THE DURBAR CROWN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 11

THE DURBAR CROWN.

A. MAGNIFICENT EMBLEM. Some idea of the magnificence of the new Imperial Indian crown used at tho Delhi Durbar may be gathered from tho fact that there are 6170 diamonds in it. The crown is formod of a bandeau supporting eight Imperial arches, four crosses-patees with four fleurs-de-lys between, the whole being surmounted by an orb and crosse-patee. The bandeau is composed of two bands of diamonds. Betwen them sixteen largo clusters, four of emeralds and diamonds, alternate with four of sapphires and diamonds, while between each are eight large brilliant clusters, the whole of those being divided by trifoliated leaf ornaments. The centre cluster contains an Indian emerald weighing SI carats, of extraordinary fineness and beauty, while the tkreo remaining emeralds are remarkable stones. The four sapphire centres with their oight brilliants completing tho centre scheme of the bandeau are equally worthy of their positions. The eight arches are formed by forty-eight large brilliants, each divided by diamond wreathing leaves, and enclosed by twoouter diamond bands. At the base these- arches are four crcsßes-patees in diamonds, each with a large Indian ruby in the middle, ■ while botweori are four diamond lleurs-do-lys, all having an Indian emerald of marvellous fineness aud colour for their centres. The crown is surmounted by the orb or "mondc" usual in an English crown. This ■is formed by a globe of brilliants with a crossepateo abovo, having in tho centre another magnificent indian emerald of rare brilliancy and colour.