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The
Hope Diamond is a whopping 45 carat, one of a
kind, deep blue gem that was stolen from the eye
of a Hindo idol in the 17th century. Legend has
it that angry Hindo gods cursed all who dared
to wear the glittering jewel.
Those
who scoffed at the curse included Jean Baptiste
Tavernier - the original thief and smuggler who
brought the stone to Paris. He was torn apart
by wild dogs soon after. The first Royal to own
the stone was Louis the 14th of France, the Sun
King - he died soon after of gangrene. Then Marie
Antoineet cam into possession of the diamond -
and was promptly beheaded.
The
last woman who dared to own the stone was Evalyn
Walsh McLean, an American heiress who threw outrageous
parties, went through several fortues, took buckets
of morphine and died in a dilapidated mansion
- plaster raining down on her withered body -
with her beloved stone around her neck.
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