Nicolas de Harlay, seigneur de Sancy later sold the diamond to James I (successor of Queen Elizabeth) about 1605 when it is thought the Sancy acquired its name. It was described in the Tower of London's 1605 Inventory of Jewels as "...one fayre dyamonde, cut in fawcetts, bought of Sauncy." Nicolas de Harlay, seigneur de Sancy Nicolas de Harlay, seigneur de Sancy (1546–1629) was a French soldier and diplomat. Although de Harlay belonged to the Protestant branch of the family of Harlay, he adopted the Catholic religion in 1572 during the massacres of the Huguenots. In 1589 he obtained in Geneva and Berne sums sufficient to
Auction catalog Auction catalog An auction catalog (US spelling) or auction catalogue (British spelling) is a catalogue that lists items to be sold at an auction. It is made available some time before the auction date. Auction catalogs for rare and expensive items, such as some art, books, jewelry, postage stamps, and antique furniture, are of interest in themselves: they will often include detailed descriptions of the items, their provenance, historical significance, photographs, and so forth. In some cases, auction catalogues are key documentation for rare objects that are in private collections, and make up an important part of the libraries of