Happy July! This week we are kicking off the month with a “big gun” tiara, the fabulous Oriental Circlet Tiara, part of Queen Victoria’s collection.
Designed by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, it has undergone some changes through the century. Made in 1853 by Garrard, it was inspired by a collection of Indian jewels, and originally had opal accents instead of rubies. Opals were one of Prince Albert’s favorite stones, and Queen Victoria commissioned a matching opal necklace, brooch, and earrings to wear with the tiara. When Queen Victoria died she left the set to the Crown in her will, passing to Queen Alexandra.
Queen Alexandra was superstitious about opals so she replaced the opals in the tiara with rubies. She also downsized the tiara, taking it from 17 arches to only 11 arches, which remain today. Despite all the modifications, the tiara was not enough of a favorite to make it into portraits and passed from Queen Alexandra to Queen Elizabeth. The tiara passed to The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, who was in possession of the tiara until her death in 2002, at the age of 101! As part of the Crown’s collection, it went to Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother’s daughter. Queen Elizabeth II continues to wear this delightful ruby tiara today!
This tiara is such a perfect example of Prince Albert’s awesome sense of design, and the rubies are a delightful accent to such a stunning tiara! Thanks for reading and, as always, have a fantastic Tiara Tuesday!
