New in: Eternal Bloom Collection
Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg for BAUNAT
BAUNAT is proud to unveil the Eternal Bloom Collection, an exclusive collaboration with Her Royal Highness Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg, Princess of Belgium.
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- Stephanie Hesters
- BAUNAT Antwerp
- Reading time:7 minutes
The famous story of the Hope Diamond
Blue diamonds are extremely rare, but you might have already heard of the most famous blue diamond of them all: The Hope Diamond. The Hope Diamond is a beautiful gemstone of 45.52 carats classed as Type IIb. This carat weight makes it the largest blue diamond ever found. The higher the carat weight, the more special and expensive the diamond becomes. Its size has also given scientists a new understanding of how diamonds are formed. The colour is described as fancy dark greyish-blue. The GIA examined the stone in 1996 and graded it a fancy deep greyish blue.
We are delighted to share the whole story with you, including the unique history that goes with the Hope Diamond.
Read summary
What's the fascinating story behind the world's most famous blue diamond?
The Hope Diamond, a spectacular 45.52-carat fancy deep greyish-blue diamond, is the largest blue diamond ever discovered and valued at approximately $350 million. This rare Type IIb diamond (part of just 0.1% of all diamonds) began its journey in India, where French merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier acquired a 112-carat uncut blue stone in 1660.
After being sold to King Louis XIV of France, who wore it as "Le Bleu de France," the diamond was stolen during the French Revolution. It eventually resurfaced in London, passed through several owners including Harry Winston, and was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958, where it remains on display today.
The diamond allegedly carries a curse, with several owners meeting unfortunate fates. It also inspired the fictional "Heart of the Ocean" in the film Titanic. For those seeking Hope Diamond-inspired jewelry, BAUNAT offers custom-designed pieces featuring blue diamonds or more affordable sapphire alternatives.
The Hope Diamond is classified as a Type IIb diamond. Barely 0.1% of all diamonds belong to this type
The origin of the Hope Diamond
Let’s dive into the origin of the Hope Diamond. In 1660, the French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier bought an uncut blue diamond in India weighing 112 carats. Remarkably, deep-blue diamonds rarely exceed a few carats in size, making the Hope Diamond the largest known diamond of its kind. This stunning gem was formed a hundred miles beneath the Earth's surface and was carried upward by a volcanic eruption more than a billion years ago.
It was probably extracted from the well-known Kollur mine there. Once back in France, Tavernier sold the diamond to the king of France, Louis XIV. The gemcutter at the French court then cuts the diamond into a beautiful blue stone weighing 67 carats, which was worn by King Louis XIV. This impressive stone was therefore nicknamed Le Bleu de France.
Le Bleu de France was set into a chain which Louis XIV wore on state occasions
In 1792, during the French Revolution, the blue diamond was stolen. It was around 20 years before the diamond resurfaced. A London diamond dealer came into possession of a beautiful blue diamond around that time. According to gemmological evidence, this was Le Bleu de France, which had been recut.
Finally, the stone came into the possession of Henry Philip Hope. The present-day name therefore derives from him, and so the stone is known as the Hope Diamond. After Hope died, the stone had several owners, including Pierre Cartier. Between 1911 and 1947, the stone was owned by the American Evalyn Walsh McLean, who had the Hope Diamond set into a stunning chain surrounded by 16 alternating pear-shaped and cushion-cut white diamonds, all resting on a chain of 45 sparkling white diamonds.
In 1988 it was confirmed that the Hope Diamond and Le Bleu de France are one and the same
The American jeweller Harry Winston bought the Hope Diamond and donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. It is still on display at the National Museum of Natural History.
The mystery of the cursed Hope Diamond
According to some legends, the Hope Diamond is supposed to carry a curse. The stone is said to have been stolen from the statue of a Hindu god, who placed a curse on it. Over the years, several from the long list of owners have died in somewhat dubious circumstances or the owners suffered an accident after buying the diamond. It is doubtful whether their accident or death really had anything to do with the Hope Diamond.
Do you fancy some jewellery with a splendid blue stone like the Blue Diamond, too? Then get one made to order.
Do you fancy some jewellery with a splendid blue stone like the Blue Diamond, too? Then get one made to order.
Inspiration for the Titanic’s ‘Heart of the Ocean’ jewel
There's a good chance you know of the Hope Diamond from another source. This diamond was in fact the inspiration for the Heart of the Ocean, a fictional jewel from the film Titanic. The Hope Diamond was clearly the inspiration for the Heart of the Ocean: they are both blue diamonds of similar size, and the history is also similar. Actress Gloria Stuart wore this beautiful replica worth $1.4 million to the Academy Awards in 1998.
How much is the Hope Diamond worth today?
It is not easy to estimate exactly how much the Hope Diamond is worth, but experts put the amount at around $350 million. It is therefore one of the most valuable diamonds on the planet. Only diamonds with even more stunning properties and even more unique history, such as the Cullinan Diamond and the Koh-i-Noor, are more valuable.
What’s the Hope Diamond’s current location?
The Hope Diamond has been kept in the gemstone collection at the National Museum of Natural History since 1958. It is still on display there today. In the more than 60 years that the Smithsonian has owned it, the Hope Diamond has been out on loan four times. For example, it was on display in the Louvre for a month, once in an exhibition in South Africa and twice in New York. The first time was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Harry Winston Inc. and the second was for maintenance.
Blue diamonds are among the most expensive precious stones, but fortunately, there is a stunning alternative: sapphires. This beautiful blue gem offers a more affordable option. At BAUNAT, you can certainly find jewels featuring blue diamonds.
Our personal service allows you to work with our experts to design jewellery exactly as you envision it. Using our specialised software, we create a 3D model online, ensuring you are intimately involved in the development process. If you're interested in designing your own jewellery with blue diamonds, consider our tailor-made service for a hope diamond-inspired engagement ring.
Our personal service allows you to work with our experts to design jewellery exactly as you envision it. Using our specialised software, we create a 3D model online, ensuring you are intimately involved in the development process. If you're interested in designing your own jewellery with blue diamonds, consider our tailor-made service for a hope diamond-inspired engagement ring.
Finally, our experts always work with the very best materials, too. We buy our diamonds and precious stones directly from the source. This means we are always assured of the best quality and are able to offer competitive pricing. Some jewellery is even 30% to 50% cheaper at BAUNAT than at a physical jeweller.
Frequently asked Questions
What is a sapphire?
A sapphire is a precious gemstone and a variety of the mineral corundum. They are commonly known for their striking blue colour, though other colour variations exist as well. A sapphire is the birthstone for the month September.
How expensive is a sapphire?
All through human history,sapphires were always especially sought after because of their unique beauty. The stones decorated the robes of nobles and the crowns of kings. Sapphires are not only divinely beautiful but also quite rare. They are often used as an alternative to ultra-expensive blue diamonds, although they are also valuable themselves. The colour and size ultimately determine what is paid for a specific sapphire.
What kinds of sapphire are there?
The most beautiful sapphires of the highest quality have a superb sky-blue colour. The blue sapphire is particularly popular with the aristocracy and royalty (see the British crown jewels!), and is often gladly set in wedding jewels as an accent colour. Hence, Kate Middelton received sapphire earrings as a wedding gift from the King of Saudi Arabia. The world's most valuable sapphire is the Blue Belle of Asia with a selling price of 17 million dollars!
Stephanie Hesters
- BAUNAT Antwerp
As the Head of Diamond Buying at BAUNAT, Stephanie has an extensive knowledge of the diamond and the evolution of diamond prices. Thanks to her broad product knowledge gained throughout her years at BAUNAT and the Diamond Foundation Course by De Beers, Stephanie advises our customers interested in the investment side of diamonds to optimize every investment. To support her skills she has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management together with her master’s in Communication.
As the Head of Diamond Buying at BAUNAT, Stephanie has an extensive knowledge of the diamond and the evolution of diamond prices. Thanks to her broad product knowledge gained throughout her years at BAUNAT and the Diamond Foundation Course by De Beers, Stephanie advises our customers interested in the investment side of diamonds to optimize every investment. To support her skills she has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management together with her master’s in Communication.
