The ‘HOPE’ Diamond
Diamond is a form of carbon where atoms are held together by covalent bonds in tetrahedral lattice. Each diamond crystal is in fact just one molecule made up of millions of covalently linked carbon atoms.
The ‘HOPE’ Diamond is perhaps the most famous or ‘infamous’ of all diamonds. It weighs 20g and was first used to form the eye of a statue of Sita who was a Hindu goddess. Although its history is varied it hardly brought ‘hope’ to its owners. The story goes that when it was stolen from the statute, the goddess was very angry and made a curse on anybody who owned it.
After being stolen, it was taken to France. Eventually, some hundreds years later, it became part of the French Crown Jewels.
(1) Marie Antionette was believed to have worn the
diamond just before she was executed.
It was then sold to various owners all whom suffered ill luck.
(2) Its English owner, Henry Hope, from whom it got
its name, became bankrupt and died in poverty.
(3) Its Greek owner was killed in a car crash.
(4) A Turkish sultan was overthrown just after he had
acquired it.
(5) American owner, Mrs Evelyn Walsh tragically lost
all of her children in various accidents.
After her death, it was given to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington where it is currently on view.
