Bejeweled Close-Ups: The Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara

Of all the fascinating tiaras in the Bernadotte jewel collection, few are as interesting as the larger Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara. Made of cut and polished steel and yellow gold, the tiara manages some major sparkle without a single diamond or gemstone. And up close, you can really see the incredible craftsmanship of the piece. Enjoy this set of close-up images — and then read the history of the piece over here!

A view of the front of the tiara: base, central plume, and trailing oak leaves

A side view of the tiara emphasizes the piece’s sparkle, especially in candlelight

A closer view of the central plume of feathers — a sort of built-in aigrette — and the faceted and polished steel beads at the center of the base

A side view of the tiara, with oak leaves, acorns, and six-petaled flowers in the scrolling golden base

A closer view here shows the flowers and scrolls, plus the incredible intricacy of the tiny acorns

A view of the back of the tiara emphasizes the golden “stems” of the oak leaves