Pick your ultimate convertible tiara!
Convertible. Capable of change in one way or another. More than just a stationary tiara. With magic tricks up its wee tiara sleeves, this is what we're after. These are the tiaras that can change colors, that can change shape, that can be both tiaras and necklaces or brooches or bracelets or whatever. I wonder if those of you that requested this category are aware how enormous it is? Yes, from the "common" changes - there are many, many tiaras out there that can be removed from their frame and used as a necklace, for example - to the tiaras that can totally shapeshift, here's a partial selection for you. (Do note that among those not represented here are the Floral Aigrette Tiara and the Mellerio Sapphire Tiara, convertible diadems already elected to your ultimate tiara collection.)
We'll start with the popular necklace conversion, from tiaras that can be necklaces to necklaces that can do tiara duty. All the following fit here, plus many of the tiaras that fell into our diamond fringe category if you're so inclined.
1. The Chaumet Necklace Tiara
2. The Vifte Tiara
3. Princess Caroline's Sapphire Necklace/Tiara
6. The Luxembourg Sapphire Necklace Tiara
9. The Van Cleef and Arpels Emerald Necklace Tiara
17. The Sapphire Art Deco Necklace Tiara
18. The Fabergé Cyclamen Tiara
Bracelets work as tiaras, too, in these cases and more:
1. The Luxembourg Sapphire Bracelet Tiara
2. The Cartier Bracelet Bandeau, which uses three of a set of four bracelets (diamond/ruby/emerald/sapphire) that belonged to the Queen Mother.
3. The Boucheron Bracelet Tiara
These tiaras convert to brooches, and sometimes other things:
1. The Naasut Tiara
2. The Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara (the uprights are, or at least were, detachable)
3. The Gandik Diraja converts to brooches and a locket
4. The Teck Circlet Tiara
5. The Bains de Mer Tiara
6. The late Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara
7. The Belgian Scroll Tiara, with a brooch for a center section and a ring from the largest diamond
8. The Snowdon Floral Tiara
9. The Mellerio Floral Tiara, convertible to a necklace and brooches
10. The Khedive of Egypt Tiara, convertible to a dress ornament
11. The Poltimore Tiara, convertible to a necklace and series of brooches
12. The Ocean Tiara, convertible to a necklace and ornaments
13. The Diamond Foam Tiara, convertible to a large or small brooch
Bracelets work as tiaras, too, in these cases and more:
2. The Cartier Bracelet Bandeau, which uses three of a set of four bracelets (diamond/ruby/emerald/sapphire) that belonged to the Queen Mother.
3. The Boucheron Bracelet Tiara
These tiaras convert to brooches, and sometimes other things:
2. The Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara (the uprights are, or at least were, detachable)
3. The Gandik Diraja converts to brooches and a locket
4. The Teck Circlet Tiara
5. The Bains de Mer Tiara
6. The late Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara
7. The Belgian Scroll Tiara, with a brooch for a center section and a ring from the largest diamond
8. The Snowdon Floral Tiara
9. The Mellerio Floral Tiara, convertible to a necklace and brooches
10. The Khedive of Egypt Tiara, convertible to a dress ornament
11. The Poltimore Tiara, convertible to a necklace and series of brooches
12. The Ocean Tiara, convertible to a necklace and ornaments
13. The Diamond Foam Tiara, convertible to a large or small brooch
These tiaras have a convertible shape, in one way or another:
1. The Nine Provinces Tiara can be used without the biggest diamonds and as just the bandeau.
2. The Niarchos Rubies can be a double or single row tiara, or necklaces of varying lengths.
3. The Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara varies shape by using different quantities of pearls on top.
4. Queen Maud's Pearl and Diamond Tiara has a smaller version too.
5. The Malteaser Tiara has four crosses for the top which can be worn in varying quantities and positions (or as brooches). It can also be worn as a bandeau without the crosses.
6. The Antique Pearl Tiara can be worn as a small diamond tiara by removing the pearls.
7. Queen Margherita's Musy Tiara has no fewer than 8 or 9 potential versions.
8. The Stuart Tiara has a lower setting.
9. The late Rundell Tiara can be used with scrolls only, or with stars.
10. The Pearl Button Tiara can be used with diamond stars instead of the buttons.
11. The Delhi Durbar Tiara, in Queen Mary's time, could include various Cullinan diamonds and a top row of emeralds.
12. Sibilla's Art Deco Tiara has a small version.
These tiaras can change colors/stones, and sometimes more:
2. The Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara has multiple center options: diamond, pink topaz, and emerald. In Queen Mary's day, she also used the Cullinan V Brooch and a sapphire brooch.
3. The Savoy Pink Tourmaline Tiara, originally interchangeable with garnets.
4. Queen Fabiola's Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara has aquamarine, green, and red stone options and has two tiara forms plus a necklace form.
5. The Ogilvy Tiara can be pearl, turquoise, or sapphire.
6. The Dutch Emerald Tiara can be modified to a pearl tiara.
More of the same:
2. Queen Emma's Diamond Tiara can be used with rubies.
3. The Modern Gold Tiara has a centerpiece that can be swapped for topaz or tourmaline in addition to diamonds.
4. The Strathmore Rose Tiara has (or had) a sapphire option (that to my knowledge hasn't been seen), and can break into brooches.
5. Princess Benedikte's Floral Tiara has a diamond, pearl, or emerald center, and three separate brooch pieces.
6. Queen Victoria Eugenia's Aquamarine Tiara can be worn without the aquamarines.
There you go. Remember, you can vote for tiaras not shown here, so don't fret if I've left your favorite out.
Ready to vote for your favorite?
-Vote for one tiara in the comments. (If you're mentioning multiple tiaras in your comment, indicate which one gets your vote, or I will just count the first applicable one. One comment vote per person, please.)
-I will also count the number of "likes" or up arrows on those comments, so you can vote that way too.
-Non-royal tiaras and tiaras that no longer exist are fair game too.
UPDATE: Thanks for your contributions, voting is now closed!
Photos: Corbis/Getty Images/Scanpix/Geoffrey Munn/Kongehuset/Malaysian Monarchy/Cartier/Palais Princier/Van Cleef & Arpels/Gahetna/Marianne Dulong/People
