Thieves have pulled off a daring heist at the Louvre, stealing priceless Napoleonic jewels. On Sunday, they used a basket lift to access the museum, smashed display cases, and fled with the treasures.
The point is that 99% of the value of the crown jewels is in their historical and cultural significance, 99% of the rest of the value is on the design and craftsmanship, 99% of the remaining value is on the metals and jewels excluding the diamonds, and the remaining one millionth is on the diamonds themselves.
And that’s probably exaggerating the value of the diamonds.
Focusing on the diamonds is like looking at a famous painting and deciding it must be valuable because the nail it’s hanged on is particularly shiny.
When it comes to the value of the crown, the diamonds are less relevant than the dust it’s covered on (which at least has historical significance).
Of course not. De Beers’ does. That’s the point.
Do try to resell a jewelry diamond, though, and tell me how much profit you made.
The point is that Empress Eugénie’s crown alone could fetch tens of millions for the people of France, whether you like it or not.
The point is that 99% of the value of the crown jewels is in their historical and cultural significance, 99% of the rest of the value is on the design and craftsmanship, 99% of the remaining value is on the metals and jewels excluding the diamonds, and the remaining one millionth is on the diamonds themselves.
And that’s probably exaggerating the value of the diamonds.
Focusing on the diamonds is like looking at a famous painting and deciding it must be valuable because the nail it’s hanged on is particularly shiny.
When it comes to the value of the crown, the diamonds are less relevant than the dust it’s covered on (which at least has historical significance).