The Leuchtenberg Parure

The main piece is a diamond and sapphire tiara consisting of honeysuckle flowers and leaves, centred with large oval diamonds and topped by seven rectangular cut sapphire clusters. The sapphires can be replaced by pearls. The tiara is part of a parure, consisting of a tiara, necklace, earrings and brooch. The set had been a wedding gift from Napoleon I to his stepson Eugene de Beauharnais.

Queen Josephine of Sweden inherited this set in 1851, upon her mother's death.

Cut-Steel Tiara

Cut-steel tiara: A tiara of highly polished cut-steel set with gold in the designs
of oak leaves, acorns, flowers and feathers. Queen Josephine
may have brought it to Sweden, where it languished for many
years until rediscovered by Queen Silvia. For a period of time
cut-steel was a cheap alternative for women who wished to be
stylish but could not afford the real thing during the time
of the first French empire on to the Victorian era.