Jewels: Elisabeth's Vestey Tiara

On 17 June 2022 Crown Princess Elisabeth (20) wore a tiara for the first time in public, and what a tiara it was: a grand late 19th century diamond diadem!

Belgian Court confirmed this antique stunner was bought by Philippe & Mathilde for Elisabeth, as an 18th birthday present. They added that it will remain in the family. Is this a hint that a Foundation will at last be established to avoid major jewellery disappearing to distant branches, or being auctioned of as so often was the case in the past? Fingers crossed!

But what are the origins of this beautiful piece? So far Belgian Court has not answered this, but it seems "Russian_treasure" on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce8-xytIq4T/) has cracked the mystery:

"Yesterday's Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway's birthday gala was a long-awaited event for all those interested in royal jewels. One of the highlights of the white tie dinner was the debut of Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, wearing an antique diamond tiara of festoon design. It seems that jewelry fashion trends of The Belle Époque are still relevant today for a new generation of royals, including the 20-year-old Belgian heiress to the throne. An almost identical tiara with 11 pear-shaped pearls was in the possession of the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. No.169 in her personal jewelry collection, this piece was a gift from Tsar Nicholas II for their fourth Christmas together. A Fabergé invoice dated December 31, 1897 for the creation of a "diadem of pearls and diamonds (4,150 rubles)" has been preserved in the archives. The jewelry firm was at that time known as a sponge of all styles: "Fabergé's 'house style' was based on a judicious assimilation of earlier styles, imbued with Russian feeling, given a touch of lightness and elegance, and executed with unique curiosity." The Empress' tiara was not a unique creation, and it is quite possible that Fabergé was greatly inspired by the work of some other European jeweler. Or just added pearls to the original piece? Anyway, when in 1933 the Bolsheviks found the Romanov jewels, securely hidden since 1918 in the place of their exile in Tobolsk, they estimated the tiara at 25,000 rubles. It is also impossible to establish exactly who created the other tiara, known from a 1925 photograph of the American-born Lady Evelyn Vestey, consort of William, 1st Baron Vestey. But it definitely has nothing to do with the Romanovs. However, now I believe Lady Evelyn's tiara is connected to the Belgian Royal family. Perhaps at some point it was bought for the Duchess of Brabant."

On 18 May 1997 Lady Saffron Vestey wore the tiara when she married Matthew Charles Idiens.

Some of Lady Vestey’s great grandmother, Dame Nellie Melba’s jewellery was sold at Christie's in 2019. 

Other appearances:

At the Jordanian royal wedding in 2023.