THE PLATINUM JUBILEE SPECIAL EVENT | AFTERNOON TEA | TIMELESS TIARAS with Adrian Dickens

Australian jeweller Adrian Dickens is inspired by the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II to create a very special presentation that tells us about the history and craftsmanship of timeless tiaras. 

Queens, empresses, and princesses regularly wear tiaras at formal evening occasions and have been associated with women of reigning and noble families, however tiaras have been worn by commoners as well, especially socialites and even movie princesses. 

This illustrated presentation offers a new perspective and an intriguing insight into many of the more familiar personal pieces owned and worn with regularity by the Queen, who is said to have the largest and most valuable collection of tiaras in the world, and other senior members of the Royal Family. Hear the stories behind the Russian tiaras and gifts to the Royal Family; discover the political role of Queen Victoria’s diadem; understand how the Queen, Camilla, and now Kate use diamonds to express political power and prestige. 

Learn how tiaras have changed over time and are now worn by women on special occasions such as debutant balls or weddings, by winners of beauty pageants, and children dressing up as their favourite princesses. Realise that International Tiara Day celebrated on 24 May each year, appropriately on the birthday of Queen Victoria, a day when everyone who wishes can wear a tiara for a day and feel like royalty. 

To illustrate the enduring beauty of a tiara Adrian will bring the latest piece in his collection for you all to enjoy. A tiara that dismantles into a necklace in the original fitted case and made by the royal court jewellers Collingwood and Co around the turn of the 20^th century.

ADRIAN DICKENS is a jeweller with 40 years’ experience in modern, estate and antique jewellery. British-born, he trained in England before moving to Australia in 1988, where he managed iconic Australian jewellery retailers such as Paul Bram, Jan Logan, and Bunda Fine Jewels.  

In 2012 Adrian founded his own business, Circa AD Jewels, where he personally collaborates with clients and to exceed their expectations. His guiding principles are trust, value and discretion. As an independent jeweller, Adrian offers his clients, an extremely personal experience in all aspects of jewellery – from sourcing old or new diamonds, coloured stones and pearls to reinventing old jewels and heirlooms into more modern designs.  

Adrian travels throughout Australia and internationally, sharing his passion and extensive knowledge about the world’s finest jewels to audiences. The stories he relates about renowned women and men and their jewels are fascinating and reveal his penchant for jewellery. In May 2018, Adrian was delighted to be invited to present his Queen’s Diamond talk as part of CARTIER: The Exhibition, at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. 

This lecture is presented on-site at The Johnston Collection. Please see your ticket for details. 

This lecture is supported by The Colin Holden Charitable Trust and The Friends of TJC 

Images provided