Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond

Have you heard about the story of Hope Diamond? Well, Hope Diamond is actually one of the rarest of gems found on earth. It is deemed as the world's largest deep blue diamond and has baffled and intrigued people for centuries, making its story truly interesting to hear.

The Hope Diamond was in the first place discovered in the early 1600s and has crossed oceans and continents for years until it reached the Smithsonian Institution where it is now kept. Well, according to several stories, the discovery of Hope Diamond started with theft. It was stolen by a French merchant named Jean Baptiste Tavernier who made a trip to India and stole a large blue diamond from the forehead of the statue of the Hindu goddess Sita. When Tavernier reached his hometown, France, the diamond was purchased by King Louis XIV and was worn by the King himself on ceremonial occasions. It was also during that time that the Hope Diamond is named as the “Blue Diamond of the Crown”.

From the possession of King Louis XIV, the diamond was again stolen when the jewels of the French Royal Treasury were turned over to the government. That time, the Hope Diamond was described as weighing 177 grains and was later reported as being in the possession of a London diamond merchant name Daniel Eliason. But this time, no one is sure if the diamond possessed by Eliason was the same diamond stolen from the French crown as it appeared that time in different cut. It was only considered as it is when people feel the rarity and the perfectness of the gem.

Later stories have revealed that the diamond was again purchased from Eliason by King George IV of England. It was sold to pay off the king's debts upon King George's death. In 1939, the gem was noted in the possession of Henry Philip Hope. It is from this man actually where today's Hope Diamond has taken its name.

The Hope Diamond was passed through generation within the Hope family until it reached the hands of Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean of Washington D.C in 1910. It was this woman who considered the resetting of the Hope Diamond and later that year, the gem became the pendant on a diamond necklace as we know it today.

The Hope Diamond was resold to Harry Winston, Inc. of New York City upon the death of Mrs. McLean. It was then shown in a number of exhibits and charitable events throughout the world and it was on November 10, 1958 that the Hope Diamond was donated by Harry Winston, Inc. to the Smithsonian Institution. Immediately, the Hope Diamond became the institution's premier attraction, and it's nice to know that that remains until today.

Throughout the years, the weight of the Hope Diamond was reported to be 44.5 carats. It is also classified as a type IIB diamond, which basically is semi conductive and phosphorescent. It yields a blue color that is attributed to its boron content and it is known worldwide for its strong red color which lasts for a number of seconds after it is exposed to a short wave of ultraviolet light.

The Hope Diamond, being kept in the Museum, now belongs to the people of the United States.