History shows that most “objects” of any value tend to cause trouble. Wars occur over land, oil, water or other items that have a specific value at a specific point in time. People fight over possessions, money and material goods as well, and one item that has a long history of controversy and material value is the diamond.Even the stone’s name comes from ancient times, when the Greeks called them “adamas” (the unconquerable). The strength and durability of a diamond was quickly recognized, and soon it was regularly seen on the leather “armor” of royalty, more as an amulet of protection than as an actual barrier against physical harm. Soon however, the beauty of diamonds for ornaments was recognized and royals began crafting elaborate crowns and ornamental jewelry.
With the coming of the modern era, diamonds began to be available to common or “everyday” people, and are now a symbol of love, wealth and glamour. Historically however there have been a few diamonds that earned themselves a reputation as bringers of bad luck, ill fortune or even disaster. Beginning in the nineteenth century popular stories of troublesome diamonds began to appear.
Of course, one of the most well-known stories of a “cursed” diamond is the famous “Hope Diamond“. Though this lovely blue stone is not the largest diamond in the world, its story rivals any epic tale or saga. Its origins are not known, but it is rumored to have originally been a piece of the legendary “Blue Tavernier Diamond” which appeared in Europe in the mid 1600s. The stone was rumored to have come from India, and was purchased by France’s King Louis XIV. He had his court jewelers cut the stone to a more “manageable” sixty eight carats, and heighten its brilliant blue-gray coloration. King Louis would not survive the French Revolution, but his lovely blue diamond did.
Though it disappeared during the turbulent years of the war, it is believed to have reappeared in the 1830s, but again as a smaller stone. It was purchased by a London banker named Henry Thomas Hope, from whom it acquired its famous name. The mystery of the stone’s background was soon overshadowed by its seeming ability to bring its owners an unending amount of bad luck. When Hope died his eldest son inherited the diamond, and soon bungled the family’s enormous fortune and was forced to sell the stone. It was purchased by Mrs. Edward McLean, a tremendously wealthy American heiress. Almost immediately after acquiring the Hope Diamond, her family fortune was lost and her only child killed in an accident. Poor Mrs. McLean would eventually commit suicide, and when her estate was auctioned, jeweler Harry Winston purchased the notorious blue gem. He immediately turned it over to the Smithsonian Institute, where it is on permanent display today.
Many believed that Winston’s actions, removing it from private ownership by a single individual and giving it collectively to the citizens of the United States, effectively ended the curse of the stone.
Some people believe that the enormous “Orloff” diamond housed in the Diamond Treasury of Russia is another infamous stone which brings bad luck. The three hundred carat, blue-green diamond also has only a legendary background, where it is believed to have been stolen from an Indian idol by a French army deserter. The deserter panicked over his crime and quickly sold the stone to an English sailor who was stationed in Madras, India.
The stone next appeared in Amsterdam, Holland where it had been purchased for Catherine the Great of Russia by her consort and lover, Grigori Orloff. This “love token” was set into the Empress’ Imperial Sceptre, and Orloff was given a lovely little palace in return. The “downside” for Orloff was that Catherine the Great never returned his love, and he lived his life alone and broken hearted in a palace given to him by his one great love.
By 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte was attempting to spread his influence throughout the world, and Moscow was under attack. As his army was entering the city, many of the great Russian treasures, including the Orloff, were being hidden in secret locations. Bonaparte was well aware of the Orloff and demanded to be taken to its hiding place - the tomb of a beloved and famous priest. Upon entering the sanctuary however, the ghost of the priest appeared to warn off the conquering army, and many memoirs of both Russian and French soldiers insist it was a scene of terror and foreboding. Needless to say the stone remained in the hands of the Russians, and Napoleon was soon defeated.
There are literally dozens of other tales of famous and infamous stones that have good or bad luck attached to their ownership. Today, a new technology is allowing people to create diamonds of their own, and whether these will bring good fortune remains to be seen. A Swiss company has created a system for converting the ashes of the dead into diamonds. While the process is still quite costly, averaging over seven thousand dollars, it is rapidly earning a reputation. Perhaps one day stories of a stone brining tremendous good luck will rise out of these unusual and unique diamonds.
With the coming of the modern era, diamonds began to be available to common or “everyday” people, and are now a symbol of love, wealth and glamour. Historically however there have been a few diamonds that earned themselves a reputation as bringers of bad luck, ill fortune or even disaster. Beginning in the nineteenth century popular stories of troublesome diamonds began to appear.
Of course, one of the most well-known stories of a “cursed” diamond is the famous “Hope Diamond“. Though this lovely blue stone is not the largest diamond in the world, its story rivals any epic tale or saga. Its origins are not known, but it is rumored to have originally been a piece of the legendary “Blue Tavernier Diamond” which appeared in Europe in the mid 1600s. The stone was rumored to have come from India, and was purchased by France’s King Louis XIV. He had his court jewelers cut the stone to a more “manageable” sixty eight carats, and heighten its brilliant blue-gray coloration. King Louis would not survive the French Revolution, but his lovely blue diamond did.
Though it disappeared during the turbulent years of the war, it is believed to have reappeared in the 1830s, but again as a smaller stone. It was purchased by a London banker named Henry Thomas Hope, from whom it acquired its famous name. The mystery of the stone’s background was soon overshadowed by its seeming ability to bring its owners an unending amount of bad luck. When Hope died his eldest son inherited the diamond, and soon bungled the family’s enormous fortune and was forced to sell the stone. It was purchased by Mrs. Edward McLean, a tremendously wealthy American heiress. Almost immediately after acquiring the Hope Diamond, her family fortune was lost and her only child killed in an accident. Poor Mrs. McLean would eventually commit suicide, and when her estate was auctioned, jeweler Harry Winston purchased the notorious blue gem. He immediately turned it over to the Smithsonian Institute, where it is on permanent display today.
Many believed that Winston’s actions, removing it from private ownership by a single individual and giving it collectively to the citizens of the United States, effectively ended the curse of the stone.
Some people believe that the enormous “Orloff” diamond housed in the Diamond Treasury of Russia is another infamous stone which brings bad luck. The three hundred carat, blue-green diamond also has only a legendary background, where it is believed to have been stolen from an Indian idol by a French army deserter. The deserter panicked over his crime and quickly sold the stone to an English sailor who was stationed in Madras, India.
The stone next appeared in Amsterdam, Holland where it had been purchased for Catherine the Great of Russia by her consort and lover, Grigori Orloff. This “love token” was set into the Empress’ Imperial Sceptre, and Orloff was given a lovely little palace in return. The “downside” for Orloff was that Catherine the Great never returned his love, and he lived his life alone and broken hearted in a palace given to him by his one great love.
By 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte was attempting to spread his influence throughout the world, and Moscow was under attack. As his army was entering the city, many of the great Russian treasures, including the Orloff, were being hidden in secret locations. Bonaparte was well aware of the Orloff and demanded to be taken to its hiding place - the tomb of a beloved and famous priest. Upon entering the sanctuary however, the ghost of the priest appeared to warn off the conquering army, and many memoirs of both Russian and French soldiers insist it was a scene of terror and foreboding. Needless to say the stone remained in the hands of the Russians, and Napoleon was soon defeated.
There are literally dozens of other tales of famous and infamous stones that have good or bad luck attached to their ownership. Today, a new technology is allowing people to create diamonds of their own, and whether these will bring good fortune remains to be seen. A Swiss company has created a system for converting the ashes of the dead into diamonds. While the process is still quite costly, averaging over seven thousand dollars, it is rapidly earning a reputation. Perhaps one day stories of a stone brining tremendous good luck will rise out of these unusual and unique diamonds.
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