This week, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg will get a new Grand Duchess upon the Accession of Grand Duke Guillaume! Historic Heirlooms of the House of Nassau, more recently acquired antiques and several converted Necklaces and Bracelets comprise the massive Jewellery Collection of the Grand Ducal Family, but soon to be Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg has worn almost all but a few Tiaras!
Click on the highlighted links/images below to see the detailed article on each piece!
Luxembourg Empire Tiara
The ‘Big Gun Tiara’ of the collection, the Luxembourg Empire Tiara has been in the Grand Ducal Family since the 1829, and was a favourite of Grand Duchess Charlotte who even wore it as she Abdicated her Throne. The Tiara was often seen on Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte for the most important Banquets but only worn four times by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, on State Visits to The Netherlands and Belgium, the Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and an Official Portrait. Let’s hope the Empire Tiara will be worn more often by Grand Duchess Stephanie!
Belgian Scroll Tiara
Given to Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium from the Société Générale bank as a wedding gift when she married the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1953, the Belgian Scroll Tiara remained a lifelong favourite until her passing in 2005 when it narrowly escaped auction but is now a favourite of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, having been worn for almost all of her Tiara appearances in the last decade. If it is passed along to Tiara, the Belgian Scroll Tiara will be a fitting choice for the Belgian born Grand Duchess Stephanie!
Chaumet Emerald Tiara
Made by Chaumet from a variety of old jewels, the Chaumet Emerald Tiara was a Christmas gift from Prince Felix of Luxembourg to Grand Duchess Charlotte in 1926, which became an iconic part of her public image and is said to have inspired the famous Wonder Woman Tiara. The Tiara was infrequently worn by Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte, but was a favourite of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa in the early 2000s, though it has been mostly worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and Princess Alexandra in recent years.
Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara
Created for Grand Duchess Adelaide between 1865 and 1870, this Tiara was frequently worn by Grand Duchess Charlotte, and later worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa frequently in her years as Hereditary Grand Duchess. The Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara has also been a frequent choice for Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, and has been worn by Princess Claire.
Vine Leaves Tiara
A so-called ‘wedding tiara’ of the Grand Ducal family, the Vine Leaves Tiara was worn by the four daughters of Grand Duchess Charlotte at their weddings, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie at her Wedding Gala, and Princess Claire at her Wedding. Grand Duchess Maria Theresa has worn the Tiara a few times, most recently for an interview she did with ELLE Luxembourg.
Chaumet Choker Tiara
Made by Chaumet, this Pearl and Diamond Choker Tiara was acquired by Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte, and has been another favourite of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, while the smaller version of the Tiara without any pearls has often been worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and Princess Alexandra, who even wore it for her Wedding to Nicolas Bagory.
Diamond Floral Tiara
The smaller of the two floral Tiaras of the Grand Ducal collection, the Diamond Floral Tiara was frequently by the then Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and was later often worn by Princess Alexandra and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in addition to being loaned to the Grand Duke’s nieces for their weddings.
Emerald Peacock Tiara
Made by Van Cleef & Arpels for Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte, using two pendants that had belonged to her mother, Queen Astrid, the Emerald Peacock Tiara was often worn by her as a Necklace, though it has only been rarely worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria in recent years.
Aquamarine Tiara
Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte converted many lesser jewels into Tiaras and Parures, among them was the magnificent Aquamarine Parure she had received as aa Wedding Gift in 1953, the Bracelet of which was worn as an Aquamarine Tiara by the late 1970s. The Aquamarine Parure has been a favourite of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and has also been worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in recent years.
Citrine and Pearl Tiara
The striking Citrine and Pearl Tiara is another converted Bracelet worn as a Tiara along with a striking Citrine or Topaz Parure, which was a favourite of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa in the early years of her marriage and has now been often worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in recent years.
Turquoise Tiara
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa rediscovered this Turquoise Tiara dating from the 1830s and an antique Turquoise Necklace in the Grand Ducal Vaults which was soon restored and has also been worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and Princess Alexandra.
Sapphire Necklace Tiara
This striking Sapphire Necklace Tiara dates from the 1970s, but the stones are thought to originate from Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden, who left some of her jewels to Grand Duchess Charlotte. The piece was worn as a both a Necklace and Tiara by Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte, and has more recently been worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie.
Oval Amethyst Tiara
The Oval Amethyst Tiara was often worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and her sisters-in-law in the 1970s and 80s, but disappeared until it become a favourite of Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in recent years.
Amethyst Tiara
Another one of the Grand Ducal semi-precious stone parures, this Amethyst Tiara, another converted bracelet, has been worn as a Tiara by Grand Duchess Maria Theresa, but is more frequently seen as a Bracelet.
Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara
A wedding gift to Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium from the then Belgian Colony of Congo, she wore the Congo Diamond Necklace as a Tiara at her religious wedding, and as a Necklace many times afterwards. The Tiara was worn by both of her daughters at their weddings, and by Grand Duchess Maria Theresa at her wedding in 1981, but has not been publicly seen in several years now.
Diamond Butterfly Tiara
This striking Diamond Butterfly Tiara was created by Van Cleef & Arpels and may have been a gift to Countess Stephanie de Lannoy when she married Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg in 2012. It has been worn a few times but we are unlikely to see it much now as she should prefer to wear the larger heirlooms from the collection.
Ruby Tiara
Princess Claire notably wore this Ruby and Diamond Suite for her first National Day Gala in 2015, which is believed to have been a gift to the Grand Ducal Family from one of the Middle Eastern Royal Families, though it is not known which one.
Art Deco Sapphire Necklace Tiara
The striking Art Deco Sapphire Necklace Tiara acquired by or for Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte at some point in the 1980s and has been worn as a necklace quite frequently by Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa in recent years.
Princess Sibilla’s Art Deco Tiara
Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg received this versatile Art Deco Diamond Tiara as a Wedding Gift from her own Family, which has been frequently loaned to friends and relatives.
Sapphire Bracelet Tiara
An Engagement Gift to Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte from the Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique in 1953,t he versatile Sapphire Bracelet Tiara was occasionally worn by her as a Tiara and now belongs to her daughter, Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
Princess Margaretha’s Sapphire Necklace Tiara
Princess Margaretha also possesses this Sapphire Necklace Tiara which was most recently worn by her daughter, Princess Maria Annunciata of Liechtenstein, for the Wedding Ball of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria at Schloss Schleißheim in 2023.
Joan Dillon’s Diamond Tiara
The striking Diamond Tiara of Princess Joan of Luxembourg, the Dowager Duchess of Mouchy, the widow of both a Luxembourg Prince and the Duke of Mouchy originates from her prominent American Family and has been worn by her daughter, Princess Charlotte and granddaughter, Princess Charlotte of Nassau!
