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The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara Posted by Sam (The Beau Monde) on August 16, 2020, 11:13 pm Good afternoon all, hope we are still keeping safe and well. I am trying to stop procrastinating and finish my series on the Vladimir legacy and I could do with some help on my last article, the Vladimir Tiara. Does anyone know why the Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara looks so similar to the Vladimir. I know the Nancy Leeds and the Princess Paley versions were made because Grand Duchess Vladimir left the tiara at Cartier in 1911 for cleaning. But the Bulgari one was made in 1935, long after Queen Mary bought it from Princess Nicolas. As far as I know, Queen Mary had no dealings with Bulgari. I suppose what I'm asking is there any evidence that Infanta Beatriz said 'Make me one like cousin Mary's' or did Bulgari go 'that's a good idea for a tiara?' Thanks as always x

Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara Posted by Mike on August 17, 2020, 9:24 am, in reply to "The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara" Hi Sam, A most interesting question. And yet another mystery for us to work on. Mike Previous Message Good afternoon all, hope we are still keeping safe and well. I am trying to stop procrastinating and finish my series on the Vladimir legacy and I could do with some help on my last article, the Vladimir Tiara. Does anyone know why the Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara looks so similar to the Vladimir. I know the Nancy Leeds and the Princess Paley versions were made because Grand Duchess Vladimir left the tiara at Cartier in 1911 for cleaning. But the Bulgari one was made in 1935, long after Queen Mary bought it from Princess Nicolas. As far as I know, Queen Mary had no dealings with Bulgari. I suppose what I'm asking is there any evidence that Infanta Beatriz said 'Make me one like cousin Mary's' or did Bulgari go 'that's a good idea for a tiara?' Thanks as always x

Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara Posted by Beth on August 17, 2020, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara" I suspect that the size of the aquamarine drops dictated, to a certain degree, the style of the remodelled tiara. Queen Ena wearing her original tiara. Vincent Meylan in Bvlgari. Treasures of Rome noted that the firm made the new tiara in 1935 as the original was designed to be worn with a voluminous hairstyle. By making the aquamarine drops removable a more versatile tiara resulted. I think that other tiaras with loops/circles existed independently of the Vladimir tiara. Cartier has acknowledged that some of its creations were based on the Vladimir tiara, but I doubt if any competent designer, goldsmith and gem setter would need to physically examine the Vladimir tiara to create a similar jewel. I am intrigued as to which of the following came first. The diamond and pearl tiara of Grand Duchess Marie, Duchess of Edinburgh or the Vladimir? Does anyone know when this tiara was made? If it was part of the jewellery given to her by her father when she married, then her tiara, which is arguably grander in style than the Vladimir, may pre-date the Vladimir. Stefano Papi in The Jewels of the Romanovs notes that the Vladimir tiara was probably made by Bolin around the time of Maria Pavlovna's wedding in 1874. Maria Pavlovna married in August 1874. Grand Duchess Marie married in January 1874. So, if her tiara with the circles was part of her wedding gifts, then it pre-dates the Vladimir. I have come across numerous other loop/circle tiara. For most I know nothing about when the individual jewels were made. Grand Duchess Marie's daughter, Queen Marie of Romania had one. It is similar in design to one worn by Princess Muna of Jordan We recently discussed one worn by Lady Anne Glenconner. Lady Rose Baring has also worn one when accompanying QEII to the Opening of Parliament. Lady Rose Baring The Countess of Antrim has also worn one Countess of Antrim at the 1911 Coronation. At the Opening of Parliament in 1924 Other tiaras I have noticed are a variation on the theme. A not very elegant or successful version Another variation But back to the original question posed by Sam. I suspect that primarily it was the size and shape of the aquamarines which dictated that one of two or three styles would be suitable. But whether the suggestion for a tiara based on diamond circles came from the Infanta, her husband, the jewellers or even Queen Ena is something I can only guess about.

Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara Posted by OmerH on August 17, 2020, 6:04 pm, in reply to "Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara" Great work Beth!!! I had no idea so many loops tiaras existed. Looking at these two makes me wish we had an all diamond option for the Vladimir aswell. Princess Paley's tiara Nancy Leeds tiara

Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara Posted by Stefan on August 18, 2020, 12:48 am, in reply to "Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara" What in wonder about the spanish aquamrine tiarta. The remdelled Version has much more aquamarine drops then the Oringinal Version. Previous Message Great work Beth!!! I had no idea so many loops tiaras existed. Looking at these two makes me wish we had an all diamond option for the Vladimir aswell. Princess Paley's tiara Nancy Leeds tiara

Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara Posted by OmerH on August 18, 2020, 1:43 am, in reply to "Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara" The original had 7 aqua drops The same as in the new version: However the new tiara has 9 hoops and as you can see in the above picture the end elements have a stylized diamond swirl.

Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara Posted by Franck on August 18, 2020, 6:37 pm, in reply to "Re: The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara" This Aquamarine tiara is incredible ! Previous Message The original had 7 aqua drops The same as in the new version: However the new tiara has 9 hoops and as you can see in the above picture the end elements have a stylized diamond swirl.

Other Bulgari tiara Posted by Janet on August 18, 2020, 10:21 pm, in reply to "The Spanish Bulgari Aquamarine Tiara" Has Bulgaria created other tiaras? They dont often get mentioned in the way that Chaumet, Cartier, Garrad do.

Re: Other Bulgari tiara Posted by Beth on August 20, 2020, 7:57 am, in reply to "Other Bulgari tiara" In his book Bvlgari Vincent Meylan indicates that the firm made a number of tiaras during the 1930s. One jewel, which Vincent Meylan details, was a diamond sautoir, which could be disassembled to form a tiara and bracelets. Another, which he details, was made in 1930. That tiara appears to have been in the Albion Art Collection at one time-- if this Pinterest site is correct. https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/538602436661105700/ One of the issues hampering identification mentioned by Vincent Meylan is that not all the records from the 1930s have survived. This link shows Gina Lollobrigida wearing a tiara which could also be worn as a necklace and bracelets. See https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/36028865741500448/?d=t&mt=login

Re: Other Bulgari Tiaras Posted by Tiara Mania on August 24, 2020, 11:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Other Bulgari tiara" There are a couple other Bulgari tiaras but I haven't found many A diamond tiara that was loaned to Princess Tatiana of Greece for Prince Carl Philip's wedding in 2015 and to Franziska Balzer at her wedding to Prince Maximilian of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg in 2016. And two convertible necklace tiaras that are both made using multi-colored sapphires

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