The Hope Diamond is displayed without a jeweled setting. (By Pablo Martinez Monsivais -- Associated Press)
Mystery and enigma surrounds the Hope Diamond, from the royal courts of France to owners who met unfortunate ends, to the hands of Harry Winston who gave the diamond a pedestal on which to be admired at the Smithsonian.
To celebrate 50th anniversary at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C, the Hope Diamond went bare yesterday. For the first time the diamond will be displayed as a standalone gem with no setting until April.
In May 2010, Harry Winston will provide a new setting in the winning design as chosen by the public to mark the premiere of the documentary on the diamond. Embracing Hope was the design chosen by a landslide to mark the next chapter in the Hope Diamond’s journey. Over 100, 000 votes were submitted on the three proposed designs with Embracing Hope receiving 45, 000 of the votes cast.
The Hope Diamond is the largest blue diamond in the world- a rare color that results from traces of boron in the stone. Traditionally, the Hope Diamond has been displayed in a platinum setting surrounded by 16 white pear shaped and cushion cut diamonds, adorning the chain of forty five diamonds. The Hope Diamond will return to its original setting after about 6 months of display in its new attire.
The Hope Diamond has a colorful history. Formed billions of years ago, the diamond was mined in India in the 17th century and has belonged to the French crown jewels of King Louis XIV, having been captured in the French Revolution, 20 years later it surfaced in London, named after the Hope family who held the diamond in their possession for most of the 19th century. In 1958 this mysterious blue 45.52 carat diamond was donated by New York jeweler Harry Winston for display at the Smithsonian.
The Hope Diamond was long thought to have been cursed, although it remains a trophy jewel of the Smithsonian, drawing crowds to its splendor.
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