The Historic Royal Palaces celebrated the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth earlier this year by releasing this amazing video which shows the spectacular diamond Kokoshnik Tiara being transformed into a necklace.

This fringe tiara, also known as Queen Alexandra's Fringe Tiara, was commissioned for her 25th wedding anniversary in 1888.  Queen Alexandra, then the Princess of Wales, was the consort of Queen Victoria's eldest son, the future King Edward VII.


This was a time when the British aristocracy were title rich but cash poor - it is estimated that around that time, nearly a fifth of British noblemen had to marry rich American heiresses, the so-called Dollar Princesses, to keep their estates going.  So a group of society ladies had to pool their resources together to pay for this gift.

When asked what design she liked, Queen Alexandra  said she admired the tiara of her sister, Maria Feodorovna, the Empress of Russia. It was in the style of the kokoshnik (Russian for cock's comb), a traditional Russian headdress.



Marie  Feodorovna was the mother of the last Tsar of Russia



The tiara was later passed down to Queen Alexandra's daughter in-law, Queen Mary who in turned bequeathed it to her granddaughter, the present Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Alexandra (left) and Queen Mary (right)

Queen Elizabeth II has consistently worn this particular tiara throughout her long reign.  It's simple style makes it easy for her to match with her other jewels.

Queen Elizabeth II

The video clearly shows the striking vertical bars of white gold pave set with 488 diamonds.

The jeweler carefully removes the connected bars from the frame so it can be flipped into a necklace.




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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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