There is a legendary and mysterious story hidden behind this enormous magnificent stone. But despite its illustrious history and beauty some even claim it to be a bearer of misfortune and tragedy.
Do you want to know the story?
The Hope Diamond is currently on show at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington. But before becoming a museum piece, the Hope Diamond adorned great, majestic necks, and its history goes back in India, the cradle of the oldest diamonds.
Legend has it that it was stolen from the eye of a statue to a Hindu deity, and speculating about the possibilities – were they honest or not – it ended up in the hands of Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a French trader who occasionally visited India. In fact, it is believed that it was part of the Tavernier blue diamond.
Anyway, it was Louis XIV who eventually bought the magnificent Hope Diamond, but in order for it to acquire the brilliance he craved, it had to be cut. It soon became part of the crown jewels as a display of ostentation on the part of Marie Antoinette, to show that Louis XIV could buy a diamond of such splendour. But it didn’t last long in their hands as it was stolen during the French Revolution. From then on the misfortunes began to be seen as more than mere coincidences, and thus a false legend about it being cursed was established.
In 1824 it ended up in the hands of the English banker Henry Philip Hope, hence its name. After inheriting the diamond, Hope’s son lost his fortune. And before long it passed into the hands of its last owners, the Cartier brothers, in the early twentieth century. They used the stories about the Hope Diamond to increase its price and then sold it to Evalyn Walsh McLean.
This American millionaire had a miserable life when he decided to buy a diamond associated with such misfortune, so unfortunately his later, and even more unfortunate life grew and exacerbated still more myths about the diamond: his son died, the family broke up and the millionaire Mrs. McLean lost her money and committed suicide. Finally when Harry Winston, a diamond dealer, decided to buy a diamond like the Hope, nobody wanted to know anything about it, because of all the misfortunes and deaths attributed to its curse.
But it is still curious to know that since it has been in the Smithsonian, it is one of the most visited diamonds in the museum.
In addition, and we are sure this sounds familiar because, inspired by the film Titanic, Kate Winslet appeared on the big screen in Heart of the Ocean wearing it.
But don’t be afraid! They are nothing more than suppositions, stories and myths that, who knows, are surely a long way from being confirmed. But what if you could create a story around your diamond? Each piece has its value, and you yourself can be the bearer of, and be the main protagonist in this story. So now you know, if you want to buy a diamond and want to feel that it is a unique piece, that stays in the memory and forms a part of your life and your, LeBox has what you’re looking for.