British Royal Jewels: The Smaller Aquamarine Tiara

This is one of those tiaras reappearance of which caused quite a lot of surprise: most royal watchers had completely forgotten about it because it was believed to have been broken up decades ago.

The Smaller Aquamarine Tiara

In 1971 the Queen made some changes to the Aquamarine Tiara (made by Gerrards to compliment the Queen’s Brazilian Aquamarine Parure), using stones and parts from an existing smaller aquamarine tiara. Back then and until last year most experts assumed that the Smaller Aquamarine Tiara had been dismantled to create the new piece. And since this tiara hasn't been seen since 1970s, there was absolutely no reason to doubt that. 

And then the Countess of Wessex quashed those neat theories by wearing the Smaller Aquamarine Tiara to the pre-wedding gala of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy in October of 2012.