The History of the Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond is one of the world’s most infamous diamonds. The Hope Diamond has went through many changes throughout its history. It has changed ownership many times including many famous owners of royal blood. It has also changed appearance as various jewelers created different settings for the Hope Diamond.

The Hope Diamond is unique in part because it is has a blue color to it. The blue color is created by tiny amounts of the element boron. The diamond is believed to come from mines of Golconda, India and was originally called Tavernier Blue after Jean Baptiste Tavernier. At this time the diamond was 112 3/16 carats and roughly cut into a triangle shape. However, the diamond is now a 45.52 carat pendant on a necklace.

During the life of the Hope Diamond it has seen many hands. The first known owner is Jean Baptiste Tavernier. However, it has also been owned by the likes of King Louis XIV of France. It has not been proved or disproved, but some suspect it was also owned by King George IV of the United Kingdom.

One of the most important owners of the Hope Diamond was, of course, Henry Philip Hope who gave the diamond its name. The diamond remained with the Hope family from 1824 to 1901. Lord Francis, the grandson, was only allowed to sell the diamond after obtaining the courts permission to do so.

After the Hopes were forced to sell the Hope Diamond it was again doomed to travel the globe from owner to owner. It passed through the hands of Adolf Weil, Simon Frankel, Salmon Habib, and Paul Cartier. It than landed a socialite named Evalyn Walsh McLean who wore it on many occasions until her death in 1947. It than went to her grandchildren but was once again sold to pay debts. Harry Winston was the next to acquire the Hope Diamond and showed off the piece for many years before he donated it to the Smithsonian.

The Hope Diamond reached the Smithsonian on November 10, 1958. Since that time the diamond has only left on four occasions. These occasions included a visit the Louvre in Paris in 1962, a trip to the South African Rand Easter Show in 1965, and twice in 1984 and 1996 the Hope Diamond visited Harry Winston once just for cleaning.

Despite being adored by many, the Hope Diamond is said to be cursed. Believers of the curse state that Tavernier stole the diamond from the Hindu Idol of the goddess Sita. It was said to be one of her eyes. However, there is no evidence of this and a second diamond eye has never been found.

Tragedies that have befallen Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette have been attributed to the curse of the Hope Diamond. During the history of the Hope Diamond legend people have also added their own fictitious owners that each had incredible misfortunes of their own. Though these tails just add to the charm of the Hope Diamond, they are largely exaggerated. Many owners, including Harry Winston, have had successful and long lives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Diamond
http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/hope.htm