Borneo Diamonds Set

 


        

 
Queen Wilhelmina received for her investiture as Queen in 1898 a gold tiara in Hindu-Javanese Court style from the Sultan of Kutai. Originally a gold bandeau set with two bands of diamonds that was topped with five (removable) gold & diamond flower ornaments. The set was made by Jeweller Van Arcken & Co in Batavia (Jakarta), Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). The tiara is made from gold and diamonds found on Borneo. The diamonds have a so-called Banjarmasin cut. The tiara design was based on reliefs depicting Hindu Goddesses that were found in the ancient Hindu temples of Prambanan on Java . The five ornaments were detachable and could be mounted on tortoise hair combs and bandeaux grecs that came with the tiara. Queen Wilhelmina was rarely seen with the tiara. The five diamond ornaments were at some point removed from the tiara and made into a versatile bijoux set that can be worn as brooches, pendants or earrings. Queen Beatrix has worn the set on many occasions. It is unclear whether the gold band set with diamonds still exists. Recently Princess Maxima was seen wearing a diamond and gold bracelet * that Queen Beatrix has worn many years ago. It has the same motif as the ornaments now used as earrings, brooches and pendants. It's quite possible the bracelet was made from the gold bands on the original tiara that were set with diamonds.  
The gift from the Sultan of Kutai  The original tiara  
 
The versatile set Detail  
HRH Princess Beatrix HRH Princess Beatrix HM Queen Beatrix
HM Queen Beatrix * HM Queen Beatrix HM Queen Beatrix
HM Queen Beatrix HM Queen Beatrix HM Queen Beatrix
HM Queen Beatrix HM Queen Beatrix HM Queen Beatrix
HM Queen Beatrix HRH Princess Laurentien HM Queen Beatrix
HM Queen Beatrix HRH Princess Maxima Close Up Earrings
  
  Close Up Brooch Close Up Bracelet * HM Queen Beatrix
       
       

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