Exhibition "The Fabulous Destiny of Tavernier's Diamonds" (Paris)

The fabulous destiny of Tavernier’s diamonds – From the Great Mogul to the Sun King. A historical reconstitution of 20 exceptional diamonds acquired by Louis XIV.

Although nobody can say what has become of them, everyone knows how magnificent they were. This is the story of the diamonds acquired by Louis XIV from the travelling merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689) in 1668, told through the exhibition organized by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels. A fabulous story based on a journey from the Mogul Empire of India and the diamond mines of Golkonda to France under the reign of the Sun King and the Château de Versailles, a journey made along the trade routes connecting East to West.

The reproduction of these twenty exceptional stones—revealed here for the first time—is the fruit of a scientific collaboration between François Farges, Professor of Mineralogy at the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Patrick Dubuc, Master Gem Cutter, and L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Such a result would not have been possible without this multidisciplinary approach, combining archival research, ancient images and the use of some of today’s most cutting-edge technology.

The presentation of these diamond replicas is an important occasion for several reasons. Firstly, the exhibition reveals the Mughal cut of the 17th century, eclipsed by the European cut and since forgotten: it highlights their beauty, uniqueness and distinguishing characteristics. It also allows us to understand Louis XIV’s fascination with the exceptional splendor of these stones, of which he became the owner in late 1668.  Finally, the exhibition illustrates the relationships that were being forged at that time between East and West, in a Europe with a passion for foreign and exotic cultures.

The exhibition at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts takes the visitor on a journey to the world of diamonds and to an epoch of cultural exchange. A tireless traveler, ahead of his time, Tavernier could well have provided an answer to Victor Hugo’s question: “Traveler, what do you want ?” “I want to see”.

This permanent exhibition presented at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts of Paris retraces the history of the diamonds purchased by Louis XIV from the trader and traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in 1668.

A fabulous story based on a journey from the Mogul Empire of India and the diamond mines of Golkonda to France under the reign of the Sun King and the Château de Versailles, a journey made along the trade routes connecting East to West. Amongst the several thousand diamonds brought from India by Tavernier and offered to the Sun King in 1668, twenty stood out for their breathtaking beauty. They all disappeared in the 19th century, with the exception of the Blue Diamond, but are brought back to life here through this permanent exhibition organized by L'ECOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.

The catalog of this exhibition is available in English and French.
Editor: L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Price: 10 €

Discover More