The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-10
Frederick Haskin's Letter
The Disappearing Diamonds

sian crown, are old mine ru,t,.
That means that they were cu ~ i,
hand, and tho facets OF a hand y
stone are neither so numerons ~ ~
so sharply cut as those of q So ~
cut by modern machinery ~
| machine cut stones with their NJ. y
ematically correct facets are ~
more brilliant than these ola az 1
monds. So, even though recBttis
involves a loss of about twenty ~.
cent Of a stone the old dfarotpss 81
must be recut before they arc e'' -
sirable for the modern level,
trade"
Mr.. Shaw explained that the pa
sian crown jewel collection n.
considered the most tasteful IS,
lection of royal jewels in N,
world, and probably the finest =
cept in pearls. ~
The Oriental strain which o..
Russians inherit from the Ta,,-s ",
invaders accounts for the Russ,a-
love for jewels" said Mr.. Shaw ~.
is a common trait in peasan, ana
prince. The Russians OF all clas,.-
have way of saving their mon
by investing in jewels, and N.
crown collection represented ~,
greatest expression OF that Rn.
sian trait.
In pearls alone the Russsn
czars were not a0Ie to sprns,,
other gem loving monarchs Ar
entail rulers have always colIec,.3
pearls as the gem most 10 h.
priced; so that the great value \,
the worlds pearls is in the eae
The late Rama of Dholpur, weari,,
his pearl regalia strings maj
strings of cleaning, opaIescpr,
pearls-represented $4,000 900 IN
gems, the result of a THOUSAND
years patient collecting. Russ,
could not compete with THU
The Russian crown Jewels mad
more dazzling show, boweye,
than the gem fortunes Of AN,
other nation. The l 500 pieces in
the crown collection included gold.
en- gobIets, innumerable poH
plates, some encrusted with gems
chalice cut from a single grer
amethyst. jewels of famous ordea
Tiaras, coronets, necklaces, ar3
thrones, all blazing with Ii,
sparkle of rubies, sapphires, en-.
eralds. and diamonds were in III.
remarkable treasure house.
There were the crowns Of ths
czars, notably that worn by Peter
the Great. This crown was brill
liantly ornamented with 800 did,
monds, and had for its piece de e
sistance, a great ruby surmounts.
by a cross OF diamonds.
The Seeptre Of the Cars.
The imperial sceptre was anOtha
exhibit which commanded after.
ton by its brilliancy even in thai
sparkling collection. This scepG;
boosted the great Orloff damon
which had in Europe only Oae riVa
in size.
Like many of the royal jewels
the Orloff diamond saw SOM
strange sights. During all DE
years between carnations the II
gala lay on its velvet cushions d
the throne room OF the treasur
Only when a car was to be Grove
ed did the imperial sceptre CONF
into use.
This diamond was added TO th'I
sceptre by Catherine the Great vic
received the diamond as gil
from a courtier, Prince Orion ThsI
first coronation after the diamori
was placed in the sceptre was hs
most gruesome in hosiery
Catherine had just died and hE
son was to be crowned car. But
before he would allow the crown 90
be placed on his head he insisted
on going through a ceremony ID
honor of his father. who hid never
worn the crown in his lifetime and
who had been murdered. some SAD
with CatherineS -aPT0vzi. me
son had the long dead body Of Dis
father brought out and wrapped y
the regalia of coronation hsf.
Two cOurtiers who had been COZ
nected with the murder were o.
dered to stand as chief mourneF
for hours in the presence OF the
glitteringly arrayed skeleton. Ine9
the heavy sceptre, the crown anu
the royal robes were returned 70
the throne room to await the co'0'
nation Of the real CZar.
The Orloff diamond figured IL
numerous coronation ceremonle'
after that first strange memorial
Now it has entered upon NV
chapter of its history. There 10
scarcely a chance that it will ever
be carried by car again.