The Grand Condé diamond, a remarkable gem, might have faded from public interest nearly a century ago, but thanks to a cleaning lady, it is again part of exhibitions, such as one planned for the Château de Chantilly near Paris. In 1926, Suzanne Schiltz worked as a chambermaid in Paris. While cleaning hotel rooms, she felt exhausted and decided to take an apple from a guest’s suitcase. After taking a bite, she was surprised to discover something hard inside, which turned out to be a pink gemstone about the size of a lima bean. This unexpected find helped solve the case of a notorious robbery that had occurred two months earlier at the Château de Chantilly, where thieves had stolen the Grand Condé and 74 other jewelry pieces using only a ladder.
Although the stolen items were worth $3 million in the 1920s, the thieves could not sell most of them due to their well-known origins, especially the famous Grand Condé diamond. A contemporary newspaper reported that when the thieves were questioned by the police, one officer made a clever remark about the apple and its unusual contents. To mark the 100th anniversary of this event, the Musée Condé and the Château de Chantilly are showcasing the diamond, a treasure that came to France during the American Revolution and was originally given to the Duke of Condé.
Today, the security concerns surrounding this valuable diamond are heightened, especially in light of recent high-profile museum thefts in France. The exhibition will explore the reasons why the diamond couldn’t be sold in the past, as well as present modern security measures. The diamond has gained attention due to its rarity, as many large pink diamonds now exist. Mathieu Deldicque, chief heritage curator and director of the Musée Condé, has invited gemologists from the School of Jewelry Arts in Paris to analyze the diamond’s characteristics. This process will create an identity card for the gem, ensuring that its identity would be recognized globally, even if it were stolen or altered.
Deldicque emphasized that gemstones are both art and nature, noting that diamonds possess a unique quality that must be experienced in person to be fully appreciated. The exhibit organized by the museum and the jewelry school will be open from October 17th to January 3rd. Would you visit to see the Grand Condé diamond in person?
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Source: Good News Network, by Good News Network