Count Alexander von Beregshasy – Sparkling, fairy-tale life of the Count of Many Crystals
Published: 12 February 2010
by ROISIN GADELRAB
HE LIVED his life like a fairy tale but Count Alexander von Beregshasy – affectionately known as The Count of Many Crystals – died on Sunday before he could complete the final chapter.
The Austro-Hungarian count, one of Islington’s most flamboyant characters, finally succumbed to tuberculosis at the weekend, aged 46.
Until the eviction of antiques traders from The Mall in Camden Passage last year, Count Alexander and his mother, Baroness Ilse von Beregshasy, sold his carefully crafted Swarovski crystals from their tiny shop, which had a worldwide clientele.
Singer Beyoncé once wore his jewels to the Oscars, comedian Stephen Fry donned one of his tiaras to Elton John’s birthday ball and Count Alexander designed the necklace worn by Kate Winslet in the film Titanic.
Stricken with “consumption”, as he preferred to call it for its romantic associations, and faced with the impending closure of The Mall, the count shut up shop and made plans to retire to the Bavarian village of Schwangau, overlooked by his dream fairy-tale castle.
But he never recovered from his illness and his dreams were never realised.
His funeral, at St Marylebone Crematorium, in East Finchley, on Monday, will reflect his colourful life. The count’s three favourite necklaces will be in a coffin adorned with a jewel and flower-encrusted crown carried by a horse-drawn hearse. An opera singer will sing Time to Say Goodbye.
The wake will be held at the Marie Antoinette suite at the Ritz, where the 6ft 6in count, dressed in his traditional ruffled gear and high leather boots, used to take tea once a week.
The von Beregshasys are descendants of the von Hohenzollerns, who were stripped of their title when the Russians invated. But the family later retook their title.
They moved to Hong Kong when the count was 10, which is where he found himself attracted to the many jewellery shops. He moved to the UK at the age of 19 but it took 16 years before he had enough of a collection of jewellery to open a shop in Angel.
His collection included reproductions of jewels worn by historical characters such as Marie Antoinette and Empress Catherine the Great of Russia.
He made replica jewels for the Queen of Sweden, who does not like to travel with her authentic jewels.
Baroness Ilse said: “It was our plan that he would recover from consumption and move to Bavaria. He was going to fulfil his dreams. Unfortunately, he had the type of consumption they couldn’t cure.”
She added: “He left hospital in October and came home. He was downstairs, surrounded by the things he created, his favourite jewels. He created jewels until the very end. He didn’t want to accept he was dying, he never talked about it.
“He created fairy tales and found we all are in need of beauty and sparkle and that was his mission. But not with diamonds, with Swarovski crystals.
“He lived his fairy tale. He came as a 19-year-old with one suitcase and did exactly what he wanted. He wanted life to be rich, full and beautiful.”
Count Alexander’s funeral will take place at 3pm on Monday at St Marylebone Crematorium, in East End Road, East Finchley. Pink flowers only or donations for Children of Haiti, c/o Churchills Funeral Directors, 263 East Barnet Road, East Barnet, Herts EN4 8SX