Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding Tiara Imagined by Top Jewelers
Sketch courtesy of InStyle
Chopard's vision for Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding tiara
Score one for Team Camilla!
As the Duchess of Cornwall attempts to persuade Kate Middleton to forgo wearing flowers in her hair in favor of a traditional wedding tiara, a slew of top jewelers have jumped on the royal bandwagon. Top jewelers from Chopard to Van Cleef and Arpels have dreamed up some dazzlers that they’d like to see on the bride’s crown, and have shared their designs with InStyle.
Middleton—who will be attended to by six hairstylists—was said to be considering the Queen’s $10.5 million Strathmore Rose Tiara for her April 29 walk in Westminster Abbey before the idea of wearing flowers blossomed. But after seeing some of the InStyle creations, her head might be in a different place.
Chopard came up with a delicate tiara of round and pear-shaped diamonds that together form a peacock in front. Also keeping it classic: Tacori and Royal Asscher, which has a history of crafting for the Crown Jewels collection. Designer Reena Ahluwalia combined Asscher-cut diamonds as well as pear- and round-shaped white diamonds for a floral-inspired tiara to be worn across the forehead.
“Flowers and buds represent nature’s most beautiful creations,” said Ahluwalia, “and here they symbolize the blossomed love between Kate and Prince William.”
Van Cleef and Arpels fashioned a slim, updo-worthy topper set in 18kt white gold with round and pear-shaped diamonds and round sapphires. Judith Ripka, meanwhile, envisioned something more elaborate, with intertwining strands, flowers, a heart, and blue stones adorning each of the tiara’s tips.
Fenton/Fallon went slightly edgier: an asymmetric, mixed-cut diamond and platinum tiara with a diamond pavé braided base that would look right at home on a Grecian goddess. Alexis Bittar, meanwhile, came up with a tall, coiling art-nouveau piece reminiscent of Middleton’s feathered fascinator hats.
Isharya’s gold-set tiara was inspired by its shattered mirror-glass collection, while John Hardy opted for a light, airy design resembling the sails of a boat. Rodrigo Otazu for Swarovski created two tiaras, both very pointy and influenced by fairy tales, arrows, and modern architecture.
Anita Ko believes Middleton is England’s most precious bird, “So my tiara is a bouquet of beautiful rose gold feathers with diamond stems,” she said. “I feel like she brings excitement and glamour to the royal family, and she looks radiantly happy, like she’s flying.”
Middleton will be even happier if she gets her way on her wedding day, but perhaps she can strike a compromise with Camilla by wearing a tiara by Cathy Waterman or Johnny Rocket for Swarovski.
Waterman’s bohemian-like headgear consists of a twiglike halo decked out with nine leafy buds, while Rocket went pre-Raphaelite with a metal-palladium and rose Welsh gold tiara that features a Swarovski crystal mesh “veil” and—wait for it!—pavé set roses made from amethyst signity stones.
Whether she opts for blooms or bling, Middleton will no doubt sparkle on her big day.
See all the tiara sketches on InStyle.com.
Plus, see which accessory Prince William will go without.
