The theft of the Bonaparte diamond in Paris last week is just the latest saga in the epic tale of the French Crown Jewels. In 1792 a major heist saw many of the greatest treasures disappear ...

In September 1792, there was a week-long looting of the French crown jewels, and the "French Blue" disappeared into history. However, a deep blue diamond ... set into the middle of England's ...

For example, 3-D resin models of the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond and nine of the ... of what was left of the original crown jewels, dating from the Middle Ages (a survivor was a 12th-century ...

In 1887, the French crown jewels were publicly sold to the highest bidders in what was regarded as the auction of the century. Exquisite ruby, emerald, and diamond jewels and tiaras that were worn ...

The crown sparkles with nearly 3,000 stones - including 2,868 diamonds ... and author of The Crown Jewels, Anna Keay. She says historically, right back to the Middle Ages, crowns were viewed ...