Unlike most of their cousins, the main Habsburg line has relatively few jewels, mainly due to the majority of their jewels having been sold or stolen by their advisors soon after the First World War.
I have relayed the story of how the jewels were stolen in my articles on the
Habsburg Crown Pearls and the
Habsburg Ruby Parure.
Empress Zita’s Diamond Tiara, a Wedding Gift from Emperor Franz Joseph, hasn’t been seen since the
Wedding Ball of Archduke Robert of Austria and Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta in 1953, when it was worn by
Archduchess Regina. It was likely sold in the 1950s.
The historic
Habsburg Crown last worn by Empress Zita was dramatically stolen and vandalised by an advisor of the Emperor, with two massive Pearls later acquired by actress Gina Lollobrigida, fetching £1.6m at auction a few years ago.
In her widowhood, Empress Zita wore a
Jet Tiara for her children’s weddings, but that hasn’t been seen since the 1950s either.
The main jewel still with the Habsburgs is the
Pearl and Diamond Bandeau which was possibly inherited by
Archduchess Regina from the Saxe-Meiningen Family. It was last worn by Archduchess Francesca at
Wedding Gala of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004.
The
Hanover Emerald Laurel Wreath Tiara was likely bought by bought by Baron von Thyssen-Bornemisza for Archduchess Francesca, and she has worn it for the
Wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004 and also as a Necklace.
Archduchess Eilika did wear a Pearl Bandeau from her own family for her wedding, but her primary jewel appears to be a massive
Aquamarine Pendant which she’s worn at some of the biggest Gala Occasions, most recently the
Wedding Ball of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria in 2023.