The Wessex Aquamarine Necklace Tiara

The tiara made its debut in 2005. The occasion was an enthronement celebration event for Prince Albert II of Monaco. Sophie, then Countess of Wessex, donned the dazzling tiara for the opera gala held on November 19, Monaco’s National Day. She paired the tiara with another suite of jewelry from her collection: a modern earring and necklace set made of diamonds and blue gemstones, either aquamarines or blue topazes.

Here’s a closer look at the tiara setting of the piece, with its sharp diamond wave detailing.

Initially, there was speculation that Prince Edward designed the tiara for his wife (as he did the necklace she wore at their wedding in 1999). But the piece was reportedly made for Sophie by Collins & Sons, who also had a similar convertible necklace available for sale to the public a few years ago.

In March 2006, Sophie wore the tiara in its necklace form at the ChildLine & Mission Enfance Royal gala dinner in London. The central stone’s pale green hue is especially evident when the piece is worn in this configuration. Other jewelry writers have speculated that the central aquamarine can also be worn as a pendant on a simple chain.

A major high-profile outing of the tiara came at the wedding of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden in Stockholm in June 2015. On this occasion, she wore the tiara with pave-set diamond earrings and a pendant with an aquamarine stone. (The necklace has also been speculated to be from Collins & Sons.)

In recent years, Sophie—who is now Duchess of Edinburgh—has worn the tiara for gala occasions, including state banquets. She chose the tiara for the first banquet of King Charles III’s reign at Buckingham Palace in November 2022.

And in November 2023, she wore the tiara and the aquamarine pendant for a state banquet in London in honor of the President of South Korea.