Photo Courtesy of Chaumet
Nothing exudes sophistication and high class more than tiaras. They make us look like princesses and that’s why we would like to explore their history.
The word “Tiara” is Persian in origin and it first denoted the high-peaked head-dresses of Persian kings which were encircled by diadems. Then came ancient Greeks and Romans, who started using gold to make wreath-shaped head ornaments.
However, the use of tiaras and diadems decreased, along with the decline of the Roman Empire until the 18th century, when Neoclassicism gave rise to tiaras solely dedicated to women. Jewelers started taking inspiration from Ancient Greece and Rome – creating new pieces adorned with precious gemstones. Napoleon and his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais were responsible for popularizing tiaras at that time.
Today, Queen Elizabeth II is said to have the richest and most valuable collection of tiaras in the world, many of which are heirlooms of the British Royal Family. She wears them on state occasions, like other queens, empresses and princesses who regularly wear tiaras at formal evening occasions.
From the royal families who also own a magnificent collection of tiaras, we mention the Swedish Royal Family, as well as Spanish, Dutch and Danish monarchies. On another note, the Iranian Royal Family also had a large collection of tiaras and since the Iranian revolution, they are housed in the National Jewelry Museum in Tehran.
Mirella Haddad
