Don’t steal anything from the gods. That’s common sense, right?
Well …
Here are three of the most exceptional gemstones you’ll be glad you
never owned:
11. The Koh-i-noor Diamond ( "Mountain of
Light")
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| The Koh-i-noor is in the center of the white diamond cross. | | | |
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Origin: India.
Legend says it was stolen from the Hindu god Krishna
while he slept.
Notable Tale of Woe:
When the Persians
took Delhi in 1739, the reigning Mughal emperor hid the diamond in his turban. But
a member of his own harem ratted him out. The Persian shah left the turban in
place but got the diamond anyway … by cutting
off the emperor’s head.
Where It Is Now:
Among the coronation crowns of the English Queen
consorts.
12. The Hope Diamond
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| The 45.52-carat Hope Diamond is set in a necklace by Harry Winston. |
Origin: India
According to legend, it was taken from the eye socket
of a statue of the Hindu goddess Sita.
Notable Tale of Woe:
At the dawn of the
French Revolution the “French Blue” was part of the country’s
Crown Jewels, which symbolized the monarchy. When Louis XVI and Marie
Antoinette were captured by an angry mob, looters seized the diamond. And as
everyone knows, the unlucky king and queen lost their heads.
Where It Is Now:
On display at the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
3. The Orlov Diamond
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| The Orlov Diamond is the size and shape of half a chicken's egg. |
Origin: India
Like the Hope
Diamond, this gem was also pried from the eye of a Hindu god.
Notable Tale of Woe:
Russian Empress Catherine II was having an affair.
After her husband was removed from the throne, she assumed power and dumped her
lover, Count Orlov, for a Russian prince. Orlov tried to win her back with
something big and sparkly. It didn’t work. But Catherine took the diamond and
set it in her scepter … an eternal reminder of Orlov’s heartache.
Where It Is Now:
With Moscow’s Kremlin Diamond Fund, an exhibit that
showcases Russia's crown jewels.
