The Hope Diamond isn’t just one of the largest blue diamonds in the world – it’s also one of the most visited museum pieces in existence. Part of the stone’s charm is not just its undeniable beauty, but also the mystery its history is shrouded in.
The Origins
Tavernier And The Hope Diamond
Historical records suggest that Tavernier was not the Diamond’s first owner. It is believed that he either bought or stole it from its previous owner sometime during the mid-1600s, prior to bringing it to Paris as a raw, uncut stone. Its first form was triangular, and before being cut, it was estimated at 112 to 115 carats. This impressive stone soon gained fame as the Tavernier Blue diamond.
Hope Diamond Worth in France
Sometime around 1669, the blue diamond was sold along with approximately 1,000 other diamonds to King Louis XIV of France. The entire purchase netted Tavernier 220,000 livres, which amounted to the equivalent of 147 kilograms of pure gold. Tavernier was also granted a patent of nobility as part of his payment for the astonishing blue diamond.
In 1678, Louis XIV commissioned his court jeweler, Sieur Pitau, to reshape the Tavernier Blue. The result was a 67.125 carat stone that was then listed in the royal inventory as the Blue Diamond of the Crown of France. The king had the triangular diamond, which took two years for Sieur Pitau to perfect, set in a gold cravat pin that received additional support from a ribbon worn around the neck.
In 1749, King Louis XV had the blue diamond reset by court jeweler Andre Jacquemin. It made its way into an elaborate jeweled pendant for the Order of the Golden Fleece. The piece included 112 yellow painted diamonds and 83 red painted diamonds meant to resemble a fire-breathing dragon.
After Louis XV died, the diamond became the property of King Louis XVI, but was rarely used. In 1792, during the early stages of the French Revolution, thieves broke into the Royal Storehouse and looted most of the crown jewels. The French Blue disappeared from history, and various accounts suggest that it was disguised by being cut into two.
The Hope Diamond Worth in United Kingdom
In September of 1812, the diamond resurfaced in the United Kingdom. Various reports argue over its ownership between 1812 and 1830, saying it may have been in the possession of Caroline of Brunswick or England’s King George IV. After his death, the diamond once more disappeared, perhaps given to or stolen by his last mistress, Lady Conyngham, or perhaps liquidated to covers some of his massive personal debts. London banker, Thomas Hope, who purchased it for a seemingly paltry sum between $65,000 and $90,000, later acquired the stone.
The Diamond appeared in a published catalogue of the gem collection of Henry Philip Hope in 1839. It was set in a medallion, surrounded by smaller white diamonds, and was often worn by Louisa de la Poer Beresford, Thomas Hope’s widow, for society balls. It was during this period that the stone became officially known as the blue diamond.
Henry Philip Hope died in 1839, after which his gem collection was split up. His oldest nephew, Henry Thomas Hope, acquired eight of his most valuable gems, including the diamond. It was usually kept in a bank vault, but was occasionally put on display. It made its way to the Great Exhibition of London in 1851 and the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1855. The diamond stayed in the Hope family until 1902, when it was sold to a London jewel merchant for £29,000, which translates to approximately £2,642,000 in today’s currency – again, a very small sum for such a spectacular stone.
The Hope Diamond’s in United States: 1902 – Present
The beautiful blue diamond made its way to New York, and between 1902 and 1907, it was owned by Simon Frankel and kept in the William & Theodore safe. Frankel sold it to a Turkish diamond collector in 1908 but the next year, it was sold at auction in Paris. It was resold to Pierre Cartier in 1910. He reset the diamond and sold it to Washington Post scion Edward Beale McLeane and his wife, mining heiress and socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean in 1911. At the time, the Hope Diamond Worth is just $300,000 USD. Evalyn died in 1947, and in 1949, the diamond was sold to New York diamond merchant Harry Winston in order to settle her debts. The diamond was exhibited in his famous “Court of Jewels” tour.
In 1958, Harry Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of Natural History, where it has remained ever since. Its display and setting have changed a few times over the years, but it is still the museum’s most popular piece.
Characteristics of the Hope Diamond
Name: The Hope Diamond
Also Known As: Le Bijou Du Roi (The King’s Jewel), Le Bleu de France (The Blue of France), Tavernier Blue
Price Estimation: $200-$250 Million USD
Size: 9.104 grams
Color: Deep Blue
Cut: Antique Cushion
Carat: 45.52 Carats
Originally Belonged To: Unknown. Numerous Owners including King Louis XIV
The Hope Diamond is classified as a type IIb fancy dark grayish-blue stone that contains a strong phosphorescence of reddish-orange. When it is exposed to ultra-violet light in a darkened room then the lights are turned off, the diamond continues to glow like a hot coal. The strange phenomenon simply adds to its mystery.
Colored diamonds, especially blue ones, have electrical properties that are semi-conducting. Unlike other diamonds, blue ones are renowned for their hardness, thermal and optical properties and chemical resistance. Natural diamonds contain defects or impurities. In the Hope Diamond worth the impurity is boron, which gives it its unique color.
The Hope Diamond and others in the Aurora Collection underwent intense scrutiny by the Naval Research Laboratory’s Chemistry Division in 2005 in collaboration with NOVA Research. The objective was to identify the similarities and differences between the gems which included the Hope and Blue Heart diamonds among others. It became immediately apparent that all the diamonds studied had phosphorescent bands that centered between 500 and 660nm wavelengths. What they determined was that the phosphorescence in each gem studied could appear pink, aqua, red or orange.
Frequently Asked Questions around the Hope Diamond
Is the Hope Diamond cursed?
The diamond remained with the French royal family until it was stolen in 1792 during the French Revolution. Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette, who were beheaded, are often cited as victims of the curse. The Hope diamond is the most famous cursed diamond in the world, but it is only one of many.
Who currently owns the Hope Diamond?
The Smithsonian Institution and the People of the United States. The Smithsonian Institution, also known simply as the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and research centers administered by the government of the United States. Know complete history of ownership here
Was the Hope Diamond on the Titanic?
The Heart of the Ocean in the Titanic film isn’t a real piece of jewellery, but is hugely popular nonetheless. The jewellery is however based on a real diamond, the 45.52 carat Hope Diamond.
Is the Hope Diamond a sapphire?
The Hope diamond is not a sapphire but the largest blue diamond.
Is the Hope Diamond on display real?
Yes it is. The real Hope Diamond is part of the museum’s permanent collection and can be seen at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C, United States. In the Harry Winston Gallery, named for the New York jeweler who gifted the diamond to the museum.
What is the Hope Diamond Worth today?
The Blue Hope Diamond is a gorgeous blue stone with a fascinating history. Nowadays, this diamond weighs 45,52 carat and is worth $350 million dollars(as per Francesca Cartier in Forbes).
