description Hope Diamond Overview
The Hope Diamond is a 45.52-carat, cushion-cut blue diamond whose recorded history extends from India to France, Britain, and the United States. Its deep blue appearance results from trace amounts of boron, and it displays red phosphorescence after exposure to ultraviolet light. The gem is also associated with popular stories of a curse, although these are legend rather than scientific history, and it is displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
insights Ranking position
Hope Diamond ranks #112 of 235 in the Artifact ranking, behind Rubik's Cube, ahead of Sony PlayStation 2.
help Hope Diamond FAQ
Why does the Hope Diamond look blue?
Trace amounts of boron in its crystal structure absorb parts of visible light, producing the diamond's deep blue color. The 45.52-carat stone can also emit a reddish glow after ultraviolet exposure.
Is the Hope Diamond the same stone as the French Blue?
It is generally understood to have been cut from the larger French Blue diamond once owned by the French Crown. The French Blue disappeared during the 1792 theft of the Crown Jewels, and the smaller Hope Diamond later surfaced in Britain.
Did Harry Winston really mail the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian?
Yes. Jeweler Harry Winston donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 and sent it to Washington by registered United States mail.
Is the Hope Diamond curse historically proven?
No evidence demonstrates that the diamond causes misfortune. The curse story grew through publicity, embellished ownership tales, and the genuine tragedies associated with some people in its long history.
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