Happy Birthday to Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, who turns 69 today! The consort of the Sovereign of the world’s only Grand Duchy, the Grand Duchess has one of the most magnificent jewellery collections in her possession, but also has some heirlooms from her own family, like this striking Diamond Necklace!
Luxembourg Empire Tiara | Belgian Scroll Tiara | Luxembourg Chaumet Emerald Tiara | Chaumet Choker Tiara | Vine Leaves Tiara | Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Emerald Peacock Tiara | Aquamarine Tiara | Turquoise Tiara | Citrine and Pearl Tiara | Diamond Floral Tiara
The striking Diamond Necklace is composed of a half-row of baguette diamonds is superimposed on another half-row of medium and large diamonds, between which is a baguette-cut diamond as a spacer.
The exact origin of the piece is unknown but it was worn by María Teresa Batista y Falla for a portrait taken with the baby future Grand Duchess María Teresa in the mid 1950s. The Necklace was possibly a gift from her father, Agustín Batista y González de Mendoza, who was the founder of the Trust Company of Cuba, the most powerful Cuban bank prior to the Cuban Revolution when the family fled to New York upon the confiscation of their properties.
María Teresa Batista y Falla retained the baguette Diamond Necklace through the years and notably wore it for the Wedding of her daughter, María Teresa Mestre y Batista to the then Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg on Valentine’s Day in 1981.
After her death in 1988, the Diamond Necklace was inherited by her daughter, the Hereditary Grand Duchess María Teresa, who often wore it in the 1990s, including for the Wedding Gala of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Sibilla Weiller and also for the Wedding of Prince Franz Josef von Auersperg-Trautson and Archduchess Maria Constanza of Austria in 1994
Hereditary Grand Duchess María Teresa also wore the baguette Diamond Necklace with the Diamond Floral Tiara for the Belgian State Visit to Luxembourg in 1994 and with the Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara for the King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 50th Birthday Banquet in 1995.
After Grand Duke Henri’s Accession in 2000, Grand Duchess María Teresa only wore the baguette Diamond Necklace on a couple of occasions, notably with the Chaumet Emerald Tiara and also for the Wedding Gala of Prince of Asturias in 2004. After the Grand Duke’s Abdication later this year, maybe we will see this heirloom worn again soon?
Luxembourg Empire Tiara | Belgian Scroll Tiara | Luxembourg Chaumet Emerald Tiara | Chaumet Choker Tiara | Vine Leaves Tiara | Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Emerald Peacock Tiara | Aquamarine Tiara | Turquoise Tiara | Citrine and Pearl Tiara | Diamond Floral Tiara
