The Mystery of the Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond , weighing 45.52 carats, is one of the most famous blue diamonds in the world, thanks to its unique history and dazzling color. Its origins date back to the Golconda mines in India, where it is believed to have been discovered in the mid-1600s.
Acquired by French merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier , the Hope Diamond was sold to Louis XIV in 1668. The Sun King had the diamond recut to enhance its brilliance and used it to adorn his ceremonial crown. The diamond was later stolen in 1792, at the start of the French Revolution.
After resurfacing in London in the early 19th century, the diamond was sold to the wealthy Hope family , who owned it for several decades before it was purchased in 1911 by Evalyn Walsh McLean, a wealthy American heiress.
It was eventually donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC in 1958, where it remains today. The diamond attracts the attention of 6 million visitors annually thanks to its color and legendary history.
