Category Archives: Tiara

Diamond, Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara, Sapphire, Tiara

The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara

The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara

Composed of 11 sapphires framed in diamonds on a diamond base of honeysuckle and leaf motifs, the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara was probably made by the Parisian jeweler Marie-Etienne Nitot. Originally, pearls were included as an alternative to the sapphires; the pearls are no longer with the tiara, but supposedly the capability is still there. It’s a flexible tiara made in 11 different sections, allowing the user to adjust the circumference at will. It folds out to store flat in its box, a feature that Queen Silvia has noted makes it very handy to travel with.

The sapphires are thought to have been a wedding gift from Napoléon to Princess Augusta of Bavaria, Duchess of Leuchtenberg, when she married Eugène de Beauharnais (Empress Joséphine’s son). It makes the journey to Sweden with Augusta’s daughter, Josephine, who married Oscar I of Sweden and Norway. It is now in the family foundation in Sweden, and has been worn mostly by queens and/or those acting as first ladies of the country.

Diamond, Sapphire, Tiara

A 19th Century Sapphire and Diamond Tiara

The base designed as an openwork scrolling bandeau, set with old-cut diamonds, applied with five sapphire and diamond graduated clusters, the detachable surmount of scalloped design, set with old-cut diamonds and with pear-shaped sapphire accents, adapted, inner circumference 22.0 cm

A 19th century sapphire and diamond tiara. Sold for SFr.40,000 on 15 November 2016

The exact origins of these jewels is extremely difficult to establish. They first appeared at auction at Christie’s London, on the 12th of July 1961. The catalogue then described: “An historic sapphire and diamond suite made for the empress Marie Louise and lastly owned by the duchess of Habsburg-Lothringen”. The suite at the time was composed of a rather ornate necklace, a bracelet, a small tiara and three brooches in the form of fleur-de-lis. The fleur-de-lis were mentioned as being originally part of the tiara. The very detailed and precise provenance described in the catalogue, which was not so common at the time, shows the factual information gathered at the time through the consignor and gives us the beginning of an explanation.

To know more about this provenance, one has to understand who were the Habsburg-Lothringen, a name that refers to the dynasty which ruled Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Bohemia for centuries. This branch had been founded in 1736 by Empress Maria-Theresa (1717-1780), born a Habsburg, through her wedding with Francis, Duke of Lorraine (1708-1765) (Lothringen in german).

Empress Marie-Louise (1791-1847), second wife of Emperor Napoleon, was indeed born to the Habsburg-Lothringen family. After the collapse of the French Empire and the exile of her husband, she went back to her native land, Austria, and stayed in Vienna, in her father’s home, for two years before moving again to Italy. While in Vienna, she left the personal jewels she had taken with her in the Royal Palace, and some of them ended up being bequeathed to her Habsburg-Lothrigen relatives after her death in 1847.

The jewels as they exist today clearly do not date from Empress Marie-Louise’s era, which is the beginning of the 19th century. It is more likely that they were made after her death, using some of her sapphires and diamonds left in Vienna, maybe at the request of ‘Kaiser Franz Joseph’ or ‘his brother’, as mentioned in the 1961 catalogue. Considering the original suite sold in 1961, including a very interesting mix of two Lilies of France brooches and one Florentine Lily brooch, one can think they were created on the occasion of a wedding between a member of the Bourbon dynasty from France, Parma of Two-Sicilies (which emblem was the French fleur-de-lis), and a member of the Toscana branch of the Hasburg family (which emblem was the Florentine fleur-de-lis)

As there were quite a few of these wedlocks during the 19th century, it is unsure which one was at the origin of the present jewels, but it was obviously one that was also very close to the Imperial family of Austria. As a possibility, in 1861, Archduke Karl Salvator of Habsburg-Toscana married Princess Immaculata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Some of their descendants wear the title of Duke and Duchess of Habsburg-Lothringen, and might well have been the last noble owners of this Imperial suite. 

Unheated 1.05ct Padparadscha Sapphire & Diamond Ring GIA Certified

Bracelet, Diamond, Earrings, Sapphire, Tiara

The cowardly Empress — The jewels of Marie-Louise of Austria

Marie-Louise, Archduchess of Austria, niece of Marie Antoinette, second wife of Napoleon and mother of his son, the King of Rome, is as unpopular today in France as she was two centuries ago. Her marriage to Napoleon in 1810 marked the beginning of the end of the Emperor’s glory. Indeed, many blamed her for contributing to his downfall.

A 19th century sapphire and diamond tiara

A 19th century sapphire and diamond tiara

After Napoleon’s first abdication in 1814, Marie-Louise returned to her native Austria where her father, Emperor Francis II, made provision for her to have a quiet life. After the death of the Empress in 1847, her jewels remained in the Austrian imperial family, and a number of them were put up for sale at Christie’s during the 19th and 20th centuries.

After sales at Christie’s in 1894 and 1959, an ensemble of jewelry in sapphires and diamonds was offered in London in July of 1961. The provenance in the catalog mentions Marie-Louise, although the composite style of the jewels suggests that certain elements may have been remounted at various times.

A pair of 19th-century sapphire and diamond brooches.

A pair of 19th-century sapphire and diamond brooches.

A 19th-century sapphire and diamond bracelet.

A 19th-century sapphire and diamond bracelet.

Diamond, Tiara, Uncategorized

Princess Diana Tiara and Sapphire Diamond Ring

 

 

The kindness and affection from the public have carried me through some of the most difficult periods, and always your love and affection have eased the journey.

Princess Diana

Queen Moment while playing at the prestigious Garrard with Princess Diana tiara and Sapphire & Diamond ring that is the signature royal blue.




 

 

Real #QueenMoment while playing at the prestigious Garrard with Princess Diana tiara and Sapphire & Diamond ring that is the signature royal blue and that tiara left #MyLoveAffairWithDiamonds speechless here at Couture!
#FancyABlue #Sapphire #Brilliance #Scintillation #Sparkle #Fire #Tiara #Pearl #HouseOfGarrard #RoyalFamily #CDxCouture2017 #ChampagneGem #ChampagneGemGoesToLasVegas #YourDailyDoseOfSparkle #ChampagneGem200KSpecialEdition

Posted by Champagne Gem on Saturday, June 3, 2017

 







Princess Diana Tiara and Sapphire Diamond Ring


Princess Diana Tiara and Sapphire Diamond Ring
Princess Diana Tiara and Sapphire Diamond Ring


 

Chaumet, Diamond, Sapphire, Tiara, Uncategorized

The Exquisite Chaumet Firmament Apollinien Sapphire and Diamond Tiara

Emblem of victory and an ode to Apollo, the evergreen laurel also celebrates immortality. With triumphant femininity, it is adorned here with shades of blue and pink. The suppleness and movement of the pieces evoke Apollo and Daphne’s love chase.
Emblem of victory and an ode to Apollo, the evergreen laurel also celebrates immortality. With triumphant femininity, it is adorned here with shades of blue and pink. The suppleness and movement of the pieces evoke Apollo and Daphne’s love chase.

Chaumet Firmament Apollinien 14.55 carat Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond tiara.  The Firmament apollinien jewellery set offers glory and beauty to its wearer, combining the celestial blue of Burmese sapphires with the opalescent blue of sculpted moonstone. It is made up of two large necklaces, one of which is transformable, a majestic tiara that can also be worn as a slender bandeau, two rings, two pairs of earrings offering variations of wear and a tourbillon volant complication watch.

Firmament apollinien transformable tiara

in white gold, set with a cushion-cut sapphire

from Ceylon weighing 14.55 carats,

a brilliant-cut EVVS2 diamond weighing

1.45 carats, six D/E-VVS brilliant-cut

diamonds weighing a total of 3.02 carats,

cabochon-cut and beads of sapphires, and brilliant-cut diamonds. The lower part

of this tiara can also be worn alone