Jewelry collectors of the world know that often a piece of
jewelry's value lies not only its karat worth but also its past – where it came
from, how it was acquired and the intrigue it has created through the years.
These individual pieces, brought together, form prized collections that hold
stories of conquest and mystery.
Considered to be one of the world's most valuable and
largest collections, the Imperial Crown Jewels of Iran is comprised of an
exhaustive number of tiaras, crowns, thrones, and the world's largest
collection of emeralds, rubies, spinels, and yellow diamonds. Representing
nearly 2,500 years of Shah rule in Iran, most of the items were
acquired by the Safavid shahs who ruled from 1502-1736 A.D. The collection is
so invaluable it backs Iranian currency as a reserve.
This Persian treasure also boasts the world's largest
spinel. The Samarian Spinel is a 500-carat, blood-red stone currently held at
the National Jewelry Museum of Iran in Tehran.
Like many treasures of its magnitude, the Samarian Spinel has a unique legend
which tells of its use around the neck of the gold calf built by the Israelites
while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments.
Equally breathtaking, the collection's Pahlavi Crown sports
a 60-carat brilliant-cut yellow diamond and was created in the early 1920s for
the last ruler of the Imperial Dynasty. The crown is also studded with 3,380
diamonds which total 1,144 carats and is made with red velvet. The official
crown of the Qajar Dynasty, which ruled from 1796 to 1925, the Kiani Crown
features 1,800 pearls and rubies, as well as emeralds and diamonds.
During the Iranian Revolution in 1979 that caused the
collapse of the Pahlavi Dynasty, rumors spread that the Imperial Crown Jewels
had been stolen and sold abroad. While a few smaller pieces had indeed been
stolen and smuggled out of the country, most of the collection remained intact.
Unfortunately, while the smugglers and their booty were caught by Pakistani
authorities, the stolen items have yet to be returned to Iran.
One of America's
most famous jewelers, Harry Winston created a jewelry empire that now includes
salons in New York, Beverly
Hills, Las Vegas, Dallas,
Paris, Tokyo, and
Hong Kong. Winston really began his collection
with the acquisition of Arabella Huntington's jewelry collection. Wife of
railroad magnate Henry Huntington, Arabella's collection was one of the world's
most prestigious. The jewelry, whose style was considered largely old
fashioned, was redesigned by Winston into more contemporary styles.
In addition, Winston was the owner of some of the world's
most precious diamonds known to man. The Hope Diamond, which appears brilliant
blue to the naked eye, was donated by Winston to the Smithsonian Institution. A
curse was believed to have been placed on the diamond, creating financial ruin
and heartbreak to anyone who owned it. Winston never believed in the curse of
the diamond, which was once owned by Marie Antoinette. Today it is part of the
Smithsonian's National Gem Collection.
Also in the collection, the Napoleon Diamond Necklace was
given to Empress Marie-Louise by her husband Napoleon. Made of 47 diamonds
weighing a total of 275 carats, the necklace was passed down through the
Empress' family for generations. It eventually reached Winston in 1960 who sold
it two years later to Marjorie Merriweather Post. Today, it is also on display
at the Smithsonian Institute.
Purchased by Winston in 1935, the Jonker was originally
discovered as a 726-carat rough crystal and represented the first a diamond of
its caliber to be cleaved in the United States. The Jonker, the
largest diamond of the crystal, was much beloved by Winston who refused to sell
it for many years. Instead, he displayed the diamond at exhibitions. Winston
eventually sold the diamond to King Farouk of Egypt, who sold the diamond to
the Queen of Nepal. Eventually, the Jonker was sold at a Hong
Kong auction for $4 million.
The personal jewelry collection of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II is conservatively valued at $57 million. Most of the pieces were
given as gifts to the Queen. A magnificent piece of the collection is the Timur
Ruby, a splendid 352.50-carat spinel. The piece is inscribed with the names of
previous owners who were Mughal emperors. The Prince Albert Brooch is a
magnificent sapphire which was presented to Queen Victoria
by Prince Albert
on their wedding day. Other notable pieces include a suite of emerald jewelry, large
ruby earrings owned by Queen Mary, and a handful of diamonds cut from the
Cullinan, which produced the Stars of Africa and other well-known diamonds.
Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry
the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and
Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more
information, contact Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor,
Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit http://www.lewisjewelers.com/pandora_bracelets/,
http://www.pandorabraceletsusa.com,
or http://www.lewisjewelers.com. |
