The Diamond Diadem or sometimes the “George IV State Diadem” is made up of 1,333 round, oval and cushion-cut diamonds, set into what was then the “new transparent style” of setting made of silver layered with gold. This new innovation in tiara framework sits a top a sandwich base: two bands of cultured white pearls on either side of even more brilliant-cut diamonds. The Diamond Diadem is only 19 inches in circumference, so go measure your melon and decide where you’d wear it. 
By using the new transparent framework Philip Liebart, chief designer and jewel-setter at Rundell, Bridge & Rundell was able to create each of the intricate “patriotic devices” that alternate between four gently convex crosses-paty. This new symbol combined a rose, a thistle and two shamrocks, the national emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland, respectively. The new motif obviously drew on the Act of Union of 1800 which gave rise to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland. Less glaring today was George IVs choice to omit the fleur-de-lys from the English regalia. Guess they finally came to terms with the fact that they had no claim to the 
French throne as it no longer existed. Nature refusing to be outdone by such meticulous craftsmanship, the central cross-paty centers arounds a 4-carat pale yellow diamond. The Diamond Diadem was created for the coronation of George IV. In 1840, the order was placed with the court jewelers, Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. The commission was completed in May of the same year. [you go, RB&R! Tiaras.yeah! ]
The bill came to £290 for the setting which frankly sounds cheap even for almost 200 years ago. The truth most curious is that the 1,333 brilliants used to fill said frame were rented and that ran him £800. The terms of the loan were such that George IV returned them after the coronation. It was customary 
for the coronation jewels to be rented. It’s comforting to know everybody’s got an opulence limit. Curoisly, it did not seem George returned the stones. A much heftier bill appeared in the Privy Purse Accounts totalling £8,216. George settled his tab for both diamonds and diadem by bartering older stones from his personal, bottomless hoard of precious jewels. 
Why weren’t they good enough to fill the diadem frame? As most of us have already figured out, George IV was the only male royal to ever wear the Diamond Diadem. It was barely visible beneath a huge, velvet ‘Spanish’ hat and ostrich plume. [barely see above.] Since then only Queen Consorts and Regents have sported this sparkler. Queen Adelaide began the tradition [sans Spanish sack hat] during her husband William IVs reign. Sir David Wilkie painted her wearing the Diamond Diadem and her famous diamond brooch but I’ve yet to find an image with a decent resoluion. So here’s one with crummy resolution. [See right.]
When William IV passed away, Queen Adelaide passed what she saw was crown jewels to Victoria.
Queen Victoria wore the Diamond Diadem frequently until Prince Albert died. The heartbroken monarch wore her widow’s weeds for the rest of her life and shunned much of her jewelry; Albert commemorated every milestone with a gemstone. This included the Diamond Diadem, it reminded the Queen of the blithe days of youth. 
Over the years, the State Diadem has accommodated slight tweaks for a few queens. First Queen Victoria in 1838. In 1902 & 1937, respectively, Queen Consorts Alexandra and Elizabeth [née Bowes-Leon] both used the official court jeweller Garrad for their tiara tailoring.
Queen Alexandra wearing the Diamond Diadem
Mary of Teck with King George V (left, right) More of Queen Mary dripping in diamonds
Elizabeth first wore the diadem on November 4, 1952, the first time she opened Parliment and has done so every year since.
queen elizabeth opens parliment 1952
history buff, jewelry whore, chatterbox, mets fan
tiaras and trianon 
Hurrah! Love this post! 🙂
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Do you know if you like the post or the subject matter? Everyone goes ga-ga for the Diamond Diadem…myself included.
What do you think? Theodora brings up a salient point. Why do you think the Diadem looks good on every head?
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Course I liked the post! Why does it look good on every head? Because it’s ‘even’ and consistent? It’s small enough for the smallest head…
What do you think?
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I think you’re right. I always thought it was bigger but 7 cm high is dainty indeed.
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🙂
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Tiara Time, indeed. The Diamond Diadem! It would have been my favorite. (I especially love the portrait of Queen Victoria.) Interesting tidbits. Why do I love it so? Perhaps because it looks great on all heads. And that’s not always the case. It must possess mysterious powers. Ah, the queens not only look regal but also powerful. Poised. Beautiful, too. I need such a statement piece in my life!
Enjoy the week!
Theadora
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That painting is by Thomas Sully from 1838.
It is the tiara to end all tiaras, dear T. Iconic to the point that I’ve been avoiding the post on it. To wear it, you have to be a British monarch or be married to one. It’s like the Lincoln Bedroom but everyone recognises it. [I couldn’t pick the Lincoln bedroom out of a crowd!] You bring up an excellent point. *Why does the Diamond Diadem look good on all heads? The uniform height and symetry? The “stats” book says 19 cm dia. and 7.5 cm high. Food for thought por (de?) la semaine.
Thanks for swinging by & commenting!
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Maybe I’ll create a model out tin foil. Thanks for the stats. Sometimes one size does the trick! Say, have you seen the crown-shaped canopy hood in the Lincoln Bedroom? I think they recently restored Mary’s headboard . . . ~T.
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No I haven’t! I’m such a sucker for Interior design too.
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Crown-shaped, to boot!
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drool
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The (ermine?) portrait of Victoria–she looks very relaxed in the tiara, looking over her shoulder as if to say, “Oh, there you are, darling!”
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she does have a nonchalance about her!
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I just don’t know how I would feel having that much money (and history!) sitting on my head. The crown would be worth more than my head. 😉 Great post!
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oh don’t worry, there are much more historic and expensive tiaras out there. I think the real chore would be sleeping with the King of England. :p
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No representation for Wales in the Union emblem. Think what a daffodil, leek, or dragon could do.
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I’m shocked that the daffodil did not make the cut! Thank you for commenting Fabrisse!
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