The 12th of November will mark the 90th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Grace of Monaco, the glamorous American Actress who became the Princess Consort of the small Mediterranean Principality, so we are featuring her Top 9 jewels, continuing with her Bains de Mer Tiara.
Composed of three ruby and diamond scroll motifs on a thin diamond frame, which can be removed to be worn as brooches or on a necklace, the Tiara was made by Cartier from a ruby and diamond necklace presented to Princess Grace ahead of her wedding by the Société des Bains de Mer, one of the largest companies in Monaco, which is partially owned by the Princely Family. Ruby and Diamond Earrings and a Ring were later added to complete the suite.
Princess Grace first wore the Cartier Bains de Mer Tiara with her Cartier Diamond Necklace for the Gala Performance at the Opera House in Monte Carlo on the eve of her Religious Wedding at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in April 1956.
While not as frequently worn as her Diamond Tiara, the Bains de Mer Tiara is perhaps more memorable, worn by Princess Grace for several of her most iconic portraits portraits as well as the annual National Day Gala at the Monte Carlo Opera.
Princess Grace notably wore the Cartier Bains de Mer Tiara with her Cartier Diamond Necklace for a State Visit to the Vatican in 1959.
That same year, the Bains de Mer Tiara was worn by Princess Grace for a State Banquet at the Elysee Palace in Paris during a landmark State Visit to France in 1959.
The ruby and diamond elements of the Bains de Mer Tiara were even more frequently worn, as brooches, pendants and hair ornaments frequently throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, most notably worn for the Christenings of two of her children and Princess Grace’s 40th Birthday Ball in 1969.
Princess Grace continued to wear the Bains de Mer Tiara into the 1970s and early 1980s, and while its appearances were rare, it was notably worn for a couple of National Day Galas.
After Princess Grace’s death, elements of the parure, like the Earrings and Brooches, have been worn by both her daughters, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie, though the Tiara has not been publicly worn since Princess Grace’s death.
The Cartier Bains de Mer Tiara is owned by the ‘Palais Princier Collection’, and has been exhibited around the world over the past few decades.
The Bains de Mer Tiara has also been recreated for a couple of films, more famously those replicas made by Cartier for the 2014 Film Grace of Monaco.
Bains de Mer Tiara
Diamond Tiara
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Tiara
Cartier Diamond Necklace
Van Cleef & Arpels Pearl Suite
Sapphire Daisy Brooch
Diamond Swag Tiara
Van Cleef & Arpels Earrings
Cartier Diamond Earrings
Diamond Flower Brooch
Cartier Bangle 
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Bracelet
Gold Coffee Bean Suite
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Featuring three ruby and diamond scroll elements on a thin diamond frame, the elements can be removed and worn as brooches or as a necklace, the Tiara was made by Cartier from a ruby and diamond necklace presented to Princess Grace upon her wedding by the Société des Bains de Mer, one of the largest companies in Monaco, partially owned by the Princely Family. Ruby and diamond Earrings and a Ring were later added to complete the suite.
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While Princess Grace’s Diamond Tiara was more frequently worn, her Bains de Mer Tiara is perhaps more iconic, worn for the first time at her pre-wedding gala, and then in a series of iconic portraits, a State Visit to France, a State Visit to the Vatican, and a series of Galas up until the end of her life.
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The ruby and diamond elements of the Bains de Mer were even more frequently worn, as brooches, pendants and hair ornaments frequently throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, most notably worn for the Christenings of two of her children, including the current Prince Albert II.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesCartier: the exhibition contains many stunning pieces of jewellery like these worn by Grace Kelly @NatGalleryAus pic.twitter.com/uR6yF61m1R
— Jacqui Strecker (@jacqui_strecker) March 29, 2018
Cartier: the exhibition contains many stunning pieces of jewellery like these worn by Grace Kelly @NatGalleryAus pic.twitter.com/uR6yF61m1R
— Jacqui Strecker (@jacqui_strecker) March 29, 2018After Princess Grace’s death, the Bains de Mer Tiara passed into the ‘Palais Princier Collection’, and has been exhibited around the world. Elements of the parure, like the earrings and brooches, have been worn by both her daughters, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie, though the Tiara has not been worn since Princess Grace’s death.
