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DebraT May 21, 2010

What are the most famous cursed diamonds in the world?

I've heard that there are a lot of famous diamonds that bear serious a fatal curses, and that have been passed down through the ages, bringing down disaster upon their owners. If this is true, where are all these cursed diamonds now? Do their curses still cause tragedies?

Answers (1 - 1 of 1)

ThomasO May 27, 2010

The three most famous cursed diamonds are the Black Orlov Diamond, the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, and the Hope Diamond. As legend has it, the Black Orlov Diamond was stolen from a Hindi shrine near Pondicherry, India, by a rebellious Hindi monk during the early 1800s, summoning an evil spirit to possess the diamond. In the 1930s and 40s, three of the diamond's owners, including two Russian princesses, reportedly leapt to their deaths under mysterious circumstances. In an effort to break the curse, the diamond was recut in the 1950s, apparently subduing the diamond's malicious forces. Diamond dealer Dennis Petimezas is the current owner, and the diamond is occasionally loaned out for exhibitions or to grace the necks of celebrities on special occasions - and actress Nicollette Sheridan donned the brilliant diamond at the 2006 Academy Awards.  As for the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, legends tend to vary. Some myths date back as far as 5000 years, though what's certain is that its origins are in India. This diamond changed hands countless times, and bad luck befell many of its owners. The cursed diamond even supposedly reached Krishna's possession - until it was stolen from him while he slept. The Koh-i-Noor Diamond made its way to Britain in the 19th century, where it was recut and mounted in a royal diamond tiara along with more than 2000 other diamonds. In 1936, the diamond was set into Queen Elizabeth's crown, and since her death it has taken up new residence in Britain's Imperial State Crown. The Hope Diamond was also supposedly snatched from the eye of a Hindu goddess, rousing evil spirits, but the legend was apparently invented in the early 20th century to increase the diamond's mystique and commercial appeal. The grayish-blue diamond was donated to the Smithsonian institute in 1958, where it still resides to this day.