Rock Talk: The Hortensia Diamond

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Hi! I’m your friendly neighborhood jeweler, Rebecca Zurcher at Erwin’s Jewelers. I worked for my dad for about 30 years until I took over the store after his passing. I am a Jewelers of America certified bench jeweler specializing in jewelry fabrication, stone setting, and making dreams come true. 

I am excited to use this column as a means to educate readers on the fascinating world of rocks! I will be highlighting the monthly birthstones, talking about famous gems, showing unbelievable finds, and I will be giving tips on finding your own treasures. 

For the first of my biweekly Rock Talk pieces, I thought I’d highlight a notable piece of gem drama, The Hortensia Diamond.

Named after the Queen of Holland (Napoleon’s step-daughter), the rock glittered on Napoleon’s epaulette braid fastening and, later, on Empress Eugenie’s diamond-encrusted comb. After the French Revolution, the diamond was snatched from the Garde Meuble and later found in a bag of treasures (that included additional French Crown Jewels) in the attic of an old house in Paris. According to lore, the man who stole the precious gems disclosed the secret location just before his execution. Today, it’s held in the Louvre’s Gallerie d’Apollon. 

If you have any questions about anything in this edition of Rock Talk, you can contact the team at Erwin’s Jewelers in Olde Towne Bellevue – 229 West Mission Avenue. Erwin’s Jewelers has been serving Bellevue and the Omaha-Metro area for over 60 years!