The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-11-06
THE SAHCY DIAMOND
Legerd of Louis de Berquem and
the Celebrated Gem.
A NIGHT LAMP FOR A KING.
Checksred Career Of tho Brilliant Stone
After the Death Of Charles the Timid.
Some Facts About tho Invention Of
Diamond Cutting.


thsr would not give his daughter In
marriage to any man not possessed OF
gold. Louis, having neither "expecta-
tions" 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 dlscov-
cred a method Of cutting diamonds
would become very wealthy, for up to
that time they knew nothing more
than to scrape of the gravel and the
diamond was left in it's native state.
Neiher lime, fire nor the mill could az
feet the diamond.
After many Investigations and deep
thought Louis bcthought himself that
iron is fashioned with steel, which Is
only hardened iron, and IL 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 him
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 he
divulged only after he had become
wealthy.
King Charles the Timid was the
principal customer OF Louis de Ber-
quem. The fastldious enemy Of Louis
XI. then possessed large diamond,
since become celebrated, accounted
among the finest OF precious stones.
But this diamond was Ill shapen, and
the fires which It held burned I'm vain.
Louis de Berquem cut and polished
this stone, and nothing could equal the
Joy OF Charles the Timid when the
jeweler brought him the great dia-
mond, SO gllttering with light that IL
lit up the darkness, and this to such
an extent that the prince said, "It Will
serve me as night lamp" Berquem
received 5000 ducats for his work.
As for the diamond, this Is the one
which was found In January, 1477, on
the body Of Charles the Timid after
the battle OF Nancy. A soldier picked
It up, sold II for one gold piece to a
priest, who I'm turn sold IL for three
pieces OF gold to merchant, who took
it to the Duke OF Florence.
From the hands Of this prince 1t
passed into the possession OF the king
OF Portugal. He sold II 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 considera-
tions OF the cutting OF diamonds as
cribed to Louis de Berquem at Brus-
sells I'm 1465.
Hardly any one will assert boldly
that no diamonds were cut before that
date, but 1t Is reasonable TO suppose
that Louis de Berquem regulated cut
ting by arranging the facets.
Long before the birth Of Louis de
Berqucm cutting was known In India.
Even In Europe we find among the
treasures OF the churches thick dia-
monds cut into table and culet, the
upper sides beaten into sections. In
1860, according TO the inventory OF the
Jewels OF Louis. duke OF Anjou. Is
found an entire series OF cut diamonds
There Is mention OF a fiat diamond
with six sides, OF heart shaped dia-
mond. OF diamond with eight sides,
OF lozenge shaped diamond. of n dia-
mond pointed on four sides and OF
rellquary In which was set diamond
cut I'm the shape Of a shield.
History informs us that 100 years
before the first work Of Louis dc Ber.
quem there were at Paris, at the cor
ner OF the Corroyerie, several diamond
cutters.
The Duke OF Burgundy, after n fas-
tidious repast given at the Louvre to
the king and the French court I'm 1903,
offered TO his noble guests eleven dia-
monds estimated TO be worth 7S6
pieces of gold. the money OF the pc
Rod
1t Is hardly possible to suppose that
these were uncut diamonds; all OF
which goes TO prove, Notwithstanding
some opinions, that Louis de Berquem
did not invent the process of diamond
cutting.
1t Is no less interesting 10 follow the
fortunes Of the Sancy little further.
il remained In the Sancy family some
time, and Henri Ill. took IL from
them. IL was destined TO serve rs n
pledge for the raising OF n body OF
Swiss soldiers, but the servant intrust-
cd with bringing this diamond TO the
king was attacked, put to death, and
the diamond was thought TO be lost
Finally II was discovered that the
servant had been assasSinated I'm the
forest of Dole and through the care
OF the priest had been buried I'm the
village cemetery. Then the Baron dc
Sancy resolved that the diamond must
not be lost. In fact, they found it I'm
the stomach of the hapless, faithful
servant. who swallowed Il ut the mo-
ment that he fell. According TO the
inventory OF 1901 the Sancy weighed
B3s, carats.