The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1909-05-28
THE SANCY DIAMOND
Leuend Of Louis de BerqUem and
the Celebrated Gem.
A NIGHT LAMP FOR A KING.

ch.okered Career Of the Brilliant Stone
After the Death Of Charles the Tim'd'
Some Facts About the Invention OF
Diamond Cutting.
Louis de Berquem, says tradition,
was a poor jewelers. workman but
he fell In love with the daughter OF
wealthy ieweler. This avaricious IA
Their would not give his daughter In
marriage to any man not possessed OF
gold. Louis, having neither "expeca-
lions" from relatives nor favor al
court sought to make his fortune. lie
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 10
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 al
feet the diamond.
After many Investigations and deep
thought Louis bethought himself that
iron is fashioned with steel, which IS
only hardened iron. and 1t occurred TO
him that perhaps the diamond would
Weld TO the diamond. He made an
exneriment. which was at once crown
ed with success.
4 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
d,vulged only after he had become
wealthy.
King Charles the Timid was the
principal customer Of Louis de Der
ouem. The fasHdious enemy Of Louis
NJ then possessed n large diamond,
since become celebrated, accounted
among the finest Of precious stones.
But this diamond was i'll shapen, and
the fires which # held burned in vain.
Louis de Berquem cut and polished
this stone. and nothing could equal the
iov of Charles the Timid when the
ieweler brought him the great dia-
mond. so glittering with light that 1t
i+ up the darkness. and this 10 such
an extent that the prince said. 1T 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. l4I7' on
the body Of Charles the Timid after
the battle Of Nancy. \ soldier picked
# M. sold It for one gold piece to a
priest who in turn sold It for three
pieces Of gold 10 q merchant, who TOOK
n 10 the Duke Of Florence.
From the hands Of this prince II
passed into the possession Of the kine
Of Portugal lie sold it for 7O"I
francs 10 one Of the companions OF
Henri H.. Nicholas de Harlay, baron
of Sancy. Since this time the first
large diamond 10 be cut IS known as
"the Sancy."
This legend leads 10 other considera
tiors Of the cutting Of diamonds as
crlbcd 70 Louis de Berquem mt Brus
sells in 1865.
/ Hardly any one will assert boldly
that no diamonds were cut before thai
date. but it is reasonable 10 suppose
that Louis de Berqucm regulated cut
ting boy arranging the facets
Long before the birth Of Louis de
Berquem cutting was known IN India
Even I'm Europe we find among the
treasures of the churches thick dia
monds cut into table and culet. the
B upper sides beaten into sections. II
. 1860 according 10 the inventory of th'
' Jewels OF Louis. duke Of Anjou, il
found an entire series OF cut diamonds
There IS mention Of a fat diamond
with six sides. Of n heart shaped dia
mond. Of diamond with eight sides
Of n lozenge shaped diamond. Of dia
, mond pointed on four sides and OF
reliquary in which was set a diamon'
cut IN the shape Of a shield.
History informs us that $50 year
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 a fas
tidious repast given at the Louvre 4
the king and the French court in l4O;
offered TO his noble guests eleven dia
monds estimated to be worth IS
I pieces Of gold. the money Of the pc
Rod
, Ii is hardly possible to suppose tina
these were uncut diamonds; all O
which goes TO prove, Notwithstanding
,.-... -r.ininrc fhnt nllis dc RlrnunI