The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-16
THE SANCY DIAMOND
Legend of Louis de Berquem and
the Celebrated Gem.
A NIGHT LAMP FOR A KING.
chsekered Career Of the Brilliant Stone
After the Death Of Charles the Timid.
Some Facts About the Invention Of
Diamond Cutting.


Some Facts About the Invention Of
Diamond Cutting.
Louis de Bcrquem. says tradition.
was a poor jewelers. workman. but
he fell In love with the daughter of q
wealthy jeweler. This avaricious fa-
ther would not give his daughter in
marriage to any man not possessed OF
gold. Louis, having neither "expecta-
tions7 from relatives nor favor at
court, sought to make his fortune. He
had often heard the father Of his be-
loved remark that the man who discov.
cred a method Of cutting diamonds
would become very wealthy, for up to
that tlne they knew nothing more
than to scrape OH tine gravel. and the
diamond was left in its native state.
Neiher lime. fire nor the mill could az
feet the diamond.
After many investigations and deep
thought Louis bethought himself thur
! iron is fashioned with steel. which Is
only hardened iron, and 1t occurred to
him that perhaps the diamond would
/. yield to the diamond He made an
experiment, which was at once crown
ed with success.
A few days later he presented hirn-
self before the rich jeweler with two
diamonds cut into facets. He obtained
the hand he sought and amassed a
great fortune by his secret, which be
divulged only after he had become
wealthy.
King Charles the Tlmid was the
principal customer Of Louis de T3er-
quem The fastidlous enemy Of Louis
XI then possessed large diamond,
since become celebrated, accounted
among the finest of precious stones.
But this diamond was III shapen. and
the fires which It held burned In vain.
Louis de Rerquem cut and polished
this stone. and nothing could equal the
Joy OF Charles the Tlmid when the
ieweler brought him the great dia-
mond. so gllttering with light that It
lit up the darkness, and this to such
an extent that the prince said. ut will
serve me as night lamp" Derquem
received 5000 ducats for his work.
As for the diamond. this is the one
which was found IN January, 1417, on
the body Of Charles the Timid after
me Ddlllt VI NuuN.s n coibitA ptNhNA
It up sold 1t for one gold piece to
priest. who in turn sold It for three.
pieces OF gold TO n merchant, who took
it 10 the Duke of Florence.
From the hands Of this prince IL
passed into the possession OF the king
OF Portugal He sold it for 10000
francs to one of the companions OF
Henri Ill, Nicholas de Harlay, baron
OF Sancy. Since this time the first
large diamond TO be cut is known as
''the Sancy."
This legend leads TO other consldera-
tions OF the cutting OF diamonds as
cribed 70 Louis de Berquem at Brus-
sells IN 1895.
Hardly any one win assert boldly
that no diamonds were cut before that
date. but It is reasonable to suppose
that Louis dc Berquem regulated cut
ting by arranging the facets.
Long before the birth of Louis de
Berquem cutting was known In India.
Even in Europe we find among the
treasures OF the churches thick dla-
monds cut into table and culet. the
upper sides beaten into sections. In
1880, according to the inventory OF the
Jewels OF Louis. duke of Anjou. Is
found an entire series Of cut diamonds.
There is mention OF fat diamond
with six sides, of heart shaped dia-
mond. OF diamond with eight sides.
of a lozenge shaped diamond. Of dia-
mond pointed Oh four sides and of a
reliquary in which was set diamond
cut in the shape of shield.
History informs us that 150 years
before the first work Of Louis de Ber-
quem there were at Paris at the cor
ner of the corroyerie. several diamond
cutters,
The Duke of Burgundy. after fas
tidious repast given at the Louvre to
the king and the French court in 1903.
offered to his noble guests eleven dia-
monds estimated to be worth 1856
pieces Of gold, the money of the pc
"a ried
: 1t is hardly possible TO suppose that
r. these were uncut diamonds; all Of
J. which goes TO prove, Notwithstanding
s some opinions. that Louis de Berauem
did not invent the process Of diamond
y cutting
IS II is no less Interesting to follow the
fortunes OF the Sancy q little further,
u 1t remained in the Sancy family some
n time, and Heuri Ill took It from
u them II was destined to serve as o
: pledge for the raising Of body Of
: Swiss soldiers but the servant intrust-
= ed with bringing this diamond 10 the
! king WAS attacked. put to death. and
/, the diamond was thought 70 be lost.
4 Finally Il was discovered that the
servant had been assassinated In the
z forest OF Dole and through the care
k OF the priest had been buried In the
D. village cemetery Then the Baron de
2 saney resolved that the diamond must
not be lost. In fact. they found II IN
}. the stomach Of the hapless. faithful
q servant. who swallowed Il at the mo-
meut that be fell. According TO the
I inventory Of 1901 the Sancy weighed
S2ei sArats.
IL fiSaDp cared IA I1eo 10 reaDDeaF ia