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The Hope Diamond
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The Curse
The Hope Diamond is probably the most famous diamond in the world.
Its fame comes not so much from its size—at 45.52 carats, it’s certainly
impressive, but the Kohinoor Diamond tips the scales at 186 carats—nor
from its brilliant blue color, which is due to traces of boron impurities. Its
fame is based on the belief that all who possess it will suffer a curse in-
f licted by the Hindu goddess Sita, who will exact revenge because the
diamond was originally the eye of an idol dedicated to her, and was stolen
from it.
Legend^1 has it that a jeweler named Tavernier stole the diamond origi-
nally, and was torn to death by wild dogs on a trip to Russia. The Hope
Diamond was owned at one time by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette,
who were beheaded during the French Revolution. The diamond’s name
comes from one of its owners, Henry Thomas Hope, whose grandson
Henry Francis Hope gambled and spent his way to bankruptcy. The
Hope (it is customary to refer to famous diamonds by name only) was even-
tually purchased by Evalyn Walsh McLean—whose riches could purchase