Decoration of The Papal Tiara - The 1877 Palatine Tiara

The 1877 Palatine Tiara

The 1877 Tiara, the most worn one in the papal collection, and which became in effect the de facto coronation tiara, having been used by among others Pope Benedict XV in 1914, Pope Pius XII in 1939 and Pope John XXIII in 1958 was inlaid with 540 pearls, 90 on each row.

• The first tier, alongside the pearls has 16 rubies, three emeralds, a hyacinth, an aquamarine, three rubies, a sapphire, and eight gold points with five garnets and two Balas rubies.
• The second tier is lined with 10 emeralds, 8 Balas rubies, one chrysolite, two aquamarines, six small rubies and three sapphires.
• The third tier has 16 small Balas rubies, three larger Balas rubies, four sapphires, three hyacinths, three aquamarines, one garnet, eight gold floral ornaments each with two emeralds, one Balas ruby, a chrysolite and eight gold points, each adorned with a garnet.
• Its top is covered with a layer of thin gold, with eight rubies and eight emeralds.
• On top is a gold globe enamelled in blue on the top of which is a cross composed of 11 brilliants. (See a close-up view of the tiara.)