ROYAL CROWN JEWELS AND REGALIA COLLECTIONS

From the shadowy pages of history the passage of power and leadership from one monarch or Tsar or Chief to the next in line is accompanied by a passage of a set or even a single item from the old regime to the new. This tradition has been ensconced in the historic lore of almost all nations or tribes whatever the case may be. Originally it was a passage of wealth or the power of a sword that was used or captured by the previous ruler or rulers to the new Ruler. Over time becoming almost totally symbolic and ever more valuable. The regalia is used in the coronation of the monarch.

Today most everyone is familiar with the most famous of all the collections of Crown Jewels, those of the United Kingdom housed in the Tower of London since 1303. A fabulous and storied collection owned by the British Monarchy, The House of Windsor. They are very well known namely because they hold the second largest and fourth largest polished diamonds in the world. The Cullinan I, 530.4 cts. and Cullinan II, 317.4 cts. , the Cullinan I is set in the “Sceptre with Cross” and the Cullinan II is set in the Imperial State crown. The other famous diamond is the Koh-i-Nor, 105 cts in the “Crown of the Queen Mother”. There are many other pieces in the collection and all with Historic significance. The collection consists of many crowns, swords, orbs, scepters, regalia and royal garments of inestimable value

Other nations have even more incredible collections of Crown Jewels. All the way from “The Golden Stool” of the Ashanti people of Ghana to the “Crown Jewels of Russia”. There are a minimum of 73 different listings of individual collections of “Crown Jewels” and Regalia.

The Russian Crown Jewels consist of the four major regalia pieces:

1. The Great Imperial Crown
2. The Imperial Orb of Catherine the Great
3. The Imperial scepter with The Orloff Diamond
4. The Shah Diamond

And 37 more significant pieces consisting of crowns, orbs scepters, swords, thrones, helmets etc. .

This significant collection is kept at the Russian Aurmory in the Kremlin. This assemblage from as early as the 13^th century to the late 18^th century do not include some of the last Tsar Nicholas II's collection that was lost during his and his family’s execution. Some of the incredible workmanship of Peter Carl Faberge and his House of Faberge eggs, of the 50 known Imperial eggs only 42 are still around and only 28 are part of the Crown Jewels. The Russian Crown Jewels are the largest and one of the best collections in the world today.

Other significant collections are those of Italy, Spain and Bavaria. The only one comparable to England and Russia is the Crown Jewels of France. And I believe if the crown jewels of France were assembled in one location they would far outshine both England And Russia.

Just a sampling of the French crown jewels and regalia are:

1. Crown of Louis XV
2. Crown of Napoleon I
3. Crown of Empress Eugenie
4. Coronation sword
5. Coronation spurs
6. Sceptre of Charles V
7. Main de Justice
8. Brooch of Saint Louis
9. Serpentine paten

Gemstones in the Natural history museum and Ecole des Mines

Some gemstones and jewels of the “French Crown Jewels” are on display in the Treasury vault of the Mineralogy gallery in the “Muséum National d'histoire Naturelle”. They include the 51.60 cts (10.32 g) Emerald of Saint Louis, the 135.80 cts (27.16 g) 'Ruspoli' sapphire, the Topaz 28.10 cts and great Emerald, 17 cts of Louis XIV, the diamond pins of Queen Marie Antoinette, the Diamond-portrait 9.10 cts and the Amethyst of Empress Marie Louise, the great Opal of Louis XVIII, the bicolor Sapphire,19.67 cts, the Jonquille diamond 9.75 cts and more than 800 pearls and stones. Furthermore a set of 1,044 stones and pearls is kept at the Ecole des Mines in Paris.

And lore behind the jewelry of Marie Antoinette and Napoleon Bonaparte are even more famous through the ages than the English Crown Jewels.

For me the Gems and the workmanship are the wonder and awe. For the countries these beauties were their power and glory that was transferred from generation to generation. They were transformed into the soul of the dynasty and from weapons to symbolic wealth and power. Much of the recorded history of mankind is reflected in these pieces without saying a word.