Cartier Tiara in The V&A Museum

How uplifting is this tiara?! Currently sits in the V&A museum where I’m excited to be giving a talk later this month. Made in 1903 for Consuelo, the Cuban American Duchess of Manchester (pictured, centre), using over a thousand of her own diamonds, it was designed in the elegant 18th century garland style for which the Cartiers were just becoming so well known. When Consuelo married the Duke of Manchester in 1876, she became one of the first in a long line of 'dollar princesses' who were shipped over from America to bring a much needed boost of new-money funds to the land-rich but cash-poor British aristocracy. Later her namesake god-daughter, Consuelo Vanderbilt (pictured, left, but not in the same tiara!), would follow suit marrying the Duke of Marlborough in 1895 and through the early years of the 20th century, both Consuelos would become excellent clients of the Cartiers. After all, in an era where one changed one's outfits multiple times a day (from tea gowns with a string of pearls to a ball gown with diamonds), there was no shortage of demand for the high-end jewellers.

Consuelo had six years to enjoy this tiara before she passed away in 1909. After that the tiara passed not to one of her daughters but to her American daughter-in-law (pictured, right), despite the fact that Consuelo had not approved of her son's choice in bride (the wedding had been kept secret from her). Today you can see this tiara up close in the jewellery gallery @vamuseum , where I will be on the day of my book launch, November 26th (next page). The talk has sold out but, for those who would have liked to be there, I'm hoping to do another ticketed London lecture in the New Year. If you'd be interested in attending, let me know in the comments below and I'll keep you updated. Would also love to hear what you think of this tiara! #thecartiersbook #tiaras #duchess #edwardianjewelry