Duchess of Westminster's Bagration Spinel Tiara

Creation:  This tiara was made by Jean Baptiste Fossin in the early 1800s.

Materials: diamonds and pink spinels

Provenance:

1. Princess Catherine Bagration née Skavronskaya
2. Unknown Owner(s)
3. S.J Phillips; bought along with the accompanying parure at Christie's in November 1973 for $121,000
4. Natalia Phillips Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster; bought by her husband, Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, in May 1977 and worn on the occasion of their October 1978 wedding

Duchess of Westminster

Duchess of Westminster

Questions:

• Who owned the tiara after Princess Catherine Bagration?

Links:

• The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor - Bagration Parure 
• The Court Jeweller - Westminster Bagration Tiara
• Royal Magazin - Bagration Parure
• The Practical Gemologist - Bagration Tiara

Photos: Christie's

Marchioness of Tavistock's Amethyst Tiara

Creation: This tiara was made circa 1870 using a piece of older jewellery that had been made by Jean-Baptiste Fossin circa 1830.

Materials: amethyst and diamonds set in gold and silver

Provenance:

1. Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford; 
2. George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 1891
3. Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his brother in 1893
4. Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 1940
5. Ian Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 1953
6. Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father 2002
7. Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 2003

Lydia Russell

 Other Wearers:

• Lydia Russell née Lyle, Duchess of Bedford; 2nd wife of the 13th Duke

Questions:

• Which jeweller created this tiara?
• Was Elizabeth Russell née Sackville-West or Adeline Russell née Somers the original owner of this tiara?

Links:

• The Court Jeweller - Tavistock Amethyst Tiara
• Royal Magazin - Bedford Amethysts 
• The Royal Watcher - Duchess of Bedford's Tiaras

Duchess of Bedford's Floral Tiara

Creation:  This tiara was made circa 1830 by Jean-Baptiste Fossin.

Materials:  diamonds set in gold and silver

Mary Russell

Henrietta Russell

Provenance:

1. Anna Russell née Stanhope, Duchess of Bedford 
2. William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his mother in 1857
3. Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his cousin in 1872
4. George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 1891 
5. Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his brother in 1893
6. Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 1940
7. Ian Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 1953
8. Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father 2002
9. Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford; inherited from his father in 2003

Nicole Russell

Other Wearers:

• Mary Russell née Du Caurroy Tribe, Duchess of Bedford; wife of the 11th Duke
• Nicole Russell née Schneider Milinaire, Duchess of Bedford; 3rd wife of the 13th Duke
• Henrietta Russell née Tiarks, Duchess of Bedford; wife of the 14th Duke

Questions:

• Did this tiara originally belong to Queen Caroline of Naples?

Links:

• Royal Magazin - Bedford Floral Tiara 
• The Royal Watcher - Duchess of Bedford's Tiaras

Photos: Chaumet