The Tiarapedia: Netherlands
Below is a list of the tiaras worn by the women of the Dutch royal 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 Antique Pearl Tiara: Seven large, pear-shaped pearls set atop a diamond fleur-de-lis and festoon base, able to be worn with or without the pearl toppers. Reminiscent of a tiara once worn by Queen Anna. Made around 1900 for Queen Wilhelmina using pearls that belonged to Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. Inherited by Queen Juliana in 1962 and subsequently placed in the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, Princess Irene, Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, and Princess Viktoria of Bourbon-Parma.
The Dutch Aquamarine Parure Tiara: An Art Deco-era tiara featuring a geometric diamond and aquamarine base set in platinum and topped by seven briolette-cut aquamarines, able to be worn both atop the head and across the forehead, and accompanied by additional coordinating pieces to form a married parure. Made by Van Kempen, Begeer and Vos. Given to Queen Juliana as an eighteenth-birthday present by her parents, Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry, in 1927. Subsequently placed in the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, Princess Irene, Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, and Princess Laurentien.
The Dutch Diamond Bandeau: A riviere of exceptional old mine-cut diamonds, set on a simple platinum frame. Originally part of a necklace given to Queen Emma as a wedding present by the Dutch people in 1879. Converted for use as a tiara in the 1930s and later placed in the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, Princess Margriet, Princess Christina, and Queen Maxima.
The Dutch Diamond Festoon Tiara: A necklace of five diamond festoons, which are able to be removed from the rest of the necklace, placed on a frame, and worn as a tiara. Made by Vita. Part of a collection of diamond jewels presented to Queen Wilhelmina on her ninth birthday by her father, King Willem III, in 1889. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn as a tiara by Queen Maxima and Princess Margriet.
The Dutch Ears of Wheat Tiara: A set of eight diamond and silver brooches in the shape of ears of wheat, able to be placed on a tiara frame in configurations of four, six, or eight, or worn separately. Though made in the early nineteenth-century, the brooches were not placed on a tiara frame until the 1950s. The wheat ears originally belonged to Queen Catherine of Württemberg. Inherited by Queen Sophie and bequeathed to her youngest son, Prince Alexander, in 1879. Inherited by his half-sister, Queen Wilhelmina, in 1884. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn as a tiara by Queen Juliana, Princess Irene, Princess Margriet, Princess Christina, Princess Laurentien, Princess Marilene, Princess Annette, Princess Anita, Princess Aimee, Princess Margarita of Bourbon-Parma, and Princess Viktoria of Bourbon-Parma. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Marilene (1998), Princess Annette (2000), Princess Anita (2005), Princess Aimee (2005), Princess Margarita of Bourbon-Parma (2001), and Princess Viktoria of Bourbon-Parma (2013).
The Dutch Emerald Parure Tiara: A petite tiara of diamond dots and scrolls, able to be worn with or without two different sets of toppers: a trio of diamond and emerald clusters (plus a diamond cluster attached to the central portion of the tiara) or five pear-shaped pearls. Two emerald and diamond clusters permanently removed in the 1950s to make a pair of earrings. Originally accompanied by coordinating diamond and emerald pieces to form a parure. Made by Schürmann in 1899. Given by Queen Emma to her daughter, Queen Wilhelmina. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, Princess Irene, Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, Princess Laurentien, and Princess Annemarie of Bourbon-Parma. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Annemarie of Bourbon-Parma (2010).
The Dutch Laurel Wreath Tiara: A classic diamond laurel wreath tiara. Likely created in the early nineteenth-century; arrived in the Dutch royal collection at an undetermined time. Given to Princess Beatrix as an eighteenth-birthday present by her parents, Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard, in 1956. Reportedly now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Princess Beatrix, Princess Margriet, Princess Christina, Princess Laurentien, and Princess Carolina of Bourbon-Parma. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Laurentien (2001) and Princess Carolina of Bourbon-Parma (2012).
The Dutch Sapphire Necklace Tiara: A delicate tiara of diamonds and sapphires topped by five lozenge-shaped diamond and sapphire elements. The base of the tiara was originally a diamond and sapphire choker necklace given to Queen Emma by King Willem III in 1882; this part of the piece was made by Mellerio. The lozenge ornaments were taken from a different necklace, part of the parure of sapphire jewels given to Queen Wilhelmina as a wedding gift by the Dutch people in 1901; this part of the piece was made by Israel and Hoeting. First worn as a tiara in the twenty-first century. Worn by Princess Beatrix, Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, and Princess Mabel.
The Dutch Sapphire Parure Tiara: A towering, Gothic tiara of diamonds with sapphires set in its base and in the center of the piece, able to be worn in various height settings, and accompanied by coordinating jewels to form a parure. Made in 1881 by Maison van der Stichel. Given to Queen Emma by her husband, King Willem III. Remodeled in 1928 by Van Kempen, who constructed a new frame for the tiara. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Emma, Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, and Queen Maxima.
The Dutch Star Tiara: The diamond festoon base of the Pearl Button Tiara topped by five of the ten-pointed diamond stars given to Queen Emma as a wedding present. The base of the tiara was created at an uncertain date; the stars were given to Emma in 1879. Worn by Princess Beatrix, Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, and Princess Amalia. Worn as a wedding tiara by Queen Maxima (2002).
The Mellerio Ruby Parure Tiara: Three large diamond and ruby cluster and scroll elements connected by three suspended rows of diamond brilliants, accompanied by additional coordinating pieces to form a parure. Made by Mellerio in 1889. Given to Queen Emma by her husband, King Willem III, as a Christmas gift. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Emma, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, and Queen Maxima.
The Pearl Button Tiara: A tiara of five pearl buttons set atop a diamond festoon base. The button elements date to the nineteenth-century and belonged to Queen Sophie. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. First worn in public as a complete tiara in the 1960s. Worn by Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, and Princess Mabel. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Margriet (1967).
Princess Mabel’s Wedding Tiara: An all-diamond tiara features three rows of gemstones (including a top row of diamonds borrowed from the Dutch Sapphire Parure Tiara) cascading down from a central high point in a way that echoes the shape of a kokoshnik. Originally a necklace set with both white and brown diamonds. Made by Mellerio and purchased in 1888 by King Willem III. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Maxima and Princess Mabel. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Mabel (2004).
Queen Emma’s Diamond Tiara: A diamond tiara, made of silver and gold, which features a trio of harp designs with large diamond rosette-style clusters (able to be worn in all-diamond or diamond and ruby settings) in their centers. Also able to be worn with a set of twelve-pointed diamond star toppers, which were wedding gifts to Queen Emma in 1879. Made in 1890 by Royal Begeer. Given (posthumously) to Queen Emma by her husband, King Willem III. Inherited by Queen Wilhelmina and later placed in the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Emma, Queen Wilhelmina, Princess Beatrix, Princess Irene, Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, and Princess Laurentien.
Queen Wilhelmina’s Diamond Hair Comb: A delicate, petite diamond hair ornament featuring a dotted diamond base topped by small diamond clovers. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Maxima.
Queen Wilhelmina’s Wedding Gift Tiara: An enormous, imposing tiara of white gold, diamonds, and sapphires, featuring scroll, lozenge, and floral designs, accompanied by coordinating pieces to form a parure. Made around 1900 by Vita, Israel and Hoeting. Given to Queen Wilhelmina by the Dutch people as a wedding present in 1901. Inherited by Queen Juliana and dismantled in 1962. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina.
The Ruby Peacock Tiara: A diamond and ruby tiara of floral and scroll elements with a detachable diamond and ruby peacock tail element in its center, accompanied by coordinating pieces to form a parure. Made in 1897 by Schürmann, reportedly using rubies that belonged to Queen Sophie. Given personally by Queen Wilhelmina to Princess Irene, but now worn again by the main line of the royal family. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina, Princess Beatrix, Princess Irene, Queen Maxima, and Princess Amalia.
The Stuart Tiara: A large, complicated diamond scroll tiara, able to be worn in various configurations and with/without the Stuart Diamond, accompanied by additional coordinating pieces to form a parure. Made in 1897 by Schürmann using diamonds provided by Queen Emma, including the Stuart Diamond. Worn for the first time by Queen Wilhelmina at her investiture in 1898. Now part of the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, and Queen Maxima. Worn as a wedding tiara by Queen Wilhelmina (1901).
The Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara: An elaborate diamond and pearl tiara, able to be worn in multiple configurations, with distinctive pear-shaped pearl toppers. Made for Queen Wilhelmina in 1897, possibly by remodeling a tiara that belonged to Queen Sophie. Inherited by Queen Juliana in 1962 and subsequently placed in the family’s jewel foundation. Worn by Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix, and Queen Maxima. Worn as a wedding tiara by Princess Beatrix (1966).