top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Rare gems found near Mont-Blanc shared with French town of Chamonix

The cache of emeralds and sapphires, valued at €300,000, has been split equally between the French mountain town and the anonymous climber who found them

The gemstones have been shared between their finder and the town of Chamonix, the latter of which is set to show them in its new museum Pic: Gilmanshin / Nataliya Nazarova / Shutterstock

A treasure trove of precious gemstones worth an estimated €300,000, discovered in the Mont-Blanc mountain range in 2013, has been shared between its finder and the town of Chamonix.

Mayor of Chamonix, Eric Fournier, confirmed to AFP that the “stones have been shared this week” equally, with each half valued at around €150,000 by two gemstone experts.

The law states that as no rightful owner has stepped forward to claim the stones in two years, the treasure now belongs equally to the climber who found it, and the owner of the Bossons glacier on which it was found. Technically, the glacier is part of the commune of Chamonix.

The finder, a young climber from Savoie, has wished to remain anonymous. He initially took the box to the local gendarmerie, in a bid to return the stones to their rightful owner.

Mr Fournier said: “I am very happy with the conclusion of this, especially for the finder.” He thanked the climber for “his integrity”.

The gemstones will now form part of Chamonix’s new crystals museum, which is a “real marvel”, Mr Fournier said. The museum is set to open for the first time on December 18.

He said that the museum will contain “high-tech glass displays cabinets similar to those used in major international jewellery shows”.

The stones, which were found in a small metallic box, are mainly emeralds and sapphires.

They are thought to have originally come from an Air Indian plane crash in 1966, when a Boeing 707 was flying from Mumbai (Bombay) to New York. It crashed with 117 passengers on board, at around 4,750 metres altitude. No survivors were found.

The crash happened 15 years after another Air India jet, the Malabar Princess, crashed on the same glacier, in 1950, at 4.700 metres, killing 48. After that incident, rumours abounded that a cache of gold bars had been on board, but they have never been found.

The Bossons glacier is still thought to have considerable debris left from the various crashes. In 1975, mountain guide Christian Mollier discovered the landing gear of the Malabar Princess during a climb.

Related articles

'In the end, the power of love is all'

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France