A Brief History of the Hope Diamond: The World’s Most Famous Gem

In 2005, a research team led by Smithsonian Institute gem curator Jeffrey Post determined in a year-long study that the world famous Hope Diamond was once a famous diamond called “The French Blue”, part of King Louis XIV’s long lost crown jewels stolen during the French Revolution.

The French Blue had originated as a 115-carat blue stone that was once the eye of an Indian religious statue. It was stolen in 1668 by Jean Baptiste Tavernier and then sold to France’s Sun King, Louis XIV. Some say Tavernier’s theft was the origin of the Hope Diamond’s so-called “curse.” More about this later.

As for Louis XIV, he had the stone “eye” cut into what became the 69-carat French Blue diamond in his crown jewels. In their research, the Smithsonian team used detailed sketches from the French royal court along with computer analysis comparisons to determine that the Hope Diamond was once Louis XIV’s French Blue diamond.

While the French Blue diamond was considered long lost after the Revolution, a deep blue diamond of mysterious origins did wind up in the hands of a London diamond merchant in 1812. It eventually was sold to a New York jeweler who then sold it in 1839 to British social lion Henry Philip Hope, the gem’s namesake. Although the Hope Diamond became world famous, its origins had remained unknown.

In 1901, Hope’s heir, after a ten year court battle for possession, sold the diamond to yet another New York jeweler. It eventually wound up in the hands of legendary Paris jeweler Pierre Cartier. In 1910, Cartier sold it to American socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean. After her death in 1949, Harry Winston Jewelers bought it from her estate. In 1958, Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian. A strange sidenote: it was delivered to the Smithsonian via standard U.S. Mail.

The Curse

The original “discoverer” of the French Blue diamond, Jean Baptiste Tavernier died of injuries sustained during a wild dog attack.

King Louis XIV, who bought the stone from Tavernier, died of gangrene.

King Louis XVI, who inherited the diamond, lost his head in the French Revolution as did his queen, Marie Antoinette, who wore the diamond.

Wilhelm Fals, a Dutch jeweler who owned the “mysterious blue diamond”, was murdered by his son, who later committed suicide.

Lord Francis Hope, Henry Philip Hope’s heir and diamond owner, suffered financial ruin and had to sell it.

Other owners also suffered misfortune. Jacques Colot committed suicide. Russian Prince Ivan Konitovski was murdered during the Russian Revolution. Greek merchant Simon Maoncharides died in a car accident. Persian merchant Habib Bey drowned. And the Hope Diamond’s last owner (before Winston) socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean wound up in a mental institution.

SOURCES:

http://library.thinkquest.org/C007446F/jinx.htm

http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/hope_nav/hnav_level_2/level2_pitch_curse_hopfrm.html

http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/museum/1d_Hope_Diamond.html

http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/hope.htm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6946421/

http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/hope_nav/main_hopfrm.html