In this authoritative history of the Hope Diamond (also known as the French Blue), Kurin describes how the 112–carat deep blue diamond came into the hands of Louis XIV through diamond trader ...

Prologue -- Gift of the nation -- Legend delivered -- The East -- Tavernier's quest -- Golconda's wealth -- Cosmic gem -- The West -- The French blue -- Insignia of the golden fleece -- Stolen crown ...

Where it was found: It was long believed that the diamond was extracted from the Kollur Mine in Guntur, India. However, new evidence has revealed that it, along with other Golconda diamonds, may have ...

From the legendary Hope Diamond to a rainbow of colorful gemstones, a multigenerational bond between the Winston family and the Smithsonian transformed the museum’s world-renowned gem collection Emma ...

There’s a certain allure surrounding diamonds lost to history, if not only for their beauty and value, for the mystery and intrigue their disappearance stirred up, which is exactly what happened with ...

From brilliant blues to fiery reds, discover how nature crafts diamonds in every color, and why some shades are rarer than the rest Emma Saaty Selections from the Winston Fancy Color Diamond ...

The Hope diamond, a flawless 45-plus gem of rare steel-blue color, was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 by New York City jeweler Harry Winston, and is the centerpiece of the Hall of Gems ...

While you’ve been binge-watching Netflix and peering anxiously at your sourdough, John Hatleberg has been working on replicas of the Hope Diamond and its earlier incarnations for the Smithsonian. By ...

The Hope Diamond is a blue gem that’s gorgeous on its own, but that's not what makes it special. It also comes with a ...

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