Emeralds and sapphires, discovered in the Mont-Blanc massif half a century after the crash of an Indian plane, were sold this Wednesday at an auction in Chambéry, in eastern France, without reaching high prices.
The Bossons treasure was discovered ten years ago on the glacier of the same name by a young mountaineer from Savoy.
Authorities have established the link with the Kangchenjunga, an Air India Boeing 707, which crashed in the area in 1966.
As there was no heir to claim the treasure, the precious stones were distributed, as required by law, between the discoverer and the city of Chamonix (Haute Savoie), where the glacier is located.
At that time, each lot was valued at 150 thousand euros.
It was the discoverer’s part that was sold at auction and the Chamonix lot is on display in its glass museum.
The sale attracted about 40 people to the auction house and more than 300 online.
But in the end it raised just over 25,000 euros.
An Indian jadeite stone, valued at 150 euros, sold for 1,100 euros, according to France-Presse (AFP).
Source: TSF
