Duchess of Westminster's Diamond Halo Tiara

original version

Creation: This tiara was made in 1930 by Lacloche Freres using the Arcot diamonds and possibly the Hastings diamond.  The original tiara could be worn with a diamond rivière attached to the outer border but this option was later removed.  After being sold, Harry Winston removed the Arcot and Hastings diamonds and had them re-cut to be sold individually.  Turquoises were temporarily put in their place but were eventually replaced with designs of smaller diamonds.  Also, four diamonds were added to the outside of the tiara and several changes were made to the central element.

Materials:  diamonds

Leolia Grosvenor

Leolia Grosvenor

Provenance:

1. Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster
2. William Grosvenor, 3rd Duke of Westminster; inherited from his cousin in 1953
3. Harry Winston; bought at Sotheby's in June 1959 for £110,000
4. Unknown Owner; bought at Sotheby's in October 1988
5. Isi Fischzang Inc.

Anne Grosvenor

Rose Movius Palmer

Other Wearers: 

• Leolia Grosvenor née Ponsonby, Duchess of Westminster
• Anne Grosvenor née Sullivan, Duchess of Westminster
• Carol Channing; at the Hearts and Diamonds Ball at the Plaza Hotel in 1961
• Rose Movius Palmer
• Alice Cooper; for a portrait by Salvador Dali in 1973

Carol Channing

Alice Cooper

Sotheby's employee

Questions:

• When did Isi Fischzand acquire the tiara?
• Who currently owns the tiara

current version

Links:

• Sotheby's - The Westiminster Halo Tiara
• Royal Magazine - Arcot Diamonds
• The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor - Westminster Halo Tiara

Photos: Sotheby's