The Order of Leopold is one of the three national Belgian orders, along with the Order of the Crown and the Order of Leopold II. The Order of Leopold is the most important and highest Belgian distinction. Each order has specific model decorations, such as a knight's cross on a ribbon, and in some cases a breast star and a sash. In addition, there are insignia for daily use. The traditional breast star of the Order of Leopold, made of silver, is historically quite large and heavy, which can make it difficult to wear on clothing.
Queen Paola suggested years ago to have a smaller version made, so that it would be more comfortable to wear on a gala dress. This unique piece was passed on to Queen Mathilde in 2013, who still wears it today. In 2024, at the request of Princess Elisabeth, a new small breast star was made. For that occasion, completely new dies were made by P. De Greef, who closely followed the geometry of the original 19th-century design. The end result is a beautifully refined wearable jewel, completely assembled by hand by our house jeweler Marc Van Hulle.
The silver ladies' version of the breast star 'Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold' is now also available in the webshop. A beautiful example of tradition and craftsmanship in harmony!