What Do The Royal Family, The V&A And Rihanna Have In Common? This Cartier Tiara
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12 hours ago
Meet the star of the V&A's upcoming exhibition
If there’s something to be said about the royals, it’s that they have excellent taste in jewellery. And one of their go-to brands is, of course, Cartier. The house has been kitting out the royal family in sparkling gems since its founding in the 1800s, garnering a name for itself as a purveyor of luxury jewellery. It’s this journey that takes the spotlight in the V&A’s latest exhibition, Cartier – which is where you’ll also be able to see one very special tiara in person.
The Story Behind Cartier’s Scroll Tiara
When we think of a tiara, it looks something like Cartier’s Scroll Tiara. Crafted in the Garland Style, it features bold, open scrollwork (hence the name) decorated with over 1,040 diamonds. The V&A notes that, unusually for the period, it was made from silver and gold rather than platinum – but this only adds to the lightweight feel and delicate elegance of the tiara.
But what exactly are the origins of the Scroll Tiara? And what do the royals (and pop royal, Rihanna) have to do with it? Let’s find out.
The Scroll Tiara. Nils Herrmann, Collection Cartier © Cartier
Royal Beginnings
If you’re thinking the Scroll Tiara look grand enough to be in the royal vault, it’s because it was (to a degree). The tiara was commissioned in 1902 for Adele, Countess of Essex, who famously wore it to the coronation of Edward VII later that year.
It made a reappearance several years later at another royal event; Clementine Churchill, wife of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, wore the Scroll Tiara to the coronation of Elizabeth II in June 1953.
In the following decades, the tiara passed from owner to owner – and was eventually saved from bring broken up in 1990, when then-director of the Cartier Collection, Eric Nussbaum, bought it from a gem dealer. The piece of jewellery has been kept in the collection ever since.
The Rihanna Renaissance
It wasn’t until 2016 that the tiara made waves amongst younger generations, when worn by Rihanna on the cover of W Magazine’s September issue.
Shot by Steven Klein and styled by former British Vogue editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, the shoot saw the musician and entrepreneur wear the Scroll Tiara with a complementary choker and earrings (all from Cartier)
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Cartier At The V&A
And that brings us to today – and the V&A’s latest exhibition. Cartier brings together more than 350 objects, spanning precious jewels, historic gemstones, iconic watches and clocks, that bore witness to the house’s design evolution. You can catch all of these items, including the Scroll Tiara, when the exhibition opens in 2025.
How To Get Tickets For Cartier At The V&A
The V&A has released a limited number of tickets for Cartier, priced from £27 per person. The exhibition opens on Saturday 12 April 2025 at V&A South Kensington. You can book your tickets now at vam.ac.uk
Featured image: Rihanna at the Fashion Awards 2024 (c) Jack Chipper
