About the Hope Diamond
Louis had the diamond recut in 1673, and the end result was a 67-1/8 carat gemstone that became known as the Blue Diamond of the Crown.
Set into gold, the King sometimes wore the diamond suspended from a ribbon. One hundred years later, the court's jeweler reset the stone for King Louis XV, and in 1791 Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette tried to flee France with the blue diamond and other royal jewels. The jewels were returned to the government until 1792, when the blue diamond disappeared after a week-long looting spree in the city.
The diamond's next stop was more than more than likely England, where a very similar gem was documented to be in the possession of a diamond merchant in 1812. King George IV of England became the next owner, but it's thought that the diamond changed hands again to pay the king's debts when he died in 1830.
The diamond's new owner was Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, but it was soon sold once again to settle debts.
Two French owners followed, and in 1909 two more owners took possession of the gem -- the last was Pierre Cartier.
Mrs. McLean owned the Hope Diamond until her death in 1947. Harry Winston Inc. purchased her entire collection of jewelry two years later. The Hope Diamond wasn't Mrs. McLean's only massive gemstone -- the 94.8-carat Star of the East diamond, 15-carat Star of the South diamond, a 9-carat green diamond, and 31-carat McLean diamond were also included.
The diamond's carat weight has been recalculated over the years, tagged first at 44.5 carats. In 1974 the diamond was removed from its setting and found to weigh 45.52 carats. The diamoond was graded by team members of the GIA in 1988. Their notes:
Don't miss page 2 if you'd like a glimpse of a new setting created for the Hope Diamond.
The Hope Diamond's new, but temporary, setting is called Embracing Hope, and was designed by Harry Winston Inc. to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company's donation of the gem to the Smithsonian Institution. Over 100,000 people voted for the new design in an online competition.
The setting took eight months to create.
Evalyn Walsh McLean was born to an immigrant miner and his wife who became the multimillionaire owners of one of America's largest gold mines. She married Edward McLean, heir to a publishing empire.
Mrs. McClean was friends with many powerful politicians of her time, and became a world traveler. The Walsh family's Washington D.C. home is now the Indonesian Embassy.
A Quick History of the Hope Diamond
In the 17th Century, a French merchant named Jean Babtiste Tavernier bought a 112+ carat triangular shaped violet blue diamond that was probably found in India's Kollur mine. Later, he sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France, along with over a dozen other diamonds of various sizes.Louis had the diamond recut in 1673, and the end result was a 67-1/8 carat gemstone that became known as the Blue Diamond of the Crown.
Set into gold, the King sometimes wore the diamond suspended from a ribbon. One hundred years later, the court's jeweler reset the stone for King Louis XV, and in 1791 Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette tried to flee France with the blue diamond and other royal jewels. The jewels were returned to the government until 1792, when the blue diamond disappeared after a week-long looting spree in the city.
The diamond's next stop was more than more than likely England, where a very similar gem was documented to be in the possession of a diamond merchant in 1812. King George IV of England became the next owner, but it's thought that the diamond changed hands again to pay the king's debts when he died in 1830.
The Hope Family Buys the Blue Diamond
In 1839, the diamond was listed within the collection of Henry Philip Hope, and it is his family's last name the Hope Diamond still carries. After Hope's death, the diamond passed to two more generations of his family, but was eventually sold to pay debts.The diamond's new owner was Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, but it was soon sold once again to settle debts.
Two French owners followed, and in 1909 two more owners took possession of the gem -- the last was Pierre Cartier.
Evalyn Walsh McLean's Ownership
Mining heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean purchased the diamond from Cartier, but only after he changed its setting, mounting the gem and a batch of white diamonds into a three-tiered headpiece. A few years later, McLean had the diamond reset again, transforming it into the necklace shown on this page. Sixteen white pear shaped and cushion cut diamonds surround the blue stone, and a bail is soldered to the pendant, giving McLean a spot to attach additional diamonds. The chain is set with 45 white diamonds (see page 3 for a photo of McClean wearing the diamond).Mrs. McLean owned the Hope Diamond until her death in 1947. Harry Winston Inc. purchased her entire collection of jewelry two years later. The Hope Diamond wasn't Mrs. McLean's only massive gemstone -- the 94.8-carat Star of the East diamond, 15-carat Star of the South diamond, a 9-carat green diamond, and 31-carat McLean diamond were also included.
The Hope Diamond on Display
Harry Winston exhibited the Hope Diamond at many events during the next ten years. In 1958, it was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, where it remains today. The diamond has only left the Smithsonian four times since the museum took possession of -- it traveled to the Louvre in Paris, to a 1965 Easter Show in South Africa, to Harry Winston's 50th anniversary display in 1984 and again to Winston in 1996 for cleaning and restoration.The diamond's carat weight has been recalculated over the years, tagged first at 44.5 carats. In 1974 the diamond was removed from its setting and found to weigh 45.52 carats. The diamoond was graded by team members of the GIA in 1988. Their notes:
- the diamond shows some wear
- it is very phosphorescent
- white graining affects its clarity
- its color is dark grayish-blue (another gemologist determined that the diamond is slightly violet in color, something that can only be seen by a machine
Don't miss page 2 if you'd like a glimpse of a new setting created for the Hope Diamond.
The Hope Diamond's new, but temporary, setting is called Embracing Hope, and was designed by Harry Winston Inc. to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company's donation of the gem to the Smithsonian Institution. Over 100,000 people voted for the new design in an online competition.
The setting took eight months to create.
Evalyn Walsh McLean was born to an immigrant miner and his wife who became the multimillionaire owners of one of America's largest gold mines. She married Edward McLean, heir to a publishing empire.
Mrs. McClean was friends with many powerful politicians of her time, and became a world traveler. The Walsh family's Washington D.C. home is now the Indonesian Embassy.