Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-10

"JeWelry of wonderful Workman
ship" he said, has been sold by
peasants, in some cases. for ridlcu-
lous prices. A piece thai was worth
500, 900 has sometimes beer sold for
$50 in the first trade. Then, as II
fell into the hands of experts the
price would rapidly reach what
might be called a normal level.
"The greatest part of the Jewels
hat have come from Russia lately
have gone to London. Many dia-
monds, however, have been sent TO
Holland to be recut. There does not
seem to have been any fear of pieces
! being identified. There was no spe-
| cial attempt to nave the appearance
changed. There was no need Tor
| the methods of a burglar in dealing
with the property Of departed royal
Moreover, the artistry of the Rus
sian settings enhances the value OF
the gems. The niello work-patterns
of black alleged metal on white-and
the beautiful enameung are too
much admired to be recklessly de-
stroyed.
Stones Being Recut D
"Pieces have been changed, rather,
because the stones were what Is
known as old mine cutting. Nine
tenths of the diamonds in old collec-
lions, like that of the Russian crown,
are old mine cutting. That means
that they were cut by hand, and the
facets of a hand cut stone are neith-
err so numerous nor so sharply cut
as those of q stone cut by. modern
machinery. The machine cut stones
with their automatically correct
' facets are far more brilliant tnan
those old diamonds. So, ever through
recruiting involves a loss of about
twenty per cent of a stone the old
diamonds must be recut before they
are desirable for the modern jewelry
trade" 1
Mr.. Shaw explained that the Rus
sian crown jewel collection was con-
sidered the most tasteful collection
of royal jewels in the world, and
probably the finest. except in pearls,
"The Oriental strain which the
Russians inherit from the Tartar in
vaders accounts for the Russian love
for Jewels" said Mr.. Shaw. 1T is
a common trait in peasant and
prince. The Russians of all classes
have a way of saving their money by
investing in jewels, and the crown
collection represented the greatest
expression of that Russian trait
I'm pearls alone the Russian Cars
were not able to surpass other gem
loving monarchs. Oriental rulers
have always collected pearls as the
gem most to be priced: so hat the
great value of the worlds pearls is
in the East. The late Rama of
Dholpur, wearing his pearl regalia-
strings upon strings of cleaning,
opalescent pearls-represented $12,-
90 300. in gems, the result of a thou
en- - 90 .r v.a<fprt nn1tnnftrrn prl0Stl
could not compete with this"
The Russian crown jewels made a
more dazzling show, however, than
the gem fortunes of any other ma
ton. The 1000 pieces in the crown
collection include golden goblets, in
Vulnerable gold plates, some en-
crusted with gems, a chalice cut
from a single great amethyst, jewels
of famous orders. Tiaras, coronets,
necklaces and thrones, all blazing
with the sparkle of rubies, sapphires,
emeralds and diamonds were in the
remarkable treasure house.
There were the crowns of the Car
notably that worn by Peter the
Great. This crown was brilliantly
ornamented with 900 diamonds, and
had for its piece de resistance, a
great ruby surmounted by a cross of
diamonds.
The Sccptrc Of the Cars
The imperial sceptre was another
exhibit which commanded attention
by its brilliancy even in that spark
ling collection. This sceptre boosted
the great Orloff diamond which had
in Europe only one rival in size,
Like many. of the royal jewels, the
Orloff diamond saw some strange
sights. During all the years between
coronations the regalia lay on its
velvet cushions in the throne room
of thu treasury. Only when a Car
was to be crowned did the imperial
sceptre come into use.
This diamond was added to the
sceptre by Catherine the Great. who
received the diamond as a gift from
a courtier, Prince Orloff. The first
coronation after the diamond was
placed in the sceptre was the most
gruesome in history.
Catherine had just died and her
son was to be crovsued Gar. But
before he would allow the crown to
be placed on his head he insisted on
going through a ceremony in honor
of his father, who had never worn
the crown in his lifetime, and who
had been murdered. some said with
4, GATHERINGS approval. The son had
the long dead body of his father
brought out and wrapped in the re-
gala of coronation day. Two cour-