The Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia

The Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna the Older of Russia, also known as the Grand Duchess Vladimir.

The Grand Duchess Vladmir had perhaps the most expansive jewelry collection of all the royals. When she died in 1920, her jewels were auctioned, and many of her important pieces were snatched up by Queen Mary of England, grandmother to the present Queen of Britain.

A young Grand Duchess in fancy dress costume, with a concentric circles diamond tiara and wearing a diamond necklace with a large pearl drop as a headband.

The Grand Duchess wearing rows of pearl and a large diamond kokoshnik tiara, a style that all Russian Grand Duchesses owned.

Grand Duchess Vladmir  was born Marie Alexandrine Elisabeth Eleonore of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 14 May 1854, daughter of Grand Duke Frederick Francis II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz. She died on 6 September 1920 in Contrexéville, France.

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Vladimir.

The Grand Duchess Vladimir on her wedding day.

Grand Duchess Vladimir in her impressive pearl and diamond suite. Her tiara of concentric diamond circles and large pear pearls is in the collection of Queen Elizabeth II, who wears it often.

Grand Duchess Vladimir was the mother of Grand Duchess Yelena "Helen" Vladimirovna, aka Princess Nicholas of Greece, who was the mother of Princess Marina of Kent, who was the mother of the still-living Prince Michael of Kent.

Russian Imperial Jewels

A tiara of huge pear pearls and diamonds, belonging to Empress Alexandra Fedorovna, consort to the last tsar. It was made by court jeweler Bolin.

A diamond and pearl choker necklace of Grand Duchess Vladimir, made by Cartier.

An emerald and diamond necklace belonging to Grand Duchess Vladimir, aka Maria Pavlovna the Older.

Grand Duchess Vladimir's diamond and sapphire kokoshnik tiara.

Grand Duchess Vladimir's diamond waterfall tiara, made by Chaumet. The tiara's current whereabouts are unknown.

La Pelegrina pearl, belonging to the Yusupov clan.

The diamond sunburst tiara made by Chaumet, which was a wedding present to Princess Irina, wife of Prince Yusupov.

A diamond and emerald bandeau, which was a wedding gift to Princess Irina Yusupova.

The rock crystal and diamond tiara by Cartier, which was a wedding present to Princess Irina Yusupova from her mother, Grand Duchess Xenia.

A display of imperial jewelry in a window at Chaumet in Paris. They were wedding gifts to Princess Irina Yusupova.

A diamond and sapphire imperial Russian brooch belonging to the imperial family.

An emerald and diamond brooch belonging to the Russian imperial family.

The favorite diadem of Empress Maria Fedorovna of Russia, mother of the last tsar. It is made by Bolin. It was sold during the 1920's by the Soviet government, and has been in numerous hands through the years. It is reported to be currently in the collection of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines.

Another view of the diadem. It was originally bought at auction in the 1920's by Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough, who sold it not long after her marriage to the Duke of Marlborough failed.

A diadem by Russian court jeweler Bolin, belonging to Empress Alexandra.

Another imperial Russian diadem made by Bolin.

An imperial Russian kokoshnik tiara by Bolin. It was later in the possession of Queen Marie of Rumania.

A beautiful imperial Russian diadem by Bolin.

An  Imperial Russian diadem by Bolin. It is currently in the collection of the Danish royal family.

The Imperial Russian nuptial crown by Bolin, which is at the Hillwood Museum in Washington, DC, and the diadem with a large pink diamond. It was worn by all imperial Russian Grand Duchesses on their wedding day.

The impressive diadem with a large, rare pink diamond.

A sketch for a large kokoshnik-style imperial Russian diadem.

The tiara made from the above sketch.

Grand Diamond Tiaras

An unusual diamond tiara with scrolling openwork designs.

A diamond tiara with simple, repeating elements.

A large and open diamond design, with a small leafy wreath edging the top  of the tiara.

A stylized floral tiara.

A diamond bandeau tiara, which belogned to Queen Elisabeth of Belgium.

A scrolling, heart tiara, similar to the Spencer family tiara worn most often by Princess Diana.

The Mountbatten Tiara, worn by Edwina, countess Mountbatten.

A tiara in the form of tear or rain drops. It's most famous appearance  is in the movie The Princess Diaries, where it is worn by Anne Hathaway.

A spike, floral tiara.

A tiara with a Celtic, knotted pattern.

The magnificent tiara of the Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia., made of white and yellow diamonds.

A thickly designed tiara, with modified fleur-de-lis designs.