The Crown Jewels of France: Where Are They Now? 

The history of the French crown jewels is tangled in politics and reflects the conflicting relationship the French have with royalty. So where are these jewels now and what does their future look like?

The British crown jewels are known the world over, with their brilliant diamonds, the magnificent crown, the scepter and the orb. They played an essential role in last year’s coronation of King Charles and are one of London’s major tourist attractions. 

Why are the British crown jewels so famous but we rarely hear about the French ones? It’s because the French crown jewels were sold! It happened over a century ago, after a political crisis. And curiously, some may soon be coming home.

What Are the French Crown Jewels?

France’s crown jewels have historically been a way for the country’s monarchs to demonstrate their wealth and power. The crowns, orb, and scepters have played an essential role in the coronation of every new ruler.

Royal coronations began in 752 in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims. There, King Pepin the Short wore the Crown of Charlemagne, a rather simple headpiece, as he was proclaimed ruler of France.

Over the centuries, the collection of crown jewels grew as new monarchs added to them. Kings had more and more elaborate crowns created for their personal use. Queens needed crowns as well, plus there were royal pendants, necklaces, rings, brooches, tiaras, and more, all glittering with the monarchy’s gemstones.

Jewel after jewel was added to the collection—diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and pearls. King Louis XIV was one of the major contributors, adding the French Blue diamond, which later became the Hope diamond. And Cardinal Mazarin, a very wealthy fellow, bequeathed a set of 18 magnificent diamonds to the monarchy upon his death.

From time to time pieces were sold off to fund a war or pay a debt, and theft occasionally occurred, but the crown jewels continued to grow. At their peak they totaled nearly 80,000 gemstones and pearls, including over 50,000 diamonds!

Selling the Crown Jewels

France’s monarchs loved their jewels, but the French people did not always love their monarchs. This eventually led to the French Revolution but, surprisingly, the crown jewels remained intact. They were prized by Emperors Napoleon and Napoleon III, as well as the kings who ruled France in the 19th century, and remained a potent symbol of the monarchy’s power. 

And that was the problem. The French Revolution had promised a government run by the people, but kings and emperors kept taking over. It almost happened again in 1877 when France’s president and his cronies attempted a royalist coup. This was narrowly averted, and it spurred a movement to sell the crown jewels. As one member of the National Assembly said, “Without a crown, there is no need for a king.”

A sale was hastily organized, an 11-day auction that drew buyers from around the world. Nearly all of the crown jewels were sold, except for those that had particular historical value. Tiffany & Company, the American jeweler, bought nearly a third of the lots, quickly reselling many at a tidy profit.

Viewing the Crown Jewels

While most of the French crown jewels are now scattered around the world, some of the remaining pieces can today be seen in the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre Museum. These include:

• The crown of King Louis XV, the only royal crown still in existence. It includes the Regent Diamond and eight of the Mazarin diamonds 

• The crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Emperor Napoleon III 

• The coronation sword, which legend says is the famous Joyeuse sword of Charlemagne 

• The scepter of King Charles V, with a carving of Charlemagne at its top 

• The Hand of Justice scepter 

• The pink Hortensia diamond 

• The sapphire set of Queen Marie Amélie

Other pieces can be seen at the Museum of Natural History and at the École des Mines. In addition, some royal regalia can be seen in other locations in France, like the Throne of Dagobert (National Library of France) and the Chalice of Saint Rémi (Palace of Tau in Reims.)

Coming Home?

In a curious twist, Tiffany, the company that sold off so many of the crown jewels, is now trying to acquire them back. They have recovered several important pieces, including a brooch with over 100 diamonds, which they keep in a special vault in New Jersey.

In a further twist, Tiffany was recently purchased by the French luxury giant LVMH, owned by France’s richest man, Bernard Arnault. No one is saying much publicly, but hints have started to emerge…might the crown jewels finally come home to France?