Mary of Modena's Diadem (Queen Consort to James II)

The diadem was made for the coronation of the Queen Consort in 1685. The broad, solid circlet is richly decorated with an ornament of diamonds. The upper edge, set with a continuous line of pearls, rises to a flat point that is crowned with a single diamond. As was common practice at that time, the jewels were hired just for the coronation, and were exchanged later for less valuable stones. With its border of precious stones, the diadem, "headband" in classical Greek, became the symbol of power and authority in the Orient; the crown was developed from this in Byzantium. The English queens - and also kings - wore it as a headdress on their way to the coronation before they received the actual "coronation crown", which itself was once again exchanged for a "state crown" before the monarch left the Abbey. A state crown was then worn at all state ceremonies.
The Modena Diadem was altered a number of times and was used by all the subsequent queens up to and including Queen Adelaide (William IV's coronation in 1831). A male exception: George I wore this diadem in his coronation procession.

(Günter Szynkarek, translated by Hugh Langridge M.A.)