Before
I mention the other stone, the green diamond noted above, you may like
to know something about Tavernier, whose name has been given several
times already in these pages. This intrepid traveller, gem expert,
trader and adventurer in the best sense of the word, Jean Baptiste
Tavernier, was born in 1605 at Antwerp. His father, Gabriel Tavernier,
was by profession a geographer —a maker of maps and an engraver.
Perhaps it was this paternal factor which in some way created in the
young Jean Baptiste a desire to travel. Having journeyed much in
Europe, Tavernier seized an opportunity which presented itself to
travel in the company of two French priests, possibly missionaries, to
Constantinople and thence to Persia. That was in 1631. In 1638 he made
a second journey, this time visiting Persia and India, trading in
jewels and precious stones wherever he went. He must have been what
nowadays is called a good mixer, for he seems to have experienced no
great difficulty in bringing himself and his wares to the notice of the
most eminent persons. Then he made a third journey, which took him to
Java, whence he returned to Europe via the Cape. During so much
travelling and trading he must have acquired an immense fund of
practical knowledge on matters connected with precious stones, and
aided by a natural flair, he became a foremost authority on all that
concerned gems. At any rate, the splendour-loving Louis XIV became one
of his patrons, and it was said that by the sale of jewels to the King
alone Tavernier made a profit of £ 100,000. To wealth was added, in 1669, a title of nobility, and he purchased in 1670 the Barony of Aubanne near
