Tiara made for the French Princess Marie-Therese, Duchess of Angouleme

Circa 1820

A tiara is a jeweled head ornament.  Its origins date back to the ancient Greco-Rome world.  In the late 18th century, the tiara came into fashion in Europe as a prestigious piece of jewelry to be own by women at formal occasions.  The basic shape of the modern tiara is a semi-circle, usually made of silver, gold or platinum and richly decorated with precious stones and pearls.  Tiaras were extremely popular during the late 19th century and were worn at events where the dress code was white tie.  After WWI, wearing a tiara gradually fell out of fashion, except for official occasions at a royal court.  Interest in tiaras has increased again since the beginning of the 21st century.  

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II was said to have had the largest and most valuable collection of tiaras in the world, many of which are heirlooms of the British Royal Family.  She was often seen wearing them on state occasions.  

In modern times, tiaras continue to symbolize love, unity and royalty making them a popular choice for modern day brides seeking to add a touch of sophistication to their wedding day look.