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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Rank the Royal Ruby Tiaras!

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Danish Crown Princess Mary (R) and King Konstantin attend the Gala Dinner in Christiansborg Castle on the occasion of Danish Queen Margrethe's 40th jubilee on January 15, 2012
KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP via Getty Images

The summer holiday period is in full swing in Europe, which means we’ll be seeing a bit less of our favorite royals and their jewels for several weeks. Because of that, our usual weekly royal jewel roundup will also be on hiatus for a bit.

But today, I’ve got a chance for you to vote on your favorite jewels anyway! I’ve got a survey of ten royal ruby tiaras from current royal collections. Check out the list, vote for your favorites, and offer us your top ten rankings in the comments below. (And, if you’re enjoying the chance to vote, stay tuned—we’ve got a little jewelry contest fun coming again at the start of next week!)

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Floral Tiara Tournament: Danish Ruby vs Bonaparte Olive

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Which wreath tiara will win the day?

Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons

The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara vs. The Bonaparte Olive Wreath Tiara
Chris Jackson/Getty Images

This tiara began its life as a series of hair combs, purchased by Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte for his wife, Desiree, to wear at Napoleon’s coronation in 1804. When Bernadotte was elected King of Sweden, the rubies became royal jewels. The combs were made into a bandeau by Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, who had received them from her mother-in-law, Lovisa of Sweden. Queen Ingrid turned the bandeau into a grand wreath tiara, which is now worn by Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
Photo generously shared by Javier. DO NOT REPRODUCE.

This diamond tiara was designed around 1907 by Cartier for Princess Marie Bonaparte, who married a Greek prince. The wreath of pave-set diamond olive leaves is studded with eleven cushion-shaped diamond “olives,” which can be swapped for other stones. The wreath design, popular during the reign of Napoleon, and the olive motif, so connected to the Greeks, united Marie’s French imperial heritage with her new Greek royal status. Today, the tiara belongs to the Albion Art Institute.

Floral Tiara Tournament: Queen Josefina vs Poltimore

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Our final contest of the first round kicks off right now!

MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images, Getty Images

Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara vs. The Poltimore Tiara
MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images

One of the grandest and most intricate tiaras in the Norwegian royal vaults, this early nineteenth-century sparkler first belonged to Queen Josefina of Sweden and Norway, a granddaughter of Empress Josephine. The tiara took an interesting path to Norway: Queen Josefina left it to her granddaughter, Queen Lovisa of Denmark, who willed it to her son, Prince Gustav. In turn, he bequeathed the tiara to his niece, Crown Princess Martha of Norway. Today, it is worn exclusively by Queen Sonja.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

This towering floral tiara was made by Garrard for Lady Poltimore in the 1870s. Princess Margaret bought it at an auction in 1959, and it became iconic when she wore it the following year at her royal wedding. After her death, her children sold the jewel at Christie’s, where it fetched $1.7 million at auction.