Why Tavernier Changed the Jewellery World Forever

About this episode

Before the Hope Diamond became one of the world's most famous stones, it passed through the hands of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. In Part Two, Matthew Weldon and Fenia Sigkoudi follow Tavernier into the sixth voyage that made him famous, from the Mughal court and the Peacock Throne to the rough stone later known as the Hope Diamond. This episode also looks at Tavernier as a merchant, author and restless traveller: how he priced diamonds, why his book mattered, how large gemstones changed jewellery design, and why he kept travelling even after wealth, fame and a chateau in Switzerland. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Tavernier's sixth voyage reaches the Mughal court 02:29 The Peacock Throne 05:53 1664 to 1668: the sales trip 07:51 The Hope Diamond in rough form 09:24 Great diamonds, antique cuts and changing tastes 12:18 Perfect and imperfect diamonds 15:58 The Six Voyages and Tavernier's book 20:19 How gemstone supply changed jewellery design 22:57 Seeing Tavernier's face 26:35 The portrait, the ring and the traveller 29:35 Tavernier as collector 31:45 Tavernier's legacy in jewellery 32:34 Restless feet and the seventh journey 35:12 Death on the road to Russia 37:10 Born above a map shop 39:24 Follow Gem Pursuit💎 FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS - ✅ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gempursuitpod/ https://www.instagram.com/courtvilleantiques/ ✅ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@matthew.weldon?lang=en-GB ✅ Website - https://www.courtville.ie/ This is a video episode of Gem Pursuit, an antique jewellery podcast about produced by Courtville Antique & Vintage Jewellers in Dublin. Subscribe to our channel if you love antique and vintage jewelry!