The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1909-05-15
THE SANCY DIAMOND
Legend Of Louis de Berquem and
the Celebrated Gem.
A NIGHT LAMP FOR A KING.

chseksrsd Career OF the Brilliant Stone
Aftsr the psath Of Charles the Timid.
Some Facts About the Invention Of
Diamond Cutting.
Louis de Berquem, says tradition.
was a poor jewelers. workman. but
be fell In love with the daughter of
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 of the gravel, and the
diamond was left in its native state.
Neiher lime, fire nor the mill could at
fec. the diamond.
After many Investigations and deep
thought Louis bethought himself that
iron Is fashioned with steel, which Is
only hardened iron. and It occurred to
I 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
NJ. then possessed a 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
| 10y Of Charles the Timid when the
jeweler brought him the great dia-
1 mond. so glittering with light that 1t
lit up the darkness. and this to such
an extent that the prince said, ut 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 it for one gold piece to
priest, who in turn sold 1t 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 1t for 10000
4 francs to one Of the companions Of
| Henri III, Nicholas de Harlay, baron
of sancy. Since this time the first
large diamond to be cut is known as
1.-THE Sancy."
This legend leads to other considera-
lions of the cutting Of diamonds as
cribed to Louis de Berquem at Brus-
sells In 1465.
Hardly any one will assert boldly
that no diamonds were cut before that
date, but 1t is reasonable to suppose
1 that Louis de 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 tho
treasures of the churches thick din.
monds emf into table md culet. the
unnar s,dea beaten into sections. In
| 1890 ACCORDING tn tho inventory of the
Jewels ~ Ion,s dnke of Anton. ia
Sound mn entire series Of cut din monds.
Tbere IA mention of fat diamond
with s,y sIdes If a heart sb,ned i,a.
mond Of ,1ian,ond With eight sides.
I
n,ond nn,ntei, IN fonr Sides and of n
ra,,o,,or,, in which Woo cot n djomond
ont In tho shane ~ a sh,oId
Irtstorr ,nsnr,n. nc th,+ ,so ,.,-.
hosoro ti,o f,rst ,vori, ~ o,,ts 40 par.
anan, .hnro ,,aro a. por,s at ~. nv.
~. =. ~ ro.ror,.;. sa,,oro, s,auona