The Beau Sancy Diamond Weighs in at 34.98 Carats

Another fabulous and historic diamond is making news today.  The diamond is called the “Beau Sancy” and it weighs 34.98 carats.  This unusual diamond is said to have the shape of a “modified double pear rose cut.”  The unique cutting reflects the early methods of fashioning a diamond before today’s advanced knowledge of reflection and refraction.  The Beau Sancy was the signature gem of the Prussian Crown jewels.  It stayed in the same family “The House of Hohenzollern” for three turbulent centuries.  This coincided with the family’s rule of Prussia and later Imperial Germany.

The diamond, like many other famous diamonds is thought to have Indian origins.  It was said to have come from the mines near Golconda.  The diamond derived its name from its purchaser Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy, in Constantinople in the 1500’s.

Among its other owners were Marie de Medici (the Queen of France) the Dutch Royal Family and the Queen of England.

Another interesting tid bit about the Beau Sancy history is that it was hidden in a brick crypt for safe-keeping during World War II until it was discovered by British troops and returned to its current owner The Estate of The House of Prussia.

Today the gemstone is on another more glamorous tour, this time at the hands of Sotheby’s Auction House.  The gem is traveling on a pre-auction tour of Sotheby’s facilities in Hong Kong, New York, Rome, Paris, London, Zurich, and finally to Geneva where it is to be auctioned off.

The pre-auction chatter is that the diamond is estimated to go for $2 million to $4 million dollars.  Diamonds with such provenance always bring intrigue and stones from Royal coffers rarely make it to public auctions!  This diamond has only been exhibited in public four times in the past fifty years.

That's all for now!

Your Friend in the Diamond Business,

Mark Grader

Grader Jewelers, Inc.

www.gradergems.com