Hope Diamond
Hope Diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. The value of 45,52 carat deep blue diamond is estimated to 300 to 350 million US dollars. Hope Diamond is housed and displayed in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. and is famous for supposedly being cursed.
Hope Diamond originates from the Kollur Mine in India, while the legend says that the diamond was stolen from the eye of a sculpture of the Hindu goddess Sita. The first reference of the diamond which could be a precursor of the Blue Hope dates from the 17th century when French traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier brought to Europe crudely cut and triangular shaped gemstone and sold it to Louis XIV of France. However, it is not known when and where Tavenier obtained the diamond. Louis XIV ordered the diamond to be recut and to be mounted in a neck ribbon he wore on special occasions.
The diamond, at the time called Blue Diamond of the Crown or simply the French Blue
disappeared during the French Revolution. It is not known what happened to the
French Blue but many believe that a blue diamond of the same size, shape and color
as the Hope Diamond that was in possession of London diamond merchant Daniel Eliason
in 1812 has been cut from the French Blue. Either way, the history of the Hope
Diamond becomes more clear thereafter. Before the diamond came in possession of
Smithsonian Institution it changed several owners, while meanwhile also occurred
stories of its cursed origin.