The Naasut Tiara

The Naasut Tiara (Photo: Danny Martindale/Getty Images)

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is one of the most interesting and artistic monarchs in Europe, and her jewelry is often as intriguing and modern as she is. Today we’re focusing on one of the newer additions to Margrethe’s royal jewel box: the set of jewelry given to her by the people of Greenland to mark her Ruby Jubilee. The Naasut tiara and earrings, which make up a tidy little demi-parure, are modern pieces of jewelry that are especially suited to this innovative queen.

Photo: Danny Martindale/Getty Images

Made of bright yellow gold, the tiara is designed with several modern floral motifs. The gold that the tiara and earrings are made of actually comes from melted-down coins, all of which were originally made with gold mined from Greenland. Appropriately, the demi-parure was Greenland’s gift to the queen on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of her reign. The set was designed by Nicolai Appel, a Greenlandic goldsmith, and was presented to Margrethe in June of 2012 by a member of Greenland’s parliament.

Photo: Danny Martindale/Getty Images

While gold is the overwhelming element in the tiara’s construction, there are also diamonds and rubies scattered amid the flowers that make up the piece. The name of the tiara, Naasut, translates roughly to “flowers from Greenland.” It’s never been officially said, but I think I can detect a small link to one of Margrethe’s other tiaras in the design of this diadem: there appear to be small golden poppies in the design that look an awful lot like the poppies in the tiara designed for Margrethe by Arje Griegst. I also think I see a few daisies in the design, which is especially appropriate for Margrethe!

Photo: Danny Martindale/Getty Images

The tiara made its first official appearance at the New Year’s Levee in Denmark in 2013. Margrethe was reportedly delighted by this new set of jewelry, and I’m hoping we’ll see her wear it again soon. The tiara manages to be modern (in design and materials) and traditional (in shape and motif) all at the same time, and I think it suits its wearer particularly well.