Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara

As one of the estimated 29 million people who watched the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, we were curious about the diamond tiara worn by Meghan on the big day.  Known as the Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau, the tiara was loaned to the bride from Queen Elizabeth. 

The tiara originally belonged to Queen Mary, who was married to King George V and Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother. Queen Mary commissioned the platinum bandeau tiara in 1932 to be designed around the detachable center brooch.  The brooch was a gift to Mary in 1893 from the Country of Lincoln upon her marriage to then-Prince George, Duke of York.  The tiara was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth upon Mary’s death in 1953.

The stunning central brooch is done in a classic style and features a large brilliant diamond in the center, which is surrounded by nine brilliant diamonds.  The flexible band is made up of “eleven sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds.”  Originally the piece was known as the Filgree Tiara and was worn by Queen Mary for less formal events such as Gala performances in the later years of her life.  Up until Meghan Markle beautifully donned the delicate tiara on her wedding day, it had not been seen in public for more than 60 years.

Padis Jewelry has an extensive selection of exquisite loose diamonds, engagement rings and other fine jewelry, and while our collection does not include tiaras, we have plenty of pieces to satisfy our most discerning customers.  Please visit our website to browse our online pieces and then set up an appointment to come to our San Francisco showrooms.   If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley this summer, be sure to visit our Padis Romance store in beautiful St. Helena. 

Padis Jewelry, a family-owned business, has been a trusted source for buying exquisite certified loose diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry since 1974.  We are one of the only jewelers in the area that offers such an exclusive selection of top names in the industry as well as such a large inventory.  For an opportunity to view one of San Francisco’s most impressive collections, please contact us to schedule at visit.