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14 September 2011

Spike, Halo, and Kokoshnik Tiaras

Many tiaras are convertible to wear as necklaces, and many others come apart to form brooches, earrings, and bracelets. It was a way for ladies to change up their jewels, making it appear as if they owned far more pieces than they actually did.

A simple spike tiara with diamonds and seed pearls.

Most diamond spike tiaras convert for use as necklaces.


Nearly every royal family owns at least a couple of spike tiaras, as the design is so attractive. This necklace, if converted into a tiara, would make a lovely spike-style tiara.

A large pearl and diamond necklace. It probably came with a matching tiara, but the design itself could easily be converted into wear as a large diadem.
A tiara similar to the one that Princess Madeleine of Sweden often wears.

Tiaras are often raised up off of the frame, so that the hair does not cover the delicate features of the tiara. The band is usually wrapped in a soft velvet that matches the wearer's hair color, but sometimes this is not so. Search for images of Princess Victoria of Sweden, and one sees that she often wore tiaras in the past where the velvet covering the band was a blond color, when her hair color is a dark brown.

These types of halos are copied after the Russian kokoshnik headdress worn by peasant women.

A tiara that converts for wear as a necklace.
The tiara above, shown as a necklace.


A beautiful diamond necklace and brooch.

Another necklace that would make a lovely spike tiara.
This tiara flawlessly converts for wear either as a tiara or necklace.