The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-06
THE HOPE DIAMOND.
romantic History of the Famous and
Valuable Jewel.
London SneciaI N NJ.

London Special to New York Sun.
Inc Court of Chancery has refused Lord
francis Hope permission to sen the famous
asope diamond in order TO settle some of his
financial troubles. The eventful history of
me me stone explains why other members Of
fa a9 fanny bs,r GoJeet to parting with the
poasts OF romantic history. The stone
mas not mere blush tings but is of a
sapphire hue, while at the same time 1t
possesses. all the fire of a true diamond.
Us color is its principal claim to distinction,
Tor next to red diamond blue one is the
rarest gem known. Its weight is forty-four
In diameter than a shilling The late Mr..
hope gave 10000 for 1t, and ii would prob
ABLY cost half as much again now.
mere are very few such diamonds known
ana all there are seem TO have come from
the old Indian mines. Although the output
az kimberley now figures up to many tons
diamond has yet been yielded by the famous
African mine. The first blue diamond of
Which any record can be found was brought
traveller and dealer In precious stones. who
sold II with many other gems to Louis XIV
In 1865. This stone bears a curious and very
close relationship TO the Hope heirloom. 1t
would appear that the gem when sold TO the
French King was in the rough, and that 1t
weighed III carats. Afterward IL was cut
Gown 9. to siXty-seyen eanets. at which weight
II hgures later on in the inventory of the
French regalia, the reduction being what we
might reasonably expect after the stone had
passed through the Japidary's manipula-
tionc.
During the French revolution. when Paris
was In state of anarchy. the regalia were
seized. and the jewels were deposited in the
Garde Meuble. Among them was Taver-
nler's blue diamond. But very shortly
afterward II disappeared in mysterious
manner, and France neve- cav it again.
That blue stone was about as useless to the
man who stole 1t as was one of the flO0
notes to the thief who made free with the
property of PARIS Bank the other day
Dispose of IL he could not without instant
detection, so easy was 1t of Identification
The only thing he could do was to cut 1t
into pieces, so that no one could recognize
1t. and to recut those pieces as separate and
OF course. smaller gems.
II is supposed by experts that the Hope
diamond is the largest Of these recent pieces
Of the original Tavernier. Mr.. Streeter the
jeweler who advanced this theory some
years ago. asserts that blue diamond
came into the market In 1874. ana that COM
petent judges who examined il, and had
the opportunity of comparing it with the
Hope diamond, found that both in color and
quality ii closely correspondent with that
gem. This stone was purchased IN Geneva
at the sale OF the Duke of Brunswick's
jewels. and IL weighed about ten carats
A third blue diamond. weighing only one
carat chat is. four grains). was bought by
this little stone also matched the Hope dia-
mond in tint and quality. Hence ii is he
lieved by those best qualified TO know that
these three rare stones were originally one,
and that that one was the famous Tavernier
blue diamond which disappeared from the
French regalia so mysteriously at the time
Of Che revolution.