The Blues Hope Diamond, a rare blue diamond weighing 45.52 carats, is considered one of the most famous diamonds in the world.
It is commonly believed that the Blue Hope diamond was once part of the Tavernier Diamond, a famous blue diamond weighing 112 carats, which was named after the French trader who brought it from India to Europe in 1642.
After its arrival in Europe, the Tavernier Diamond was polished into a 65.50 carat stone in order to enhance its brilliance.
The rare diamond was subsequently sold to the King of France, Louis the XIV. During the French Revolution in 1789, the diamond was stolen and a smaller diamond of similar color was sold to the British banker Henry Phillip Hope in 1830, giving the diamond its name.
As is the case with other rare diamonds of this size, stories about a curse connected to the blue Hope Diamond were rampant. In 1911, the diamond was sold to the widow of Edward McLean, founder of the Washington Post.
After her death, the blue Hope Diamond was sold in 1949 to the renowned diamond merchant, Harry Winston. He subsequently presented it to the Smithsonian Museum in 1958, where it is on display to this very day.
