Some of the most famous jewels in the world contain mysterious and even deadly pasts. When several owners of the same gemstone experience terrible tragedies, would you classify their misfortunes as coincidental events? Do you believe that baubles can be cursed? Read about these infamous jewels to decide for yourself:
Hope Diamond
Perhaps the most famous diamond in the world, the Hope Diamond is believed to be one of the most cursed jewels of all time. Legend has it that the diamond was stolen from a Hindu temple, and all of the owners have experienced great personal tragedies. In fact, many of them died gruesome deaths, including:
- Marie de Antoinette and King Louis XVI- Beheaded
- Jacques Colet- Suicide
- Simon Cantharides- Died in a grisly carriage crash with his entire family
- Surbaya- Stabbed to death by her lover, who gave her the diamond
In 1911, Mrs. Evalyn McLean purchased the Hope Diamond, but she believed she could reverse the curse. She even threw “finding the Hope” parties where her guests would go on scavenger hunts throughout her home to find the necklace. However, McLean’s son died in a car crash, her daughter died of an overdose and her husband left her for another woman before dying alone in a sanitarium. It seems that no one escapes a terrible fate when they purchase the Hope Diamond.
Koh-i-Noor Diamond
Weighing over 186 carats, this gigantic diamond has a checkered history. Hindu, Mongolian, Afghan, Sikh and Persian rulers have fought bloody battles to retain possession of this bad boy. Hindu folklore states that
“He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God or woman can wear it with impunity.”
In 1850, the diamond was gifted to the British royal family, and the diamond is set into the crown of Queen Elizabeth. You can find this crown on display in the Tower of London as part of the crown jewel collection.People believe that Queen Elizabeth is safe from the destructive powers of the diamond because she is a woman.
The Delhi Purple Sapphire
In 1932, curator of the Natural History Museum in London, Peter Tandy, discovered this gem, which was sealed in several different boxes and surrounded by protective charms. Inside one of the boxes was a warning:
“Whoever shall open it, shall first read out this warning, and then do as he pleases with the jewel. My advice to him or her is to cast it into the sea.”
Some believe this jewel was stolen from the Temple of India in Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Colonel W. Ferris brought this jewel to England and lost his entire fortune. When his son inherited the bauble, he too experienced financial ruin.
When writer Edward Heron-Allen bought the stone, he experienced nothing but bad luck and gave the jewel away to a singer who permanently lost her voice following the acquisition. Heron-Allen finally locked the jewel away in a bank vault and it was donated to the museum three years after his death. Heron-Allen refused to let his daughter possess or even touch the stone, which was a smart move.
At H. Moradi fine jewelers, we buy and sell a variety of modern and antique jewels, and luckily, they don’t bring their owners misfortune. In fact, if you decide to sell your jewels to us, you’ll be fairly compensated. If you are interested in selling your jewels, contact our diamond buyers in La Jolla today.