Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-10
THE DISAPPEARING DIAMONDS
nv FREDERIC ]. HAsK1N

BY FREDERIC ]. HASK1N
WASHINGTON, d. c., March g.
The great collection of Russian crown
jewels seems likely to share the mys-
terious fate of the peacock throne In
Delhi
The peacock throne. which cost Shah
Jchan $50 .000, 900, was wonderful can
opied chair Of pure gold encrusted with
rubies. sapphiree. and festoons OF
pearls, and ornamented with two
great jeweled peacocks and ltfe-
sized parrot cut from a single emerald:
1t was q fabulous work OF art and
when it slipped out OF sight after the
death of the Shah there was much
speculation. Presumably a strand Of
pearls was Topped off here. ruby
pried off there, and the emerald par
rot cut into number of less distinc-
tive Jewels. Today a mere throne
framework In Teheran is pointed out
uncertainty as the peacock throne.
/ The crown jewels OF Russia are sup
posed to be slipping away in similar
fashion. There was no word OF any
locting when the Kremln in MOSCOW.
where the glittering Jewels of royalty
rcposed, fell into the hands of the
revolutionista The Kremlin has been
guarded by the Soviet government.
The condition of the great collection
of jewels in tho royal treasury CALLER
les is veiled In mystery.
South African papers in close touch
with the diamond trade state that
SIC, 900 900 worth OF stolen Russian dia-
monds We're thrown on the jewel marx
ct in ten months in 192l-and the
crown jewel collection of Russia was
particularly rich in diamonds.
The diamond production industry
has been seriously disturbed by the
large number OF these gems coming
out of Russia. but now the SITUATION
Is reported as more stable. some
South African mines that stopped pro-
ducinE to await a demand Tor thcr
stones are at work again.
CROWN JEWELS ON THE
I MARKET
That some OF the jewels which have
so affected the International trade arc
from the royal collection there Is no
doubt For instance, gem expert IN
thi. city, Mr.. w. c. Shaw, had two
snuff boxes from the royal posses
sious.
..one Of these snuff boxes. said Mr..
Shaw. bore portrait in enamel OF
, the grandfather of the late Car. rms
was tho Car who was killed ny
bomb while driving In his carriage not
so any years ago. Around the por-
trait were concentrio rings or dia-
monds. This snuff box was gift
to tho Car and was made in France.
The other box, OF Russian worKmhh-
ship. was oblong and made OF pure,
highly chased gold"
These boxes have gone to swell the
collections OF American connisseure
Mr.. Shaw explained that while very
little is known OF the fate OF the Isus-
sian crown Jewels. agents of the Soviet
government are known to have sofa
Jewels in Turkey. Holland, and other
places.
"Jcwelry OF wonderful workman
ship" he said, has been sold by peas
ants. in some cases, for ridiculous
prices A piece that was worth $loO,-
/ oon has sometimes been sold for $50
J in the first trade. Then. as II feii fnto
tho hands OF experts the price would
rapidly reach what might be called
normal level
Tho greatest part OF the Jewels Una,
have come from Russia lately have
gone to London. Many diamonds.
however, have bccn sent to Holland
10 bc rccut There docs not seem 10
have been any fear OF pieces being
identified. There was no special at
/ tempt to have the appearance chanKeo.
There was no need for the methods OF
| n burglar In dealing with inc properly
OF departed royalty.
Moreover, the artistry Of the Rus
sian settings enhances tho value OF
! the gems The riclio work-patterhs
OF black alloycd metal on white-and
tho beautiful cnarnciinE arc too much
admired to be recklcssly destroyed
STONES BEING EECuT
| Pieces have been changed. rather.
because tho stones were what is known
as old mine cutting. Ninc-tcnths OF
tho diamonds in old collections, Hko
that OF the Russian crown. arc OLD
mine cutting That means that they
d m "A
hand cut r,onc are neither so numer-
Gus nor so sharply cut as those of a
stone cut by modern machinery. The
machine cut stones with their mathe-
d ma tically correct facets aro FAR moro
brilliant than these old diamonds. SO.
| even tho rccutting involves a loss OF
about twenty per cent OF n stonc the
old diamonds must be rccut before
| they are desirable for the modern jew
elry trade
Mr.. shaw explained that tho Russian
crown jewel collection was considered
the most tasteful collection Of royal
jewels an the world. and probably the
finest. except I'm pearls.
The oriental strain which the Rus
SLAMS Inherit from tho Tartar invaders
accounts for the Russian lovc for Jew
els said Mir. Shaw. 1T is a common
trait In peayant and prince. The Rus
SLAMS of all classes have way OF saw
Ing their money by investing In jew
els, and tho crown collection represent
ed tho greatest expression OF that
Russian trait.
"In pearls alone tho Russian Car.
werc not able to surpass other gem
loving monarchs. oriental rulers have
always collected pearls as tho gem
most to be priced: so that the great
value OF tho worlds pearls is In the
East. The late Rama OF Dholpur. wear
ins his poarl rcgalia-strinss upon
strings of cleaning. cpalcscent pearls
l-reprorented sia 100000 In gems. tho
, result of a thousand years patient coll
lecting. Russia could not compete
with this
Tho Russian crown Jewels made
more dazzling show. however. than
the gcrh fortunes OF any other nation.
Tho 1880 pieces in the crown collco-