Yesterday marked the 130th Anniversary of the Birth of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, who was born in 1895! The Sovereign of the world’s only Grand Duchy during one of its most tumultuous periods, Grand Duchess Charlotte also possessed a magnificent jewellery collection, the most iconic jewel of which is the Luxembourg Chaumet Emerald Tiara!
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In 1926, Prince Felix of Luxembourg sent a variety of old family jewels, including a massive 45-carat pear-shaped Emerald given to the Grand Ducal Family by Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria in 1859, to Chaumet to commission a new Tiara, which consisted of an Art Deco design culminating in a point that displayed the massive inverted pear-shaped Emerald.
The Chaumet Emerald Tiara was delivered around Christmas in 1926, and quickly became a favourite of Grand Duchess Charlotte, first appearing at the Wedding of Crown Prince Leopold of Belgium to Princess Astrid of Sweden.
During WWII, Grand Duchess Charlotte was a notable figure of the resistance against Nazi Germany, and the symbolism surrounding her is said to have inspired the famous Wonder Woman Tiara, which is quite similar to the Chaumet Emerald Tiara.
The Tiara continued to be a favourite after the War, and was often worn by Grand Duchess Charlotte in the years up to her abdication in 1964, and later on as well.
However, the Chaumet Emerald Tiara was not as much of a favourite of her daughter-in-law, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte, who notably wore it ,for a series of portraits as well as for Crown Prince Haakon’s 18th Birthday in 1991 and for King Harland and Queen Sonja’s Silver Anniversary in 1993, usually with her Emerald Peacock Necklace.
The Chaumet Emerald Tiara became a favourite of Grand Duchess Maria Theresa in the 2000s, worn most notably in her early portraits, and also at the 2011 Noble Prize Ceremony. She has often paired it with Queen Astrid’s Emerald Choker and Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte’s Emerald Earrings, though the Tiara hasn’t been publicly worn in almost a decade. Lets hope we get to see this magnificent Art Deco Heirloom again soon.
Princess Alexandra wore the Chaumet Emerald Tiara for the first time, along with the Antique Emerald Earrings and Emerald Bangle for the Luxembourg New Years Reception in 2023.
Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore the Chaumet Emerald Tiara for the first time at the State Banquet for the Czech President and First Lady.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1271724108942839808
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