Happy Birthday to Empress Farah of Iran, who turns 87 today! The Shah’s third wife who became an influential global fashion Icon and the last Empress of a 2,500 year-old Empire, Empress Farah once possessed a spectacular historic jewellery collection, but her rare personal possessions included this Persian Turquoise Tiara!
Noor-ul-Ain Tiara | Seven Emerald Tiara | Persian Turquoise Tiara | Iranian Royal Tiaras | Empress Eugenie’s Emeralds
In the late 1960s, Empress Farah of Iran commissioned this striking modern Tiara of Diamonds and large Persian Turquoises, reportedly from Van Cleef & Arpels. Unlike the Noor-ul-Ain Tiara and Seven Emerald Tiara created for her from Crown Heirlooms, this Tiara was the only one which personally belonged to the Empress.
Empress Farah debuted the Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise Tiara on a State Visit to Malaya in 1969 followed by a State Visit to India and to Tunisia not long afterwards, as well as for Nowruz, the Persian New Year Festivities.
Empress Farah wore the Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise Tiara for a series of Official Portraits in 1970 and 1971, which are some of its most iconic images.
Through the 1970s, Empress Farah often wore the Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise Tiara for several Portraits, as well as for the Nowruz Festivities in addition to a few Opening Ceremonies for Parliament.
One of the last iconic appearances of the Turquoise Tiara was for the 50th Anniversary of the Pahlavi Dynasty in 1976.
During the Iranian Revolution a few years later, despite it being her personal property, Empress Farah left the Tiara in her safe at the Niavaran Palace in Tehran when the Imperial Family left into exile. Unlike the Crown Jewels, it is not apparent if this is also on display in the Vault of the Central Bank in Tehran but that is likely.
Noor-ul-Ain Tiara | Seven Emerald Tiara | Persian Turquoise Tiara | Iranian Royal Tiaras | Empress Eugenie’s Emeralds
Empress Farah’s Seven Emerald Tiara
Empress Farah’s Turquoise Tiara
Princess Soraya’s Emerald Tiara
Empress Farah’s Art Deco Diamond Tiara
Follow