..."Among them was Queen Victoria's black pearl necklace which the Queen, at her death, had willed to her fourth daughter, Princess Louise, my royal mistress. Each pearl, as large as the end of my thumb, was encircled by diamonds and from each hung a great pear-shaped black pearl; the largest one, in the centre, a full inch long. To value it would be like setting a price on the Koh-i-nor diamond itself.
Pearls were Victoria's favourite gem, and to each of her five daughters, on her birthday, the Queen had given a huge pink pearl the size of a pea. Strung together, they made a perfectly matched rope. Princess Louise's string hung to her waist.
Of all her jewellry, it was the only piece for which she had any sentiment or love.
There was the corsage of emeralds which hung like a glittering yoke of cold green fire over her bosom and around her shoulders--emeralds, some of them one inch square bound together with a lacework of diamonds.
There was the set of Australian fire opals, like glowing embers at night, aflame with high lights of green, orange, blood red.
There were sets of aquamarines, sapphires, rubies, all en suite, with rings, brooches, bracelets to match. Once a year the court jeweller came to appraise The cleaning alone took three weeks.......
The Duchess of Argyll cared nothing for them In fact, she really despised them and wore them only under compulsion. She particularly disliked the tiaras.
When obliged to wear one, Emile, the court hairdresser came to coif her and adjust it—a very difficult task, for her hair was so soft and fluffy, a so loosely arranged that it was almost impossible to keep the jewelled band in place. It was heavy and uncomfortable, and to keep it from slipping she must hold her head as though she were balancing a bucket of water on it. It was a trying ordeal for us all and usually brought on one of her tantrums.
Often, as Emile worked patiently over her, she would sit there, flinging at me a steady stream of amusing asides in German. Once, just as he added the finishing touches, she gave me a broad wink in the glass and said, in German, of course: “Just look at the stiffness of it he is out the door down it comes!” She and I always spoke German, for it was her father’s native tongue—the language used in the royal family during the Prince Consort’s lifetime. It never occurred to her that Emile understood it, for he, of course was French, though I knew he was not French but Swiss, and knew German as well as we did. Yet his impassive face never changed expression. He departed with his three-guinea fee, and down came the Princess’ hair!"
...from Madam Klepac
Sources: History of Famous Jewels and Collection; Beth;Queen Victoria's Journals
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SCHMUCK
VERKAUFEN :::: Hilfe
bei Diamantverkauf :::: Siegelringe
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