Hope

I first visited the Hope diamond, in May 2008, while I was in DC to take my diamond lab class with GIA.
I arrived at the museum at opening time and was the second person in the door, I headed strait up to the room where it is displayed.  I was the only one in the room with the diamond, well besides the security guard to was eyeing me suspiciously. The hope diamond is encased in a glass display case, that periodically  exposes the diamond to UV light which causes it to fluoresce a deep red, this is very rare.

platinum setting, surrounded by 16 white pear-shaped and cushion-cut diamonds, suspended from a chain containing forty-five diamonds

 So after drooling for quite some time, and  since people were starting to crowd me I looked at some of the other wonders of the Smithsonian.
There are many rumors and legends about the Hope diamond, I won’t go into all of them here, as there are many books and articles on it.
A few quick facts.
The Hope diamond is an antique cushion cut stone, it has 58 facets, VS1 clarity, fancy dark grayish blue in color, it’s weight is 45.52 carats!
It is the largest know deep blue diamond

2009 anniversary temporary setting

 

 

I personally can not stand the anniversary setting, I can appreciate it, but it is just not my taste

My J Peterman Company reproduction

The Titanic Movie, “Heart of The ocean” fictional diamond is based on the hope diamond story.

all alone with me!