Chaumet’s Most Iconic Tiaras; Jewels of Royalty and Elegance

Chaumet, one of the most prestigious jewellery houses in the world, has been crafting exceptional tiaras for royalty, aristocracy and high society for over two centuries. Renowned for its impeccable artistry and innovative designs, Chaumet has created some of the most iconic and breathtaking tiaras in history. From Napoleonic era masterpieces to contemporary creations, the house's tiaras showcase a legacy of elegance, sophistication and technical brilliance. So let's explore the most famous tiaras of Chaumet jewellery house. Before we start, please support my channel by clicking like and subscribe buttons. Bourbon Parma Tiara. Designed in 1919 by the renowned Joseph Chaumet, this tiara captivates with its intricate floral-inspired motif, where stylised fuchsias, rendered in brilliant diamonds, rise gracefully above a foundation of alternating diamond collets. Slender knife-edge platinum settings enhance the piece's avieness, while delicate sprays of diamonds radiate outward, adding movement and light. Commissioned in the same year of its creation, the tiara was purchased by Princess Louise, Duchess of Deauville, as a wedding gift for her daughter, Edwige de la Rochefouca, upon her marriage to Prince Sixtus of Bourbon Parma. As a result, this extraordinary jewel became part of one of Europe's most illustrious noble collections. At some point between the mid-20th century and the early 2000s, the tiara left the Bourbon Parma family's possession, only to be reacquired by the Chaumet jewellery house. Since its return, it has graced the heads of numerous celebrities and models, earning particular fame when it was worn by Anne Hathaway in the Princess Diaries films. Ears of Wheat Tiara This extraordinary tiara was meticulously crafted around 1811 by François-Arnaud Nitto, son of Marie-Étienne Nitto, the esteemed jeweller of the French empire and founder of the house that would later become Chaumet. Ears of Wheat, an enduring symbol of prosperity, abundance, rebirth and peace, held profound meaning for Napoleon, and as his official jeweller, Nitto frequently incorporated this motif into imperial regalia. Empress Josephine particularly cherished this diadem, wearing it as a tribute to the agricultural wealth and renewal associated with her husband's reign. Comprising nine finely sculpted ears of wheat, the tiara dazzles with over 66 carats of old-cut diamonds, delicately set in gold and silver to create a sense of movement and lightness. As one of the oldest surviving pieces in the Chaumet collection, it holds a unique place in the Maison's history. Today, this magnificent creation continues to stand as a testament to imperial splendour and the enduring legacy of French jeweller. Chaumet Curvilinere Tiara. The extraordinary tiara, a masterpiece of early 20th century jewellery design, was created around 1930 by the esteemed French jeweller Joseph Chaumet. This elegant piece seamlessly blends baroque pearls and brilliant diamonds in a sophisticated scroll motif, set in a delicate framework of gold and silver. For much of the 20th century, the tiara's whereabouts remained a mystery. However, it re-emerged in 1991 when Chaumet loaned the piece to the Countess of Paris for the grand wedding ball of her grandson, Duke Philip of Wurttemberg and Duchess Marie-Caroline in Bavaria. Decades later, the tiara once again found itself at the centre of a lavish wedding. In 2015, Chaumet lent the Chinese actress Angela Baby for her extravagant marriage to Shuang Xiaoming, a high-profile event often referred to as China's Royal Wedding due to its sheer opulence and grandeur. Luxembourg Chaumet Emerald Tiara. This exceptional art deco tiara, a true masterpiece of 20th century jewellery, was commissioned in 1926 by Prince Felix of Luxembourg as a gift for his wife, Grand Duchess Charlotte. To create this striking piece, the esteemed French jeweller Chaumet re-proposed existing family jewels, including a breathtaking 45-carat pear-shaped emerald. Throughout her reign, Grand Duchess Charlotte frequently adorned herself with this tiara, making it one of her most iconic jewels. After Charlotte's time, the tiara remained an integral part of the Grand Ducal Collection, re-emerging in the early 2000s when Grand Duchess Maria Teresa began wearing it for official portraits and high-profile occasions, including the 2011 Nobel Prize ceremony. More recently, the tiara has been embraced by the younger generation of Luxembourg's royal family. Princess Alexandra wore it in 2023, and hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie elegantly showcased it during a state banquet held in honour of the Sheikh President and First Lady. Westminster Blue Enamel Kokoshnik. Created by the renowned French jeweller Chaumet around 1910, this exquisite tiara is a masterpiece of bell-epoch design. It features a delicate arrangement of diamonds in varying sizes, interwoven with intricate diamond forget-me-nots, all set against a striking backdrop of vivid blue enamel. The rich enamel not only enhances the brilliance of the diamonds, but also serves as a sophisticated alternative to the fabric Kokoshniks traditionally worn to support lighter, open-work tiaras. In 1911, Hugh Grosvenor, the second Duke of Westminster, acquired this magnificent piece for his first wife, Constance Cornwallis-West. A century later, this extraordinary jewel re-emerged on the auction market. In 2015, it was sold at a prestigious Christie's auction, where it captivated collectors and fetched an impressive sum of nearly $700,000. Queen Victoria Eugenie's Chaumet Tiara. Queen Victoria Eugenie's Chaumet Tiara, featuring the Bourbon fleur de les Motifs, was reportedly a wedding gift from Spanish King Alfonso XIII in 1906. Originally set with turquoises, the tiara was first worn by the Queen at a gala performance at Madrid's Teatro Real following their wedding. In the 1930s, during the Spanish royal family's exile, she was photographed wearing the tiara, including in a portrait by artist Toste Russell. In 1962, Queen Victoria Eugenie's daughter, Infanta Maria Cristina, wore the tiara at the wedding ball of Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia. By then, turquoises had been replaced with diamonds due to discolouration. Infanta Maria Cristina inherited the tiara in 1969 and later sold it at a 1984 Christie's auction for $85,000. The tiara's current whereabouts remain unknown. Mountbatten Tiara. The Mountbatten Tiara, crafted by Chaumet around 1910, features diamond scroll motifs topped with diamond trifoils. It is believed to have been acquired by Edwina, Camtas Mountbatten of Burma, in the 1930s. She prominently wore the tiara at significant events, including the coronations of King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Upon Edwina's death in 1960, the tiara was inherited by her daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks, who wore it at various social events throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 2002, citing financial reasons, Lady Pamela auctioned the tiara at Sotheby's, where it sold for approximately £150,000 to a private collector. Since then, the tiara has not been publicly seen, though it was recreated for the 2017 film Viceroy's House. That's it for today, thanks for watching. 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