We are returning back to our History of Royal Jewels series for Style File Friday this week! Royal families have wildly differing jewellery collections, and the “age” of the monarchy does not actually mean that an older royal family will have more. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was founded in 1815 but has one of the most impressive jewellery collections across Europe. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is one of the best tiara models, if you will- she isn’t afraid to mix it up and wear something else. Onto the history of the Dutch Crown Jewels!
The Dutch Crown Jewels
The Dutch royals do actually have pieces that are considered crown jewels the way that the British royals do, including a crown, sceptre, orb, and sword. However, the Dutch monarch does not wear or hold these items during the inauguration; rather, they are on display.
Their family jewellery collection is incredibly impressive. This list does not include all of their tiaras but one for each stone, as there are too many to choose from. (And I have focused on those worn by the queen, not other tiaras in the family.)
The Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara
We are starting off with one of classic tiaras in the Dutch collection, the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara. There is some dispute as to when this tiara was created but most historians agree that it was made somewhere around 1897, a year before Queen Wilhemina’s enthronement celebrations. The striking tiara has thirty-five round pearls, eleven pear-shaped pearls, and several diamonds that can be worn in four different settings. The then-Princess Beatrix of Orange wore the tiara for her 1966 wedding. Queen Maxima does regularly wear this tiara, including at the Japanese State Visit in 2014.
The Dutch Aquamarine Parure Tiara
This Art-Deco style tiara is one of the more unique pieces in the Dutch collection. It also happens to be one of the most “popular”, meaning that every queen and princess in the family since Queen Juliana has worn it at some point. Queen Juliana received this tiara in the 1920s as an 18th birthday present; she then used it to create a married parure. (A married parure is a set of similar pieces of jewellery that were not created as one coordinating set.) The base features square-cut aquamarines and diamonds, and seven pear-shaped aquamarines sit atop.
Queen Maxima has worn pieces of the parure, including the tiara, but doesn’t seem to reach for it frequently.
The Dutch Emerald Parure Tiara
While the Dutch royals have some show-stopping tiaras, this emerald and diamond tiara is one of the more delicate pieces in its original setting. Queen Emma had this tiara created in 1899 for her daughter, Queen Wilhemina, using emeralds they already owned. Notably, the tiara can also be worn in a pearl setting, as well as a complete diamond setting.
Queen Juliana would often wear the piece upside down and set across her forehead (in a 1920s style). Several members of the family now wear this tiara in different settings.
The Ruby Peacock Tiara
The Ruby Peacock Tiara has been in the spotlight in the last few months, as Princess Amalia made her debut in the tiara in December. (We have so many more firsts to come with her!) This diamond and ruby tiara features a scroll design with a detachable, central ruby peacock-inspired element; there is a matching necklace and brooch to match. It was created in 1897 and remains one of the more popular tiaras in the family. We typically see the full setting worn now (meaning the peacock element is not removed). The Dutch royals have a family foundation that holds many of the tiaras but we do not actually know if the Ruby Peacock Tiara is included.
The Dutch Sapphire Parure Tiara
This 1881 diamond and sapphire tiara is arguably the tiara for Queen Maxima- she wore it to King Willem-Alexander’s 2013 inauguration when he took the throne. There are over 600 diamonds set on the gold frame with several smaller sapphires around the base, and a 44 carat sapphire at the centre. (Yes, 44 carats…) There is also a central diamond element that can be removed, and Maxima actually did remove it for the inauguration. (Given that it was a daytime event, I do understand why.) This tiara is certainly a showstopper- it has a strong profile and with that many stones, “sparkly” is an understatement.
The Stuart Tiara
The Stuart Tiara remains one of the most stunning tiaras ever created and I will stand by that statement. This tiara is so-named for the Stuart diamond, an almost 40-carat diamond that originally belonged to Queen Mary II (who died in 1694). Another Queen Emma piece, the massive tiara was created for Queen Wilhelmina’s investiture. It features large round diamonds set into pave scrolls amongst floral designs, in addition to the jaw-dropping Stuart diamond.
Queen Maxima actually opted to wear the tiara for the first time in 2018 without the Stuart Diamond. Even without the stone, it is still an eye-catching piece.
♠
Want more jewels? You can find the:
Were you familiar with the jewels of the Dutch Royal Family?
Cheers,
The Historian
Facebook | Threads | Instagram | Pinterest
