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THE FRENCH BLUE.
The Crown Jewels of France-Breaking up of a Great Stone-Fragments that are Afterwards Traced.
Mawe writes: "In the Crown Jewels of France is a fine light blue diamond, which weighs 67 1/2 carats, and was estimated at above pound 100,000." This refers undoubtedly to the magnificent blue diamond which occupies the second place in the inventory of the French Crown jewels drawn up in 1791, where it is described as weighing 67 2/16 carats and valued at 3,000,000 francs, or pound 120,000. As fully described in our account of the "Regent," these treasures were stolen from the Garde Meuble in 1792. But the blue diamond was not amongst the few gems subsequently restored, although Mawe still speaks of it in 1823, as "in the Crown Jewels of France;" and Murray, writing so late as 1839, describes it as still "belonging to the Crown Jewels of France."
Since its disappearance in 1792 its fate continued to be enveloped in the deepest obscurity until the mystery was at last happily cleared, as set forth in Precious Stones and Gems, and made further evident in succeeding pages of the present work.
We have already, in a previous chapter, demonstrated that the true original of the "French Blue" was the "Rough Tavernier Blue," which in the process of cutting and polishing was reduced from 112 1/4 to 67 1/8 carats. The "French Blue," was itself later on reduced by cleavage into one large and two small fragments. The large fragment was again skilfully manipulated, so as still further to disguise its origin, and is now known as the "Hope Blue," weighing 44 1/4 carats. Of this stone the two smaller fragments form the compliment. One of them fell into the hands of the Duke of Brunswick, and was disposed of at the sale of his effects which took place at Geneva in April, 1874. The purchasers were Messrs. Ochs Brothers, of Paris, who obtained it for 17,000 francs, or pound 680. It weighs 13 3/4 carats. The third fragment has lately been seen and examined by ourselves. Its colour is identical with that of the "Hope" and the Duke of Brunswick's "Blue," and it weighs as nearly as possible 1 1/4 carats. By adding 44 1/4, 13 3/4, and 1 1/4 we get "59 1/4" carats, which are about 7 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, less than 67 1/8, the weight of the "French Blue," from which these pieces are believed to have been obtained. The difference is accounted for by the losses incidental to the cleaving of the "French Blue," and the fresh treatment of the several fragments needed to give them a regular form. The full account of the process by which all these fragments have been traced back to the "French Blue," will, as stated, be found in the chapter devoted to the "Hope Blue" diamond. |
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