Legends Behind Deadly Diamonds

Since the first discovery of jewelry, man has always been fascinated with diamonds and gems. Unfortunately, sometimes this love of jewelry can get a person into sometimes deadly trouble. There are three, although breathtaking, well known as the cursed jewels.

This first possible cursed diamond is the Koh-i-Noor diamond also known as the Mountain of Light. It has the oldest recorded history. According to legend, the diamond was stolen from the god, Krishna. At the time it was stolen, legend says that Krishna was asleep. It later appeared in Mogul chronicles as part of captured treasure around 1304. It remained with their emperors for several centuries. Unfortunate for the Mogul emperor, he lost his head while attempting to protect the diamond from a Persian attack.


The world’s best known diamond, the Hope Diamond, once weighed over one hundred and twelve carats. Legend states the curse on this diamond began after the diamond was forcefully popped from the eye socket of the Hindu Goddess Sita. According to history, the diamond was first seized by the French Jeweler Jean Baptiste Taverneir. Once he stole the diamond from the statue, it was said that he was later torn apart by wild dogs in Russia after selling the Hope Diamond.

After several years of traveling and resizing to hide its origins, the Hope Diamond ended up in possession of Henry Phillip Hope. This is where the diamond got its name. According to the legend, the curse from the diamond caused the Hope family to become bankrupt. The diamond was soon sold. After many years of traveling through many hands, the Hope Diamond was purchased by an American jeweler and donated to the Smithsonian Institute in the late nineteen fifties. Many people believe this is how he averted the curse.

The last of the cursed diamonds is the Black Orlov. Discovered in India in the early eighteen hundreds, this stone is known as the Eye of Brahma. Just as the previously cursed diamonds, this one hundred and ninety five carat diamond was said to be stolen from a Hindu idol.

The Black Orlov was named after Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov in the eighteen century. According to history, three of its owner’s supposedly leaped off of buildings committing suicide. All three owners were princesses, two were Russians. After entering the United States with J. W. Paris, it is said Paris leaped to his death after the sale of the black colored diamond. The curse was supposedly broken after an American jeweler, Charles S, Winston purchased the jewel.

How much of this Legends Behind Deadly Diamonds do you think is fiction?