The Tiarapedia: Luxembourg
Below is a list of the tiaras worn by the women of Luxembourg’s grand ducal family; it includes only the tiaras currently worn by the family, not historical tiaras or tiaras whose ownership is currently uncertain. Click on the title of the tiara to be taken to pages with fuller histories, large images, and much more information. Enjoy!
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The Amethyst Bandeau: A bandeau of oval amethysts, interspersed by small gems in parallel rows, worn with accompanying coordinating pieces to form a small parure. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Princess Marie Astrid, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, and Tessy de Nassau.
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The Amethyst Tiara: A tiara of rectangular amethysts set on a simple gold frame. Worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.
The Aquamarine Bandeau: A classic bandeau of large aquamarines interspersed with diamonds in a lattice pattern, accompanied by coordinating pieces to form a parure. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Princess Marie Astrid, Princess Margaretha, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and Princess Alexandra.
The Belgian Scroll Tiara: A balanced tiara of platinum and diamonds designed in a pattern of scrolls, palmettes, and wreaths; the central element is convertible for wear as a brooch, and its large center diamond can be removed and worn as a ring. Made in 1953 by Henry Coosemans using diamonds sourced from the Belgian Congo (then a Belgian colony, now the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo). Presented to Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte as a wedding gift by a banking firm, the Societe Generale. Inherited by Grand Duke Henri in 2005. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and Princess Sibilla. Worn as a wedding tiara (for portraits only) by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte (1953).
The Chaumet Choker Tiara: A complex diamond tiara featuring a lattice-style base, with intersecting diamond-set wreath and line elements, able to be worn with or without a series of pearl toppers, and convertible for wear as a necklace. Made by Chaumet. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Princess Margaretha, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, and Princess Alexandra.
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The Chaumet Emerald Tiara: A tiara of diamonds in geometric patterns that rises to a central point, featuring in its center an enormous cabochon emerald set above a large cushion-cut diamond, occasionally supplemented at the base by an additional diamond riviere. Made by Chaumet in 1926 using gems from the grand ducal collection. Given to Grand Duchess Charlotte by her husband, Prince Felix. Worn by Grand Duchess Charlotte, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.
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The Citrine and Pearl Bandeau: A delicate bandeau, featuring large citrines (or yellow topazes) set between curving rows of seed pearls, accompanied by coordinating pieces to form a parure. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Princess Margaretha, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, and Princess Alexandra.
The Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara: A triple row of diamonds in various cuts, tapering to a double row on either side, convertible for wear as either a necklace or a tiara and accompanied by a coordinating bracelet. Made by Van Cleef and Arpels in 1953 using diamonds sourced from the Belgian Congo (then a Belgian colony, now the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo). Presented to Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte as a wedding gift by the Belgian Congo. Inherited in 2005 by Grand Duke Henri. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Princess Marie Astrid, Princess Margaretha, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Worn as a wedding tiara by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte (1953), Princess Marie Astrid (1982), Princess Margaretha (1982), and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa (1981).
The Diamond Butterfly Tiara: A petite tiara of diamonds set in butterfly designs, accompanied by a coordinating pair of earrings. Worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie.
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The Diamond Vine Leaves Tiara: A classic floral tiara of diamonds set in vine leaf and berry designs. Likely made in the nineteenth century. Owned by the grand ducal family’s foundation. Worn by Princess Elisabeth, Princess Marie Adelaide, Princess Marie Gabrielle, Princess Alix, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, Princess Claire, and Tessy de Nassau. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Elisabeth (1956), Princess Marie Adelaide (1958), Princess Marie Gabrielle (1951), Princess Alix (1950), and Princess Claire (2013).
The Emerald Peacock Necklace Tiara: A stylized tiara of diamond feathers culminating in an emerald and diamond peacock tail, convertible for wear as a necklace. Made in 1956 by Van Cleef and Arpels using gemstones from two pendants provided by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Princess Marie Astrid, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and Tessy de Nassau.
The Empire Tiara: An enormous, towering tiara of diamonds, featuring cluster, wreath, festoon, and anthemion motifs. Made at some point prior to 1829, perhaps by German jeweler Jakob Tillmann Speltz. Likely acquired by Duke Wilhelm of Nassau, possibly for his second wife, Princess Pauline of Württemberg. Arrived in Luxembourg through Wilhelm’s son, Grand Duke Adolph. Worn today exclusively by Luxembourg’s grand duchesses. Worn by Grand Duchess Charlotte, Princess Hilda, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Worn as a wedding tiara by Grand Duchess Charlotte (1919) and Princess Hilda (1930).
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The Grand Duchess Adelaide Tiara: A classic, kokoshnik-shaped diamond tiara of leaves and berries surrounding a large central sapphire and diamond cluster, sometimes supplemented at the base with an additional diamond riviere. Made in the late 1860s. First owned by Grand Duchess Adelheid-Marie, and now placed in the family’s foundation. Worn by Grand Duchess Adelheid-Marie, Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide, Grand Duchess Charlotte, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, Princess Claire, Tessy de Nassau, and Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Nassau. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Marie Gabrielle of Nassau (2017).
Grand Duchess Hilda’s Floral Tiara: A large diamond floral tiara. Inherited by Grand Duchess Charlotte from her aunt, Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden. Worn by Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden and Grand Duchess Charlotte.
The Lannoy Tiara: A petite tiara of diamond and platinum floral and scroll designs, culminating in a large pear-shaped diamond at its peak. Made by Altenloh and owned by the Lannoy family. Worn by Countess Christine of Limburg-Stirum and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie. Worn as a wedding tiara by Countess Christine of Limburg-Stirum (1995) and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie (2012).
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The Nassau Floral Tiara: A small floral tiara set with diamonds. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, Princess Alexandra, Countess Marie-Christine of Limburg-Stirum, and Princess Adelaide of Habsburg-Lorraine. Worn as a wedding tiara by Countess Marie-Christine of Limburg-Stirum (2008) and Princess Adelaide of Habsburg-Lorraine (2012).
Princess Claire’s Ruby Bandeau: A slim bandeau of diamonds and rubies, accompanied by coordinating pieces to form a parure. Worn by Princess Claire.
Princess Sibilla’s Art Deco Tiara: An Art Deco-style diamond tiara, able to be worn in its complete form or in a smaller setting without its top elements. Personally owned by Princess Sibilla, perhaps received as a gift from her father. Worn by Princess Sibilla, Countess Diane of Nassau, and Princess Silvia d’Arenberg.
Queen Ena’s Aquamarine Tiara: A tiara of diamond circles with briolette-cut aquamarine drops suspended within. A remodeled version, likely by Bulgari, of an aquamarine and diamond tiara that belonged to Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain. Given to her daughter, Infanta Beatriz, as a wedding present in 1935. Inherited in 2002 by Beatriz’s daughters, Sandra Lecquio di Assaba and Olimpia Weiller. Worn by Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain (in its original form), Infanta Beatriz of Spain, Olimpia Weiller, and Princess Sibilla. Worn as a wedding tiara by Olimpia Weiller (1965).
The Sapphire Art Deco Necklace Tiara: An unusual necklace featuring a trio of diamond and sapphire sections, including a large cabochon sapphire in the central element, able to be set on a frame and worn as a tiara. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa (as a necklace only).
The Sapphire Bracelet Bandeau: A diamond bracelet with a large central sapphire, able to be set on a frame and worn as a bandeau-style tiara. Made in 1953 by Jean Lantonnois. Given as a wedding present to Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte in 1953 by members of the Belgian nobility. Inherited by Princess Margaretha in 2005. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Princess Marie Astrid, and Princess Margaretha.
The Sapphire Necklace Tiara: A necklace of sapphires and pear-shaped diamonds, able to be set on a frame and worn as a tiara. Worn by Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa (as a necklace only), and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie.
The Turquoise Tiara: A classic turquoise tiara, perhaps originally intended to be worn as a hair comb paired with a larger tiara in French Empire style, accompanied by additional coordinating pieces to form a parure. Likely made around the 1830s. Worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, Princess Alexandra, and Tessy de Nassau.