Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Queen Maxima reached for one of the most stunning set of jewels in the Dutch royal vaults as she attended a glittering gala dinner in Kenya.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands are currently in Kenya for a State Visit following an invitation from the country’s President, William Ruto. On the first day of the four day visit, President Ruto hosted the couple for a State Dinner where the Dutch Queen wore the stunning Sapphire Necklace Tiara.
The last king of the Netherlands called Willem bought this sparkler in the 19th century. He purchased this sapphire and diamond tiara from Maison van der Stichel in 1881 for his wife, Queen Emma. The tiara was made into a married parure with a coordinating necklace and the Sapphire Bow Brooch.
Set in yellow gold, the tiara has 33 large Ceylon sapphires and 665 diamonds. There is a thin band of diamonds as the base, a row of round sapphires, and a band diamond floral elements atop with a final row of diamond bursts. The central element features a larger sapphire flanked above and below by smaller sapphires that are surrounded by diamonds.
Queen Emma left the tiara to her granddaughter, Juliana. She wore it for both her pre-wedding portraits and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s 1937 coronation. Queen Maxima chose the tiara for King Willem-Alexander’s inauguration in 2013.
This tiara has multiple settings. Queen Maxima chose to wear one of the smaller settings in Kenya, with some of the diamond elements removed.
She paired it with the Sapphire Necklace Tiara with the Sapphire Bow Brooch. The brooch features a large, rectangular sapphire surrounded by a ribbon design in diamonds.