ll things have names. Is it surprising that the parts of the tiara has names, too?

APEX: The highest part of the tiara if such is in the center of the frontpiece. Also the cluster of stones or flowers that is often set there.

BAND: The long, narrow part that attaches to the frontpiece, holding it in place. This is usually flexible and adjustable, and can be one of two kinds; full-circle or half-circle. On comb tiaras it is replaced by a comb upon which the frontpiece sits that is simply pushed into the hair. With a headband tiara the band is worn like an alice band across the top of the head.

ELEMENT: one part of the lace-like work of which the majority of the frontpiece is made that sets the "lines" of the piece. Most tiaras are made of strands of small, colorless, transparent stones called rhinestones or crystals. There is no real name for these and since this is what is used in the overwhelming majority of tiaras, we shall simply call this an element. On a wire tiara this is called a strand. On a filigree tiara this is called a filament. On a sheet metal tiara, there are no separate elements since the frontpiece is made of one piece of metal. On such a tiara the elements are either done as bas-relief or engravings.

FRONTPIECE: the upstanding part of a tiara.

STONES: As a part of structure, this refers to a part that is not part of an ELEMENT but may be anywhere. They serve to create nodes that fill in empty spaces or direct the focus of attention. If an ELEMENT is made of the strands of transparent items in settings, the singular of these is called a CRYSTAL>