FAQs
It is believed that the Hope Diamond was initially embedded in the head of a statue of a Hindu goddess. Ever since, many of its rich owners have fallen foul of its alleged curse.
Why do they say the Hope Diamond is cursed? ›
The Hope Diamond is thought to be cursed as it was stolen from a Sita idol in India. The original thief was torn to pieces by dogs and everyone else who has been involved with the diamond met horrible deaths and bad luck.
Is the Hope Diamond considered to be cursed? ›
Over its 350-year history, the Hope Diamond has become one of the most famous cursed diamonds. After being stolen and recut, it is said to have contributed to the downfall and death of its owners. Discovered in India in 1673, it was originally a 115-carat blue diamond.
How old is the Hope Diamond? ›
The Hope Diamond was formed deep within the Earth approximately 1.1 billion years ago. Like all diamonds, it was formed when carbon atoms formed strong bonds with each other. The Hope Diamond was originally embedded in kimberlite and was later extracted and refined to form the current gem.
Who was the previous owner of the Hope Diamond? ›
In 1901 Lord Francis Hope obtained permission from the Court of Chancery and his sisters to sell the stone to help pay off his debts. It was sold to a London dealer who quickly sold it to Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York City, who retained the stone in New York until they, in turn, needed cash.
What happens if you touch the Hope Diamond? ›
According to the legend, a curse attends the owner of the Hope diamond, a curse that first befell the large, blue gem when it was plucked (i.e. stolen) from an idol in India—a curse that foretold bad luck and death not only for the owner of the diamond but for all who touched it.
What is the most controversial diamond in the world? ›
Koh-i-noor, (Persian: “mountain of light”) also spelled Kūh-e Nūr, Koh-i-nûr, and Kohinoor, one of the world's most famous diamonds, known for its size (105.6 carats) and the controversy concerning its ownership.
Did the Hope Diamond survive the Titanic? ›
This 56-carat diamond was worth up to £7.5 million. The Hope Diamond was not on the Titanic when it sank; it was owned by Washington socialite, Mrs Evelyn McLean, who didn't even set sail on the infamous ship.
Which diamond was evil? ›
Steven Universe's Pink Diamond Was the Villain of the Decade.
What happened to people who owned the Hope Diamond? ›
Following the death of Lord Hope and much litigation, the stone is passed on to Hope's nephew Henry Thomas Hope. Evalyn Walsh is born. To pay his debts, Lord Henry Thomas Hope sells the Hope Diamond to Simon Frankel, a New York jeweler, for $148,000.
1666: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a 17th-century French merchant who traded gems, allegedly stole the 115.16-carat blue diamond from a Hindu statue, where it was serving as one of the eyes. Upon discovering it was missing, the priests put a curse on whoever was in possession of the gem.
What is the most cursed diamond? ›
The Hope Diamond
Arguably the most famous and most cursed precious gemstone in history, this 45.52-carat sparkler has a long and storied past. The Hope Diamond has been blamed for a laundry list of tragedies, including but not limited to: beatings, stabbings, murder, insanity, and suicide.
How much would the Hope Diamond be worth today? ›
The Current Value Of The Hope Diamond
The largest blue diamond in the world is the famous Hope Diamond. This massive blue diamond weighs 45.52 carats and is currently valued at over \$250 million.
Are there two hope diamonds? ›
For more than a century, historians have debat- ed the existence of “sister” stones to the Hope diamond, most notably the Brunswick Blue and the Pirie diamonds. The recent discovery of a lead cast of the French Blue, the Hope's precur- sor, has provided a more accurate model of that diamond, which disappeared in 1792.
Was the Hope Diamond stolen from the Smithsonian? ›
Stolen during the French Revolution, it resurfaced in 1812 in London and was recut into its current style and named for its owner, Henry Philip Hope. Having completed replicas of the original stone and the Hope itself, Mr.
Was the diamond from the Titanic real? ›
The diamond necklace that is seen in the Titanic is not a real diamond. It is cubic zirconia set in white gold. Making this piece of movie history cost around $10.000. As you can imagine, that is not even close to the value of a 'real' Heart of the Ocean.
What is Hope Diamond weakness? ›
Hope Diamond possesses a weakness to Ice skills. When itemized through Electric Chair execution in the Velvet Room, Hope Diamond yields the Hope Diamond accessory, which increases all of the wearer's stats by three and adds the Regenerate 3 effect.
Is there a diamond bigger than the Hope Diamond? ›
At more than 187 carats, the Foxfire Diamond is more than four times bigger than the gallery's famous Hope Diamond. More than 100 million people have visited the Hope Diamond, a blue stone cut into a 45.52 carat heart-shaped diamond, which Harry Winston donated to the Smithsonian in 1958, the museum says.
How many deaths has the Hope Diamond caused? ›
Thirteen People Who Fell Victim To The Hope Diamond Curse.
What is the rarest diamond in history? ›
Topping our list of the most expensive diamonds in the world is the legendary Koh-I-Noor. Weighing in at a massive 105.6ct, the most expensive diamond in the world is oval shaped. Steeped in mystery and legend, the stone is believed to have been mined in India in the 1300s.
Red diamonds are the rarest and some of the most expensive in the world. Also known as Fancy Reds, they come in a variety of shades ranging from orange-red to brownish red. Majority of the world's red diamonds come from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia.
Which diamonds are illegal? ›
The Clean Diamond Trade Act was signed into law on July 29, 2003, and prohibits the "importation into, or exportation from, the U.S. of any rough diamond, from whatever source, unless the rough diamond has been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)." Rough diamonds, also known as conflict ...
Who owns the Heart of the Ocean? ›
It is said to originally be owned by Louis XVI and shortly after his execution in 1793, the diamond disappeared and was recut into a heart-like shape, known as "The Heart of the Ocean." Caledon Hockley purchased the diamond for his fiancée, Rose and presented it to her.
Did the Heart of the Ocean ever get found? ›
Was the Real Heart of the Ocean Ever Found? Thanks to the fact that Kate Phillips carefully guarded her precious necklace, the Heart of the Ocean never actually went missing. As such, there was no need to hunt for the real gem the way divers did in the film!
Why did Rose throw away the Heart of the Ocean? ›
Rose then throws the necklace off the Keldysh, just above the Titanic. By throwing the necklace into the Atlantic ocean, Rose finally lets go, because she is ready to make peace with Jack and the other Titanic victims; she is finally ready to move on.
Was Rose Quartz abusive to Pearl? ›
1 Love: She Changed
The Rose Quartz who mistreated Pearl and lied to the other Gems learned to be honest and respectful with Greg. Like every Gem, Pink Diamond was born to her purpose-- to be an abusive despot. Gems change, but they do so at a geologic pace.
Was Rose Quartz evil? ›
There are dozens of examples in the show that hint at the idea that Rose Quartz wasn't exactly a great role model, least of which was the revelation that she was actually Pink Diamond, one of four evil space queens whose imperial motives terraformed thousands of planets across the galaxy, but even as Steven learned ...
How did Rose Quartz get pregnant? ›
Rose shape-shifted a reproductive system in order to get pregnant and give birth to Steven.
Why does the Hope Diamond glow red? ›
The scientists learned that all blue diamonds show red and green peaks in their phosphorescence spectrum. But the relative intensity of those peaks and the rate at which they decay varies from diamond to diamond, leading to differences in the phosphorescent glow seen by the naked eye.
What is the most famous diamond? ›
#1 - The Hope Diamond
Probably the most well-known of all gems, the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond has a past as colourful as the stone itself. The stone's story as we know it begins in 1642, when a French merchant purchased it and then resold it a few years later to King Louis XIV of France.
Elizabeth Taylor was known for her many expensive jewels, most of which were given to her by her then-husband Richard Burton, but the Hope Diamond was never one of them.
Why is Black diamond cursed? ›
The diamond—originally 195 carats (39.0 g)—is said to have been stolen in the early 19th century in India. It supposedly featured as one of the eyes in a statue of the Hindu god Brahma in Pondicherry, until it was stolen by a Jesuit cleric. According to legend, this theft caused the diamond to be cursed.
What Jewel is cursed? ›
The Delhi Sapphire
The cursed Delhi Sapphire is famed to bring terrible misfortune, financial ruin and poor health to anyone who possesses it. The fable of this beautiful gem, which is actually an amethyst, originated when a British soldier stole the stone from the temple of Indra in the 1850s.
What idol was the Hope Diamond stolen from? ›
It was reputedly used to adorn the forehead (or eye) of a statue of the Hindu goddess Sita. According to the legend, it was stolen from the statue several centuries ago, and this was the start of the fabled curse, which foretold bad luck and death not only for the owner, but for all who touched it.
Why are blood diamonds illegal? ›
Since diamonds are used as a funding source, they also created opportunities for tax evasion and financial support of crime. Therefore, United Nations Security Council imposed diamond sanctions in 2000, which were then lifted in 2003.
Has there ever been a black diamond? ›
Although most black diamonds on the market today are either superheated or irradiated to an almost black color, natural black diamonds do exist, though they are extremely rare. Carbonados, sometimes called "black diamonds," are a distinct and unusual polycrystalline diamond material.
Who donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian? ›
The Hope Diamond is formally donated to the Smithsonian by Harry Winston, a New York gem merchant. The stone was acquired by Winston in 1949 from the estate of Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean, who received it from her husband, Edward B. McLean, in 1911.
Who owns the rarest diamond? ›
The most expensive diamond in the world is owned by the British Royal Crown. The Kohinoor gem currently resides at the HM Tower of London where it is displayed as the central diamond of the Queen Mother's Crown.
Does anyone own the Hope Diamond? ›
Then, it traded hands several times until it was bought in 1912 by Evalyn Walsh McLean, a Washington, D.C socialite, who owned it until her death in 1947. Harry Winston owned it for the next eleven years until he donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. Now, the gem belongs to all Americans.
What makes the Hope Diamond so rare? ›
The unique blue color of the Hope diamond is the main reason why most people believe it to be priceless. The thought behind this belief goes something like this: diamonds are almost always colorless stones which, on very rare occasions, can be found in nature to have a color; like blue, in the case of the Hope.
The Hope Diamond is steeped in history. Appearing a brilliant blue to the naked eye, under ultraviolet light it looks a fluorescent red. It is currently on display in the Smithsonian Natural History museum in Washington, USA and is protected by three inches of bullet-proof glass in the Harry Winston room.
What is the largest diamond in the Smithsonian? ›
22. The Hope Diamond, the largest of all blue diamonds, 45.52 carats, exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History. The gem is slightly lopsided, possibly because the bottom of the teardrop shape was cut away so that the original stolen jewel could not be identified.
What is the biggest diamond in the world? ›
The magnificent Cullinan Diamond – the largest diamond ever found- is incorporated into the Crown Jewels. The stone was discovered near Pretoria in modern -day South Africa in 1905, and is named after the chairman of the mining company, Thomas Cullinan.
Did Marie Antoinette own the Hope Diamond? ›
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
Lous XVI inherited the Hope Diamond, and he and his wife Marie Antoinette wore it. Both were convicted of treason and executed by guillotine, and many curse theorists believe it's because of the diamond.
How much is the heart of the ocean worth? ›
Titanic: Heart of the Ocean Necklace ($500,750,000)
At the end of the film, it is tossed into the ocean by Rose. While the studio fashioned the prop for about $9,400, the 56-carat heart-shaped blue diamond in white gold and a colorless diamond frame would have been worth more than $500 million had it been real.
Did Rose really throw the necklace in the ocean? ›
A quick flashback at the end of the movie reveals that Rose found the necklace in the pocket of her coat, which was actually Cal's, and back in the present, Rose took it out and dropped it into the ocean, over the wreck site.
Was the Titanic jewelry found? ›
A satchel of jewels found among the wreckage of Titanic during a salvage and recovery expedition near Newfoundland in 1985 might have been his. A blue sapphire ring mounted in a setting surrounded by 14 diamonds, and a gold locket were just two pieces found among the wreckage.
What diamond did Rose throw in the ocean? ›
heartless? I will examine the facts: Caledon Hockley, an assclown of the highest caliber, gifted Rose DeWitt Bukater the Heart of the Ocean, a diamond more valuable than the Hope Diamond (which is worth about $250 million in today's dollars) as a gift for their engagement.
What is the curse of the Nine of Diamonds? ›
The Curse of Scotland is a nickname used for the nine of diamonds playing card. The expression has been used at least since the early 18th century, and many putative explanations have been given for the origin of this nickname for the card.
How many people died from the Hope Diamond curse? ›
Thirteen People Who Fell Victim To The Hope Diamond Curse.
You can see the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in the Harry Winston Gallery.
What is the most famous cursed diamond? ›
The Hope Diamond
Arguably the most famous and most cursed precious gemstone in history, this 45.52-carat sparkler has a long and storied past. The Hope Diamond has been blamed for a laundry list of tragedies, including but not limited to: beatings, stabbings, murder, insanity, and suicide.
What happened to the owners of the Hope Diamond? ›
Then, it traded hands several times until it was bought in 1912 by Evalyn Walsh McLean, a Washington, D.C socialite, who owned it until her death in 1947. Harry Winston owned it for the next eleven years until he donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. Now, the gem belongs to all Americans.
Is there really a curse of the ninth? ›
There is a superstition within classical music, dating back hundreds of years, known as the curse of the ninth. The superstition states that a composer's ninth symphony is destined to be their last, with a number of composers dying either while writing their ninth, after completion, or before finishing a tenth.
Was the Hope Diamond found on the Titanic? ›
The Hope Diamond was not on the Titanic when it sank; it was owned by Washington socialite, Mrs Evelyn McLean, who didn't even set sail on the infamous ship. When she died in 1947, it was sold to pay off her debts. The precious stone has its own narrative that is worthy of a film in itself.
Is the Hope Diamond still missing? ›
In 1958, Harry Winston donated the gem to the Smithsonian Institution in New York. It is now on display in the National Museum of Natural History with other large diamonds. The diamond has gone through various settings with remarkably strong phosphorescence and beautiful violet color while on display.
What is the curse of the blue diamond? ›
1666: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a 17th-century French merchant who traded gems, allegedly stole the 115.16-carat blue diamond from a Hindu statue, where it was serving as one of the eyes. Upon discovering it was missing, the priests put a curse on whoever was in possession of the gem.
Is there a sister to the Hope Diamond? ›
For more than a century, historians have debated the existence of “sister” stones to the Hope diamond, most notably the Brunswick Blue and the Pirie diamonds. The recent discovery of a lead cast of the French Blue, the Hope's precursor, has provided a more accurate model of that diamond, which disappeared in 1792.
How much is the Hope Diamond worth today? ›
The Current Value Of The Hope Diamond
The largest blue diamond in the world is the famous Hope Diamond. This massive blue diamond weighs 45.52 carats and is currently valued at over \$250 million.