A 35 carat gem, ‘the Beau Sancy’ is thought to have been found in India and entered Europe’s history in 1570 when it was offered for sale in Constantinople (modern Istanbul). Speculatively, Nicolas de Harlay, Sieur (or “Lord”) of Sancy snapped it up and went on to offer it and a larger diamond for sale to Europe’s royalty, the larger becoming known as ‘the Sancy‘ and the smaller one ‘the Beau Sancy.’ Perhaps ironically, though he was a wealthy man of affairs in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it is through the diamonds that he sold we best know of him.
In 1604 Sancy sold the larger of the two diamonds to James I of England and the smaller to Marie de Médicis. In 1610 Marie had the diamond set into the crown she would wear at her coronation - high fashion for royalty then and now; but not necessarily good luck. Marie was crowned ‘Queen Consort’ on May 13 and the following day her king, Henry IV of France, was stabbed to death by Francois Ravaillac, a religious fanatic who’s emotional instability had caused him to be rejected by two religious orders he’d attempted to join. After that everything was downhill for Marie. Though she was immediately recognized as regent for her eight year old son (Louis XIII), she soon fell into ‘bad habits’ that led to a coup d’état against her seven years later. She fled the country but continued to intrigue, without success, for a return to power. She did, however, live like a queen - far beyond her means. Upon her death in 1642, and to settle her debts, the Beau Sancy was sold to Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (he was, effectively, the king of the Netherlands). The diamond then passed through his heirs to William of Orange who gave it to Mary Stuart as a wedding present. In 1689 the couple became co-monarchs of England; but the Beau Sancy became only a passing part of the royal jewels of England.
When William and Mary died without issue, the diamond was inherited by a royal second cousin, Frederick III, Elector of Brandenburg. In the course of European politics, Frederick became King Frederick I of Prussia; and the Beau Sancy was set in his royal crown. Over the next 200 years it remained part of the Prussian crown jewels and was ‘restyled’ again and again so that in 1913 it was the center piece of a necklace of diamonds. Then World War I spelled the end for the House of Hohenzollern. With revolution in Germany, Wilhelm II (King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany) fled to exile in the Netherlands - leaving the Beau Sancy behind. When the smoke cleared, the bulk of the gems in the Hohenzollern family’s crown jewels were deposited in museums appropriate to their origins; and the Beau Sancy remained in the old Prussian capital, Berlin. That unfortunate city was virtually destroyed in the last days of World War II; but the Beau Sancy was spared. Some unknown person hid the diamond in a bricked up crypt where, at war’s end, it was discovered by British troops. After, I’m sure, some soul searching, it was returned to the ‘estate of the House of Prussia’ - the Hohenzollerns - and virtually disappeared from view until now.
Early this month Sotheby’s (auctions) announced that on May 15 it would sell ‘The Beau Sancy’ for Georg Friedrich Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia, head of the Imperial House of Hohenzollern and great-great-grandson of Wilhelm II, the last Kaiser of Germany. David Bennet, head honcho of Sotheby’s jewelry division for the Middle East and Europe said, remarking on the gem’s romantic history, “It’s a stone that appeals to me greatly as a survivor of all those tumultuous events”. Of course the real question for Sotheby’s and the prince is that of what price that appeal may command. At present, there are no known offers for the diamond, but Philipp Herzog von Württemberg, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, would like the French Government to buy it (at $4 million, or thereabouts) so that it might be put on display next to the Sancy in the Louvre. Given that government’s current tight finances, that seems unlikely - unless a French ‘white knight’ (only the fabulously wealthy need apply for this job) comes to its rescue and buys the Beau Sancy to donate to the Louvre.
There is no luxury purchase that retains its value as well as an important diamond; so what better way is there to express your love for someone than with the gift of a fine diamond? A carat diamond is, quite literally, a one in a million find; and you have to sort through five million gem quality diamonds to find one large enough to cut into a two carat gem. Only an important diamond approaches the rarity of that special person in your life; so if the time to definitively express your love is now, come see us. We won’t sell you a mediocre diamond; and we’re extremely competitive in our diamond pricing. We’re Hursts’ Berwyn Jewelers and after you check us out on line at hurstsberwynjewelers.com, phone us at 708.788.0880 for an appointment. We’ll help you select the perfect gift, custom made for that most important person in your life.
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