Diamonds are one of the richest representations of the value and wealth of a person. It is designed with the natural processes, and they often appear as the symbol of the wealthiest people, especially when it comes to royalty.
One of the most recognizable diamonds in the world is the Hope Diamond, which has an estimated worth of billion dollars. In addition to its breathtaking beauty, the diamond has a rich history that adds to its great value. In this article, let’s know how much is the hope diamond worth and more details.
Where did Hope diamond originate?
Though most of its notable history is from the past centuries, its origin reaches back to billion years, when it was formed under the pressure of the earth. After that, it was borne to the surface by volcanic eruptions, where the precious stone stayed for millions of years.
The diamond was first introduced in the seventeenth century in India when it was extracted from the Kollur mine in Golconda. After it was discovered, it was possessed by Tavernier who was a French merchant, and he brought the gemstone to Europe.
Who owned the diamond?
Several remarkable people owned Hope Diamond, starting from the day Jean Baptiste Tavernier sold it, and the diamond became popular as it changed hands from one famous owner to the other.
Hope Diamond as a Royal Heirloom:
After Tavernier, the first owner of the diamond was the King of France, Louis the Fourteenth of France, in 1668. The king reshaped the diamond and fit it with his crown jewels. After his death, the diamond passed to his son, and grandson, and finally it landed in the hands of Louis XVI, and his wife Marie Antoinette, who were beheaded during the revolution in French. After that the diamond was lost due to the plundering of the royal treasures.
However, the Hope Diamond was discovered again in the years of 1812, in the hands of an English merchant named Daniel Eliason, who sold it to King George the fourth of the United Kingdom.
Why Hope Diamond is Special?
The history of this diamond made it special and a very valuable item. Due to its possessions in various hands from the monarchy to merchants, Hope Diamond is one of the most popular gems in the world. Although it had no history after it was in the possession of Louis XIV, it had a great value as the king styled himself as the Sun King at that time.
The most visible part of the beauty of this diamond is the incredible beauty it possesses. The Hope Diamond is covered with numerous facets and a deep blue color due to the element of boron in the gemstone. This is IIb type diamond, which is the rarest in the world and have a low level of phosphoresces and nitrogen impurities. It emits a red glow under an ultraviolet ray.
Natural blue diamonds are very rare, and nothing is larger than the Hope Diamond. It has 45.52 carats, which is the biggest of all diamonds and it went through countless recuts. In the beginning, it was recorded as 112 carats.
In addition, this diamond carries a rumored history of misfortunes among the monarchs who previously possessed it. Similar to the tomb of Tutankhamun, people who were associated with the diamond faced bad luck, like the execution of Louis XVI and the deaths of the children of Evalyn McLean.
Where is this diamond today?
The Hope Diamond is kept on display at the Smithsonian Institute, and it was presented by Harry Winston. The gemstone is kept for display in the Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C. It’s locked safely and it’s only available for the visitors to admire.
The worth of Hope Diamond:
How much is the hope diamond worth? Nowadays, the diamond is kept as a precious gemstone in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. You can visit the natural history museum and check out the famous Hope Diamond as a central display surrounded by other diamonds. It’s almost impossible to measure the worth of this diamond, but the price was estimated at $200 to $250 million, but the approximate value of it is $350 million. The worth of this diamond places it in third place among the most expensive diamonds in the world. However, the Smithsonian museum considers this a priceless treasure for the United States, so it’s officially not for any condition.
Conclusion
The history of the world is filled with the accounts of plundered treasures from colonized countries, and the Hope Diamond is no exception. However, if you like to know about this diamond, you need to read this article.
