Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1895 — QUEEN VICTORIA’S CROWN. [ARTICLE]

QUEEN VICTORIA’S CROWN.

Many Gama Make It the Heaviest Diadem in Europa. Queen Victoria’s crown is constructed from jewels taken from old crowns, and other stones provided by her majesty. It consists of emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls and diamonds. The stones which are set in gold and silver incase a crimson velvet eap, with a border of ermine, the whole of the interior being lined with the finest white silk Above the crimson border, on the lower edge of the band, is a row of one hundred and twenty nine pearls. Round the upper part of the band is a border of one hundred and twelve pearls. In the front, stationed between the two borders of pearls, is a huge sapphire, purchased by George IV, set in the center of valuable pearls. At the back, in the same position is another but smaller sapphire. The sides are adorned with three sapphires,and between these are eight emeralds. Above and below the sapphires, extending all around the crown, are placed at intervals fourteen large diamonds, the eight emeralds being encircled by a cluster of diamonds, 128 in number. Between the emeralds and sapphires are sixteen ornaments, each consisting of eight diamonds. Above a circular bend are eight sapphires, set separately, encircled by eight diamonds. Betweeen each of the eight sapphires are eight festoons of eighteen diamonds each. In front of the crown is a diamond Maltese cross, in the center of which glistens the famous ruby given to Edward I by Don Pedro the Cruel. This is the stone which adorned the helmet of Henry Vat the battle of Agincourt. The center of the ruby is hollowed out, and the space filled, in accordance with the Eastern custom, with a smaller ruby. The Maltese cross is formed of seventy-five splendid diamonds. At each of the sides and at Lhe back is a Maltese cross with emerald centers, containing respectively 132, 124 and 130 sparkling diamonds. Level with the four Maltese crosses, and stationed between them are four ornaments shaped like the fieur-de-lis, with four rubies in the center, and surrounded by diamonds, containing eighty-five, eighty-six and eighty-seven diamonds. From the Maltese crosses spring four imperial arches, composed of oak leaves and diamonds . The leaves are formed of 728 diamonds; thirty-two pearls represent the acorns and fifty-four diamonds the cups. From the upper part of the imperial arches hang suspended four large pendant shaped pearls set in diamond cups, each cup being formed of twelve diamonds, the stems from each of the twentyfour hanging pearls being incrusted with twenty-four diamonds. Above the arch is the mount, which is made of 438 diamonds. The zone and arc are represented by thirty-three diamonds. On the summit of the throne is a cross, which has for its center a rose-cut sapphire set in the center of fourteen large diamonds. Altogether the crown comprises one large ruby, one large sapphire, twenty-six smaller sapphires, eleven emeralds, four rubies, 1,033 brilliants, 1,273 rose diamonds, four pendant shaped pearls and 278-smaller pearls. It is the heaviest and most uncomfortable diadem of any crowned head in Europe.