♔ Queen Alexandra's Russian Kokoshnik Tiara

Queen Alexandra's Russian Kokshnik tiara

The Tiara was presented to Princess Alexandra on her Silver Wedding Anniversary in 1888 by Lady Salisbury on behalf of the United Kingdom. Alexandra had requested that the tiara be in the fashionable design of a Russian girl's headdress, which were called a Kokoshnik (pictured to the right). She knew the design well from a similar tiara that belonged to her sister Maria Feodorovna, the Empress of Russia. The Tiara was made by Garrard Jewellers  and supervised by Lady Salisbury. 

In the picture of Mary (right) the tiara seems to be "tighter"
compared to the tiara in the picture of Queen Alexandra

The tiara is made up of 61 platinum bars and encrusted with 488 diamonds, the largest of which being 3.25 carats each. One of the interesting characteristics of the fringe tiara is that each piece is attached only to the base of the tiara, so it is free to move unless fastened into a frame. The tiara can also be worn as a necklace or corsage. The central jewel can also be worn as a hairpin. Hairpins were common in the 1870s and 1880s.

In order for the tiara to appear "tighter", it only needs to be fastened into a more restrictive frame.