Earlier this week, the Swedish royal family launched a new website featuring newly shot portraits of the entire family – and the ladies were showing off some very special tiaras.
Last year, we found that the Swedish royal family have the third most expensive tiara collection in Europe, with the three most recently worn worth a staggering £5,050,000 collectively. The tiaras we analysed included the Palmette tiara, the Cameo tiara, and the Modern Fringe tiara with emerald toppers.
However, for the new official royal portraits, a new tiara has made an appearance, not to mention the Modern Fringe tiara has had a major alteration.
To find out more, Steven Stone’s leading diamond expert, Zack Stone, has taken a close look at each tiara to reveal all the details.
What Victoria Wore
The Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara // Estimated Value: £20,000
The Napoleonic Cut Steel tiara belongs to the Swedish royal family, and as the name suggests, this is a tiara with links to the court of Napoleon Bonaparte. But this sparkler didn’t belong to Empress Joséphine or Empress Marie Louise; instead, it’s said to have been made for Joséphine’s daughter, Hortense de Beauharnais.
It has a detailed design, featuring oak leaf, acorn, floral, and feather elements, which would have required a high level of craftsmanship, not to mention time.
Unlike most other royal tiaras, it features no gemstones or pearls, not even a single diamond. It is instead made of steel that has been expertly cut, polished, and set in gold. However, that’s not to say this piece lacks in sparkle, as when it reflects the light, it beautifully glistens, and you’d probably think it was packed with diamonds at a first glance.
What Madeleine Wore
The Modern Fringe Tiara // Estimated Value: £150,000 to £200,000
Princess Madeleine wore the Modern Fringe tiara on her wedding day back in 2013, when she tied the knot with American financier Christopher O’Neill.
However, this diamond tiara first appeared on Queen Silvia in the late 1980’s on their tenth wedding anniversary in 1986. Because of this, many have speculated that the tiara may have been an anniversary present from the king to his wife. Unlike many other tiaras, this is a “private” tiara, personally owned rather than part of the grand royal jewel collection.
The gorgeous piece, features geometric fringe elements and is a modified take on the classic all diamond fringe tiara, with flared spikes creating an interlocking design. The spikes are topped with round diamonds and sit on a base accented with another line of white diamonds. The tiara is unique is the sense that can also be worn as a necklace, making it a versatile piece.
Cleverly, it is mounted on a base that creates a halo-like illusion, creating the effect that it is sitting just above Madeleine’s head. It’s a beautiful piece, and is probably worth around a staggering £150,000 to £200,000.
What Sofia Wore
The Palmette Tiara // Estimated Value: £200,000
We first saw the tiara in public in June 2015, when Sofia Hellqvist married Prince Carl Philip of Sweden. The tiara was a wedding gift to Sofia from her new parents-in-law, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.
She frequently changes the toppers on the tiara. For Sofia’s wedding day, Queen Silvia dismantled an emerald and diamond necklace which was a gift from a Thai prince to create the emerald toppers. It’s believed that Silvia had had the necklace sent back to Thailand to be remade as a tiara, partly to keep it a secret surprise ahead of the wedding.
However, on this occasion, the design has been altered yet again. The new arrangement of the tiara slopes more gently down the sides of Sofia’s head and feature pearls.
What Silvia Wore
The Swedish Cameo Parure Tiara // Estimated Value: £850,000
Queen Silvia’s Cameo Tiara is part of a 19th-century parure that also includes a pair of earrings, a necklace, a brooch and a bracelet. Linking Sweden and France, It was crafted by the French jeweller, Eugène Marie Nitot.
Set in yellow gold and surrounded by pearls and cameos – with pearl floral motifs embellished across the headpiece – it truly is a beautiful piece. Mounted on red gold, the cameos feature Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, and her son, Cupid, god of passion and desire.
Interestingly, the tiara doesn’t hold a single diamond.
If you’re looking for jewellery to rival royalty, our team can design bespoke creations, tailored to you. From engagement rings and wedding rings to necklaces and pendants, your options are endless.
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