Indeed, I needed some time to get warm with this tiara. But now I guess it is very underestimated.
The design follows a well thought-out, convincing concept, much more than for example the sapphire tiara (lovely, but just a necklace on wire) or the nice but a little bit pieced together aquamarine tiara.
The scetches posted by Maridje shows this design concept very well. Interesting by the way the arrangements of the rubies in the draft. They are put together asymmetrically. Like pollen leaves which looses up the strict form and gives the design a more naturalistic touch. Very thoughtful. But in the executed jewel the rubies has been arranged like petals and symmetric. A red flower in a white flower. Certainly more regal, indeed the english symbol, but also a lot more stiff. Perhaps the rubies of the necklace used were cut and for pollen leaves carbochons would have been the better choice.
A more technical question: the setting of the rubies in yellow gold make sense but why silver instead of platinium for the Diamonds in the 70s? I always thought it would be lighter than silver (and donīt tarnish).
As I am suffering from overload during this bushfire season and cannot put my mind to things, I thought I would introduce a topic which needs no great thought --
QEII's Burmese ruby tiara.
Do you love it, hate it, or are neutral?
Some reasons for points of view might help others shape their opinions.
Some might even like to outline the history of the jewels which went into this tiara, as not everyone is familiar with how QEII sourced the gemstones for this jewel.
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