Since the announcement of the Habsburg Royal Jewels hidden in Canada last month, we have been in close contact with the famed House of A.E. Köchert in Vienna. Last night, we were invited to the preview of the magnificent Exhibition ‘A. E. Köchert Jeweller to Emperor and Crown’ at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő near Budapest, which opens today and runs until April 6th. Magnificent Heirlooms from the Habsburg Family, the Austrian Nobility and Princess Caroline of Monaco are on display!
Among the numerous treasures from imperial and international aristocratic collections is a magnificent brooch designed in the Neo-Renaissance style by Theophil von Hansen. Once owned by Empress Elisabeth, this piece will be shown to the public for the very first time.
Jewellery design drawings from our extensive archives – many of them of museum calibre – bring to life a bygone age of glittering ball nights and grand weddings. With their rich detail, you can discover, for example, the fairy tale bridal jewellery of Archduchess Marie Valerie, the gifts from Empress Francis Joseph to Katharina Schratt, and several pieces that had vanished from the legendary Vitrine 13 of the Imperial and Royal Treasury following the collapse of the monarchy.
Along with the magnificent diamond-adorned orders, the historic necklaces and sparkling diadems with fascinating provenances, also featured in the exhibition will be out of the ordinary and modern pieces of goldsmith artistry, including jewellery designed by renowned artists such as Hans Hollein, George Condo and Erwin Wurm. Visitors are sure to be surprised – and delighted!
We’re especially pleased that the 200-year history of Maison Köchert is being told right up to the present day, with our vibrant contemporary spirit brought into the spotlight. Don’t miss this unique chance to immerse yourself in the world of splendorous beauty and artistry, all within what was once Queen Elisabeth’s – Sisi’s – favourite residence. A rare experience set to beguile you!
The exhibition begins with a look at the history of A.E. Köchert and features a Ring from Empress Marie Louise of France, which was gifted to the Abbott of Kremsmünster Abbey, and a striking Necklace gifted by Emperor Franz Joseph to Karolina Winkler for the rescue of Crown Prince Rudolph in 1871.
Then we move into a room dedicated to Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the most famous client of Köchert whose favourite residence was the the Royal Palace of Gödöllő. Among the display is a striking Neo Renaissance Brooch made for Empress Elisabeth after a design of Theophil von Hansen, ca. 1865-1875, which was given to a courtier and buried for decades after the family fled the Soviet advance, only being retrieved relatively recently.
There is a portrait of the Empress wearing the magnificent Habsburg Ruby Parure created by Köchert and also drawings and photographs of the lost Habsburg Emerald Parure, the watch of which has recently been revealed to have been in Canada.
Among the highlights of the exhibition are the recreation of twenty-seven Diamond Stars created by Köchert for Empress Elisabeth and famously worn in her Winterhalter Portrait.
The highlight of the exhibition is the room with the Tiaras, which includes Archduchess Marie Valerie’s Köchert Tiara, acquired by Archduchess Marie Valerie in 1913, the year after the Wedding of her daughter, Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska, to Count Georg von Waldburg zu Zeil und Hohenems. The Tiara remained in the family until being auctioned in 2005 and now belongs to the Qatar Museums Authority.
Also on display are a Ruby, Diamond and Pearl Feather brooch of Archduchess Marie Valerie, ca. 1890-1895, as well as a Butterfly Brooch given to Archduchess Marie Valerie on her Wedding in 1890.
Also on display is a striking Sapphire and Diamond Tiara which comes from another branch of the extended Habsburg Imperial Family and includes a spectacular Sapphire and Diamond Parure which we saw in Vienna earlier this week.
Another spectacular heirloom is the magnificent Tiara of the Hohenberg Family, the descendants of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Duchess of Hohenberg. The Tiara remains in the family’s procession but is frequently displayed by Köchert.
Katharina Schratt was a friend and confidante of Emperor Franz Joseph who received many Köchert Jewels, among them a magnificent Fuchsia Brooch and a Watch, which are on display.
There were also the drawings of many iconic Köchert which are now lost or in private collections, that include the Bulgarian Fleur-de-Lys Tiara, Empress Zita’s Diamond Tiara, and several Tiaras and Jewels from the Württemberg Royal Family sold at Auction at Sotheby’s in 2023.
In the final room, we see some contemporary jewellery created by Köchert, which included a bow-shaped Diamond Tiara and Brooch from 2011, and more famously a Mountain Pine Tiara crated for Princess Caroline of Monaco and Hanover in 2007, alongside a pair of Champagne Bracelets created in 2009 and a Darling & Lolita Ring made for Princess Caroline in 2013.
Ahead of the exhibition opening, Köchert were very kind to invite us to their flagship store in Vienna, where we were able to view several magnificent Royal and Noble Jewels and some of the legendary Archives.
‘A. E. Köchert Jeweller to Emperor and Crown’ runs from December 6th, 2025 to April 6th, 2026 at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő!
