Joining Fersman on the committee were Agathon Fabergé and numerous gemologists. “[The committee] began cataloging and photographing the 25,300 carats of diamonds, 3,200 carats of rare Colombian emeralds, and 2,600 carats of Ceylon, Kashmir, and Siam sapphires found in Russian crown jewels and regalia,” Grace Ehrman writes in the history publication The Collector. “Listed as of ‘great historical value,’ these gems included topazes, amethysts, garnets, turquoises, beryl, and alexandrite, jewelry such as aquamarine diadems, rings, earrings, and necklaces, and loose gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and pearls.”
The team worked at breakneck speed, completing their catalogue of treasures including the 189-carat Orlov diamond. In 1922, the committee published a prototype catalogue of state jewels. The prototype tantalizingly lists four pieces, including a sapphire tiara and emerald necklace, which do not appear in the official catalogue, published in 1925.
Russia’s Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones, the committee’s official 1925 report, was published by the USSR. Although its clear aim was to attract buyers, it was also used as a propaganda tool to assure citizens that the state had not plundered the treasures. “Malignant supporters of the old regime, who could not openly resist the victorious tide, had adopted a new policy and soon false rumors spread among our easy-minded peasantry: Of course the Bolshevik leaders—it was said—had stolen the treasure, plunder and robbery being as second nature to usurpers,” committee chair G. Basilevitch wrote.
The committee also found time to slam the deceased tsar in the catalogue. “The Committee struck upon the diary of the ex-tsar begun in 1914 and accurately kept throughout the years of the war,” it noted. “In this book Nicolas II had reproduced with minute accuracy (in watercolors) cufflinks and trinkets that were daily presented to him by those who well knew his weakness in this respect. This childish and worthless task kept the shallow-minded commander-in-chief busy for at least 4 to 5 hours each day, while hundreds of thousands of his brave soldiers were perishing for the want of munition and food!”
There were vicious fights within the government over what should be done with the royal jewels. In 1927, the pragmatists won out, and a once-in-a-lifetime auction was held at Christie’s in London. Over 100 lots were sold, as the rich and titled clamored for their piece of the Imperial treasures. The auction was a rousing success.
The locations of some of the sold jewels are known. For example, the Russian Nuptial Crown, featuring approximately 1,535 old mine diamonds, was purchased by American heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post (it’s now on display at Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens in Washington, DC). But others have not been seen since the 1927 auction. One of the most famous of these lost pieces is the exquisite Wheat Sheaf Diadem, made for Nicholas II’s mother, Maria Feodorovna. Covered in diamonds, it features a 32.2-carat leuco sapphire with a yellow tint, which represents the Russian sun rising over fields of wheat. It has not been seen since 1927.
