Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-11-14
THE SANCY DIAMOND
Legend Of Louis &c Rerquem and
the Celebrated Gem.
A. NIGHT LAME. FOR A KING.

"a NlGHl lAMiF run II klWG.
checkered Career of the Brilliant Stone
After the Death Of Charles the Timid.
Some Facts About the Invention Of
/ Diamond Cutting.
Louis de Berquem, says tradition,
was poor jewelers. workman, but
he fell in love with the daughter Of a
wealthy jeweler. This avaricious ia
Their would not give his daughter in
marriage to any man not possessed Of
gold. Louis, having neither "expecta-
lions" 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 method Of cutting diamonds
would become very wealthy. for up to
that time they knew nothing more
than to scrape off the gravel. and the
diamond was left in its native state.
Neiher lime, fire nor the mill could af-
feet the diamond. '5 e
After many investigations and deep
thought Louis bethought himself that
iron is fashioned with steel, which Is
only hardened iron, and it 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-
QUEEN. The fastidious enemy of Louis
XII. then possessed large diamond,
since become, celebrated, accounted
among the finest of precious stones.
But this diamond was Ill shapen, and
the fires which 1t held burned in 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 glittering with light that it
lit up the darkness, and this to such
an extent that the prince said, sit will
serve me as a 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 it for one gold piece to a
priest. who in turn sold it for three
pieces of gold to a merchant, who took
it to the Duke of Florence.
From the hands Of this prince II
passed into the possession of the king
Of Portugal. He sold it for coo
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." 1917
i This legend leads to other considera
lions Of the cutting Of diamonds as
cribed to Louis de Berquem at Brus
1 sells in 1865, &
i Hardly any one will assert boldly
that no diamonds were cut before that
date, but it is reasonable to suppose
! that Louis de Berquem regulated cut
ting by arranging the facets.
| Long before the birth Of Louis d.
1 Berquem cutting was known in India
Even in Europe we find among the
treasures Of the churches thick Ola
monds cut into table and culet. tht
/ upper sides beaten into sections. Ii
1860, according to the inventory Of thu
4 Jewels Of Louis, duke of Anjou, Il
4 found an entire series Of cut diamonds
i There is mention Of a fat diamond
4 with six sides, Of heart shaped dia
mond, of a diamond with eight sides
4 Of a lozenge shaped diamond. Of dia
mond pointed on four sides and of ;
reliquary in which was set diamond
cut In the shape Of shield.
History informs MS that $50 year
before the first work Of Louis de Ber
QUEEN there were at Paris, at the cor
ner Of the Corroyerie. several damon,
cutters.
q The Duke Of Burgundy. after fas
tfdious repast given at the Louvre t
the king and the French court In 140s
offered to his noble guests eleven die
monds estimated to be worth Is
pieces Of gold, the money Of the pc
Rod.
1t is hardly possible to suppose tina
these were uncut diamonds; all 0
which goes to prove. notwithstanding
some opinions. that Louis de BerqueE
did not invent the process Of damon
cutting @
It issno less interesting to follow th
fortunes Of the Sancy little furthe,
It remained in the Sancy family som
time, and Henri III. took 1t frol
them. It was destined to serve as
pledge for the raising OF a body q
Swiss soldiers. but the servant intrus
ed with bringing this diamond to th
! king was attacked, put to death, an
Y the diamond was thought to be los
Finally It vas discovered that til
servant had been assassinated In th
! forest Of Dole and through the car
! of the priest had been buried In th
village cemetery. Then the Baron