Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-21
STORY OF GREAT DIAMOND.
How the Regent Came Into Possession
of the Duke Of Orleans.
the Iewelers, Circular weekly.

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, It unites various qualities
which further augment its value. When
rough it weighed 40 karats. Its present
weight Is only 1876 karats. Its cutting. which
is of great excellence. required two years
of work. II was valued In. 1I91 at l2,voo.-
600 francs. This diamond was purchased
in the rough state by the grandfather OF
William Pitt for $4,000 francs. The Duke
Of Orleans then regent of France. acquired
It in 171I for the sum Of $4,000 francs.
According to st. Simon. who gives an
interesting 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 or the
grand mOgul was able to extract one OF
very large size. He found mears of emu
barking and reaching Europe with MS dia-
mond He took 1t to England. where the
king admired il. without, however. deciding
10 buy it. A model of glass was made In
England and the man was sent with the
diamond and model to Law. who proposed
IT to the regent for the king. TIE p1co
frightened the regent. who -etuSeI to ouy IT,
THE state of the finances was an OBJ
stacle on which the regent insisted. He
feared mourning censure Tor so large q
purchase, While there was trouble
ing for the most pressing necessities ana
many people were left In suffering.
II applauded this sentiment, but said to
him that II was not suitable to exercise the
same economy or the greatest king o.
Europe for private individual; that the
honor of the crown should be considered
and the opportunity OF procuring a dia
mond 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 DO
purchased Law, before speaking to me,
had represented to the possessor of the dia-
mond that 1t would be impossible to pro-
cure the sum that he had hoped for. and
the loss that would be occasioned by break
ing IL up into pieces. so that the price had
been reduced to 2.OoO.O00 francs, including
the scraps that would come from the cut
ting. The bargain was concluded in this
way. The interest OF 100000 francs was
paid until the whole amount could be sised
and in the meantime 100000 francs il
precious stones was hypothecated."
In the celebrated robbery at the Garde
Meuble In 1892 this stone stolen and
concealed behind a roof timber of a barn.
AS result of q proclamation II was re-
covered by q municipal officer named Ser
gent.
The Regent was the most beautiful jewel
in the coronation of King Louis XIV. Later
Il was held by Vanlerberghe. banker. as
a pledge for his advances. A historian Of
the times states that the wife OF the banker
took the opportunity of wearing Ii while IL
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
Austerlltz sword With tho celebrated Ola
mond. which, In the words If Vatout mig mt
well have dispensed with tas ornament.