AR / ITEM / 00100385

Plate I

The Hope Diamond
Smithsonian Institution Archives · Public domain↗ Source

The Hope Diamond

Maker unknown

The 45.52-carat deep-blue diamond, recut from the French crown's 'French Blue', given to the Smithsonian by Harry Winston in 1958.

Date
First recorded 1668
Collection
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Record

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier brought a large blue diamond from India and met Louis XIV in December 1668; in February 1669 the king bought the stone, about 115 metric carats, for 220,000 livres. The court jeweller Sieur Pitau recut it in 1673 as the 67⅛-carat 'French Blue'. It was stolen in September 1792 during the looting of the French crown jewels. A deep-blue diamond held by the London merchant Daniel Eliason in 1812 is, on strong evidence, the recut French Blue. It later belonged to Henry Philip Hope, whose name it carries, and passed through his family. Pierre Cartier showed it to Evalyn Walsh McLean in Paris in 1910 and sold it to her and her husband in 1912 for $180,000. After her death in 1947, Harry Winston Inc. bought her jewellery from the estate in 1949. Harry Winston gave the diamond to the Smithsonian; it travelled from New York by registered mail and was presented to the National Museum of Natural History on 10 November 1958.

Medium
Blue diamond; platinum setting with 16 white pear-shaped and cushion-cut diamonds, on a chain of 45 diamonds
Dimensions
45.52 carats
Origin
India
Owner
Smithsonian Institution

In the Tapestry

Owned by · until 1669
Jean-Baptiste TavernierD
Owned by · 1669
Louis XIVD
Owned by · by 1839
Henry Philip HopeD
Associated with · 1910–1912
Pierre C. CartierD
Owned by · 1912–1947
Evalyn Walsh McLeanD
Associated with · 1958
Harry WinstonB
Owned by · 1949–1958
Harry WinstonD
Exhibited at · 1958–present
National Museum of Natural HistoryB

Provenance and history

  1. February 1669

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier to Louis XIVD

    A blue diamond of 112 3/16 old French carats (about 115 metric carats), bought for 220,000 livres.

  2. 1673

    Recut as the French Blue by Sieur PitauD

    The court jeweller reduced it to 67⅛ carats.

  3. September 1792

    Stolen with the French crown jewelsD

    Taken during a week-long looting of the crown jewels.

  4. 1812

    Recorded with the London diamond merchant Daniel EliasonD

    Described by John Francillon as a deep-blue diamond of 177 grains; strong evidence identifies it as the recut French Blue.

  5. by 1839

    In the collection of Henry Philip HopeD

    After his death in 1839 it passed, following litigation, to his nephew Henry Thomas Hope and later to Lord Francis Hope.

  6. 1912

    Sold by Pierre Cartier to Ned and Evalyn Walsh McLeanD

    Shown to Evalyn Walsh McLean at Cartier in Paris in 1910; sold for $180,000 in 1912.

  7. 1949

    Bought by Harry Winston Inc. from the McLean estateD

    Evalyn Walsh McLean died on 26 April 1947; Harry Winston Inc. bought her entire jewellery collection.

  8. 10 November 1958

    Presented to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural HistoryB

    Donated by Harry Winston and sent from New York by registered mail in a plain brown package.

Sources

  1. A

    National Postal Museum, 'Hope Diamond Package'

    Catalogue record

    ↗ View original record
  2. B

    Smithsonian Institution, 'Fifty Years Ago Today — Hope Diamond Officially Presented'

    Catalogue record

    ↗ View original record
  3. C

    Smithsonian Institution, collection record 'Hope Diamond'

    Catalogue record

    ↗ View original record
  4. D

    Smithsonian Institution, 'History of the Hope Diamond'

    Catalogue record

    ↗ View original record