This exquisite and stunning  45.52-carat Hope Diamond is the world’s largest deep blue diamond. Now housed at the Smithsonian this gem has a mysterious and long past.

Its believed that in 1668 King Louis XIV of France bought the Hope Diamond. The diamond was then turned over to the French government when Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI attempted to flee France during the French Revolution.

The next year it was stolen. It wasn’t until early 1812 in London that the diamond was found. Though the evidence indicated it was indeed the same stolen stone, some are still unsure.

After being passed through several owners an American heiress named Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean brought it to the US. She added its current setting which are the dazzling 16 white diamonds and the chain of 45 flawless diamonds.

Jeweler Harry Winston bought the diamond and donated it to the Smithsonian after Mrs. McLean died.  He mailed it to the Smithsonian by simply placing the priceless diamond in a plain brown paper wrapper and sending it by registered first-class mail. He said, “It’s the safest way to mail gems. I’ve sent gems all over the world that way.”

The Hope Diamond is one of the most visited museum objects in the world, today. This is one of many reasons we chose The Hope Diamond as our December Gem of the Month.