Jan. 8, 2008 -- The eerie smoldering glow of the world's largest rare blue diamond has finally been explained -- and it's neither unique nor a mere oddity.
The Hope Diamond is a 45.52-carat, deep-blue diamond that sits center stage in the Smithsonian Institution's United States Gem Collection. The object of intrigue for almost four centuries, the diamond has more recently been puzzling scientists because of the deep red glow it gives off for several seconds after being bathed in ultraviolet light. [continued]
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/01/08/hope-diamond.html
hypatia
May14-08, 03:27 AM
ohhhh ahhhhhhh thats pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mapsurfer
May15-08, 06:39 PM
Here is a strange fact... The hope diamond was plucked from the eye of an ancient hindu idol.
ooh.. an idol with a glowing red eye.. lol That is one pretty diamond.
Regards,
-map
Chronos
May16-08, 04:02 AM
it was a hindu idol . . . well known for their glowing eyes.
mcknia07
May31-08, 01:56 AM
Oh, WOW, that is one pretty diamond. I honestly didn't think diamonds could get that big and look so perfect, too.
bassplayer142
Jun2-08, 12:56 AM
I saw this diamond about 10 years ago. Too bad I was too young to really remember it.
mcknia07
Jun2-08, 01:00 AM
I'm sure it was extremely beautiful though, dispite the fact you can't remember :biggrin:
turbo-1
Jun2-08, 01:19 AM
There was NO idol involved, and the stone may have been re-cut several times over the years. I facet stones as a hobby, and re-faceting is a procedure fraught with problems - you always lose mass when trying to re-cut to maximize brilliance or to improve symmetry.
Evo
Jun2-08, 01:45 AM
Here is the history of the Hope Diamond. I've seen it a couple of times and it's not that impressive in person, I guess due to all of the hype.
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/hope.htm
bassplayer142
Jun3-08, 01:16 AM
I remember it a little, just not as much as I wish I did. It was behind some showcase. I'm pretty sure I saw it in Washington DC somewhere. Not the Smithsonian.
Garth
Jun3-08, 01:03 PM
I've seen it a couple of times and it's not that impressive in person, I guess due to all of the hype.
You're obviously a high maintenance lady Evo!
Garth
Ivan Seeking
Jun3-08, 02:18 PM
You're obviously a high maintenance lady Evo!
Garth
:rofl: No kidding. If you can't impress a lady with the Hope Diamond...
Isarmann
Jun3-08, 11:17 PM
It's hard to look impressive behind four-inch thick glass... I remember thinking it looks pretty pedestrian, too--- but I'll bet we'd change our collective tune if we could hold the thing!