Why does the Hope Diamond glow under ultraviolet light?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Diamond Glow
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
Sign up Log in
12 replies · 5K views
Ivan Seeking
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
8,252
Reaction score
2,666
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
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Discussion

Chemistry news on Phys.org
ohhhh ahhhhhhh that's pretty!
 
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
 
it was a hindu idol . . . well known for their glowing eyes.
 
Oh, WOW, that is one pretty diamond. I honestly didn't think diamonds could get that big and look so perfect, too.
 
I saw this diamond about 10 years ago. Too bad I was too young to really remember it.
 
I'm sure it was extremely beautiful though, dispite the fact you can't remember :biggrin:
 
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.
 
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.
 
Evo said:
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
 
Garth said:
You're obviously a high maintenance lady Evo!

Garth

:smile: No kidding. If you can't impress a lady with the Hope Diamond...
 
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!