In the British Royal Family, there are very few newer pieces when it comes to the tiara collection – but the Wessex aquamarine necklace tiara is one of the exceptions.
Who is the owner? Well it’s in the name! The former Countess of Wessex, now Duchess of Edinburgh, is the lucky royal with this most modern of tiaras.
Sophie’s aquamarine tiara is convertible – and can be worn as a necklace
Not much is known about the piece. It is reported to have been made for Sophie by G. Collins and Sons, with some saying it was possibly designed for her by Prince Edward. The headpiece made its debut in 2005 when Sophie attended an event celebrating the enthronement of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The show stopping centrepiece of the tiara is a oval-cut aquamarine, which is rumoured to be detachable. Either side of the central stone is set a trail of diamonds in a scrollwork design, imitating ocean waves – rather appropriate for the water-coloured stone.
In March 2006, the Duchess showed that the tiara can do two jobs, when she wore it as a necklace for the first time at a gala dinner. As it is her own personal item and not loaned to her from the royal vaults, it is her go-to – but not her only – headpiece for most white tie events.
Sophie has mostly paired the tiara with a necklace that has also been made by G. Collins and Sons. While the stone matches that of the tiara, it is not supposed to be a set.
Will we see it at this year’s Japanese State Banquet?
