Passage: The Crown Jewels or Diamants de la Couronne de France, consisting of gemstones and jewellery, became unalienable by decision of Francis I of France on June 15, 1530. The Côte-de-Bretagne red spinel was then among the 8 main jewels. They suffered important loss by the Catholic League (French) in 1590 but were reconstituted by Henry IV of France and greatly enhanced by Louis XIV of France, notably with the gift of the 18 Cardinal Mazarin diamonds and the purchase of the Tavernier Blue and Ruspoli Sapphire, later followed in 1717 with the Regent Diamond. Under Louis XV of France, they were kept in the Garde Meuble de la Couronne (Royal Treasury) in one of the pavilions of the Place de la Concorde, where they suffered a theft in 1792 and a sale in 1795 after their partial recovery. In 1814, Napoleon I of France had restored the crown jewels to 65,072 stones and pearls, not including the personal jewels of both Empress Josephine and Empress Marie-Louise. Enhanced during the Bourbon Restoration and again during the Second French Empire, they counted 77,662 stones and pearls, comprising 51,403 brilliant cut diamonds, 21,119 rose cut diamonds, 2962 pearls, 507 rubies, 136 sapphires, 250 emeralds, 528 turquoises, 22 opals, 235 amethysts and 500 other stones, when they were sold in 1885 by the French Third Republic. Nevertheless, as in 1793, an important set of stones and pearls was sent to the Muséum national dhistoire naturelle and some of the most important jewels were bought back since 1953, which makes the collection still number more than 11,000 stones and pearls.
How many more of the crown jewels were pearls than rubies? How many of the crown jewels were not made of diamonds? How many years after the theft in 1792 were the jewels partially recovered? How many years passed between the crown jewels being sold by the French Third Republic and some of the most important jewels being bought back in the 20th century? Were there more turquoises in the crown jewel collection or opals? What jewels did Louis XIV enhance the collection with? Which kings mentioned were responsible for restoring the crown jewels? Who decided to keep the crown jewels in the Garde Meuble de la Couronne?