The beautiful light reflecting stone, known for its shine, diamonds are as old as 3.3 billion years, but it still shines like young forever. Anybody who adorns a diamond certainly gets the feeling of glam and shine forever. There is a famous saying, Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. I certainly disagree with it, because diamonds are friends with everyone. DIAMONDS, an element, which only broadens the smile on anybody and everybody’s face. The word Diamond is derived from the Greek word “ADAMAS” translating to unconquerable, rightly symbolizes brilliance, love, emotions, commitments.

Every diamond tells its own story, but today in this blog we’ll find out the story of our beloved Diamond “Koh-i-Noor” and “Hope Diamond”. Both of these stones are valued in hundreds of millions. Not only their value, but the story and the beauty of each of these diamonds make them the rarest of rare diamonds found on the earth.

D color, oval brilliant-cut diamond- THE KOH-I-NOOR

India, the 7th largest country on the earth with 1.3 billion people of different colors, cultures, castes staying together, is obsessed with the diamond “Koh-i-Noor”. The word “Koh-i-Noor” brings out the feeling of being a proud Indian in us. That’s the kind of feeling and emotion attached to the particular diamond “Koh-i-Noor”, weighing 105.6 carat or 21.12 grams.

Ownership and cut of Koh-I-Noor

The beautiful D-color oval stone was mined in the land of INDIA around the 1300s, from the kollur mine, during the Kakatiya Dynasty. Koh-i-Noor didn’t rest in one place, it changed hands, from Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji. This was a part of the Mughal peacock throne. Koh-i-Noor depicted pride, honor, and uniqueness. The diamond went to the British after the annexation of Punjab in the year 1849, from British ally Gulab Singh, the first Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, who possessed the stone.

As it was found in India, in the era of Mughal, it was cut like all other diamonds of the same era. However, when it was displayed at the great exhibition of London, it failed to impress viewers, as it was lackluster. To establish nature it was ordered by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, to re-cut the diamond as an oval brilliant by Coster Diamonds (oldest and still operating diamond polishing factory in Amsterdam).

KOH-I-NOOR’s way to the crown of Queen Elizabeth

After so much hustle with the stone, the question arises, how did it reach the crown of Queen Elizabeth? Though the stone was magnificent, one couldn’t take eyes off it, but it earned a reputation of bringing bad luck to any man who wore it. So, to mitigate the curse, the stone was worn by only the female members of the family.

First worn as a brooch by Victoria. After her demise in 1901, it was set in the Crown of Queen Alexandra, later transferred to Crown of Queen marry in 1911 and finally to the crown Elizabeth.
The government of India has claimed the ownership of the stone and demanded its return, however, the British government insisted that the gem was obtained legally under the terms of the Last treaty of Lahore and denied to return it. Currently, it is showcased in the jewel House of Tower of London.

Another wonder from the kollur mine- HOPE DIAMOND

Beautiful fancy greyish blue color diamond weighing 45.52 carats, with antique cushion cut is one of the most famous jewels across the world. The magnificent blue diamond got its name from its owner Henry Phillip Hope, who bought the diamond in 1839. Post his death, the diamond was passed on to his nephew and ultimately to the nephew’s grandson Lord Francis Hope in 1901.

Story behind the name “HOPE”

However, the most interesting part of the stone is not how it got the name “Hope”, but how the name is exactly opposite to the consequences faced by the owners of this Diamond. It is said to be a Cursed diamond, anybody who owned the diamond is said to have faced grisly death, family disputes, or hapless fate.

King Louis XVI bought the diamond from a French merchant traveler, Jean Baptiste with several other diamonds, was beheaded. The person, who stole the diamond from the French Royal Treasury, in the year 1791, is believed to have faced the most horrific death.

Cartier had the diamond reset and took it to the US and left it with Mrs. Mclean, the last known owner of the “HOPE DIAMOND”. The diamond was mounted as a headpiece on a three-tier circlet of white diamonds. Later it went on to become a beautiful pendant and stayed with Mrs. Mclean until she died in 1947.

Now the stone is exhibited in one of the most renowned museums, named Smithsonian Institution spreading its beauty all across.

Diamonds, KOH-I-NOOR, and HOPE DIAMOND may have had a different fate. But their origin is India, a country unique in its way. Similarly are these two incredible stones, which always make their way to the list of most magnificent and high-value jewels.

So is the brand La marque-M, it has its roots in India, a land which is home to the two most beautiful diamonds seen on the earth. La marque-M takes cues from this diamond to make unique and high-quality handcrafted jewels, which can be passed on to generations. Anyone owning a jewel of La marque-M will shine forever, just like the shine of Koh-I-Noor.