Royal Jewels in the Cartier Exhibition in Melbourne

It was a delight to be invited to the opening of the new Cartier Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne today, which has my discovery of Queen Azizah’s Cartier Tiara on display, among several spectacular Royal and Noble Jewels from the Cartier Collection and the Victoria & Albert Museum !

Experience the elegance and exhilaration of CARTIER at NGV this winter. Featuring nearly 400 extraordinary jewels, timepieces and jewellery objects, the exhibition traces the evolution of Cartier’s enduring legacy in art, design and craftsmanship.

Spanning the Maison’s early years at the turn of the 20th century through to its most contemporary creations, the exhibition chronicles the story of Cartier’s rise, told through works commissioned, owned and worn by royalty and Hollywood stars alike. Design drawings, sketchbooks and photographs from the Cartier archives illuminate the creative process behind the works, offering a rare glimpse into their exceptional craftsmanship.

The exhibition has been created by V&A, London, in partnership with NGV and in collaboration with Cartier. Exclusive to Melbourne, CARTIER features loans from significant international collections and private loans, alongside highlights from the Cartier Collection.

Almost two years ago, I made the discovery connecting Queen Azizah’s Diamond Bandeau to Queen Mary’s ‘lost’ Diamond Lozenge Bandeau and I am now excited to reveal that Queen Azizah’s Cartier Tiara is now on display in Melbourne.

One of the most iconic pieces in the Cartier collection is Queen Elisabeth of Belgium’s Cartier Diamond Tiara, which was created in 1910 and sold back to Cartier by the Princess de Réthy in the 1980s.

The Princely Family of Monaco have loaned their iconic Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara, alongside several Cartier pieces created or acquired by the late Princess Grace.

They had her Cartier Olive Wreath Tiara in London, and in Melbourne Princess Marie Bonaparte’s Cartier Pearl and Diamond Bandeau is on dimply, which was a Wedding Gift to Princess Marie Bonaparte, Princess George of Greece and Denmark in 1907.

The Cartier Collection acquired Princess Margaret’s iconic Cartier Rose Brooch, which she notably wore for the Coronation of her sister, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953, at the 2006 Auction of her Jewels at Christies.

A striking piece on loan is Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Cartier Conch Pearl Bracelet. Queen Ena used a Conch Pearl and Diamond Suite given to her mother as a wedding gift from Queen Victoria to create this magnificent Cartier Conch Pearl and Diamond Bracelet, which was often worn by her granddaughter-in-law before being auctioned off at Sotheby’s in 2012.

The Duchess of Windsor was one of Cartier’s most notable clients, with several of her iconic Cartier Jewels on display, which include her Cartier Flamingo Brooch, several of her Cartier Panther pieces, her Cartier Ruby Bangle, her Amethyst Bib Necklace and her Pearl Necklace.

The iconic Mountbatten Cartier Tutti Frutti Bandeau is on loan from its permanent display in the Jewellery Gallery at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Maharani Gayatri Devi’s Cartier Emerald Suite and a Ruby and Diamond Bangle are on loan from their display at the British Museum in London.

Cartier created several spectacular jewels for the Indian Maharajas, one of the most iconic pieces being the magnificent Cartier Diamond Necklace and Choker created for the Maharaja of Patiala in 1928.

Cartier had an important partnership with Maharaja Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar, with his Tiger’s Eye Turban Ornament among the jewels on display, alongside the Maharani of Baroda’s Cartier Pearl Bracelet.

Also on display is Grand Duchess Victoria Melita’s Cartier Sapphire Necklace, which later belonged to her niece, Queen Elisabeth of Greece,

Like it did in London, the exhibition begins with the magnificent Cartier Manchester Tiara, which is the highlight of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

The Cartier Essex Tiara is one of the most iconic pieces from the Cartier Collection, which was created for Adele, Countess of Essex in 1902.

Last year, we featured Lady Astor’s Cartier Turquoise Tiara ahead of its action and it is now displayed alongside a Cartier Turquoise Tiara created for Lady Astor’s sister.

The magnificent Cartier Aquamarine Tiara of the fascinating 2nd Baroness Hesketh was auctioned off at Sotheby’s in 2006, and is now displayed at Cartier Exhibitions around the world.

The iconic Cartier Tutti Frutti Necklace of Daisy Fellowes has been reacquired by the Cartier Collection and loaned to Princess Caroline of Monaco and Princess Gauravi Kumari of Jaipur

For the first time, Dame Nellie Melba’s Cartier Devant-de-Corsage is displayed alongside Dame Nellie Melba’s Cartier Turquoise and Diamond Necklace, Brooches and Stomacher. In London today, Dame Nellie Melba’s Cartier Pearl and Diamond Sautoir is going on Auction at Bonhams.

The iconic Cartier Tree of Life Tiara once belonged to the legendary Baroness Marie-Hélène de Rothschild and has now returned to the Cartier Collection.

This magnificent Emerald and Diamond Necklace created by Cartier in 1932 for the Marchioness of Bute, and is now a part of the Cartier Collection, which we have seen in Dallas, Abu Dhabi, and London in recent years.

The striking Cartier Lotus Halo Tiara was created for Princess Andrée Aga Khan in 1934, being sold off by her son in 1976 and more recently being worn by Emma Corrin on the cover of ELLE for May 2025.