Tiaras are the heart and soul of dressing up – twinklingly glamorous, they are many little (and grown-up) girl’s fantasy.
Their princess connotations make them a potent symbol, but a tiara can also lighten up the face in a striking way. The fairy tale faux-heirloom tiaras borrowed from Swarovski were one of the glittering joys of Netflix series Bridgerton. They were irresistible, as are the modern versions that have since been appearing on the catwalks.
For those with deep pockets, 19th and early 20th-century diamond and pearl tiaras are regularly appearing at auction. On Tuesday, May 11, a spectacular example steeped in the rich history of the House of Savoy, one of the world’s oldest royal families, went up for sale at Sotheby’s in Geneva.
In Paris, Chaumet has a heritage built on the creation of more than 2,000 tiaras since 1780. In the glorious Salon des diademes at its Place Vendome flagship, hundreds of silver nickel replicas are on display, which clients come to admire and draw on for inspiration before placing their orders. A new tiara takes two to six months to make.
Many of Chaumet’s earliest creations were made for Empress Josephine, who is the muse for a signature collection that has recently been updated and includes a pretty diamond tiara. Chaumet’s founder, Marie-Etienne Nitot, made many jewels for Napoleon and his wife, and the maison is highlighting that legacy this year, which is the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death, with an exhibition exploring their lives through works of art, correspondence and jewellery, including aigrettes and tiaras. It runs until Sunday, July 18.
If there is anywhere in the world that can bring tiaras back into everyday fashion, it's the Middle East
For those who can visit the French capital, there will be a fun digital and immersive opportunity as part of the exhibition to “try on” a cameo tiara and dress worn by the Empress. However, if travel is an obstacle, this can also be enjoyed remotely via filters on Chaumet’s Instagram.
There is a continuing fascination with historic tiaras. American author M J Rose's newest novel The Last Tiara was inspired by a Romanov tiara that has been missing since 1922, after the Russian Revolution.
Meanwhile, in the UK, there are as many column inches devoted to the tiaras worn by royal brides as there are to their wedding dresses.
For her lockdown wedding last summer, Princess Beatrice wore the Queen Mary Fringe tiara, which was made by royal jeweller Garrard in 1919 and worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne on their wedding days.
Beatrice, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and other royal princesses are the inspiration for the jeweller’s Princess collection of tiaras, which, as with all Garrard tiaras historically, incorporate a transformable element. The centrepiece can be worn as a stunning pendant.
“We’ve had a lot of interest from Chinese and Middle Eastern clients,” says the brand’s creative director, Sara Prentice. They either choose from Garrard’s readily available collection of tiaras, or commission a bespoke design where the creative process, she explains, is driven by the client’s preferred style, budget and occasion.
“From a design perspective, we strive to create pieces that are both wearable and timeless, and that ultimately meet the client’s needs.”
Another historic jewel in the Queen’s collection is the Halo Scroll tiara that Kate Middleton wore for her wedding to Prince William. It was originally bought from Cartier London in 1936 by the Duke of York for his wife (later George VI and the Queen Mother) for the coronation of Edward VIII.
Jacques Cartier received a flurry of orders for tiaras for that coronation, which created some jealousy among Jacques’s brothers in Paris and New York.
Tiaras could only be worn by married ladies and were de rigueur at court and for coronations, including that of Edward VII in 1902. Cartier London received 27 commissions from the various duchesses attending that event, which subsequently inspired Americans to flock to Paris to order tiaras from Cartier, which continues to make them to this day for Russian, Chinese and Middle Eastern clients.
There is a magic about historic tiaras that draws a crowd. The Hubner diamond piece from 1912 in the Bourbon Parma collection that Sotheby’s sold was one of the most viewed in the collection when it came to Dubai on exhibition in 2019, says Sophie Stevens, Sotheby’s jewellery specialist for the Middle East. The region, and China, are big markets for tiaras.
“Clients here adore them – and aren’t afraid of showing them off,” Stevens says. “There are many events and gatherings that are female-only, where tiaras and other head adornments are often worn.”
Popular styles include delicate bandeau or diadem designs, right through to regal tiaras with royal provenance. “If there is anywhere in the world that can bring tiaras back into everyday fashion,” she says, “it’s the Middle East.”
Mountain%20Boy
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The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10
*November 15 to November 24
*Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
*Tickets: Start at Dh10, from ttensports.com
*TV: Ten Sports
*Streaming: Jio Live
*2017 winners: Kerala Kings
*2018 winners: Northern Warriors
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Match info
UAE v Bolivia, Friday, 6.25pm, Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium, Dubai
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Specs
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GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
More on animal trafficking
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
