What is Marie Louis Diadem?

There were a few benefits to marrying theArchduchess sold the set to Van Cleef &
Emperor Napoleon, if you loved jewelry, that is!Arpels in 1953. Between May 1954 and June 1956,
The Marie-Louise diadem, now part of thethe emeralds were removed and sold individually
Smithsonian Collection, was a wedding gift fromin pieces of jewelry as emeralds "from the
Napoleon I to his second wife, Empresshistoric Napoleon Tiara."
Marie-Louise in 1810. The diadem was originallyBetween 1956 and 1962, Van Cleef & Arpels
part of a set that also included a necklace, comb,mounted turquoise cabochons into the diadem. In
belt buckle, and earrings, all made of emeralds and1962, the diadem was displayed in the Louvre in
diamonds set in silver and gold. They were allParis with the necklace, earrings, and comb in an
made by French Jeweler Etienne Nitot et Fils ofexhibit about Empress Marie-Louise. In 1971,
Paris.Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the Post
In the original diadem, there were 22 large and 57cereal fortune, purchased the diadem for the
small emeralds, along with 1002 brilliant-cut and 66Smithsonian Institution. There are 1,006 mine-cut
rose-cut diamonds. The central emerald weigheddiamonds weighing a total of 700 carats and 79
12 carats. After the fall of the Emperor,Persian turquoise stones weighing a total of 540
Marie-Louise fled to Vienna and took her personalcarats. In one respect, it’s a shame that the
jewelry with her, including the diadem and otheroriginal piece was dismantled to sell off the
pieces that were made as part of a set, includingemeralds. Yet the diadem, reset with the
a necklace, a pair of earrings and a comb.turquoise cabochons is equally beautiful and made
Empress Marie-Louise left the diadem to hereven more distinctive with the use of the less
Hapsburg aunt, Archduchess Elise. Archduke Karlvaluable turquoise.
Stefan Hapsburg of Sweden, a descendent of the