The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-18
QUEEN VICTORIA'S CROWN.

Many people have seen the crown of
Queen Victoria in the Tower Of London,
but it is not generally known how it is
made up, and how many jewels it con.
tains. 1t is said to be the heaviest and
most uncomfortable diadem of all the
crowned heads in Europe. 1t is con-
structed of jewels taken from old
crowns. and other stones provided by
her majesty. 1t consists of emeralds,
rubies. sapphires. pearls, and diamonds.
The stones, which are set in gold and
silver, incase a crimson velvet cap with
border of ermine, the whole of the
interior being lined with the finest white
silk Above the crimson border on the
lower edge Of the band is row of one
hundred and twenty nine pearls.
Round the upper part of the band is
border of one hundred and twelve pearls.
In the front. stationed between the two
borders of pearls. is huge sapphire,
purchased by George w., set in the
centre of valuable pearls. At the back,
in the same position, is another but
smaller sapphire. The sides are adorned
with three sapphires, and between these
the sapphires. extending all around the
crown, are placed at intervals fourteen
diamonds, the eight emeralds being
encircled by clusters of diamonds, one
hundred and twenty eight in number.
Between the emeralds and sapphires are
sixteen ornaments, each consisting of
eight diamonds. Above circular band
are eight sapphires set separately. en-
circled by eight diamonds. Between
each of these eight sapphires are eight
festoons of eighteen diamonds each.
In front of the crown is diamond
Maltese cross, in the centre of which
gfistens the famous ruby given to Ed.
ward l. by Don Pedro the Cruel. This
is the stone which adorned the helmet
of Henry V. at the battle of Agincourt.
The centre of the ruby is followed out,
and the space filed in accordance with
the eastern custom, with similar ruby.
The Maltese cross is formed of seventy
five splendid diamonds. At each of the
sides and at the back is a Maltese cross
with emerald centres, containing res
pectively one hundred and thirty-two,
one hundred and twenty -four. and one
hundred and thirty sparkling diamonds.
Level with the four Maltese crosses
and stationed between, are four orna
ments shaped like the heur-de-lis, with
four rubies in the centre, and surround
ed by diamonds, containing eighty five,
eighty-six and eighty-seven diamonds.
From the Maltese crosses spring four
imperial arches, composed of oak leaves
and diamonds. The leaves are formed
of seven hundred and twenty eight
diamonds: thirty two pearls represent
the acorns, and fitty-four diamonds the
cups. From the upper part of the
imperial arches hang suspended four
large pendant-shaped pearls set in
diamond cups, each cup being formed
of twelve diamonds, the stems from each
of the four hanging pearls being en-
crusted with twenty four diamonds.
Above the arch is the mount. which is
made OF four hundred and thirty eight
diamonds. The zone and arc are repre-.
sented by thirty three diamonds. On
the summit of the throne is cross,
which has for it's center a rose-cut
sapphire set in the center of fourteen
large diamonds. Altogether the crown
comprises one large ruby, one large
sapphire, twenty six smaller sapphires,
eleven emeralds. four rubies. 1868
brilliants. 1878 rose diamonds, four pen