by: Karl Needan
The Hope Diamond's Legendary Power
Evalyn Walsh MacLean was the last private owner of the Hope Diamond.
She died in 1947 at the age of 60, and she left behind one of the most beautiful and well-known pieces of jewelry known to man. This diamond had a tragic history that appealed to the public and made headlines for many years.
It was a massive diamond of incredible beauty and unimaginable value, but today is like any other old lady, leading a rather uneventful existence.
Ms. MacLean's staff were unsure about how to deal with the Hope Diamond after she died, since the diamond had such a remarkable history and a superb value. They turned to
a friend of Ms. MacLean's, Frank Murphy, who they thought would give them the best advice. This Mr. Murphy, in addition to being a long-time friend of the MacLeans, was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Murphy very quickly secured the jewels in the MacLean collection as soon as he came to Ms. MacClean's house the night she died. He immediately left by cab, but since he couldn't think of a safe place to put the the diamond at twelve o'clock at night, he decided to ride around in the cab until the banks opened in the morning.
Murphy approached a bank officer at the Riggs National Bank that morning and requested that the entire collection be deposited.
When he gave bank
officer the inventory of what was in the sack,
he didn't believe
the Hope Diamond was one of the items. So he asked for proof that it was the Hope Diamond and when he saw for himself, he realized it had to be. In addition, the fact that a judge of the United States Supreme Court was the courier of this parcel,
that he had just picked it up at midnight from the MacClean mansion, he became convinced that it most certainly must be the famous Hope Diamond.
Finally accepting the responsibility of securing such a gem, the bankers agreed to store the diamond, which was soon procured by Murphy, himself, in a sealed bid to purchase it, since no-one else wanted to take it into their possession.
There it sat for several years, until he decided to donate it to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
How did he transport it to its new home? By placing it in a regular mailing package with a number of other gems which were of low quality and sending it by way of the U.S. Postal Service.
The beautiful Hope Diamond rests in its case of velvet at the Smithsonian to this day.
Any tourist who strolls into the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. can have a glimpse of the most beautiful diamond in the world, which seems an ignoble ending for a gem whose history is steeped in greed, corruption, tragedy and insanity. Even Ms. MacClean died an untimely death at only 60 years of age.
The mail carrier who was responsible for its delivery
was in two separate car accidents, both resulting in serious injury. The stone had its final revenge.
About The Author
Karl Needan runs the website Flava Diamond, inc. which a site dedicated to diamond enthusiasts and contains all the very latest news and views diamond related. Please visit http://www.flavadiamond.com if you have any questions or comments concerning this article.
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Man Made Diamonds ? Save Big Money And Avoid Mined Diamond Scams
Man Made Diamonds ? Save Big Money And Avoid Mined Diamond Scams
by: Robert Joseph
High quality man made diamonds are a bargain at about $80 per carat, and they do not increase in price exponentially as carat weight increases.
For example, a one-carat synthetic diamond costs about $80; a three-carat man made diamond would then sell for $240.
A one-carat mined diamond that sells for $3000 would go for $45,000 in a three-carat size, all things being equal, which with mined diamonds is never the case.
Perplexing comparative evaluations, exponential price growth, consumer confusion, and the reality of diamond industry antics is why the mined diamond business is awash in dirty tricks.
Here are descriptions of the most sneaky and pervasive mined diamond scams:
THE BLUE-WHITE SCAM:
A jeweler tells you, "This is a blue-white diamond."
This is a very old term.
The dealer will probably tell...
Diamond > Man Made Diamonds ? Save Big Money And Avoid Mined Diamond Scams
7 Designer Fashion Investments For A Gorgeous Look All Year Round
7 Designer Fashion Investments For A Gorgeous Look All Year Round
by: Janice Wee
What are the 7 fashion essentials that are worth while investing in? 7 must haves that would take you through spring, summer, autumn and winter without a hitch?
#1 A Chiffon Dress
In summer, a chiffon dress can be worn on its own. In autumn and winter, that dress is still in vogue. Just layer it with
your winter wardrone. Wear your dress with a knit turtleneck and you look both warm and trendy. Silk chiffon dresses like the ones at http://www.buyclothing.net/silk-chiffon-dresses.htm look stunning on their own in summer yet layer very well in winter. A great buy regardless the season.
#2 A Handbag To Die For
No matter where you go, that bag would take you through it all. Make sure it is a great designer bag. One that would turn the other women around you bright...
7 Designer Fashion Investments For A Gorgeous Look All Year Round
Diamond > 7 Designer Fashion Investments For A Gorgeous Look All Year Round