Auvergne, the mountains, its wild nature… And its sapphire deposit. The Clermont-Ferrand civil court is taking up a not-so-trivial case this Wednesday. In a secret Auvergne hamlet, a river which drains numerous sapphires is the source of neighborhood quarrels. The case is such that it will end up before the judge, as told The Parisian.
An Auvergne couple watches a report on sapphire hunting on TF1 when they realize that the collection is taking place on their property. Their blood only goes one round. They consider that the precious stones belong to them and decide to initiate legal proceedings.
One million euros claimed by the applicants
Some speak of one of the most important deposits in Europe. However, the river is non-state property. As a result, the bed of the watercourses belongs to the owners of each bank in equal shares,” explains the Parisian Me Patrick Roesch, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, who requests a provision of one million euros.
A sum requested after carrying out a calculation: according to the council, around 300 to 400 stones are extracted from the river each year, and the cost of a carat of sapphire varies between 500 and 3,000 euros.
The owners of the opposing bank exploit the deposit while ensuring that it is within their property. The vein was discovered around ten years ago by smugglers, the Parisian the Rivière de France company, which exploits the precious stones on behalf of one of the parties. After this first illegal exploitation, the sector became structured, to the point of making headlines on Place Vendôme in Paris. In the meantime, the applicants expect the courts to appoint an expert capable of assessing the value of the deposit.