5 most dangerous in the history of diamonds

Diamonds broke more than one hundred lives. But among the many tragic cases of jewelry, distinguished history, "rock stone", which changed owners "like a glove" and everywhere left a trail of blood.

"Regent"

Perhaps the most innocent in our list, diamond "Regent" (140, 64 carat). It is not known where and when he was found, but according to the most common version, he was discovered in 1701 by an Indian slave in a mine in the region of the mines of Golconda (Central India), which was produced most of the diamonds, which we will discuss today. His biography of stone, began with blood - the servant refused to give it to the owners of the mine, and deceived the guards by hiding the cut stone in the hip and tied a bandage all of the leaves. At night, he fled but was treacherously killed one sailor, who promised in exchange for the diamond to take him out of the country. Arriving at your destination sailor sold the diamond to Sir Thomas Pitt, governor of the fortress of St. George. Money spent "in a sailor" - quickly, and then hanged himself with grief.

Here begins the true story of a diamond. Thomas Pitt gave the jeweler Joseph Kouptu stone, which gives it a modern form. But at that time the governor of a small fortress was dangerous to have such a treasure - hunters jewels would not leave him alone. Therefore, suffer from persecution mania, Thomas sold the stone regent of France Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. During the French Revolution, "The Regent" was stolen along with other ornaments of the Bourbons. Return into the hands of the monarchy fatal diamond failed to Napoleon, who decorated them hilt of his sword. What was the famous commander, and so all we know. After Napoleon, no matter how much the stone or stolen, it is always, in the end, it turned out to be in France. Today it can be seen in the Gallery of the Louvre Appolonova.

"Kohinoor"

The history of white diamond "Kohinoor" ( "Mountain of Light"), which now adorns the crown of Queen Elizabeth, known since the XIV century, but found it was obviously before, according to legend, all in the same mines of Golconda. Several centuries it was decorated with a turban Raja of Malwa Dynasty State. There are legends that the first owner of the stone was a legendary hero of the Indian epic Mahabharata, Karna from. Therefore, there is a belief among the people that when the "Kohinoor" to change the owner, then the state will be enslaved. That is what happened in 1304, when Malwa won the Delhi Sultan Ala-ud-Din, who arrogated to himself the famous jewel.

Subsequently, the stone changed many dynasties - the Mughal dynasty Afsharid Dynasty Iranian, Afghan Durrani - everywhere it is considered a symbol of power, so the owners do not always bloodless. Historians claim that the eighteen owners of this diamond alone were assassinated, others were killed in battle, and the rest died in poverty. In the end, the Kohinoor was in 1849 in the hands of the British authorities and was transferred, among other property, to Queen Victoria.

"Black Orlov diamond"

Also known as "diamond eye of Brahma." In India, the black diamond of 195 carats, according to legend, was decorated with the eye of the statue of the god Brahma about Pondicherry (South India). Perhaps such a biography, as well as the rare black color and would explain all the rumors about the curse, if some of the owners have not brought their own lives. The first was Jay Paris, which brought the diamond to the United States in 1923. Some time later, he jumped from one of the skyscrapers of New York. Following the owner - Nadezhda Orlova and Princess Galitsina-Baritanskaya also allegedly committed suicide in 1947. It is difficult to say how true these stories - archives bypass the mysterious death of a party. According to the documents, the princess-Galitsina Baritanskaya died at the age of 102 years in Switzerland in 1918, and Nadezhda Orlova 90 years in France in 1988

Subsequently, the stone has changed many owners, the most famous of them - Dennis Petimezas jeweler, bought the stone in 2004. He has publicly stated he does not feel any effect of the notorious curse, and the diamond has brought him nothing but good luck. However, after only 30 months, he put it up for sale. In 2006, the "Black Eagles" found the mysterious buyer, according to the media said, "from another continent," whose name and fate of the public is not known.

"Sancy"

Nothing is known about the origin of another infamous diamond "Sancy". They say that it got a merchant in the caves of jewels and carrying a gift to the sultan, but in a way he was killed. After that, the stone went to "walk" around the world, has not yet fallen into the hands of Charles the Bold in the XV century. He gave it to a jeweler to cut, which made him pale yellow diamond of 55, 23 carat. Two years later the king died, and the stone was missing and was found only in 1570, the year of Nicholas de Sancy - French attorney in Constantinople. Here to whom the diamond reacted favorably - with the help of Nicholas succeeded France's King Henry arrangement III, which he lent his time. According to legend, a servant who went to deliver the stone king, was killed by robbers, but before it had time to swallow the "Sancy". As you know, Henry III also did not last long sat on the throne. When there was the French Revolution of 1789, "Sancy" was the French treasury, along with other fatal diamond "Hope" and "Regent". His fate is obscure. It is known that he could go into the arms of the Demidov. In the end, it bought American industrialists Astors, which after a while sold it to the Louvre, where he is to this day.

"Hope"

The latest and bloodiest - sapphire blue diamond with absolutely irrelevant named its reputation - "Hope" ( "Hope"). Stone weighing up to cut one hundred and fifteen carats (ct 0, 2 grams), it was brought from India by the French merchant, traveler and jeweler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who, incidentally, is known for his depictions of the mines of Golconda. He presented it to King Louis XIV. The first on whom the curse has fallen, has long-standing mistress of the king of the Marquis de Montespan. This passionate black-haired beauty, also intelligent and educated, who had to give birth to the King of eight children, received a diamond as a gift, at once disgusted with the Sun King. lady love expelled from the palace, and the diamond, found its place on a lace jabot Louis XIV. Exactly seven months later, in 1715, the king, not to part with the diamond, he died. His successor, Louis XV hid "Hope" for many years in the royal treasury. Following his mistress became infamous Marie Antoinette, who loved luxury dresses and beautiful stones. Her fate as the fate of her husband all know - the guillotine. His next known owner was George IV, who soon lost his mind. After that, the stone was sold to the banker Henry Thomas Hope. Man, whose name was called stone poisoned. In 1910, Diamond bought for 550 thousand francs jeweler Pierre Cartier, which is why I immediately sold it to family mfillionerov McLean. Edward McLean Bale was hereditary owner of the newspaper "Washington Post", and his wife, Evelyn Walsh McLean owned diamond mines. Soon, the family lost heir, after which Mr. McLean was drinking the bitter and died. Funky family sold in 1958 "Hope" philanthropist Harry Winston, who later gave it to the Smithsonian Institution.

Today, the famous "Hope" is waiting for its next victim of the bulletproof glass exposure.