JEWEL WITH 8000 BRILLIANTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10638, 14 April 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

JEWEL WITH 8000 BRILLIANTS.

CHEST PROTECTOR WHICH RIVALS SOLOMON'S TREASURES. LONDON, March 2. One of the most magnificent pieces of jewellery made in modern times has just been completed in London. It is valued at £30,000. The work has been carried out to the order of a Turkish dignitary, who commissioned Messrs Dobson and Son, of Piccadilly, to produce a "plastron" of surpassing beauty. From his own treasures he supplied a number of beautiful pearls the size of small nuts, and a single diamond of wonderful brilliance, leaving the jewellers to furnish the rest of the gems. "No fewer than 8000 brilliants, besides emeralds and rubies, have gone to the making of the jewel," said Mr Arthur Dobson to an Express representative. "We submitted several sketches, ai'd one of these was approved. We began work two years ago, and our task has just been completed. Here is the result of our work." As he spoke he drew aside a silk curtain revealing a velvet background, on which reposed a "jewel" of extraordinary beauty. „ TWO FEET OF GLITTER. It measures two feet four inches in length, and is made to button round the neck by a wonderful circle of diamonds. The "jewel" itself spreads out on the breast, disclosing butterflies of gems daintily poised \on glittering flowers These surround a centrepiece forming the Turkish crescent, as large as a small plate, in pearls, each of which is as large as a Barcelona nut. A verse of the Koran in rubies fills the centi'e of the .crescent, while over it is the sign manual of the Sultan of Turkey, worked in emeralds. Hanging from the crescent are r^gwof glittering gems and a square m^^Hfefi the size of a cigarette case, on^^^^k standing on an emerald mound,*^^^^H Turkish flag in rubies, backed J^^^^| _jA_______m miniature photog|^^hh Below suspended in a di'V^^^^^^l a miniature photograph of tlkepi^PM^^H and completing the whole scheme at *m extreme bottom is a pearl as large as an acorn. Every piece can be detached from the others and worn separately, or with truly Oriental magnificence the whole can be suspended from the neck, covering the breast with a quivering blaze of light and fire. The jewel was taken to Buckingham Palace for inspection by the King, and His Majesty expressed his pleasure at the fact that such a magnificent ornament had been produced by British workmen. The King laughingly added that he was glad he was not forced to wear anything so gorgeous or heavy.