The French Crown Ruby Parure | Imperial Royal Jewels |Chaumet

Royal ruby jewelry the most intriguing jewels in the world are pieces formerly in the

collection of the French Crown Jewels.

Nearly all the jewels were sold during an auction the French government conducted in 1887, and only a few of them survive in original condition. Several of the larger items were broken up before the auction . Others have been dismantled in the years since, and a number of the diamonds have been recut.

Several of the jewels that survived are matching pieces set with rubies and diamonds, originally part of a sumptuous parure  suite that Napoleon bought in 1810. The histories of these pieces are as rich as the rubies .