Rubies and Royalty; Unveiling the World's Most Iconic Ruby Tiaras

When it comes to royal elegance, few pieces of jewellery capture the imagination quite like a dazzling tiara. Among these iconic headpieces, ruby tiaras stand out for their bold, fiery beauty and the sense of regality they exude. Rubies range in colour from vibrant fire-engine red to soft pink hues and even deep, almost brownish tones. From the courts of Europe to the modern-day royal families, ruby tiaras have adorned the heads of queens and princesses, symbolising power, passion and prestige. So, let's explore the most famous ruby tiaras. Before we start, please support my channel by clicking like and subscribe buttons, and if you wish, you can support me via the Super Thanks button on YouTube. The Melerio Ruby Parure Tiara. The Dutch royal family's tiara collection is so extensive that it includes not just one, but two significant ruby tiaras. The most prominent of these is the Grand Ruby Tiara, crafted by the renowned French jewellery house, Melerio Ditsmeler. This particular tiara was created for Queen Emma of the Netherlands around 1888, as part of a larger ruby parure gifted by her husband, King Willem III. Since Queen Emma, all four Dutch queens have worn the tiara, as have numerous Dutch princesses. The tiara boasts a traditional design, with diamonds elegantly suspended between its larger elements. In recent years, Queen Maxima has chosen this tiara for numerous glittering events. Her appearance wearing it at the wedding of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, in 2015, was widely praised as a major bejewelled triumph, further solidifying the tiara's status as a standout piece in the royal collection. The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara. One of the most historically significant ruby tiaras in any royal collection is the dazzling centrepiece of the Danish Ruby Parure. This exquisite diamond and ruby set was originally crafted for Desiree Clary, who was once engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte. However, fate took a different turn, and Desiree married Jean Bernadotte, who later became King of Sweden. He gifted her the rubies, which she famously wore at Napoleon's coronation in 1804. At that time, the tiara did not exist as we know it today. In 1935, the parure was passed to Princess Ingrid of Sweden, a descendant of Desiree. Ingrid reimagined the set, transforming the modest bandeau into an impressive regal wreath tiara. Over the years, she made several alterations and additions to enhance the parure's grandeur. Today, the tiara holds a special place in the jewellery collection of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, who frequently chooses this stunning piece for her most significant gala appearances. The tiara has become one of her signature jewels, symbolising both its royal lineage and her own elegance. The Burmese Ruby Tiara While most of Queen Elizabeth II's tiaras were inherited from her glittering royal ancestors, there are a few that she personally added to the royal collection. One such piece is the Burmese Ruby Tiara, which she commissioned in the 1970s. By this time, the Queen owned an array of tiaras featuring various colourful stones, but she notably lacked one set with rubies. To remedy this, she turned to Gerard, the crown jeweller, to craft a new ruby and diamond tiara. Like many royal jewels, the new piece was fashioned using gems reproposed from another tiara. In this case, the diamonds came from the dismantled Nizam of Hyderabad tiara, a floral diamond diadem gifted to Elizabeth on her wedding day by an Indian prince. The Burmese Ruby Tiara, named after the 96 rubies it features, which were a wedding gift from the people of Burma, became one of her go-to choices for major state events. The last time Queen Elizabeth wore the tiara was in June 2019, during the State Banquet for the American President at Buckingham Palace. Bande-Mère Tiara One of the most iconic wedding gifts received by Princess Grace of Monaco was the Bande-Mère Tiara, a stunning piece that symbolised her new life in the Principality. The tiara, crafted by Cartier, features diamonds and rubies that mirror Monaco's national colours. Its design is elegant yet versatile, with three ruby and diamond elements set on a delicate, diamond-encrusted frame. Ingeniously adaptable, the upright elements can be detached and worn as brooches or pendants on a necklace. It's said that the rubies can even be replaced with diamonds, further enhancing its flexibility. The tiara takes its name from the company that presented it to Princess Grace, the Société des Bande-Mère, a prominent Monégasque institution. Though the tiara remains in the possession of the Grimaldi family, it has not been worn by any current family members. Instead, it is frequently loaned out for exhibitions. King Edward VII Ruby Tiara The tiara was a remarkable wedding gift bestowed upon Crown Princess Margarita of Sweden in 1905, given by her uncle and aunt, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom. This versatile piece, which can also be transformed into a necklace, became a treasured part of Margarita's jewellery collection. Upon her untimely death, the tiara passed to her son, Sigvard, sparking years of familial disputes over its ownership. Eventually, the tiara was sold to King Karl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, ensuring that it remained within the royal family. Today, Queen Sylvia is the primary wearer of this historic tiara, though it has not been a regular feature in her public appearances. Despite its infrequent outings, the tiara remains a symbol of both royal legacy and familial intrigue. The Ruby Olive Wreath Tiara This exquisite ruby and diamond tiara, crafted in the form of an olive wreath, originally belonged to Queen Olga of the Hellens. After her passing, the tiara was inherited by her son, Prince Nicholas, and later adorned the heads of his daughters, Princesses Olga and Marina. The tiara eventually found its way back into the main branch of the Greek royal family when King Paul repurchased it, securing its place as a treasured heirloom. Though Greece no longer has a reigning monarchy, the tiara remains in the possession of royal descendants and is now regularly worn by Queen Anne-Marie. As the sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Anne-Marie continues to honour the tiara's regal legacy. Oriental Circlet Tiara Prince Albert envisioned a magnificent tiara adorned with lotus flowers framed by 17 muggle-style arches, each sparkling with 2,600 diamonds procured from garrards of London. In 1853, the tiara was originally set with opals, Prince Albert's favourite gemstone, alongside a matching necklace, earrings and brooch, all reflecting his love for this vibrant stone. After Queen Victoria's death, the tiara passed to Queen Alexandra, who regarded opals as omens of bad luck. She made the decision to replace the opals with rubies, sourced from various Indian jewels, and also reduced the number of muggle arches from 17 to 11, simplifying the tiara's overall design. The reimagined Oriental Circlet Tiara went on to become a signature piece of the Queen Mother, who wore it frequently during state events and grand occasions throughout the reign of her husband, King George VI. That's it for today, thanks for watching. Please do not forget to support my channel by clicking like and subscribe buttons.