Princess Eugenie's wedding will no doubt kindle interest in head ornaments as brides to be are inspired to look for that princess-like final touch to their wedding outfit.
The tiara has evolved from humble wreaths of leaves and flowers worn at religious ceremonies to splendid symbols of powers in which the most magnificent jewels are displayed, shedding a cascade of almost magical light on the wearer. In the last few decades, tiaras have began to fade out but the grandest of families still have a few gathering dust in the safe. Most tiaras are made so that they can be taken apart and the jewels worn separately on less grand occasions. Tiaras are still made today by the oldest jewellery houses such as Chaumet, Boucheron, Cartier, Garrard and Van Cleef & Arpels, that have maintained the tradition despite dwindling interest. It is no surprise that countries such as Japan and the Middle East who have a monarchy are still markets for these head ornaments.
