Past Lives of the Hope Diamond

First appearing onto the pages of history in the early 1600's, the "Blue Diamond of the Crown," as it was once called, remains the largest blue diamond known to man...and the most dangerous.

Facts:
1. Found in India in the early 1600's.
2. Passed through atleast fourteen owners: Jean Baptiste Tavernier, King Louis XIV (France), King Louis XV, King Louis XVI, King George IV (England), Henry Philip Hope (for which it is named), Henry Thomas Hope (nephew), Lord Francis Hope (grandson of nephew), Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, Selim Habib (Paris), C.H. Rosenau, Pierre Cartier, Evalyn Walsh McLean (Washington DC.), Harry Winston Inc.
3. Unfortunate circumstances ran rampant throughout the lives of it's owners... leading many people to beleive in the possible exhistence of a real-life curse.
4. Donated to the Smithsonian Institution on 10 November 1958 where it remains on display.

Somewhere in the exotic expanse that is India, Tavernier found himself gazing into the hyptnotizing eyes of the goddess statue Sita. He was aware of the fabled curse that warned would-be-theives of the terrible misfortunes that would befall them if the statue was defaced. Could it be real Tavernier asked himself? The bigger questions was, could the opportunist merchant in his blood resist the urge to take the valuable blue diamond eye that stared back at him?

Did it happen this way? Possibly...but more probably not. It is speculated that Tavernier bought the diamond at Kollur diamond mine in the Golconda region of India. The diamond was of unusually rare quality and was (and still is) the largest blue diamond ever found. It weighed 112 3/16 carats. The intensity of its color was breathtaking. It's worth? It is unknown what Tavernier paid for it, but you can be sure it was an unfathomable amount to most of us.

The diamond stayed in Tavernier's possession for 26 long years until, upon his return to France in 1668, the Sun King Louis XIV, requested a viewing. Inevitably, the diamond exchanged owners. Instantly the diamond became a national treasure and took on the titles "Blue Diamond of the Crown" and "The French Blue." The stone was set in gold and was worn by the king on a ribbon around his neck during special occasions. Upon his death, it was handed down to Louis XV.

In 1749, King Louis XV ordered the diamond recut in order to enhance it's brilliance. It was now 67 1/8 carats and set in a peice of ceremonial jewelry. In 1791 the French Blue was handed over to the French government after Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee the country. One year later, the diamond vanished.

In 1812 a 44.12 carat blue diamond made an appearance in the hands of a jewelry merchant. Strong evidence suggests that this new diamond was a recut version of the French Blue. Once again, inevitably, the stone found its way into the hands of royalty...this time English.

King George IV of England purchased the diamond and then, in 1830, it was sold to cover his astronomical debt.

The next documented appearance came in 1839 where it was verified to be in the collection of Henry Philip Hope, the man to whom the diamond's modern name originated. After his death, the stone passed to his nephew Henry Thomas Hope and then to Henry Thomas's grandson Lord Francis Hope. Lord Francis, even after strong opposition from the Hope family, sold the stone in 1901 for gambling money and to cover debts. (See a pattern here?)

Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, needing money, sold the stone to Salim Habib, who then sold the stone to C.H. Rosenau and then to Pierre Cartier in 1909. Cartier slyly devised a plan to sell the diamond to a wealthy couple he met while they were on vacation in Paris. They were "old money" Americans.

Wealthy Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean bought the diamond in 1911 and had the stone mounted in a headpeice surrounded by diamonds. Later it was changed to a pendant. In 1949, after Mrs. McLean's death, Harry Winston Inc. bought her collection and displayed it at charitable events over the next decade.

The diamond was donated to the Smithsonian Institution on November 10, 1958. The package was wrapped in plain brown paper and sent through normal mail...a common practice of jewelers from the time period. The diamond remains there to this day...only rarely leaving for very special occasions. Some people beleive the diamond was sent there intentionally in an effort to thwart the effects of the curse.

Soooo...is there a curse? We still don't know...but think about it. Most of it's known owner's wen't bankrupt. King Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antionette both lost their heads in the French Revolution. Mrs. Walsh McLean's son Vincent died in a car crash when he was 9, her daughter committed suicide at age 25, and her husband went insane and was confined to a mental institution until his death. And many unpleasantries are said to have befallen the many jewelers who have touched it.

But then again...there are those who got away without a scratch...and to date it's keeper's at the Smithsonian have not reported an incident. It seems more likely to me that perhaps the curse is more likely due to over-spending and supremely bad choices.

***Intriguing news update: After a years worth of research, it can now be verified as the same stone that had been taken from the French crown jewels; yes it IS the "French Blue!" Fascinating!

Disclaimer: The history of the diamond is complex. It's story is told to the best of researchers abilities... so if you continue perusing the internet, you may find some discprepancies in the timeline. Note: Some of these words are not mine, but a close summarization of other authors.