The Sancy

The Sancy, a pale yellow diamond of 55.23 carats (11.046 g), was once reputed to have belonged to the Great Moguls of antiquity, but is more likely of Indian origin owing to its cut which is unusual by Western standards. Image File history File links Sancydiamond. ... Image File history File links Sancydiamond. ... // A scattering of round-brilliant cut diamonds shows off the many reflecting facets. ... Meanings of carat or karat: In the gem business: Carat (mass) is a unit of mass for gems. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ...

The shield-shaped stone comprises two back-to-back crowns (the typical upper half of a stone) but lacks any semblance to a pavilion (the lower portion of a stone, below the girdle or midsection).

The Sancy's known history began circa 1570 in Constantinople when purchased by Nicholas Harlai, Seigneur de Sancy. He was popular in the French Court and was later French Ambassador to Turkey. Something of a gem connoisseur, de Sancy used his knowledge to prosperous advantage. Events January 23 - The assassination of regent James Stewart, Earl of Moray throws Scotland into civil war February 25 - Pope Pius V excommunicates Queen Elizabeth I of England with the bull Regnans in Excelsis May 20 - Abraham Ortelius issues the first modern atlas. ... Map of Constantinople. ... A selection of gemstone pebbles made by tumbling rough rock with abrasive grit, in a rotating drum. ...

Henry III of France suffered from premature baldness and tried to conceal this fact by wearing a cap. As diamonds were becoming increasingly fashionable at the time, Henry arranged to borrow de Sancy's diamond to decorate his cap. Henry IV also borrowed the stone, for the more practical purpose of using it as security for financing an army. Legend has it that a messenger carrying the jewel never reached his destination, but de Sancy (by then Superintendent of Finance) was convinced that the man was loyal and had a search conducted until the site of his robbery and murder was found. When the body was disinterred and autopsied, the jewel was found in the faithful man's stomach. Henry III (French: Henri III) (September 19, 1551 – August 2, 1589), born Alexandre-Édouard, was a member of the Valois Dynasty, King of France from May 30, 1574 until his death. ... Male pattern baldness in 40 year old man. ... Henry IV (French: Henri IV; December 13, 1553 – May 14, 1610), was the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France. ...

De Sancy later sold the diamond to James I (successor of Queen Elizabeth) about 1605 when it is thought the Sancy acquired its name. It was described in the Tower of London's 1605 Inventory of Jewels as "...one fayre dyamonde, cut in fawcetts, bought of Sauncy." James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland (Charles James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland and was the first to style himself King of Great Britain. ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) was Queen of England, Queen of France (in name only), and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... 1605 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Tower of London, seen from the River Thames, with a view of the water gate called Traitors Gate. ...

The Sancy remained in England until 1669 when it was briefly possessed by the unfortunate Charles I (King of England, Scotland and Ireland) and then by his third son James II. Beleaguered after a devastating defeat, James took shelter under Louis XIV of France, a fickle host who tired of his exiled guest. Facing destitution, James had no choice but to sell the Sancy to Cardinal Mazarin for the reported sum of £25,000. The cardinal bequeathed the diamond to the king. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... // Events Samuel Pepys stopped writing his diary. ... Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, King of Ireland, and King of Scots from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. ... James II of England and VII of Scotland (14 October 1633–16 September 1701) became King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland on 6 February 1685. ... Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638 – September 1, 1715) ruled as King of France and of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death just prior to his seventy-seventh birthday. ... Cardinal Jules Mazarin, French diplomat and statesman Jules Mazarin, born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino; but best known as Cardinal Mazarin (July 14, 1602 – March 9, 1661) served as the France from 1642, until his death. ... ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom Inflation 2. ...

The Sancy was thus domiciled in France but disappeared during the French Revolution when brigands raided the Garde Meuble (Royal Treasury). As well as the Sancy, other treasures stolen were the Regent diamond, and the French Blue diamond which is known today as the Hope diamond. The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a pivotal period in the history of French, European and Western civilization. ... Regent Diamond Weight 140. ... Hope Diamond in museum The Hope Diamond is a large, deep blue diamond, currently housed in the Smithsonian Institution. ... Hope Diamond in museum The Hope Diamond is a large (45. ...

The Sancy's history is unknown from then until 1828 when purchased by Prince Demidoff for £80,000. It remained in the Demidoff family until 1865 when sold to Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, an Indian prince, for £100,000. He sold it only a year later, creating another gap in its history. It reappeared in 1867, displayed at the Paris Exposition, carrying a price tag of one million francs; the gem then vanished again for forty years. 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Coat of arms of Prince Anatole Demidoff. ... Coat of arms of Prince Anatole Demidoff. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy, Baronet (also seen as Qamsetji, and Jeejeebhoy, Jejeebjoy, Qijibhai) (1783-1859) was an Indian merchant and philanthropist. ... Paris Exposition can refer to The Paris Exposition of 1877 The Paris Exposition or Paris Worlds Fair of 1878, Exposition Universelle (1878) The Paris Exposition of 1889 The Paris Exposition of 1900, Exposition Universelle (1900) ...

The Sancy next surfaced in 1906 when bought by William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor. The prominent Astor family possessed it for 72 years until the 4th Viscount Astor sold it to the Louvre for $1 million in 1978. The Sancy now rests in the Apollo Gallery, sharing attention with the likes of the Regent and the Hortensia. 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (March 31, 1848–October 18, 1919) was a financier and statesman and a member of the prominent Astor family. ... The Astor family, founded by the German immigrant John Jacob Astor and his wife Sarah Todd, became the wealthiest family in the United States during the 19th century. ... William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor (born 27 December 1951) is a British businessman and politician who sits as an elected hereditary peer in the House of Lords. ... The Louvre Museum (French: Musée du Louvre) in Paris, France, is one of the largest, oldest, most important and famous art galleries and museums in the world. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 3. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

References and further reading

• Burton, E. (1986). Legendary Gems or Gems That Made History, pp. 78-83. Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA
• Fowler, M. (2002). Hope: Adventures of a Diamond, p. 100, 151, 321. Random House Canada
• Shipley, R. (1939). Famous Diamonds of the World, pp. 24-27. Gemological Institute of America, USA

External links

• Entry on Sancy from the Louvre website