Her love of books, TV, and movies has given her a passion for anything and everything pop culture. Margaret died in 2002, and by 2006, her two children were facing a massive estate tax bill. Traditionally, Queen Elizabeth II would loan out crown jewels to brides for their royal weddings: she did so for Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice, among others. The tiara was last worn by Lady Poltimore at her wedding in 1856. But the image remained ingrained in minds everywhere so much so that The Crown included a scene about it in season three. The diadem has a rich history. It was lent to the Duchess of Sussex by Queen Elizabeth II, and she looked stunning wearing it. This is a very traditional-looking crown made from silver, gold, diamonds, and pearls. People came. All rights reserved. Lord Snowdons work was displayed for the first time in 2006 during an exhibition of his work. Princess Margaret wore the Poltimore Tiara to her royal wedding in 1960. According to its Christie's listing, one only needs a small screwdriver to reconfigure the diamond tiara. The Tiara headlined the sale, and was auctioned for926,400 ($1,704,576) to a private Asian buyer. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. sold this and other items at an auction at Christie's in 2006 to pay the inheritance tax due on her estate. The sale of the tiara has been described as a "sad day" for the royal family. Dare we say he's a step ahead of the trends? The Diamond Sunburst Tiara was a large sapphire crystal with a central gem that has not been seen in public since the 1950s. Her children decided to sell some of her jewelry to cover estate taxes that they would have to pay as a result of her death in 2002. THE 'POLTIMORE TIARA' Designed as a graduated line of cushion-shaped and old-cut diamond clusters alternating with diamond-set scroll motifs, each surmounted by old-cut diamond terminals, to the collet-set diamond line, mounted in silver and gold, circa 1870, 19.2 cm. After her death, the tiara was part of an auction of her estate by her children, Earl Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto, and raised an incredible 926,400. In the trailer, we see Princess Margaret, played by Helena Bonham Carter, posing for a photograph in her bathtub wearing nothing but a diamond tiara. Email This BlogThis! "Getting rid of anything is not my natural habitat," he added. What Does Harry and Meghans Eviction From Frogmore Cottage Mean for Their Future in the U.K.? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. All the essentials: top fashion stories, editors picks, and celebrity style. A year and a half later, on 6 May, 1960, Princess Margaret wore the tiara on the most important of occasions: her wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones. The Queen wore her newest tiara, the Burmese Ruby Tiara, for the performance. According to Vogue, a piece of brown ribbon was laced into the framework of the tiara so that when Princess Margaret wore it, only the cloth would sink into her hair while the rest of the sparkling diadem would be on full display. The Tiara and Diamond Hoop Necklace were pictured on the 2nd Duchess at the Coronation of King George V in 1911, though it is not known if both jewels were still in her possession or on loan from Queen Mary, who acquired both pieces from her brother and sister-in-law at some point. The tiara was originally made for Lady Poltimore by Garrard, and Princess Margaret purchased it for 5,500. The Princess wore the tiara in its form as a splendid fringe necklace on several occasions before her actual marriage, and also as a necklace and brooches on many State and official functions throughout the rest of her life. For starters, Margaret's decision to marry the society photographer made her the first daughter of a British king to marry a "commoner" in hundreds of years. Unlike other tiaras that were made or received by the royals as gifts, it is believed that the Princess bought this tiara for herself for her wedding. When Princess Margaret died in 2002, her children inherited her jewelry collection. Materials: 14K Yellow Gold Chain Type: Omega Necklace Length: 18.25" Necklace Closure Type: Lobster Claw Hallmarks: 14K EMA Total Weight (grams): 3.80 dwt Primary Stone(s) Type: saphir Primary Stone(s) Dimensions: 10.00 mm 7.00 mm Secondary Stone(s) Type: Diamond Secondary Stone(s) Shape: Round Brilliant Cut Secondary Stone(s) Dimensions: 1.20 mm - 1.30 mm Total Secondary Stone(s) Carat . I love to design and create beautiful and fabulous jewelry! Princess Margaret was known for wearing the Poltimore Tiara, one of her most famous pieces of jewelry. Getty Images The Poltimore Tiara, with diamond scrolls evoking flora, flowers, and nature, is the epitome of Victorian-era jewelry. While most royal Princesses only wear a tiara for the first time on their wedding day, Margaret wore her Poltimore Tiara on multiple occasions as an unmarried woman. The late Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon would have turned 87 next week. Tons of designers are showing this regal accessory at Bridal Fashion Weekand NFL star Earl Thomas donned one for his nuptials! Following her death in 2002, Christies held an auction of Princess Margarets private collection. The Poltimore Tiara was originally created by Garrards in 1870 for Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore. But the image remained ingrained in minds everywhereso much so that The Crown included a scene about it in season three. She paired it with other diamond and ruby jewels, including the Ruby Floret Earrings (most recently seen on the Countess of Wessex ), the Baring Ruby Necklace, and the Diamond and Ruby Art Deco Bracelet. Enter your name and email address below to subscribe to our weekly newsletter! By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Were saluting her birthday by featuring her Poltimore Tiara. It's thought that Princess Margaret bought it at an auction in early 1959, and she wore it as a necklace before wearing it as a tiara for the first time on her wedding day. The auction also included a diamond necklace that belonged to Princess Margaret and was given to her by her husband, Lord Snowdon. I think that for whoever bought it there should have been a proviso that they had to wear it at a public event every couple of years. Princess Margaret used to loan it to her. This piece was made by Garrard in 1870 for Lady Poltimore, the second Baron Poltimores wife and treasurer to Queen Victorias household from 1872 to 1874. Despite having access to the crown jewels (the Duchess of Cambridge, for example, wears tiaras lent to her by the queen) the then 29-year-old wanted something she could call her own. When worn, the tiara almost appears to float. Following Margarets death, her children, Earl Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto, auctioned off the tiara for 926,400 at an auction. Princess Diana received a bracelet as a 21st-birthday gift in 1951. Along with quite a few of Margarets other jewels (though not all of her tiaras, it should be noted), the Poltimore was auctioned at Christies in London that July. Copyright Infringement It made me appreciate the Princess even more, this sense of royal jewelry taste that dared to spread beyond the boundaries of diamond tiaras and three strands of pearls. It was acquired in 1959 before the official announcement by H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on 26th February 1960 of the engagement of H.R.H. She must have loved it to do that.. Worthy, Inc. operates from 45 W 45th St, 4th Floor New York, NY 10036, Princess bought this tiara for herself for her wedding. The diadem has a rich history. A year and a half later, on May 6, 1960, Princess Margaret wore the tiara on the most important of occasions: her wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones. One of the unique features of the Poltimore tiara was that it was versatile. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. There is no way of knowing whether any other royals have ever worn the Poltimore tiara because it is such an unusual addition to the collection. In 1959, Baron Poltimore auctioned the Tiara for 5,500, when it was bought by Princess Margaret, who wore it for the first time at an Opera Performance for the Shah of Iran. Then, she wore it again to an event at the Royal Opera House later that year, though she altered it as a necklace for the latter event. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara was given to Princess May of Teck (later Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeths grandmother) as a wedding present by a committee of women. Christie's sold the tiara for a record-breaking 1.25 million in 2017. NFL Player Earl Thomas Ahead of Bridal Fashion Week? Lady Poltimore bought the tiara from Garrard, the royal jewellers, in 1870, and wore it for the coronation of King George V in 1911. It is a completely closed circuit, which is quite rare. And yet, she was also, always, a Royal princess, only sister to the Queen, a Princess who never relinquished her royal sense of herself, her royal hauteur. With the Lotus Flower Tiara and her pearl and diamond earrings, she wore the necklace setting of the tiara. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories, To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. Once introduced by Lord Snowdon, HRH visited the jewelers workshops and galleries, helped launch new collections, promoted their jewelry among the Windsors, and commissioned new works, sometimes offering her own gemstones. What I love about this piece is that it was used for formal and informal occasions, says Daphne Lingon, head of jewelry at Christies USA. Its whereabouts are unknown. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Yet it was on her wedding day, arriving at Westminster Abbey by horse-drawn carriage, that H.R.H. I do whatever is necessary to be the best at what I do. On her wedding day, Princess Margaret wore a bracelet, which will be auctioned off in Hong Kong. The Poltimore tiara originally belonged to Lady Poltimore, who bought the bedazzled diadem from royal jeweler Garrard back in 1870. It sold for a whopping 1.25 million ($1.9 million), a tiara that is currently worth around 39,300. Eleven years later, the portrait was removed from public view. Contributors This is because the framework is laced with a brown ribbon, which matched Margarets hair colour. Its such a pity that her children had to sell it to pay death duties. Princess Margaret loaned the Lozenge Bandeau to the Queen of England as her first tiara. It should come as no surprise, then, that her 1960 wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones was no different, including Princess Margaret's chosen wedding tiara. (Disobedience is my joy, she once said about herself.) Christies sold the tiara for 926,400 pounds (now worth around $1.1 million), raising funds for the Princesss childrens estate tax obligations. The tiara was uniquely designed as a closed circuit, as compared to other royal tiaras that are semi-circular in shape and do not actually encircle the entire head. Aside from Lady Poltimore, the original owner of the tiara, the Poltimore tiara is most closely linked to Princess Margaret. With the official trailer which came out in mid-October (watch below), we know that the costumes for this coming season are as spectacular as any weve seen. Princess Margaret, Countess Snowdon, will celebrate her 87th birthday next week. Princess Margaret wore the tiara as a fringe necklace frequently, and it now has a value of 39,300. On June 13, 2006, Christies auctioned off an estate with paintings, furniture, and other items, as well as Princess Margarets tiara. The diamond-encrusted figures include 4 crosses-patte (a Christian symbol) and 4 floral sprays that represent the national emblems of the UK. Garrard designed it so that it could be worn as a necklace or as 11 separate brooches. Thats a seriously convertible sparkler. And while this was unusual enough, there was another way Margaret broke with tradition. Margaret wore the Poltimore tiara to her wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones. The Story Behind Kim Kardashians Engagement Ring, Top 10 Featured Jewelry Auctions in February 2019, Top 10 Featured Auctions in September 2020, Introducing Season 3 of Divorce & Other Things You Can Handle, Top 10 Featured Auctions From November 2019. Composed of of diamonds in clusters and scroll motifs, the Poltimore Tiara was made by Garrards in the 1870s for Florence, Lady Poltimore, wife of the second Baron Poltimore. Being quite a tall tiara, the Poltimore gave the princess some much-desired extra height for the event. The tiara, which was purchased at public auction in January 1959 for 5,500 as a highly important tiara belonging to the Right Honourable Lord Poltimore (1889-1960), was auctioned off. The latest fashion news, beauty coverage, celebrity style, fashion week updates, culture reviews, and videos on Vogue.com. While the images shock value had much to do with, yes, the bathtub setting, its iconic status was achieved by the addition of the tiara: grand, glistening and, quite frankly, gargantuan. The Poltimore tiara is an heirloom that has been passed down through the Poltimore family for generations. Princess Margaret, who would marry Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon) the following year, snapped it up for a mere 5,500. The tiara was made of diamond scrolls set in a gold-and-silver metal frame. Her tiara was the largest in her collection and featured a bouffant-style top. Christies auctioned off a white gold and diamond tiara made of Poltimore in 2002 for 926,400 pounds (now worth around $1.1 million). The tiara passed to Constances daughter, Lady Dorothy Grosvenor, who wore it at her wedding in 1907. In 1902, Lady Poltimore wore her tiara at the Coronation of King Edward VII in Westminster Abbey.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'royalwatcherblog_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',648,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-royalwatcherblog_com-banner-1-0'); In 1953, at a Royal Opera Performance held on the eve of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Poltimore Tiara was worn by an unknown lady, probably LadyStucley, daughter of the 4th BaronPoltimore. She must've loved it to do that." "I have a lot of clutter. Margaret also wore the necklace version of the tiara, as you can see in the photograph above, taken at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1960. Given the simplicity of her Norman Hartnell wedding dress, Margaret opted to amp things up by styling the tiara with a cathedral-length silk and tulle veil that billowed dramatically behind her as she made her way down the aisle in Westminster Abbey. She was famously photographed wearing it, complete with a full . The necklace is comprising of 67 graduated round-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum. However, it was sold at Christies in 2002 for 926,400 pounds (now worth around $1.1 million) to help Princess Margarets children deal with estate tax. There are some interesting rules in how the investiture coronet should look. She left a fortune of 7.7 million (1.5m) when she died in 2002, according to current market prices. In 1977, for example, she wore it again for the shah of Irans state visit to the United Kingdom. In 1902, Lady Poltimore wore her tiara at the Coronation of King Edward VII in . Princess Margarets children auctioned off one of their mothers jewels, which was made of white gold and diamond. In 1856, Edward Poltimore, 1st Baron Poltimore, married Harriet Grosvenor, the eldest daughter of Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster. Ad Choices, Actor Graham McTavish Planned a Scottish Castle Wedding for His Bride, Garance Dor, Phil Ohs Best Street Style Photos From the Fall 2023 Shows in Paris, 70 Incredible Forgotten Photos From Vintage Oscar Nights. A History of the Queen Mother's Koh-i-Noor Crown, A Brief History of the Queen's Cullinan Diamonds, Rihanna Accessorized with Vintage Diamond Brooches, Behind the Launch of HIE Heirlooms of Hawai'i. Years later, Princess Diana would similarly cause a buzz when she turned down Queen Elizabeth's Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara in favor of a family heirloom, the Spencer tiara. Press Annes daughter, Lady Sarah Spencer-Churchill, wore the tiara at her wedding in 1956. Her necklace was also used as a bath accessory, as was her tiara. Hinged lid opens to interior compartment for hiding your secret treasures PICK UP IN PIERREFONDS Despite having access to the crown jewels (the Duchess of Cambridge, for example, wears tiaras lent to her by the Queen) the then 29-year-old Margaret wanted something she could call her own. Margaret famously sent Grima some lichen with which to create a gold brooch, Bartos says, and the princess wore the jewelry often "along with her au courant hairdos, glamorous sunglasses and stylish dresses.".