The Russian Field Diadem
Another mysterious disappearing diadem from the Romanov collection
This Russian Field Diamond is a symbolic piece from the Romanov jewels collection. The tiara was created for Empress Maria Feodorovna, the wife of Alexander III of Russia.
The original diadem was commissioned from the Duval Brothers. The story behind this delicately beautiful tiara is of a personal nature. The Empress wanted something that would remind her of the Russian fields. The diadem translates her wishes perfectly, the piece featured oak and laurel leaves and bordered by the iconic sheaves of wheat. This tiara was mentioned in the Empress’s will that upon her passing the piece would be donated to the Diamond Fund, but unfortunately it never did.
In 1927 the Soviet government took hold of most of the Romanov jewel collection and auctioned it off. This particular tiara was auction by Christie’s. The photo of the original tiara has been found in Christie’s auction archives and it is in black and white. Most of the coloured photos you will find are replicas or artist renditions.
Designed by Viktor Nikolayev
Jewelers: Viktor Nikolayev, Gennady Aleksakhin
The tiara had “flax ears” that was decorated with diamonds. The rendition had a center stone is set with a beautiful 35.52 carat light yellow diamond that represented the sun in the wheat field. The yellow ears of the flax is made from gold, and the white part of the flax are made from platinum. 1837 (129.62 carats)different sizes of diamonds are set on top of the gold and platinum. Made in 1980 the replica is now currently on display at the Diamond Trust in Moscow: Кремль, Боровицкие ворота, Moskva, Russia, 125009 (address).
After the auction of the original piece, no sign of its existence have been seen again. It is speculated that it has been dismantled into pieces but we would never know. It is rumored that it might be sitting in a jewelry collection of a family of old money jewel collectors somewhere between Prague and Switzerland (just speculation from my sources).
The Russian Field Diadem was symbolic for its sheer beauty of the simplicity and elegant design from an inspiration of something so simple as a wheat field.
By Ebethy 💎
