Riding on the coat tails of last week's jewel heist episode, I'm back this week with the intriguing history of the Hope Diamond. The story of the Hope Diamond is convoluted. It changed hands many times, stolen on several occasions and was gradually cut down from 112 carats to just 45 and a half today. Known for its rich blue color and red phosphorescence, the Hope Diamond is extremely rare and highly coveted. But, a big part of the reason the Hope Diamond is so well known is not because it’s pretty and sparkly. It’s because it has a rather dark past. In fact, when you follow the story of the Hope Diamond back through its many owners, you may begin to notice a trail of destruction and tragedy left in its wake. For many, the tragic demise of many of the diamond’s former owners is even proof of a curse. This infamy is a big part of what makes the Hope Diamond the most famous diamond in the world with an estimated value of between 200 and 350 million dollars. But, is any of it true? Or is it all a publicity stunt? Let’s fix that.
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Sources:
- So Supernatural "The Curse of the Hope Diamond"
- Wikipedia "Hope Diamond"
- Wikipedia "Pierre C. Cartier"
- Smithsonian "History of the Hope Diamond"
- Chateau du Versailles "Louis XIII and Versailles"
- National Institute of Demographics "Life Expectancy in France"
- Wikipedia "Edward Beale McLean"
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