The 8 Famous Cursed Diamonds That Bring Bad Luck
Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love and luxury, known to allure people with its sparkle.
However, some of these shiny rocks are also known to carry dark legacies that have brought misfortune to those who own them. These cursed diamonds which have belonged to royal crowns and famous jewels, are associated with tragedies, deaths and disasters.
They have been passed down through the hands of the richest throughout history, leaving a trail of misfortune for every single one of them.
Whether it’s the Hope Diamond’s deep blue allure or the sinister history of the Black Orlov, each cursed gem carries with it a dark history.
Let’s discover the legends of 8 of the most famous cursed diamonds in history.
The 8 Famous Cursed Diamonds That Bring Bad Luck
Let’s delve into the stories of these cursed diamonds and gems that have brought death, destruction, regret and misfortune to anyone who has dared to possess them. With the story of each stone, you will discover that the value of these gemstones go beyond their physical beauty.
1. The Black Orlov
The Black Orlov is a 67.5-carat black diamond which is also known as the Eye of Brahma. Legend has it that the stone was stolen by a monk, from the statue of Hindu God Brahma in Pondicherry, India. This theft is how the curse of the Black Orlov began. The monk allegedly died later starting a series of unfortunate events.
Its whereabouts were unknown until 1932, when a dealer tried to sell it in New York City. Just after a few months, he committed suicide by jumping off a skyscraper.
The diamond brought the same tragic fate to its later owners– two Russian princesses, who separately jumped to their deaths just a few months after coming into the diamond’s possession.
The diamond was last seen in 2006 at a Christie’s auction and now belongs in a private collection.
2. The Koh-I-Noor Diamond
The Kohinoor diamond history is quite extensive, starting its journey from the Kollur mine in Golconda, India. It has been passed through many hands of rulers through centuries, from Rajah of Malwa to Mughal Emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur.
It is documented that whoever has owned this cursed jewel has been violently dethroned, making it an unlucky gemstone.
As per Hindu folklore, it is stated that “he who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God or woman can wear it with impunity.”
As a part of a treaty in 1849, the Kohinoor was transferred to Queen Victoria and tragedies struck even during its transportation. The Koh-I-Noor diamond is now part of Queen Elizabeth’s crown and even now, only female royals have known to wear it.
This makes us wonder whether diamond got its reputation of being a girl’s best friend from here?
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3. The Delhi Purple Sapphire
The Delhi Purple Sapphire which is actually an amethyst, is known to be responsible for a century’s worth of tragedy1. As per a legend, the stone was stolen from the temple of Indra in India. The British soldier who stole it faced a series of misfortunes and gave it away.
The stone then got into the hands of Colonel W. Ferris, a Bengal cavalryman, who took it to England and faced a similar fate as the soldier. His health deteriorated and he lost everything he possessed. He made multiple attempts to get rid of the gemstone to escape its curse but failed every single time.
The Purple Sapphire had three owners – Colonel W. Ferris, his son, and Heron-Allen and all of them experienced a series of unfortunate events.
Today, the Delhi Sapphire is on display at the London Natural History Museum. There are strict instructions that absolutely no one can touch the stone with bare hands.
A curator at the museum shared that Heron-Allen’s daughter donated the gem in January 1944. The ring came with a warning note which claimed the stone “was looted from the treasure of the Temple of the God Indra at Cawnpore during the Indian mutiny in 1855 and brought to this country by Colonel W. Ferris of the Bengal Cavalry. From the day he possessed it, he was unfortunate.”
4. The Sancy Diamond
Like other gemstones on this list, this 55.23-carat pale yellow diamond also belonged to a mine in Golconda, India. Ever since The Stacy Diamond reached Europe in the 14th century, it has been linked to various deaths of its owners.
After being stolen from India, it was sold to King Charles I of England, who wore it for good luck. But little did he know that the curse of this very stone was going to be the cause of his demise.
Apparently, this unlucky stone didn’t only affect the owner but also other people involved in its journey. For instance, after the death of King Charles I, the courier who was transporting the gem to its next owner, King James I, got attacked and robbed. The stone was recovered from his stomach, where he hid it for safekeeping.
The gem is now on display at the Louvre.
5. The Regent Diamond
The next one on our list of cursed gemstones is this 140.64-carat Regent Diamond, that was yet again stolen from an Indian mine by a slave in the late 1600s.
The story is that the slave who stole it, hid the stone in a self-inflicted wound in his leg. He had a plan to smuggle the gem out of the country with the help of an English sea captain, but the captain had other ideas. He drowned the slave and sold the diamond. It is claimed that the slave laid a curse on the gem before dying.
The gem was sold to the French Regent Philippe II of Orleans, which is how it got its name. However, the bad luck of the curse began to show—sudden deaths happened in his family.
This cursed gem, along with many other royal gems, was stolen during the French Revolution and landed in the hands of Napoleon. He chose to set the diamond on the handle of his sword. But the curse followed the emperor, as he lost the Battle of Waterloo and was exiled.
The sword and the diamond are both now on display at the Louvre.
6. The Black Prince’s Ruby
The Black Prince Ruby is not actually a ruby! It is a large spinel that is significantly less valuable than a ruby, giving this stone its infamous title of “the great imposter.”
The stone belonged to Edward of Woodstock, who was also known as the “Black Prince,” giving the gemstone its name. The cursed diamond was gifted to Edward, soon after which he contracted a mysterious disease that caused his death.
It is said that two owners possessed the ruby after this, both of whom were followed by unfortunate fate. Henry V had the ruby in a battle in 1415, in which he nearly died and it is said that Richard III was also wearing the cursed gemstone when he died in a battle.
Post this, the gemstone was sold and bought a couple of times between multiple dealers, until it came to the possession of Charles II. It is now a part of England’s Imperial State Crown and is on display in the Tower of London where the curse has seemed to be broken.
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7. The Moon of Baroda
The Moon of Baroda is 24.04 carat, pear shaped diamond that was part of the Gaekwadi treasury for almost 500 years. The story of this diamond is quite fascinating. It was said that if the Moon of Baroda crossed the sea or ocean then it would bring bad luck to its owner.
For centuries it was owned by the Gaekwads of Baroda until it was sent to the Empress Marie Thérèse of Austria. However, it was returned as quickly as it was sent.
The Empress died after receiving the diamond and people believed that the curse of the diamond was the reason behind her untimely demise. The diamond has crossed the sea and brought bad luck with it. The cursed gemstone was henceforth returned to the Gaekwad family.
It was locked away for several decades until Meyer Rosenbaum of Meyer Jewelry Company purchased the diamond. He presented this cursed diamond to Marilyn Monroe, who wore it to the shooting of the song ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’, and also in the film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. Soon after this, Monroe’s career and personal life saw a downfall.
Most recently the “Moon of Baroda” diamond was officially sold at Christie’s Hong Kong jewelry auction for $1.3 million to an anonymous buyer.
8. The Hope Diamond
The Hope diamond is the most famous cursed gem in history. This is a beautiful blue stone that is known to bring bad luck and misfortune to anyone who owns or wears it.
This 45.52-carat rock has a long history of tragedies associated with its name, like stabbings, murders, suicide and more. The diamond was owned by Henry Philip Hope from whom it got its name. However, after his untimely death, his family became bankrupt and sold the diamond to repay debts.
In 1909, Pierre Cartier bought the Hope Diamond and sold it to socialite and heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean. For her, the curse of the diamond was the selling point, as she believed the unlucky objects were lucky for her. However, she soon regretted that.
At first, she threw lavish “Find the Hope” parties where she hid the cursed gem around the house for her guests to find. But things started going south really fast.
According to PBS, her son died in a car crash, her husband left her for another woman, her trustees sold her fortune to Harry Winston (including the diamond) and she went insane and died in an asylum.
Harry Winston eventually donated it to the Smithsonian by mailing the priceless diamond via U.S. mail for $2.44 postage.
Diamonds: Friends or Foes?
The rich and dark history of these cursed diamonds increase the level of fascination and curiosity making them all the more interesting. These cursed diamonds and gemstones have seen a fair share of controversy and left a mark on history.
Whether you believe in curses or not, it’s safe to say that you will be a little cautious if you ever come across these pieces after reading their history. These gemstones remind us that sometimes the most beautiful objects can carry the heaviest burdens.
