I understand your comment (no worry, I have not perceived it as a personal negative comment against me!).
You are probably right when you stress that the big central sapphire looks maybe too massive in contrast to the delicate floral garland arches. And the vertical position of the (too close) three central sapphire drops does not help either. I have edited my message to introduce a photoshopped version of the tiara, with the lateral drops slightly bent diagonally, I think it can improve the general look of the tiara.
Anyway, I am happy that, when it was decided to convert the necklace into a tiara (BTW, we do not know if it was made before of after the Queen acquired it in 1963), the person in charge of the transformation respected the original design to the maximum and did not indulge in dismantling and overhauling thoroughly the design of the jewel: he/she respected the history and the integrity of the necklace, and I appreciate this.
After, all is a question of taste, and I know we can "agree on our disagreements"... Personally, I like this tiara - but I have to say I also like Queen Elizabeth's Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara or Burmese Ruby Tiara, though so many posters here do not like them either... who knows, maybe I have very weird tastes!
--Previous Message-- : Arthur, your politeness is much appreciated : and by no means my remark was meant as a : personal dig at your appreciation of the : parure. I do think though that apart from : personal taste there are objective criteria : for the success of a design. : : If a necklace is converted permanently into : a tiara and still awkwardly looks like an : upside down worn necklace something went : wrong. : : With today's hairdos airy arches in a tiara : are always a bit difficult to pull off, but : in this particular case the main problem is : that they don't correspond with the : (gorgeous) large rhombical sapphire in the : centre. That they seem to mirror the : wearer's eye-brows certainly doesn't help. : The two lateral square sapphires, which : could balance the centre stone, disappear in : the coiffure. IMO the most obvious fault is : the tin-soldier-like upright position of the : three central sapphire drops. : : All this has to do with the designer's lack : of talent and skills - or simply his or her : lazyness to deal with the particular : problems caused by a conversion of an : existing piece into something else - and not : so much with personal taste. I see the same : problem with the Countess of Wessex's : wedding tiara and frankly find it quite : surprising that neither the Queen nor : somebody in charge with her jewellery would : have higher demands regarding the (re)design : of prominent pieces. It's not that nobody : would be around who was able to meet these : challenges! : : : --Previous Message-- : Just a matter of personal taste, of course, : but I like this tiara. Of course, it still : looks like a necklace worn upside-down : rather than a "real" tiara, but : the tiara mounting has been cleverly made, : and the delicate pattern of the : necklace/tiara fits the Queen's face quite : well, I think. : : I just regret that it does not seem possible : to turn the tiara into a necklace and : vice-versa, at will. I would like to see it : worn in its original form, as a necklace. : : I remember someone (I do not remember who, : sorry) had posted some time ago a : photoshopped version of the tiara, on which : the two lateral central sapphire drops were : mounted diagonally rather than vertically. : Just a small (virtual) change, but the tiara : looked better that way. Has someone saved : this picture? : : --Previous Message-- : : The sapphires have a lovely colour, but : whoever created the tiara should not be : allowed to come even close to any major : piece of jewellery ever again. : : : : : :
on July 22, 2014, 8:15 am, in reply to "
Personally, I like this tiara - but I have to say I also like Queen Elizabeth's Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara or Burmese Ruby Tiara, though so many posters here do not like them either... who knows, maybe I have very weird tastes! 