Mario Bürki

Les diamants de Septmoncel

From the very beginning of its discovery, the diamond, which was initially only known uncut, has fascinated people. Its history begins around 3,000 years ago in India. In Europe, it was not until the Middle Ages that diamonds rose to become the most precious of gemstones at the European royal courts. My work describes the long journey of the diamond from India to Europe in the 18th century, its processing, but also the struggle for power and money. The work begins with the brilliance and radiance of the diamonds mined in India. A long and arduous journey by ship (bars 39-91) takes the diamonds to France, where they are cut in the village of Septmoncel (bars 136-192). Jewelry production in the Baroque era was under the influence of France, especially during the reign of Louis XIV. France increasingly gained supremacy in Europe. Many legends and battles surrounding diamonds brought joy to some and sorrow to others (bars 192-260). One of the most famous diamonds in the world, the Hope diamond, brought the Sun King much misfortune, as he lost a large part of the French territories during his reign. His successor Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, who often and gladly wore the diamond, fared even worse, as they were beheaded during the French Revolution. In the subsequent looting of the royal treasury, the French Blue disappeared without a trace. Nevertheless, the diamond is still one of the most beautiful gemstones in the world today!