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CHAPTER XI
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DIAMONDS IN FASHION: II From Europe (Past) to America (Present)
Diamond jewelry fashions spread rapidly throughout Eu-rope
after the Empress Eugenie period. In time Rome was to become a European
fashion center second only to Paris Russia was to give to the fashion
world the great Faberge who set diamonds for the czarina. The niece of Queen Vic toria of England was in time to become the bride of Al phonso, king of. Spain, and there combine the mantilla with Parisian fashions. She bought fifteen gowns each sea son from Worth and many sets of diamonds from Cartier' of Paris.
In
Prussia the wife of Frederick Wilhelm (later mother of the Kaiser) was
the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and had brought a dowry of nearly
a quarter of a million dollars and many jewels with her. The royal
ladies of all the German states were dressed from Paris, however, and
diamonds in collars, chains, brooches, and innumerable ring were the
Paris fashion. The greatest of the old royal treasure in this part of
Europe was in the Green Vaults of the Palace in Dresden, Saxony. Among
the 3000 objects was the famous Dresden Green, a 40-carat diamond, and
the Saxon White, both the contribution of Augustus the Strong, o Saxony.
(180)
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