Blue Heart Diamond

Inside the Smithsonian Collection is the Blue Heart Diamond. Unlike the “Heart of the Ocean Diamond being cast into the ocean on the movie Titanic, this diamond is safe and sound at the Smithsonian.

Although also referred to as the Eugenie Blue Diamond, it’s not known for certain that the Empress Eugenie ever owned it. It was cut in Paris between 1909 and 1910, but the stones origin, Africa or India, is not clear.

This diamond is an enormous, heart shaped, blue diamond weighing 30.82 carats. Currently it’s set in a platinum ring, surrounded by white diamonds. After changing hands among famous jewelers such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, it was purchased by Harry Winston in 1959 who mounted the diamond in its current setting. Mr. Winston sold the ring to Marjorie Merriweather Post who donated the ring to the Smithsonian where it remains today with other famous blue diamonds, including the Hope Diamond and the Heart of Eternity Diamond.

These diamonds have all recently gone through a grading and examination process to classify their colors and to determine the source of their colors. The Hope Diamond is classified as Fancy Deep Grayish-Blue. The Heart of Eternity Diamond has been classified as a Fancy Vivid Blue. The Blue Heart Diamond has not yet been classified, but some experts categorize it as either Fancy Vivid Blue or Fancy Deep Blue. Blue diamonds are of particular to scientists because of their color, the impurities that create it, and because blue diamonds also have an electric conductive property that make them unique among clear and other colored diamonds.

You won’t find expensive blue diamonds in our jewelry collections, but you’re sure to find something you'll cherish for years.

Napoleon Diamond Necklace

One of the most spectacular  diamond pieces of jewelry in the Smithsonian Institution is the Napoleon all-diamond necklace. Originally thought to have been owned by Catherine the Great of Russia, it was presented by the Emperor Napoleon of France to his second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria on the birth of their son in 1811.

The silver and gold necklace contains 172 diamonds weighing 275 carats; 28 oval and cushion cut diamonds, dangling 19 briolette-cut oval and pear shaped diamonds and accented by small, round diamonds and diamond set motifs. The diamonds are cut in “old mine” style, precursor to the modern brilliant cut, have a high degree of fire but less brilliance.

The necklace has an estimated total gem weight of 275 carats, with the largest diamond weighing approximately 10 carats. When Marie-Louise died in 1847, the necklace was given to her sister-in-law, Archduchess Sophie of Austria, who removed two stones for the purpose of shortening it. The two stones were made into earrings but their whereabouts is unknown.

In 1872, the necklace was bequeathed to the Archduchess’ son, Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. In 1948, Archduke Ludwig’s grandson, Prince Franz Joseph of Liechtenstein, sold the necklace to a French collector who then sold it to Harry Winston in 1960. Marjorie Merriweather Post obtained the jeweled accessory from Winston and donated it to the Smithsonian in 1962.

It’s difficult to assign a value to a piece like this today. In 1993 however, the auction house Christies in Geneva sold another similar piece that Napoleon had given to Marie-Louise that was composed of rubies and diamonds that sold for $13 million!

You won’t find valuable pieces of jewelry or gems here, but you’re sure to find something that your heart desires!