Is there anyone who hasn’t at least heard of the famous Hope Diamond? It surprises most people that the Hope Diamond isn’t a clear diamond, but is a brilliant blue stone, surrounded by white diamonds and suspended from a diamond necklace. The Hope Diamond has gained attention from many individuals who have any interest in diamonds.

The Hope Diamond first appears in history in the mid 1600s when it was purchased by the merchant, Jean Baptiste Tavernier. He sold the stone to Louis XIV of France. Originally, the diamond was a 112-carat stone, described as being a beautiful violet color. The stone was recut into a 67-carat stone and it had a French Blue color. During the French Revolution, all the crown jewelst were stolen including the Hope Diamond. The Hope Diamond appeared again in 1812. It was recut and acquired by George IV of England. Unfortunately, he had to sell the stone to pay off debts. The exact transaction is unknown, but the Hope Diamond is next found as an entry in the collection of Henry Philip Hope, whose name is attached to the diamond to this day.  At some time the stone was found in the collection of the Cartier Jewelry firm Paris. Mrs Evalyn Walsh Maclean of Washington, DC then purchased the stone. Mrs. Maclean requested the stone be reset and made into the necklace that we know today. Henry Winston purchased the stone from Mrs. Maclean’s estate in 1947. Eventually the Hope Diamond was donated to the Smithsonian Collection.

There is a long-standing legend of a curse attached to the Hope Diamond. The legend states that the Hope Diamond was plucked from an idol in India. True or not, many those who have owned the Hope Diamond have met with misfortune, including the Hope family. They supposedly went bankrupt from owning the diamond. It’s possible that the whole concept of the curse originated with Pierre Cartier who sold it to Mrs. Maclean with the story of a curse. She believed that surronding herself with items that were bad luck actually brought her good luck. Sadly, Mrs. Maclean’s first son was killed at age 9 in a car accident and her 25-year old daughter committed suicide. Her husband was declared insane and was institutionalized until his death in 1941. Was it the curse? To obtain information about diamonds visit the following website: http://www.my-black-diamond-rings.com/.