Baden Opal Brooch

Happy Birthday to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, who turns 49 today! The popular Heir who is set to become the first Swedish Queen Regnant in over 300 years, the Crown Princess has access to the massive Swedish Royal Jewellery Collection, and today we are featuring Grand Duchess Louise’s Opal and Diamond Brooch!

Composed of a massive Opal surrounded by an elaborate Diamond frame, the exact origin of this brooch is unknown but it can be tracked to the collection of Grand Duchess Louise of Baden and likely dates from the middle of the 19th century.

The Diamond Frame seems to have a Russian Imperial Provenance and shares a design with the famous Greek Ruby Parure, which could mean that the Brooch may have originated from the Grand Duchess’ grandmother, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, the Dowager Duchess Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

After Grand Duchess Louise’s passing in 1923, several of her jewels were inherited by her daughter, Queen Victoria of Sweden, which included this Opal Brooch as found by Trond Noren Isaksen, which was left toKing Gustaf V and Queen Victoria’s Foundation, that passes heirlooms undivided from one monarch to another, but can be worn by most female members of the Royal Family.

In 1935, Princess Sibylla of Sweden wore Grand Duchess Louise’s Opal and Diamond Brooch with the Swedish Cameo Parure for the Wedding Gala of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and her sister-in-law, Princess Ingrid of Sweden, at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

After a gap of several decades, Crown Princess Victoria debuted Grand Duchess Louise’s Opal and Diamond Brooch with the Connaught Diamond Tiara at the King’s Dinner for Nobel Laureates in 2023, as identified by our friend Jakob.

A few months later, Crown Princess Victoria wore the Opal and Diamond Brooch with the Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara for the French State Visit to Sweden.

Grand Duchess Louise’s Opal and Diamond Brooch was also worn by Crown Princess Victoria with Princess Lilian’s Laurel Wreath Tiara at the King’s Dinner for Nobel Laureates in 2024.

More recently, Crown Princess Victoria wore Grand Duchess Louise’s Opal Brooch with the Connaught Diamond Tiara at the King’s Dinner for Nobel Laureates last year. There is no doubt we will continue to see this spectacular heirloom for years to come!