Archive for October, 2008

Queen’s Crown

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

The Queen's Crown was not made until 1731 and is generally of the same shape as the King's without the large gems set in. Displayed with Her Majesty's Crown is a collection of jewelry set in diamonds, emeralds, and pearls, which is still available for the use of the current ...

Schatzkammer Treasure

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

In the Schatzkammer (treasure room) of the Alte Burg the treasure is divided into two sections, secular and ecclesiastical. Under Joseph II, son of Maria Theresa, the church and crown treasures had been jointly placed under the care of the castle chaplain. They are still together although in separate rooms ...

Jubilee Diamond

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

There are extremely important gems, too, that are fit for a king but remain in private hands. Foremost among them is the Jubilee Diamond. It was a large, flattened piece when found in 1895, at the Jagersfontein Mine, in South Africa. In 1897, the year of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee ...

Old Royal Collection

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

No other state collection of gems and jewelry pretends to contain the enormously valuable objects found in the "big three." Judging by historic, aesthetic, and artistic standards, however, there are state treasures just as important—so many in fact that several volumes of description  ...