In British heraldry, a coronet is a type of crown that is a mark of rank of non-reigning members of the royal family and peers. In other languages, this distinction is not made, and usually the same word for crown is used irrespective of rank (German: Krone, Dutch: Kroon, Swedish: Krona, French: Couronne, Italian: Corona, etc.) In this use, the English coronet is a purely technical term for all heraldic images of crowns not used by a sovereign. A Coronet is another type of crown, but is reserved for the nobility - Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons. The specific design and attributes of the crown or coronet signifies the hierarchy and ranking of its owner.
