Understand
Source: Natural Diamond Council (NDC)
2022-02-09
The original owner of this natural diamond tiara was Queen Mary, wife of King George V, who ruled from 1910 to 1936. In 1919, Queen Mary commissioned the crown jeweler Garrard of England to design the tiara. The natural diamonds on the crown were taken from Queen Victoria's wedding gift to Mary in 1893. Rachel Garrahan, Director of Jewellery and Watches at Vogue UK, said: "These natural diamonds date back to imperial times and were originally owned by King George III and his wife Queen Charlotte. Therefore, Queen Mary's Natural Diamond Fringe Tiara "Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara” can also be called "King George III or Hanover Fringe Tiara”.
In a 1926 portrait, Queen Mary, wife of King George V,
wore a natural diamond fringed tiara and other jewels.
Image credit: Getty
Fringed Tiara by E.Wolff & Co for Garrard, 1919 for Queen Mary
Image credit: Royal Collection Trust/CopyrightQueen Mary, like the rest of the royal family, likes have designer to restyle her jewelry when she likes to try new looks. The fringe style was a very popular style at the beginning of the twentieth century, inspired by the outline of the halo shape of the Russian Kokoshnik crown, so this fringe style is also known as the kokoshnik crown. Overall, this design is more figurative and avant-garde than the style of scrolls, ribbons, curtains, leaves and florets on the crowns of most of the British royal family's collection.
According to Sir Hugh Roberts, Honorary Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art and author of The Queen's Diamonds, the jewel features 47 graded tapered stems set with brilliant rose-cut natural diamonds, 46 pointed and 9 progressive brilliant cut natural diamonds, the natural diamonds on the crown are set in silver coated yellow gold and measure approximately 6.35cm x 19.05cm.
After the Royal Wedding in 1947, Princess Elizabeth,
now Queen Elizabeth II, appeared at Buckingham Palace
wearing Queen Mary's natural diamond tiara with
her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Image credit: GettyOn November 20, 1947, Queen Elizabeth II wore this natural diamond tiara at her Royal Wedding with Prince Philip held at Westminster Abbey in London; but with a little drama. This jewellery, convertible from necklace to a tiara, almost caused her from arriving at the wedding punctually.
When Princess Elizabeth was dressing up at Buckingham Palace on the wedding day, the mechanism that keeps the shape of the frame of the tiara was blocked. It was immediately returned to the workshop for repairs and returned in time for Princess Elizabeth to wear the tiara for her wedding ceremony.
Princess Anne, wearing Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara with natural
diamonds, marched out of the Westminster Abbeywith her husband
Captain Mark Phillips after their wedding in 1973.
Image credit: GettyIn 1973, Queen Elizabeth's daughter, Princess Anna, wore a Tudor-style wedding dress when she married Mark Phillips, also wearing this Queen Mary's natural diamond fringed tiara. There was no accident in the crown this time, and Princess Anna looked extraordinarily elegant and dignified against the backdrop of the natural diamond crown.
Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Beatrice and Queen Elizabeth II and
Prince Philip pose for a photo outside Royal Chapel of All Saints
in Windsor after the wedding.
Edoado Mapelli Mozzi poses with Princess Beatrice
wearing Queen Mary's fringed tiara.Photography: Benjamin Wheeler
Image Credit: WPA Pool/Getty ImagesOn July 17, 2020, Queen Mary's fringed tiara once again witnessed a royal wedding. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi married in a small private ceremony at Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor. In tribute to her grandmother Queen Elizabeth, Princess Beatrice wore the Norman Hartnell gown worn by the Queen at the opening of Parliament in April 1966, paired with the century-old tiara. The dress and Queen Mary's fringed crown set off each other, as a captivating fairy tale.