Mastery of Design: The Diamond Diadem, 1820

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Click image for larger size.

"The Diamond Diadem"
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

A diadem is a type of crown, specifically one that fits around the upper forehead like a headband. The term also refers to a jeweled half-crown which is worn over the forehead. These are more commonly called a tiara.

One of the most famous diadems in the world is “The Diamond Diadem” made in 1820 for British King George IV. Since its creation for George IV’s lavish 1821 coronation, this diadem has been worn exclusively by female royals and is one of the most recognizable pieces of the Queen’s collection of jewelry.  Just take a look at a Royal Mail stamp.  You've definitely seen this piece before.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Designed by master jewelers, Rundell, Bridge and Company, the diadem features 1,333 diamonds, including a four-carat pale yellow brilliant in the center of the front cross. The diamonds, set in gold and accented by pearls for the emblems of the countries in the British Empire: England, Scotland and Ireland. 

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Click image for larger size.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIClick image for larger size.

Mastery of Design: Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown

Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Via The Royal Collection Trust and
Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Click on image above for larger size.

Made by R.S. Garrard & Co. in 1870 for Queen Victoria, this is the crown most associated with Her Majesty.  Comprised of a silver frame, this pice is set with 1,187 brilliant-cut and rose-cut diamonds in open-backed collet mounts. 

The band of the crown is formed of a frieze of lozenges and ovals in oval apertures--set between two rows of single diamonds.  This forms the support for  four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis, as well as the four half-arches above.  These arches, as is the tradition of such crowns, are surmounted by a monde and a further cross-pattée.

This crown, made several years after the death of Prince Albert, was specifically designed to be worn by Queen Victoria on top of her widow's cap.  Queen Victoria wished for the crown to be light and wearable, as one does.  

The curators of The Royal Collection suggest:

...the crown may have been based on Queen Charlotte's nuptual crown which had been returned to Hanover earlier in the reign. 

One February 9, 1871, Victoria debuted the crown at the opening of Parliament, and thereafter wore it for State occasions and for formal receptions.  She favored the headpiece so much that she's depicted in a variety of portraits from her later reign wearing it.  For less formal occasions, the removal arches were taken off.  

The crown had become so iconic of Queen Victoria, that upon her death, it was placed on her coffin at Osborne House.

Queen Alexandra often wore the crown following Queen Victoria's death, and, then, Queen Mary did for awhile.  After the his coronation, King George VI added it to the regalia at the Tower of London, although, I should note that it has never been used at a coronation ceremony.

Mastery of Design: Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother's Crown, 1937

Crown of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
Garrard & Co, 1937
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Garrard & Co made this crown in 1937 for the Coronation of King George VI and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother). The frame of the crown is constructed of platinum which is set with over 2,800 diamonds (these are mostly cushion-shaped, however, some are rose-cut and some are brilliants). The crown’s band is made of alternating mounts in the shape of crosses and rectangles. This band is bordered with rows of brilliant-cut diamonds.

At the front of the crown, a large diamond has been mounted. This diamond was given to Queen Victoria by the Sultan of Turkey in 1856. Four fluers-de-lis and four crosses- pattée surmount the bottom band. The central cross was created to hold the remarkable Koh-i-Noor diamond. This monumental gem was set in a detachable mount so that it could be removed after the Coronation for use elsewhere.

The half-arches are detachable as well so that the crown could be worn without them by the Queen upon the State Openings of Parliament. Her Majesty wore the crown without these arches, also, at the Coronation of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. The arches are surmounted by a pavé-set monde and a cross which once held the Lahore Diamond which had been given to Queen Victoria by the East India Company in 1851. Presently, since the Lahore is in use elsewhere, a rock crystal replica is set into this cross.

The crown is fitted with an ermine band and purple velvet cap. In addition to the three major diamonds, the majority of the stones on this crown were removed from Queen Victoria’s Royal Circlet. It’s notable that the Koh-i-Noor has been set into the crowns of Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Mastery of Design: The Diamond Diadem, 1820

"The Diamond Diadem"
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

A diadem is a type of crown, specifically one that fits around the upper forehead like a headband. The term also refers to a jeweled half-crown which is worn over the forehead. These are more commonly called a tiara.

One of the most famous diadems in the world is “The Diamond Diadem” made in 1820 for British King George IV. Since its creation for George IV’s lavish 1821 coronation, this diadem has been worn exclusively by female royals and is one of the most recognizable pieces of the Queen’s collection of jewelry.  Just take a look at a Royal Mail stamp.  You've definitely seen this piece before.

Designed by master jewelers, Rundell, Bridge and Company, the diadem features 1,333 diamonds, including a four-carat pale yellow brilliant in the center of the front cross. The diamonds, set in gold and accented by pearls for the emblems of the countries in the British Empire: England, Scotland and Ireland. The piece is so well-known, it is even featured on a postage stamp. 

Mastery of Design: Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother's Crown, 1937

Crown of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
Garrard & Co, 1937
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Garrard & Co made this crown in 1937 for the Coronation of King George VI and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother). The frame of the crown is constructed of platinum which is set with over 2,800 diamonds (these are mostly cushion-shaped, however, some are rose-cut and some are brilliants). The crown’s band is made of alternating mounts in the shape of crosses and rectangles. This band is bordered with rows of brilliant-cut diamonds.

At the front of the crown, a large diamond has been mounted. This diamond was given to Queen Victoria by the Sultan of Turkey in 1856. Four fluers-de-lis and four crosses- pattée surmount the bottom band. The central cross was created to hold the remarkable Koh-i-Noor diamond. This monumental gem was set in a detachable mount so that it could be removed after the Coronation for use elsewhere.

The half-arches are detachable as well so that the crown could be worn without them by the Queen upon the State Openings of Parliament. Her Majesty wore the crown without these arches, also, at the Coronation of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. The arches are surmounted by a pavé-set monde and a cross which once held the Lahore Diamond which had been given to Queen Victoria by the East India Company in 1851. Presently, since the Lahore is in use elsewhere, a rock crystal replica is set into this cross.

The crown is fitted with an ermine band and purple velvet cap. In addition to the three major diamonds, the majority of the stones on this crown were removed from Queen Victoria’s Royal Circlet. It’s notable that the Koh-i-Noor has been set into the crowns of Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Mastery of Design: A Swedish Bridal Crown, 1750-1870

Click image to enlarge.

Swedish Bridal Crown
Silver Gilt
1750-1870
The Victoria & Albert Museum

While we tend to treat each bride as a queen on the day of her wedding, Scandinavian brides truly looked the part, wearing bridal crowns which were based on medieval originals made of heavy, gilt silver.

Until very recently, in Sweden, all brides wore some kind of special headdress either a crown or tiara. Traditionally, gilded silver crowns were worn particularly in the east of the country, while, in the rest of the country, the crowns were sometimes made of cloth which was ornately decorated with ribbons, beads, and metallic lace. For centuries, swedish bridal crowns were full-size, however, during the Eighteenth Century, these headpieces became smaller, and were worn on the top of the head. Since most of these crowns were quite costly and elaborate, the bride often would hire or rent a crown. Only the wealthiest families could provide a crown for a bride which she could keep. These were often passed on through generations.

Here’s such a crown. This small, silver-gilt bridal crown is comprised of six upright openwork sections which have visual roots in the style of the renaissance. These sections are joined at the top by a ring of silver-gilt wire, with applied winged angels’ heads. The band at the base is decorated with pyramidal points and more winged angels’ heads in silver and the whole of it is hung with pendants. It was made between 1750 and 1870.