Make Prediction
END
DAY 1
The Curse of the Hope Diamond
A local merchant sold the diamond to a Frenchman
named Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. Tavernier went back to
France, and in 1668 Louis XIV, the king of France, bought
the diamond from him. Some say the curse started with
Tavernier. One story even says he was killed by wild dogs!
There is no evidence this ever happened, though.
Tavernier did have some bad luck. He was in prison, his
ship was sunk, and he was in a war. But he also became a
nobleman and lived to be eighty-four years old. So maybe
his luck wasn’t too bad after all.
Louis XIV enjoyed his new diamond. He had the
gemstone cut , adding facets that made it sparkle more
brilliantly. As a result, the stone was 67 carats, not 112.
But it was more beautiful. It became part of the French
crown jewels, and the king wore the gem on a ribbon
around his neck. At this time the stone was called the
French Blue.
69