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The History of the Bridal Tiara
Nowadays, the tiara is primarily thought of as a wedding accessory and, occasionally, as adornment worn by Royalty. For the majority of todays society, this beautiful head piece has little more relevance than to make a bride feel like a princess on her wedding day. Yet despite now being classed as occasion wear, the tiara once had a signficant place in a womans wardrobe and by many was part of everyday attire.
Originally the bridal tiara was given to the bride before her wedding day by her father or husband. Encrusted with diamonds and other precious stones, it originally signified wealth and status. Although most were commonly set with diamonds which symbolise 'forever', some wedding tiaras were set with turquoise and even jet. Most popular in the 19th century when tiaras and exquisite jewels were de rigueur with Society not only for weddings, ladies would wear their tiara with chandelier earrings, jewelled bracelets and beautiful necklaces.
Originally, there were three styles of the wedding tiara. The diadem or circlet wedding tiara, the garland and the kokoshnik which, with its centre peak, is still a popular shape today.
Diadem or Circlet Tiara
With a less defined centre peak, the diamem tiara was often of similar height around the circumference of the design but slightly graduating towards the back. Made by infamous designers such as Garrard, adornment included precious diamonds sometimes enhanced with rubies, amethysts, emeralds and sapphires.
Garland Tiara
A slighty more delicate style, the base of the garland tiara was often slightly curved around the head to literally form a 'garland'. Designs would vary from intricate and ornate to scalloped floral styles yet all were encrusted with diamonds and precious stones.
Kokoschnik
With an almost 'spiky' design and centre peak, the design of the kokoschnik tiara was often band like and encrusted with thousands of diamonds and precious gemstones. With a sightly more contemporary and simple line, the kokoschnik tiara originated from Russia where it was a traditional head dress.
