The Hope Diamond - 50 Years at the Smithsonian

Called the Tavernier Diamond, this 112+ carat deep blue gem made up part of a package that consisted of a baker's-dozen of large gems purchased in 1668 by Louis XIV, King of France.

Mysterious Diamond

The mystery starts with just how Jean Baptist Tavernier acquired the diamond. He made six voyages from 1640 to 1667 and while visiting India either purchased the gemstone from the Kollur Mine or stole it from the eye of an idol, the Goddess Sita, whose temple sat along the Coleroon River. A temple priest is said to have placed a curse on anyone that possessed the missing gemstone.

Tavernier drew sketches of this pre-cursor to the Hope diamond and in his written description used the phrase, "un beau violet" (a beautiful violet) to describe the color of this diamond with such a deep, rich hue.

Somewhere in the mid 1670's it was Sieur Pitau, court jeweler, that reduced the 112 carat Tavernier Diamond to barely more than half its size, 67+ carats, to create the gem that became known as the 'French Blue'. The first piece of jewellery this historic precious stone adorned was a cravat pin for the King of France.

Mystery Solved

The jeweler Andre Jacquemin created a new piece of ceremonial jewelry in 1749 in which to set the French Blue for the next king, Louis XV. This deep blue diamond became the focal point of a medal for the 'Order of the Golden Fleece'. Slightly more than 40 years later the French Royal Treasury was looted and the 'French Blue' diamond disappeared forever.

Although the French Blue was never again seen it has been determined by the Smithsonian Institute in 2005, using techniques of modern science and the discovery of a cast of the original French Blue, that the Hope diamond is the 45.52 carat remains of that 'lost' diamond.

Diamond for Sale

This newly cut gem is reputed to have been acquired by England's King George IV through private channels and then sold upon his death to clear his debts, once again through private channels.

This diamond now made its way into the collection of a rich banking family named Hope. It has carried that name ever since even though its most flamboyant and memorable owners were yet to come.

By way of inheritance, sale for debt and other means it came into the possession of the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul Hamid II. The Sultan gave it as a bauble to his wife Subaya, who was wearing it at a Turkish court function when she met Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean, rich socialite with a penchant for jewelry.

The Hope diamond, this remnant of the idols eye, had passed through the hands of yet more owners by the time it was purchased by the famous jeweler, Pierre Cartier, in 1910.

Cartier was intent on moving this expensive item off of his inventory so he approached Evalyn McLean, who had mentioned seeing the gem gracing the throat of the Sultans wife to her jeweler P. Cartier.

Pierre Cartier, master salesman, opened with the dramatic news of the death of that beautiful lady during the 'Turkish Rebellion' and continued on with stories of the mysterious Eye of the idol of the goddess Sita and the curse of misery and death that followed it over the centuries.

Not the usual sales pitch, but Cartier new that Mrs. McLean boasted of getting good luck from things that brought bad luck to others. Cartier had a new setting made for the gem and the deal was finalized in 1911, starting the public life of the Hope diamond.

From Idol Eye to Public Eye

The Hope diamond toured the social scene of Washington, D.C. for the next 36 years around the neck of Evalyn McLean. The Washington Post columnist Sarah Booth Conroy pointed out that Evalyn wore the diamond everywhere, each becoming so associated with the other that the gem became part of the theme for her personal show, as Mrs. McLean clearly states in her autobiography;

"It's only when the thing I buy creates a show for those around me that I get my money's worth."

The Hope diamond continued its public life after Mrs. McLean passed on when it was once again sold to clear up personal debt. Harry Winston, Inc. took this fabled gem on the road, for the next ten years, as the crowning addition to their 'Court of Jewels' exhibit.

It was during this period that the final cutting of this historic blue diamond took place when the bottom facet was adjusted to increase the brilliance of the gem.

It was November 10, 1958 that Harry Winston donated the Hope diamond to the American public by sending it in a plain brown wrapper by U.S. Mail to the Smithsonian Institute where it became specimen #217868.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History the Hope diamond will be on display in all its glory and without a setting. The Harry Winston jewelry firm is creating a new setting for the Hope diamond which they call "Embracing Hope" and when ready the two will become part of the exhibit.

The Hope Diamond

And what of the 'Curse'? When tragedy in her life was pointed to as an example of the legendary curse Evalyn McLean replied,

"What tragedies have befallen me might have occurred had I never seen or touched the Hope Diamond. My observations have persuaded me that tragedies, for anyone who lives, are not escapable."

If anyone knew the answer to the curse, it would be the woman who adorned herself for so many years with the Eye of the Idol, the Hope diamond.