On October 30, 2025, the Count of Paris released a video asking the thieves who robbed the Louvre to return the stolen jewels that had once belonged to his family. For 164 years, this gorgeous set of sapphire and diamond jewels had belonged to the Orléans family, where they adorned five generations of strong, intelligent women. This is the story of who owned these jewels, who wore them, and how they came to the Louvre.
I know, I know – this site is supposed to be about tiaras. But sometimes I find a story I can’t resist. Which means I hope you can’t resist, either. Like the Yusupov black pearl necklace. Its story has everything from an ancient curse to a duel, revolution, backroom swindles, the Titanic, infidelity, and an eggnog recipe. You see? Sometimes it’s worth stepping away from tiaras for just a moment.
The Napoleon Diamond Necklace
Created for Napoleon’s second wife, this spectacular diamond necklace has passed from Empress Marie Louise to her relatives in Austria, a French entrepreneur, an American collector, and now enchants millions of viewers every year at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
The Yusupov Black Pearl Necklace
The Yusupov black pearl necklace belonged to Catherine the Great. From there, it’s a tale of incest, true love, revolution, robbery, and infidelity…with a special guest appearance by the HMS Titanic.
Want more awesome royal history content?
Join my mailing list to get Grand Duchess Louise of Baden's meatloaf recipe, the tragic tale of Princess Mafalda of Savoy, research tips, updates, discoveries, and more! Plus get a free PDF with the stories of four amazing tiaras from Russia, Spain, Italy, and Luxembourg. Click or tap here to sign up now!