Happy Birthday to Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi of Iran, who turns 83 today! The only daughter of the last Shah of Iran and the stunning Egyptian Princess, who now resides in exile in Switzerland, Princess Shahnaz wore some spectacular jewels, the highlight of which was her Emerald Tiara!
Emerald Tiara | Princess Soraya’s Emerald Tiara
In 1967, the Shah of Iran commissioned a spectacular Tiara from Van Cleef & Arpels containing nine large emerald and large modern diamonds set in a striking modern design using loose jewels from the Iranian Crown Jewels, which was created for the Shah’s eldest daughter ahead of his Coronation. The Tiara was accompanied by a pair of earrings and a coordinating necklace.
Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi debuted the Emerald Tiara along with the pair of massive emerald earrings for the Coronation of the Shah of Iran and Empress Farah in the Grand Hall of the Golestan Palace in Tehran in 1967, when several iconic photographs were taken.
The following day, Princess Shahnaz wore the Emerald Tiara for a spectacular Gala Performance at the Roudaki Opera House in Tehran, followed by a Banquet at the Marble Palace of Teheran to celebrate the Shah’s Birthday.
Around the same time, Princess Shahnaz also wore the Emerald Tiara along with the massive Emerald and Diamond Necklace and the pair of Earrings for a spectacular series of portraits, several of which appeared on magazine covers.
Princess Shahnaz also wore the Emerald Tiara for a striking portrait taken at some point in the 1970s, possibly during the spectacular celebrations marking the 2500th Anniversary of the Persian Empire at Persepolis in 1971.
When the Iranian Royal Family fled Tehran in 1979, their jewels, which included this Emerald Tiara, was left behind in Tehran, where it remains on display at the National Treasury of Iran in the Central Bank in Tehran.
Emerald Tiara | Princess Soraya’s Emerald Tiara
