A committee composed of competent jewelers and mineralogists has been
appointed to make an appraisement of the diamonds and to indicate such as
should be withheld from sale on account of their scientific, artistic, or
historic interest. The members of the committee propose to preserve the
following objects:
1. The "Regent" (Fig. 2), by reason of its mineralogical value, the
perfection of its cutting, the purity of its water, its incomparable
luster, and its great size, it being the largest brilliant as yet known.
2. The military sword of Charles the Tenth's coronation, the hilt of which
is entirely of brilliants mounted by Bapst with wonderful art.
3. The jewel called the "Reliquary," of the 15th century.
To these riches must be added the following interesting objects: the Dey
of Algiers' watch; the Elephant of Denmark; the decorations, etc., of
foreign orders; crowns and diadems of sapphire; rubies; pearls that afford
curious specimens of French art at the beginning of our century; one of
the Mazarins bequeathed by the celebrated Cardinal; and lots of colored
stones destined for our national museums.
The same exhibition alluded to above contains a number of other
collections of great interest that it would be unjust to pass over in
silence, such as the exhibit of the French diamond mines of the Cape,
where one may see all the details of this prosperous exploitation by means
of photographs and specimens.
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