Today's sparkler goes by a few different names: commonly known as the Belgian Scroll Tiara or Société Générale Tiara, it is sometimes also referred to as Josephine-Charlotte's Belgian Tiara. From time to time even Congo is thrown somewhere in the name. All of these names reference either or both to the shape and the origin of the tiara.
This diamond tiara was made by Henry Coosemans in 1953 and features arched and tapered forms with stylised crescent, palmette and scroll motifs. The tiara is made of no less than 854 diamonds with a total weight of 46.42 carats and set in platinum. All diamonds come from the former colony of Belgium, Congo. The tiara includes a detachable diamond of 8.10 carats to be worn as a ring. The central panel can also be detached and worn as a brooch. Sotheby's estimated the value of the piece between 80.000 and 140.000 euros.
The tiara was given to then Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium on the occassion of her wedding to Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg by the Société Générale, a multinational bank with strong ties to Belgium, in 1953. Thus, the piece was personal property of the Grand Duchess until her death.
For her actual wedding ceremony, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte wore the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara, but for some reason - maybe the small size of the aforementioned tiara - she opted to also take wedding pictures with this tiara, which is totally fine with me and most tiara lovers out there, I suppose.
Throughout her married life, the Belgian Scroll Tiara remained a favourite of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte. She wore it frequently for state visits, national day galas and other tiara events at home and abroad, even after her husband Grand Duke Jean abdicated. She lent it to her daughter-in-law Princess Sibilla on a number of occasions.
After the death of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, the family decided that they wanted to sell many of her jewels. Among them this tiara as well as the aforementioned Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara. The sale was already being prepared when a public outcry in the Luxembourg started. The public started to question everything, from the finances of the Grand Ducal Family to the relationships between family members.
Polls showed that 79 percent of Luxembourgers were firmly against the sell of their late Grand Duchess' jewellery and thus the family stopped the sale. Though it did not stop them from selling most of the jewels anyway, just in quieter fashion. Nevertheless, the sparkler was saved from being sold off and is now frequently worn by Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa.
Sources: Wort, Point de Vue, Sotheby's
The tiara was given to then Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium on the occassion of her wedding to Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg by the Société Générale, a multinational bank with strong ties to Belgium, in 1953. Thus, the piece was personal property of the Grand Duchess until her death.
Throughout her married life, the Belgian Scroll Tiara remained a favourite of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte. She wore it frequently for state visits, national day galas and other tiara events at home and abroad, even after her husband Grand Duke Jean abdicated. She lent it to her daughter-in-law Princess Sibilla on a number of occasions.
Polls showed that 79 percent of Luxembourgers were firmly against the sell of their late Grand Duchess' jewellery and thus the family stopped the sale. Though it did not stop them from selling most of the jewels anyway, just in quieter fashion. Nevertheless, the sparkler was saved from being sold off and is now frequently worn by Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa.
Sources: Wort, Point de Vue, Sotheby's
