Hope Diamond

Weighing 45,52 carats, the hope diamond is an exceedingly rare gemstone. It also has a fascinating and mysterious history.



The hope diamond was probably discovered at the Kollur Mine in the Golconda area of India. Precisely when it was found is not known, bit a French gem merchant, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, sold a 112-carat blue diamond feom India to King Louis XIV of France in 1668. It was recut from its original Indian-style cut ti a 67-carat , more brilliant heart shape in 1675. In 1749, Louis XV had the stone - now known as the French Blue - set into a piece of ceremonial jewellery for the order of the Golden Fleece, a decoration worn only by the King.
During the French Revolution in 1792, the Hope diamond disappeared. Then, in 1812, a London jeweller, John Francillon, noted a 44-carat(45,5 modern metric carats) blue diamond in the possession of London diamond merchant Daniel Eliason. This diamond was probably cut from the French Blue



FROM FRENCH BLUE TO HOPE



The diamond again mysteriously disappeared until 1820 when it was bought by the British King George IV. In the King's possession at the time of his death in 1830, it was purchased by a London banker and gem collector, Henry Philip Hope, whose name it bears today. After Hope's death in 1839, the diamond pass through several hand, until bought in 1909 by Pierre Cartier. He in turn sold it to Evalyn Walsh Mclean in 1910 for $180,000. He told her that the diamond brought badluck to anyone who wore it, but this was probably because she had told him that she felt objects that were badluck for others were goodluck for her. Mrs. McLean wore the Hope Diamond everywhere she went. Two years after her death in 1947, her entire collection of jewellery was purchased by New York Jeweller Harry Winston. On 10 November 1958, he presented the diamond to the Smithsonian Institution as the foundation of a National Gem Collection. It arrived in a plain brown package by registered mail, insured for $1 million. The diamond has remained on continuous exhibition there ever since.