The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
STORY or A GREAT DIAMOND.
How the Regent Came Into Possession
OF the Duke OF Orleans.

From the Jenclcrs' Circuidr-W oekly.
One of the most beautiful diamonds in the
world is the Regent. 1t belongs to France.
Besides its dimensions. which are considerable,
it unites various qualities which lurthcr
augment its value. When rough it weighed
40 carats. Its present weight is only 1856
carats Its cutting, which is of great eX-
cellence required two years of work. 1t
was valued in 1891 at IL 100000 francs. This
diamond was purchased in the rough state
by the grandfather of William Pitt for 81, 600
francs The Duke of Orleans, then Regent
of France acquired it in l7l7 for the sum OF
1915 900 francs.
According to St. Simon. who gives an
interesting recital Of the purchase OF the
stone. there is quite a different version from
that ordinarily accepted
Through an extremely rare opportunity
an employed in the diamond mines Of the
Grand Mogul was able to extract one of very
large size He found means of enbarhihg
and reaching Europe with his diamond. He
took it to England. where the king admired
it, without. however, deciding to buy II.
model of glass was made in England and the
man was sent with the diamond and model to
Law. who proposed it to the Recent Tor the
King. The price frightened the Regent. who
refused to buy it.
The state OF the iinancss was ali Obstacle
on which the Regent insisted. lie feared
mourning cenSure for so large purchase,
while there was trouble in providing for the
most pressing necessities and many people
were left in suffering.
Il applauded this sent mcnt. but ! said
to him that it was not suitable to exercise
the same economy for the greatest King of
Europe as for n private individual. that the
honor of the Crown should be considered
and the opportunity of procuring diamond
which would eclipse all others III Europe
should not be lost. did not leave the Duke
of Orleans until | had obtained the promise
that the diamond should be purchased. Law.
before speaking to me. had represented
to the possessor of the diamond that it would
b. impossible to procure the sum that he had
hoped for, and the loss that would be occa-
stoned by breaking it up into pieces. so that
the price had been reduced to 2. 900, 900 francs.
including the scraps that would come from
the cutting. The bargain was concluded
in this way. The interest of ?.000,oJo francs
was paid until the whole amount could be
raised. and in the meantime 2mo.0O francs
in precious stones was hypothecated."
In the celebrated robbery at the Garde
Mcuble in 1892, this stone was stolen and
concealed behind a roof timber of barn.
As q result of a proclamation 1t was recor-
cred by municipal officer named Sergent.
The Regent was the most beautiful ie wei
in the coronation crown of King Louis Nv.
Later. it was held by vanlerberahe, a banker,
as pledge for his advances. historian OF
the times states that the wife of the banker
took the opportunity of wearing it while it
was in her husband = possession.
The First Consul in his turn pledged the
Regent to the Batavian Government to pro-
cure the funds which were lacking after
the 18th Brumare. Later he ornamented
his Austeritz sword with the celebrated
diamond. which, in the words of Vatout.
might well have dispensed with the orna-