Another day, another major milestone birthday! Today, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians celebrates her 50th birthday, and in her honor, we’re counting down ten of her most glittering royal tiaras and jewels.
10. The Diamond and Pearl Wedding Earrings
We first saw Queen Mathilde wear these classic earrings in December 1999, on the day of her royal wedding in Brussels. They feature an intricate diamond ribbon stud and a large pearl drop. The versatile earrings have been a staple in Mathilde’s jewelry box for more than two decades.
9. The Diamond Ribbon and Fringe Earrings
Queen Mathilde has more than one pair of diamond fringe earrings in her collection, but this pair, featuring a ribbon and fringe design, is probably my favorite. She also wears a second pair with a diamond tassel design.
This convertible diamond tiara is a legacy from the late Queen Fabiola, who earmarked several of her most important jewels to be inherited by Mathilde. The tiara, which can also be worn as a gorgeous necklace, was Fabiola’s wedding gift in 1960 from the brokers and jewelers of Antwerp’s diamond industry.
7. The Antique Diamond Bow Brooch
Queen Mathilde wore this gorgeous diamond bow brooch for the first time in September 2022, during the funeral commemorations for the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The piece is a fairly recent acquisition by the Belgian royals. It was purchased at auction at Christie’s in Geneva in 2019, either by the Belgian royals or by someone who later sold it to them.
6. The Diamond Scroll Earrings
These modern scroll earrings, set with white and yellow diamonds, were reportedly purchased for Mathilde by her husband, King Philippe, from the Belgian jewelry firm Leysen. She’s been sparkling in them at gala functions for the last twenty years.
5. The Diamond and Pearl Lace Brooch
This gorgeous brooch from Mathilde’s collection features a diamond-set oval flanked by lacy diamond sections with central pearls. She’s been wearing the piece since 2015, and has used it both as a brooch and a hair ornament.
4. The Diamond Floral Fringe Brooch
This antique diamond brooch is another legacy from Queen Fabiola, who acquired it in the 1980s. Mathilde began wearing it during Fabiola’s lifetime, and it has remained part of her collection in the years since the late queen’s death.
3. The Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings
Queen Fabiola was also the original owner of these spectacular diamond and pearl drop earrings, which have a distinctive Art Deco design. Fabiola wore them often for gala occasions, and Mathilde has followed in her footsteps.
The tiara reserved for Belgium’s leading royal lady, this unique diadem’s Art Deco style easily shows that it was made in the 1920s. The piece, made by Van Bever, was originally a wedding gift to Queen Astrid in 1926 from the people of Belgium. It’s able to be worn in numerous settings, including a bandeau option, a choker necklace setting, and even a bracelet. Mathilde is the fifth wearer of the piece, after Queen Astrid, Princess Lilian, Queen Fabiola, and Queen Paola.
1. The Brabant Laurel Wreath Tiara
For me, the most effective royal jewel in Mathilde’s collection is still this antique laurel wreath tiara. The jewel was made in England in 1912 and given to Mathilde as a wedding present by a group of Belgian aristocrats in 1999. It can also be worn as a lovely necklace.
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