For centuries, people come up with stories about the famous hope diamond that’s currently in the possession of the Smithsonian Institute. Stories that circulate around it say that it was cursed, which is the reason why its last owner, Harry Winston, donated it to rid himself of the nuisance. It’s now on display at the National Gem and Mineral Collection in the National Museum of Natural History for everyone to enjoy.

Originally, they say that the Hope Diamond was a large blue diamond which was situated in the forehead of the Hindu Goddess Sita. The legend says that those who come in possession of the diamond will die a horrible death. The person responsible for the curse was Jean Baptiste Taverrier, who, in 1642 bought the 112 3/16 carat blue diamond in India from a trader. In France, King Louis XIV bought the blue diamond and cut it twice to enhance its size and brilliance. It was officially named as the “Blue Diamond of the Crown.” It was passed over from king to son until King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette was beheaded in the French Revolution. The blue diamond was frequently stolen and recovered after that. In 1813 it reappeared in London under the possession of Daniel Elaison but they can’t determine if it’s the same one that was stolen in France years ago. King George IV bought it and was resold later to pay-off his debts. On or before 1839, Henry Philip Hope bought the diamond thus the name “Hope Diamond” was given to it. It was passed over from father to son to grandson and in 1901 was sold by Francis Hope in an auction to pay-off his gambling debts.

One famous personality who owned the blue diamond was Evalyn Walsh McLean, the wife of Pierre Cartier who loved it so much. Some say that the misfortunes bestowed on her family were attributed to the curse on the diamond; her husband went insane, her son died of a car accident and her daughter committed suicide. The diamond was sold to pay off her estate’s debt in 1949, two years after she died.

Some people still believe that the hope diamond’s curse is still alive and has caused the misfortunes of the people who own it. If we look very closely at the past, most of those who had it died a natural death and the diamond only changed hands when the last people who owns them needs to get out of debt. So far, jewelries in our possession can salvage us from unfortunate circumstances that come our way. All we need is get a good price for it to cover the expenses that we need.

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