In the never ending, intricate lifestyles of tiaras, have you ever wondered what certain terms mean? For instance, what is a kokoshnik versus a meander? Well, don't look any further read on for a breakdown of tiara terminology. 

Tiara Glossary from A-Z

Aigrette: Refers to the tufted crest or head-plumes of the egret (bird), used for adorning a headdress. This ornament was popular during the early part of the 20th century. 

Bandeau: Typically low in profile, a bandeau is headband style piece that lays flat ones head and sometimes across the forehead. 

By Tim Evanson from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA - bandeau by Cartier, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75641322

Cabochon

A gemstone that has been polished and smoothed into a rounded shape and surface instead of being cut into facets.  

Masa, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

Circlet

A circlet is a piece of headgear that is similar to a diadem or a corolla. The word circlet is also used to refer to the base of a crown or a coronet with or without a cap. Diadem and circlet are often used interchangeably, and "open crowns" with no arches, have also been referred to as circlets.

Diadem 

Often used interchangeably with the word 'tiara', a diadem is a type of crown specifically an ornamental headband worn by monarchs and others as a badge of royalty. The word derives from the Greek διάδημα diádēma, "band" or "fillet", from διαδέω diadéō, "I bind round", or "I fasten"

 
Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Filigree

Filigree is a form of intricate metalwork used in jewellery and other small forms of metalwork. It is usually of gold and silver, made with tiny beads or twisted threads, or both in combination, soldered together or to the surface of an object of the same metal and arranged in artistic motifs. Very popular during the 1920s and 30s.

Meander/Greek Key
A specific pattern motif who took its name from the river Meander, a river with many twists, mentioned by Homer in Iliad. The motif is also known as Greek key or Greek fret.

Kokoshnik
A traditional Russian girls headdress and its shape is sometimes imitated by tiaras; women of the Russian imperial family often wore their tiaras or other jewels sewn on a fabric kokoshnik

Parure
A matching set of jewelry, like earrings, necklace, brooch and ring. Origin: French,  the Old French pareure, from parer (v.) to prepare or adorn

Tiara
A tiara (from Latin: tiara, from Ancient Greek: τιάρα) is a jeweled, ornamental crown traditionally worn by women. It is worn during formal occasions, particularly if the dress code is white tie.