History of the Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond still fascinates people with its exquisite beauty and legendary curse. The rare gem has a rich history and a trail of tragedy in its wake. Although the diamond has been owned by the rich and famous, it now rests safely in the Smithsonian Institution.

The Legendary Curse

According to legend, the beautiful blue diamond was stolen from the forehead of an idol in India. The idol was a statue of the Hindu goddess Sita. The diamond carried with it a curse that bad luck and death would befall not only those who owned the jewel, but those who touched it as well.

John Baptiste Tavernier

John Baptiste Tavernier was a French jeweler who traveled to India in 1642. While there, he acquired (accounts vary on whether he stole or purchased the gem) a 112 3/16 carat blue diamond. In 1668, Tavernier sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France. King Louis XIV had the diamond cut to 67 1/8 carat to enhance its brilliance. He had it set in gold and hung on a ribbon, which he wore around his neck for ceremonial occasions. King Louis XIV called the diamond "the French Blue." Although it is unknown how Tavernier died, legend has it that he was torn apart by wild dogs on a trip to Russia.

King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

In 1749, King Louis XV had the gem reset for the Order of the Golden Fleece. After Louis XV's death, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette became king and queen. Although Marie Antoinette is rumored to never have worn the French blue gem because it was reserved for the king's use, her beheading as well as that of King Louis XVI is attributed to the curse of the diamond. Although most of the crown jewels taken from the royal couple were recovered, the blue diamond was not among them.

Henry Philip Hope

A rare blue diamond surfaced in London in 1813. Although no one knows for certain, it was believed to be the French blue gem that had been stolen. The jewel had been cut down again, apparently to hide its origin. In 1823, the blue diamond was owned jeweler Daniel Eliason, who later sold it to King George IV of England. After the king's death, the diamond was sold to pay off debts. In 1839, Henry Philip Hope took possession of the rare stone, which became known as the Hope Diamond. The loss of the Hope family fortune is attributed to the curse of the diamond. After the death of Henry Philip Hope, the gem was left to his oldest nephew, Henry Thomas Hope. Upon the death of Henry's widow, the stone was passed to her grandson, who eventually sold the Hope Diamond.

Evalyn Walsh McLean

In 1901, American jeweler Simon Frankel bought the diamond and brought it to America. Subsequently, the diamond was sold several times and ended up in the possession of Pierre Cartier. He sold it to Evalyn Walsh McLean, who believed that items that had been bad luck for others would be good luck for her. Evalyn had her share of bad luck, too, including the death of her son in a car accident at the age of 9. Her daughter committed suicide at 25, and her husband was confined to a mental institution after being declared insane.

Harry Winston

Another jeweler, Harry Winston, purchased the Hope Diamond in 1949 when it was put on sale to pay for the debts of Evalyn Walsh McLean's estate. In 1958, Winston donated the blue gem to the Smithsonian Institute. The 45.52 carat diamond is currently on display as part of the National Gem and Mineral Collection. Is there really a curse on the Hope Diamond? No one can say for certain.

References

• Encyclopedia Smithsonian
• Bebimi.com
• PBS.org