The Blue/Hope Diamond

There has been recent evidence in the National Museum of Natural History in France that the Hope Diamond is the same stone worn by the Sun King, Louis XIV. The Blue Diamond originated from a huge 115.6 carat blue-tinged stone that was mined in Golconda.

After the diamond was given to Louis XV in 1749, the Blue Diamond was reworked as a centerpiece as one of the most brilliant pieces of jewelry ever made.

After Louis XVI tried to escape revolutionary France, the jewels were held in Paris until they were stolen in 1792. The diamond wasn’t seen again until 1812 with Daniel Eliason, a London diamond merchant.

It made its way into the Smithsonian in 1958. After researching historical records, especially the court testimonies involving the thieves, researchers believe that the Hope Diamond and the Blue Diamond are one in the same.

(Artificial) Diamonds are Forever!

You read it right! A team from the United States has created an improvement to synthetic diamonds; they have no limit to size!

The diamonds are created by chemical vapor deposition ( or simply CVD).  This is where carbon atoms are deposited on a surface which, in the end, produced diamond crystals.

This produces diamond growth, however, the  impurities from the gas will give the diamonds a brownish tint. The impurities can be treated by annealing, which is a high-pressure, high temperature treatment.

The team was led by Russel Hemley, from the Carnegie Institute of Washington.

Laseli la Letseng!

Try saying that 3 times in a row!

Gem Diamonds revealed the ‘Laseli la Letseng’ diamond this past Saturday in Dubai. This is the first time the public received an opportunity to view the 20^th largest rough diamond found.

The diamond, weighing in at 478 carats, was found at the Lesotho located Letseng mine in September. It was named by the government and the name translates to mean the “Light of Letseng,” mostly because of its high color and clarity.