Crown Prince Frederik.
Ruby Olive Leaf Tiara
This tiara also belonged to a queen- it was first owned by Queen Olga of Greece. Originally born into the Romanov family, Olga received this tiara from her husband, King George I of the Hellenes, as a wedding gift. It features a diamond wreath design and has ruby accents. These rubies are rather unique as they are pigeon’s blood rubies, meaning that depending on the light they can range from red to purple.
It was passed down through the Greek Royal Family and belong to Princess Olga (the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece, sister to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent). Olga married into the Yugoslavian Royal Family but after the monarchy was abolished, the tiara (along with most of her other jewels) were sold off. It was repurchased by the King of Greece, and has stayed with the family. Queen Anne Marie of Greece still wears the tiara.
Mellerio Ruby Parure Tiara
This Dutch tiara dates back to the late nineteenth century. French jewellery firm Mellerio dits Meller created this diamond and ruby tiara for Queen Emma of the Netherlands in 1888. It has diamond scroll work that is accented by six ruby clusters and has a fairly substantial profile. It has been a favourite tiara since its creation, and several Dutch princesses and queens have worn it. Most notably in recent history, Queen Maxima wore this tiara for her first official portrait as Queen. (She always knows how to make a statement.)
Bonus: Mouawad Ruby and Diamond Necklace
I had to throw one necklace into this post, because why not? Catherine, now the Princess of Wales, does not own a lot of her jewellery. Much of it was borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II and now from King Charles III. However, there are a few pieces that she does actually own. This necklace is part of the Mouawad Ruby and Diamond Demi-Parure, a small set that Catherine mostly likely received as a wedding gift. (We do not know who from, though.)
Mouawad is a Lebanese designer that has bases in both Dubai and Geneva. They created this fringe style necklace that has diamond and ruby flower details. The then-Duchess of Cambridge wore the necklace with a coordinating bracelet to the Sun Military Awards in December 2011.
What is your favourite festive ruby tiara?
Cheers,
The Historian
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