Royal Spanish Tiaras: Infanta Pilar's Sapphire Tiara

Prior to Princess Eugenie wearing the Greville Emerald Tiara in her wedding last October, we didn't often see colored stone tiaras center stage for royal nuptials. But there's always that exception and in this case, it was the Infanta Pilar's Sapphire Tiara, which had been worn at not just one but TWO royal weddings in the 21st century.

The initial origins of the tiara are not exactly clear, but it's believed that it belonged to the Countess of Barcelona, the current owner's mother. Pilar is the eldest sister of former King Juan Carlos (for those of you playing along at home, that's the current King's father). There are rumors that the tiara came from the Countess' grandmother, Princess Louise of Orléans, and the Orléans family. And even today, the actual ownership of the tiara is speculation. Pilar has been seen in it the most frequently, however her sister Margarita has also donned it on occasion.

And that brings us back to the two royal weddings. The tiara, made up of a small sapphire at the center of each of a series of diamond loops, followed by a scalloped edge detail and then connected at the base with diamond swags, each accented with another single sapphire, was first worn by Pilar's soon-to-be daughter-in-law Bárbara Cano at her wedding in 2002 when marrying Pilar's son, Bruno.

A mere two years later, it was again on display on a royal bride, this time being worn by the wife of another of Pilar's sons, Laura Ponte, who was marrying Beltrán. Laura put her own spin on it by wearing the tiara upside-down in necklace form over her veil. Tan elegante!

Which is your favorite of the two wedding looks? I can't wait to hear your thoughts on that! Tell me in the comments below, please.