After 100 Years: Lost Habsburg Jewels Rediscovered

A treasure of the Habsburg imperial family, missing for 100 years, has surfaced in Canada. Among them is the legendary yellow diamond "Florentine," reported the German news magazine "Der Spiegel" on Thursday. "The 'Florentine' is located along with other pieces of the family jewelry in a safe deposit box in Canada," said family head Karl Habsburg. These and other rediscovered pieces are now to be exhibited in Canada first.

Emperor Karl I had family jewelry brought to Switzerland

In November 1918, Emperor Karl I had the Habsburg family jewelry brought from the treasury of the Vienna Hofburg to Switzerland. Among the objects were, in addition to the large diamond, the diamond crown of Empress Elisabeth, an emerald watch that Empress Maria Theresa gave to her daughter Marie-Antoinette, and numerous other items. The jewel treasure disappeared in 1921. Subsequently, many rumors circulated about its whereabouts, explained "Der Spiegel".

According to Karl Habsburg, the grandson of the last Austrian emperor, Empress Zita, the widow of Karl I, brought the jewels to Canada in a brown suitcase. The hiding place is in the French-speaking province of Quebec. "Der Spiegel" was provided with current photos of the objects. These are the first images of them in more than 100 years. According to the report, the Viennese jeweler Christoph Köchert concluded in an appraisal that the jewelry pieces that surfaced in Canada are genuine.

Habsburg jewels: To be exhibited in Canada first

Karl Habsburg, as the current head of the family, said he himself knew nothing about the whereabouts of the jewelry until a year ago. Two of his cousins informed him about the safe deposit box at that time. The jewelry is to be exhibited soon, but initially in Canada and not in Austria. This is a gesture to Canada, which provided a home to Empress Zita after her escape from Europe in 1940.

However, not all objects have resurfaced. In addition to Sisi's diamond crown, numerous pieces of jewelry that were in the treasury before being transported to Switzerland are missing. Their whereabouts are unclear according to Habsburg.

Babler to examine repatriation

Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) has announced an immediate examination to determine whether the jewel is state property. "If it turns out that the Florentine diamond is the property of the Republic of Austria, I will initiate the process for the repatriation of the jewel. My office is also already in contact with the Austrian embassy in Canada regarding this matter."

(APA/Red)

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