Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-30
COSTLY JEWELS.
Brilliant Display at the Paris EXPOSE
tion-The Sancy Diamond.

lon-Ihe Sancy diamond.
Paris Letter to Philadelphia Telegraph
The department of French jeweiry has
been greatly improved since l paid my
first visit there, few days after the open.
ing of the exhibition. The great I'm.
perial diamond, the largest in the world
has not yet found purchaser at the price
demanded for it, namely, S1,200,000. II
is said one of the Vanderbilts offered
100000 for it, and that the offer
was refused, though it is currently re.
ported that one of 100000 would meet
with due consideration. However, were |
a millionaire ten times over, | should not
care to own that big blazing stone. |
should turn my attention to the show case
of Monsieur Bapst. the celebrated jeweler,
whose family for generations back has had
charge OF the French crown diamonds.
There, quivering like drop of solidi-
fed light, and suspended to collar neck
lace of rubies and diamonds that once
adorned the throat of Louis XV'.s queen.
Marie Deczinska, shines the most interest
ing historical relic in the whole exhibi-
ton, the beautiful and famous Sancy dia-
mond. This renowned stone first makes
it appearance in history set in the front of
the helmet of Charles the Bold. Three
centuries later it became the property of
Louis XIV. 1t adorned the crown of Louis
XVI, and was sold without due warrant
for such proceeding should think by the
Duchess de Berri, the mother Of the
Comte de Chambord. 1t was bought by
VI. Bapst at the San Donate sale some
years ago. Its present owner possesses all
the papers necessary to prove the pedigree
of this celebrated gem, and is willing
moreover TO give full guarantee of its
genuineness. 1t is not an enormous stone
like the Imperial or Kooh-i Moor, and is
peculiar in shape, being cut as a drop or
pendant, but it is faultless in color and in
water, and is about the size of a large
cherry. Most of the other great dia
monds of the world are mere parvenues
beside this sparkling stone, whose origin
dates back full a century before the dis
covery of America, and which blazed
above the contending ranks at the battle
of Morat, at which Charles the Bold, its
original owner, lost his life.
In the same showcase is displayed a
brooch, once the property of Marie An
toinette, pretty trinket in the shape of
DdShcI vi AOMclS, dll III u1dIlIOuuS, anu
also necklace of black and white pearls,
strung alternately and of extraordinary
size. But heartily wish that the Sancy
would become the property of some one
of our colossally rich citizens. 1t is Of
fered for sale at 100000. The necklace
of Marie Leczinska is valued at 100000.
There is also set of emeralds exhibited
by the firm of Ourille-Lemoine, the stones
in which are unique and of extraordinary
size and beauty. 1t comprises four large
square emeralds, each set as brooch in
a double row of small diamonds To
three of these brooches are attached as
pendants fiat pear-shaped emeralds, each
about fnger-length in dimensions, per-
feet in water and of the most exquisite
and brilliant possible shade of greer.
These marvellous stores are antique and
their like has never before been seen in
Europe. The set is valued at $4,000.
Very curious, but far from beautiful, is
an immense black diamond, exhibited by
the firm of Rouvenant & Despres, who
also show a necklace of large pearls and
diamonds, the latter pierced like beads
and strung alternately with the pearls. l
am told that these pierced diamonds are
by no means uncommon in the East. But,
as naturally it lessons the value Of fine
gem to bore a hole through it, and as
stone to be so treated must be of pecul-
lar shape and capable of being cut all
round like a bead, they are more costly
than effective The finest necklace Of
pearls in the exhibition is shown by NJ.
Vever of the Rue de la Paix. 1t has
taken him ten years to collect the pearls
for this one superb string. They are all
of unusual size and of faultless quality,
except the huge central pearl, which has
the lovely defect Cf defect it be) of being
family tinged with the palest and most
delicate shade of pink imaginable. This
beauteous ornament will cost its purchaser
$4,000.