Cursed Jewellery

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers 'tis near Halloween.

When it comes to trick or treat, I am treat all the way! But, sometimes it's good to have a gentle scare. I like to hear ghost stories, myths and legends, but they can leave you with that unsettled feeling, especially when things go bump in the night. 

Jewellery is often passed down through families as heirlooms, they usually come with memories; happy tales like weddings, anniversaries and achievements. However, sometimes they come with whispers, myths and curses.

There are some famous jewellery pieces which come with less than cheerful stories and as its Halloween I thought I would share the most famous of the stories with you.

The Hope Diamond

One of the most famous cursed pieces of jewellery in the world. The diamond traces its history back to the 17th century in India. It was over a whopping 112 carats! That is roughly equivalent to 22 grams, a huge weight to place around your neck. 

From the Golkonda mines in Southern India, where other world famous gems have also been found; like the Koh-i-noor which a part of the British Crown Jewels, fancy right! But not all of the gems mined here have been destined to happy lives.

Legend has it that the Hope Diamond lived in a temple and was the eye of a statue, but it was stolen. Some people say that the stone was always cursed, others say the priests of the temple put a curse on the new owner of the stone after it disappeared. 

Here is what we do know; The heart shaped stone was acquired in the mid 17th century by the celebrated French gem merchant and adventurer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. No-one can confirm if he was the actual thief, but it was in his possession. With such an exquisite and large sized stone, it could only be fit for a king, and that was its destiny. It was sold to King Louis XIV of France. T

After the sale of the gem it is rumoured that the merchant contracted and died of a great fever, it is also said he was eaten by wolves, and that he lived to the age of 84! You can tell me which one you think it is after you hear the rest of the story.

Once in the kings hands the stone was recut to 67.5 carats and became known as the Bleu de France (French Blue). The stone was now used for ceremonial occasions, worn around the neck on a ribbon. After four years in the Kings possession he died of gangrene and all but one of his legitimate children died in childhood. Spooky?

His one legitimate heir became the new owner, Louis XVI. He was married to Marie Antoinette and their story is quite famous, and you have probably heard it. To cut it short, they both lost their heads.

Not only did they loose their heads, but there are rumors of other courtiers who also fell to the curse. Marie-Louise Princess de Lambelle was a member of Marie Antoinettes court and her closest confident. She was said to have come to a gruesome end with her head on a spike after having been beaten, striped, disemboweled and beheaded by a mob! Had she also worn the diamond? Or just being near it leaves you vulnerable!?

The French ownership of the diamond came to an abrupt end, it was stolen again during the revolution and for the next 40 years no one is too sure where it went or what damage it did. 

Next its recorded to have come to the English King, George IV, and he didn't have any luck with the stone either. He had crippling debts and upon his death the diamond had to be sold to help cover them. Bad luck or a curse?

The stone was recut at some point by Wilhelm Fals who cut the stone to the 45 carat Hope Diamond which you can see today. But Wilhelm also fell to the curse, his son murdered him and then the son committed suicide. Are you seeing a pattern yet?

John Frankel from New York City, was the supposed next owner of the cursed stone and upon his death his sons took ownership of the gem, but it had to be sold again to settle more terrible debts.

In 1909 it came to the hands of Pierre Cartier who sold it to the American Heiress Evalyn Walsh Mclean. She choose to ignore the cursed history of the stone, saying 'unlucky objects were lucky to her', but the curse ignores her optimism and it took a hold of her family too.

In the years of Evalyn's ownership her first born son died in a car accident, her daughter died of an overdose, her husband cheated on her and he  became an alcoholic and he died in a mental hospital. She then found herself in a huge amount of debt, having to sell her families newspaper, the Washington Post. Evalyn still died with huge debts. 

Her children came into the ownership of the diamond which they had to sell to pay off the debts.

Next Harry Winston acquired the stone and donated it to the Smithsonian National museum of National History in Washington DC in 1958, where it has been ever since. 

The last known curse was bestowed upon the mailman that delivered the item to the museum. It is said that James Todd, delivered the stone and suffered a terrible truck accident, where his legs were crushed. He then suffered another accident where he sustained a head injury. Later his house burned down and not long after that he saw both his dog and wife die. 

What do you think coincidence or curse? Would you dare to look upon the cursed stone?