Glass replica of the Hope Diamond (side view)

Marie Antoinette, who was guillotined during the French revolution, is often listed as one of the famous wearers of this diamond.  This seems unlikely, as the diamond was set in a decoration known as the Order of the Golden Fleece, attributed to Louis XV.  

In 1792, the diamond was stolen.  Twenty years later, a blue diamond thought to be the recut French Blue, appeared in England, and was purchased by Henry Hope.  Several owners followed, until, in 1911, Evelyn McLean Walsh acquired it.  Following her death in 1947, it was purchased by Harry Winston, the well-known jeweller, who presented it to the Smithsonian Institution in the USA, where it is one of the most popular exhibits.

Glass replica of the Hope Diamond

Recent research, based on models of Tavernier’s diamond, the French Blue and the Hope, has demonstrated that the Hope Diamond fits inside the French Blue, which, in turn, fits inside Tavernier’s gem.  This strengthens the theory (given the rarity of dark blue diamonds), that they are one and the same diamond, which has been recut at least twice during its history. 

Famous for its intense sapphire-blue colour, the diamond weighs 45.52 carats (1 carat = 0.2gm), and is graded as fancy dark-greyish blue.

A glass replica of the diamond is currently on display at the Great North Museum: Hancock.

Source: http://www.si.edu/Collections  (Smithsonian Institution)

Replicas of the pear-shaped Great Star of Africa, and the cushion-shaped Lesser Star of Africa, the two largest gems cut from the Cullinan Diamond.

The diamond was sent to London, and taken to Buckingham Palace, where it was shown to King Edward VII.  Members of the Asscher family of Amsterdam, who had recently cut the Excelsior Diamond, came to London to cut the Cullinan.  As the rough diamond was too large to be cut into a single gem, it was first cleaved into smaller pieces, before the cutting and polishing could commence.

After eight months of work, the cutting and polishing was complete.  The Cullinan was cut into nine large stones and 96 smaller stones.  The two largest gems, the Great Star of Africa (Cullinan I), and the Lesser Star of Africa (Cullinan II), were presented to the King.  They were set in the Royal Sceptre and the Imperial State Crown respectively.

Eventually, the other large stones became the property of the Crown. 

Cullinan III and IV, which became known as ‘Granny’s Chips’, were at first set in a crown for Queen Mary, but are now set in a brooch.  Of the other stones, three are set in brooches, and the smallest is in a ring.  They are sometimes worn by the Queen.

Replicas of the uncut Cullinan Diamond, and the nine largest stones cut from it, are on display at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens until mid May.