Jewelry in History, a Famous Diamond from the French Courts to a Contemporary Museum. The Hope Diamond has had an intriguing journey through history, augmented by legend and confirmed by the beauty of cut and color it retains. It is a gem that can be said to be among the most famous pieces of jewelry in the world and has a heritage traceable at least to the 1600’s. Its story begins with a goddess and progresses through generations of owners and thieves who suffered or celebrated under the Hope Diamond’s influence.

It is told that the stone was taken from the eye of a Hindu Goddess and that its removal brought a curse upon anyone who became associated with it. The more factual history is that in 1669 a large blue triangular diamond of roughly 115 carats was included in the inventory of sale to King Louis XIV by a French merchant named Tavernier who had brought it from India. It was subsequently cut in size, to become the 67 carat stone in the King’s collection, later denominated the French Blue, and was worn by him on ceremonial occasions.

More than a hundred years later in 1792 the French Blue, still in possession of the French monarchy, was stolen. As France succumbed to the Revolution, the singular gem was lost and would resurface only in 1812, diminished in size again and bound for a new home. It is thought to have passed through the hands of the British monarchy but was then recorded in 1839 among the gem’s in the collection catalogue of the British Henry Philip Hope. By 1910 what had been the quiet prize of a 17th century expedition had passed through many hands, changing in size and setting, and emerged as a feature of intrigue and glamour in the high society circles of the new millenium.

The legend of the curse of the Hope Diamond added to its mystique as a gem of royalty and a victim of fugue and clashes of fortune. Today its aura has been tempered by its new home, at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C., but it remains uniquely beautiful in its blue-hewed crystalline structure.

*image: depiction of the Tavernier Blue, courtesy Smithsonian Natural History Museum
*image: depiction of the French Blue, courtesy Smithsonian Natural History Museum
*image: depiction of the Hope Diamond, courtesy Smithsonian Natural History Museum

Museum Store Jewelry Ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamen cufflinks Architectural Jewelry Column Griffin architectural detail, brooch Parrishs Mask and Pierrot - pendant, 16 inch chaine Two angels playing the lyre brooch

Visit the History Store for a wide selection of historical gifts and reenactment gear. Our new product lines include: Pirate Clothing and Pirate Costumes: Relive the Pirate age with our new line of Pirate Clothes. Great for Reenactment, film, movies, stage or a costume party. We now also carry Historical Scale Model Kits: Recreate your own historical dioramas with our new scale model kits.

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