Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara

Today marks the 70th Anniversary of the Wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium, who got married on this day in 1953! The Belgian Princess received many spectacular jewels, when she married the Heir of the world’s only Grand Duchy, and since we have already featured the Belgian Scroll Tiara, today we are featuring the jewel worn for the wedding, the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara!

Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara | Belgian Scroll Tiara | Diamond Earrings | Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite

Given to Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium as a wedding gift from either her father, King Leopold III, or the Belgian Colony of Congo when she married the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, the versatile Congo Diamond Necklace was made by Van Cleef and Arpels using diamonds from the Belgian Colony of Congo. The necklace can also be worn as a Tiara while the accompanying bracelet can be worn as a necklace.  

The Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara first made an appearance at the Wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium, and the bride later changed into the Belgian Scroll Tiara for the Reception. The piece was also been worn as a necklace for the Wedding Ball at the Palais Grand-Ducal.

A few weeks after her wedding, the Hereditary Grand Duchess wore the  Congo Diamond Necklace for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and also wore the Necklace at the Wedding Ball of King Baudouin and Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón at the Royal Palace of Brussles in 1960, as well as for the the 2500th Anniversary of the Persian Empire at Persepolis in 1971.

When Hereditary Grand Duke Henri married María Teresa Mestre y Batista in 1981, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte loaned the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara to the bride, who also wore the Tiara shortly afterwards for a portrait. 

While Princess Marie Astrid had earlier worn the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara for Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte’s 25th Anniversary Gala in 1978, she most notably wore it for her Wedding to Archduke Carl-Christian of Austria in 1982.

A few weeks later, Princess Margaretha, the younger daughter of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte, wore the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara for her Wedding to Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein.

Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte continued to wear the Congo Diamond Necklace with the Belgian Scroll Tiara and the Luxembourg Empire Tiara, for the British State Visit to Luxembourg in 1976, an appearance as a Tiara in 1973, for the the Luxembourg State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in 1991, and a couple of portraits in the 1990s.

After her death in 2005, many of Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte’s jewels were put on auction by her children, which was later cancelled due to public outcry, and unlike some of the smaller jewels, which were later sold off discreetly, the Congo Diamond Necklace, was retained, though has not been worn publicly in the years since. However, with the Wedding of Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg coming up this month, it is possible that she might decide to wear her the wedding tiara of her grandmother, mother and aunts, so the Congo Diamond Necklace might make a reappearance. 

Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara | Belgian Scroll Tiara | Diamond Earrings | Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite

9

Leave a Reply