# What Diamond Was Lost? Uncovering the History and Mystery of the Hope Diamond

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/what-diamond-was-lost-uncovering-the-history-and-mystery-of-the-hope-diamond/
- Published: 2023-10-22
- Author: Nelson Ayers
- Categories: [Business & Worth](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/worth/)

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The diamond that disappeared for decades, only to reemerge shrouded in mystery, is none other than the **Hope Diamond** – one of the most famous and legendary jewels in the world. This iconic 45.52 carat blue diamond has a rich history intertwined with lore and intrigue.

In this article, we‘ll explore the origins of the Hope Diamond, key moments when it vanished, how it got its name, and why it remains one of the most recognized and coveted diamonds today.

## The Hope Diamond‘s Origins as the Stolen "Eye of Sita"

The Hope Diamond‘s history traces back to India in the 17th century. As the legend goes, French gem merchant **Jean-Baptiste Tavernier** stole the large blue diamond from the forehead (or eye) of a statue of the Hindu goddess Sita in 1668. This origination myth is one main source of the supposed "curse" on the Hope Diamond.

Originally named the **Tavernier Blue**, the diamond was an astounding 115 carats and described as being cut in a somewhat triangular shape. Tavernier managed to smuggle the diamond out of India and later sold it to King Louis XIV of France in 1668.

> "Tavernier was said to have snatched the large blue diamond from the eye of an idol of the Hindu goddess Sita" – Excerpt from The Legendary Hope Diamond

This was no small feat, as 115 carats made the Tavernier Blue one of the largest diamonds ever discovered at the time.

## Disappearing and Reappearing Over the Centuries

The Tavernier Blue was recut by court jewelers to 67 carats and named the **French Blue**. It was set in gold and worn by Louis XIV as a neck ribbon medallion for ceremonial events. After being passed down to King Louis XV, the French Blue was stolen during the infamous 1792 theft of the French Crown Jewels amidst the chaos of the French Revolution. This was one of the first times the diamond mysteriously vanished from history.

The French Blue remained lost for over 20 years before inexplicably reappearing in London in 1812. It had been cut and now weighed just 45.52 carats, giving it the now-signature blue-grey hue it is known for. How it was cut and when exactly are still uncertain.

In 1813, a London diamond dealer named **Daniel Eliason** put an advertisement in the Times of London announcing he had the French Blue for sale. In 1830, it was bought by Henry Philip Hope and eventually came into the possession of his nephew Henry Thomas Hope in 1839. The diamond‘s association with the Hope family gave rise to its current name – the Hope Diamond.

## A Life of Changing Hands

The Hope Diamond passed between various collectors over the next decades:

- After Henry Thomas Hope died, **Adrian Hope** passed the diamond to Lord Francis Pelham-Clinton Hope in 1894.
- In 1901, Lord Hope entrusted Cartier to sell the Hope Diamond.
- It was bought by **Simon Frankel**, an American jeweler, for $400,000 francs or about _$80,000_ at the time.
- After facing financial hardship, Simon Frankel sold the Hope Diamond in 1908 through Sotheby‘s in London to **Habib Bey**, a member of the Turkish royal family, for what was rumored to be _$80,000_.
- In 1910, Habib Bey put the diamond for sale in Paris but it failed to sell.

The diamond ended up with French jewelry dealer **Pierre Cartier** that year. In 1911 Cartier sold the Hope Diamond for $154,000 – over _$4 million_ in today‘s dollars – to Washington D.C. socialite **Evalyn Walsh McLean**. McLean was the last private owner of the Hope Diamond.

She possessed it until her death in 1947. Her estate later loaned and then sold the Hope Diamond to famed New York jeweler **Harry Winston** in 1949 for an estimated $1.1 million.

After owning it for a decade, Winston famously donated the legendary Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in 1958, where it remains on display to this day.

## Estimated Value of the Hope Diamond Over Time

As one of the largest and rarest blue diamonds known, the Hope Diamond has always commanded an astronomical price:

- 1668: King Louis XIV reportedly paid 1.3 million livres for the 115-carat Tavernier Blue, equal to over _$15 million_ today.
- 1791: The French Blue‘s estimated value was 1 million francs before it was stolen in 1792, or over _$10 million_ now.
- 1839: By the time Henry Philip Hope acquired it, the 45-carat diamond was likely valued at over _$1 million_ francs.
- 1901: When Cartier helped Lord Francis Hope sell it, appraisals valued the Hope Diamond at over _$125,000_ or around $4 million today.
- 1911: Pierre Cartier sold the Hope to Evalyn Walsh McLean for $154,000, equating to over _$4 million_ in present day.
- 1958: Harry Winston paid McLean‘s estate an estimated $1.1 million for the Hope Diamond in 1949, close to _$10 million_ now.
- 2010: Experts placed the Hope Diamond‘s worth at over _$200 to $250 million_ due to rising diamond prices.

Based on differing accounts, in 1912 the Hope Diamond was estimated to be insured for somewhere between $150,000 to $200,000 – or around _$5 million_ in today‘s dollars when adjusting for inflation.

| Year | Owner | Estimated Value | Value in 2022 Dollars |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1668 | King Louis XIV | $15 million | $15+ million |
| 1791 | French Crown | $10+ million | $10+ million |
| 1839 | Henry Philip Hope | $1+ million | $30+ million |
| 1901 | Lord Francis Hope | $4+ million | $125,000+ |
| 1911 | Evalyn Walsh McLean | $4+ million | $154,000 |
| 1949 | Harry Winston | $10+ million | $1.1+ million |
| 2010 | Smithsonian Museum | $200 to $250+ million | N/A – priceless |

This makes the Hope Diamond one of the most intrinsically valuable diamonds in the world.

## How the Hope Diamond Stacks Up to Other Famous Diamonds

While the Hope Diamond is renowned, it is certainly not the only historic diamond surrounded by fame and intrigue. Here‘s how it compares to some other world-renowned diamonds:

- At 530 carats, the **Great Star of Africa** is the largest cut diamond in the world and part of the British Crown Jewels. It was cut from the original 3,100+ carat Cullinan diamond.
- The **Koh-i-Noor** weighs 105 carats and came from India‘s Kollur Mine. Its name means "Mountain of Light" and it carries its own mythic backstory. It is now also set in the Crown Jewels.
- Unearthed in 2020, the **Blue Diamond** found at South Africa‘s Cullinan Mine weighs 45.27 carats – almost exactly the same as the Hope Diamond – and was valued around $25 to $65 million.
- The flawless **Oppenheimer Diamond** took its name from owner Philip Oppenheimer and weighs 101.29 carats. It sold in 2017 for over $50 million.

While the Hope Diamond is smaller than some of these other famed diamonds, its rare deep blue hue coupled with its storied past make it one of the most valuable and culturally significant diamonds to ever be discovered.

## The Fictional Heart of the Ocean in Titanic

When the blockbuster film _Titanic_ was released in 1997, it featured a dazzling blue diamond necklace called the **Heart of the Ocean** worn by Rose (Kate Winslet). This necklace was actually inspired by the real-life legends surrounding the Hope Diamond.

- The Heart of the Ocean was a fictional 56-carat blue diamond set dramatically in platinum on a chain.
- If it had been an actual 56-carat diamond, it would have been worth well over _$500 million_ by today‘s prices thanks to its extreme rarity and size.
- The Heart of the Ocean was lost when Rose dropped it into the sea at the end of the film. James Cameron incorporated the famous stone‘s mysterious history and sinking of the Titanic into the Heart of the Ocean‘s fictional story.

While completely imaginary, the Heart of the Ocean was heavily influenced by the aura of mystery and curse legends that have swirled around the Hope Diamond for over two centuries.

## The Hope Diamond‘s Legacy

Given its age, mystique, and legendary backstory, the Hope Diamond remains priceless and irreplaceable. As Smithsonian Curator Dr. Jeffrey Post commented:

> “It’s a touchstone for the American public and for museum visitors. It’s a rare and wonderful blue diamond that has this long history…that I think creates a special place for it in the public imagination."

Since being donated to the Smithsonian in 1958, the Hope Diamond has become one of the most popular diamonds – and arguably artifacts – on display anywhere in the world. Over 40 million people have flocked to the National Museum of Natural History to glimpse the Hope‘s rare blue radiance and feel its storied history come alive.

While we may never uncover all the mysteries behind this most fabled of diamonds, the magic and legend of the Hope Diamond live on for all to experience. Its story intertwines royalty and thieves, kings and collectors, fortunes gained and lost – the stuff legends are made of.

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Source: [What Diamond Was Lost? Uncovering the History and Mystery of the Hope Diamond](https://33rdsquare.com/what-diamond-was-lost-uncovering-the-history-and-mystery-of-the-hope-diamond/)