Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08
STORY OF A GREAT DIAMOND.
How the Regent Came Into Possession
of the Duke Of Orleans.

From the jewelers. Circular Weekly
One of the most beautiful diamonds in
the world Is the Regent 1t belongs TO
France Besides Its dimensions, which are
considerable. II unites various qualities
which further augment Its value. When
rough it weighed 410 carats- Its present
weight is only 1876 carats. Its cutting,
which is of great excellence, required two
years of work. 1t was valued In l1sl al
IL 600 600 francs. This diamond was pur-
chased in the rough state by the grand
father of William Pitt for $4,000 francs
The Duke of Orleans, then regent OF
France acquired 1t In 1717 for the sum OF
$685. 900 francs.
According to ST Simon, who gives an in
teresting recital of the purchase of the
stone, there is quite different version
from that ordinarily accepted:
Through an extremely rare opportunity
an employe in the diamond mines OF the
Grand Mogul was able to extract one OF
very large size. He found means OF en-
barking and reaching Europe with his dia-
mond He took Ii TO England. where the
king admired 1t. without. however, deciding
to buy 1t. A model of glass was made In
England and the man was sent with the
diamond and model to Law, who proposed
IL to the regent for the king. The price
frightened the regent. who refused to buy IT,
THE state of the finances was an OBJ
stacle on which the regent Insisted. He
feared mourning censure for SO large pur-
for the most pressing necessities and many
people were left In suffering.
81 applauded this sentiment, but / SAID
to him that Ii was not suitable to exercise
the same economy for the greatest king OF
Europe as for private individual; that the
honor of the crown should be considered
and the opportunity of procuring diamond
which would eclipse all others in Europe
should not be lost. did not leave the Duke
OF Orleans until 1 had obtained the promise
that the diamond should be purchased.
Law. before speaking to me, had represent
ed to the possessor of the diamond that 1t
would be impossible to procure the sum
that he had hoped for. and the loss that
would be occasioned by breaking 1t up into
pieces, so that the price had been reduced
to 1900 900 francs including the scraps
that would come from the cutting. The
bargain was concluded In this way. The
interest of 100000 francs was paid until
the meantime 100000 francs In precious
stones was hypothecated."
In the celebrated robbery at the Garde
Meuble In 1892, this stone was stolen and
concealed behind a roof timber of a barn.
As result of a proclamation 1t was recov-
cred by municipal officer named Sergent.
The Regent was the most beautiful Jewel
In the coronation crown of King Louis XIV.
Later IL was held by Vanlerberghe, a bank
err as a pledge for his advances. his
torian of the times states that the wife OF
the banker took the opportunity of wearing
1t while II was in her husbands 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 Brumaire Later he ornamented
his Austeritz sword with the celebrated
diamond which, In the words of Vatout,
might we'll have dispensed with the orna-
ment.