Happy Birthday to Begum Salimah Aga Khan, who turns 85 today! The accomplished British Aristocratic model who married the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of Nizari Ismailism, and became a child-welfare activist, Princess Salimah Aga Khan once possessed a magnificent jewellery collection, much of which was sold for charity, but today, we are featuring an heirloom from her first marriage; the Ogden Mills Boucheron Tiara!
Ogden Mills Boucheron Tiara | Emerald Suite
Ogden purchased the above tiara on April 19, 1920, approximately six months before Ruth’s death so it is possible that the tiara was purchased for her, but it may have been for one of their daughters. Ruth was known to wear tiaras frequently to fancy dinners and balls. In addition to the four pearls prominently displayed on the tiara, there are over 500 diamonds in the piece. Boucheron noted that utilizing the pearls in the tiara was not the traditional Boucheron style, but was done because this was a special order.
Following the death of Mrs Ogden Mills, the Tiara would have passed through her daughter, the Countess of Granard, to her granddaughter, the Marchioness of Bute.
In 1962, the Marchioness of Bute loaned the Boucheron Tiara, now set with large pearls in place of the diamonds, to her daughter-in-law, Lady James Chrichton-Stuart, later Begum Salimah Aga Khan, for the Royal Caledonian Ball in London.
The ultimate fate of the Tiara is unknown, but as the Marquesses of Bute are still among the richest peers, it likely remains in their collection, though some assets, like their secondary seat at Dumfries House, have been sold, as well as a magnificent Cartier Emerald Necklace, which is now in the Cartier Collection.
Ogden Mills Boucheron Tiara | Emerald Suite
Emerald Suite
Ogden Mills Boucheron Tiara
Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan’s Diamond Necklace
Cartier Emerald Suite
Pearl and Diamond Fringe Necklace
Jewels at Auction
Devonshire Diamond Palmette Tiara
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
Devonshire Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Ruby Clasp
Wellington Tiara
Diamond Earrings
Diamond Tassel Earrings
Bagration Spinel Tiara
Rosebery Tiara
Diamond Necklace
Westminster Myrtle Wreath Tiara
Diamond Fringe Tiara
Duchess of Buccleuch’s Tiaras
Northumberland Tiara
Duchess of Sutherland’s Tiara
Duchess of Bedford’s Tiaras
Marlborough Tiara
Portland Tiara
Duchess of Norfolk’s Sapphire Necklace
Rutland Tiara
Argyll Tiara
Manchester Tiara
Dufferin Tiara
Bath Tiara
Milford Haven Ruby Kokoshnik
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
