The Hope Diamond

gems · history · diamonds

Huge and blue. The Hope Diamond weighs 45.52 carats, which makes it one of the largest and most beautiful blue diamonds in the world. Its deep blue-violet color has made people fascinated with it since the 1600s.

From India long ago. Miners dug up this incredible diamond from the Kollur Mine in Andhra Pradesh, India during the 17th century. That was over 350 years ago, when mining techniques were very different from today.

Teaches scientists. The Hope Diamond's massive size helped scientists learn how diamonds actually form deep underground. By studying it, researchers discovered secrets about how these precious gems are created in the Earth.

Museum treasure. Today, the Hope Diamond sits in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where millions of people can see it behind protective glass. It's treated like one of the world's greatest treasures.