“…In the world of high jewellery, a tiara has never been merely an object of adornment. It is a symbol of authority, honour, and aspiration, an artefact through which dreams and ideals are passed from one era to the next. In 2025, Maison Chaumet begins a new chapter in its storied legacy with Houbara Haven: A Chaumet Tiara, a masterful creation by Qatari artist Aisha Alattiya, a work that resonates with artistic refinement, exceptional craftsmanship, and profound cultural meaning…”
This singular tiara was conceived under a special design commission by Alfardan Jewellery and Qatar Museums, initiated by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani. It will be officially unveiled during Qatar Creates and exhibited at M7, in the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha, as a celebration of Qatar’s cultural heritage and the enduring artistry of high jewellery on a global stage.
The inspiration behind Houbara Haven is drawn not from distant fantasies, but from the land itself, specifically the native Qatari plant Awsaj. A resilient desert species capable of thriving in harsh conditions, Awsaj bears fruit reminiscent of pearls, accompanied by delicate white and pale violet blossoms. Beyond its physical beauty, the plant embodies endurance, adaptation, and quiet strength, qualities that become the conceptual foundation of the tiara.
Historically, the interlacing branches of Awsaj were used as structural cores for embroidery. In Alattiya’s interpretation, these entwined forms are reimagined as the tiara’s refined architectural framework, forming rhythmic lines that support diamonds, pearls, and white gold. The result is a visual dialogue between nature and the virtuoso craftsmanship of Maison Chaumet, fluid, balanced, and exquisitely composed.
At the heart of this creation lies the Houbara bustard, a rare bird of deep cultural significance in Qatar and an enduring symbol tied to the noble tradition of falconry. The tiara conceals poetic details within its design: petite floral elements that may be detached and worn as brooches, revealing two Houbara birds gracefully concealed from a falcon’s gaze. Openwork wings lend an airy lightness, evoking the bird’s natural refuge during hunting season. Every element appears alive with movement, echoing Chaumet’s enduring signature, its celebration of lightness, grace, and motion.
Equally essential to the narrative are the exceptional natural pearls from the Arabian Gulf, sourced by Alfardan Jewellery. These pearls form the emotional core of the piece, linking it to Qatar’s historic pearl-diving heritage while simultaneously honouring Chaumet’s own longstanding reverence for nature, a value embedded in the Maison since its founding in 1780.
What further elevates Houbara Haven: A Chaumet Tiara is the time devoted to its creation. Crafted over 850 hours at Chaumet’s high jewellery workshops at 12 Place Vendôme in Paris, under the direction of Benoît Verhulle, Head of the Atelier, and a team of master artisans, the tiara transcends its physical form. It becomes not merely a piece of jewellery, but the culmination of artistic vision, technical mastery, and cultural understanding—harmoniously fused into a single, timeless expression.
