| Back in the middle of May, one of the world's | | | | been owned by everyone from kings to common |
| rarest colored gems was auctioned for over 10 | | | | people, though all have paid great amounts for it |
| million US dollars. At seven carats, with fascinating | | | | until it came to its current home for the world to |
| clarity and a 58 faceted cutting, it was one of | | | | see. |
| only handful of blue diamonds to come to public | | | | Of course, the Hope Diamond isn't the only |
| attention in recent years. For many in the industry | | | | famous blue diamond in the world. Diamonds like |
| however, this was thought to be somewhat of a | | | | the Queen of Holland, the Blue Empress, and the |
| steal for the lucky new owner. | | | | Regent Diamond are celebrated by people all over |
| This is very much due to the continuing stability | | | | the world. Their past travels will probably not be |
| of prices that metals such as gold, and gems such | | | | continued as their current owners would rarely be |
| as diamonds continue to attract. That the market | | | | willing to let go of these valuable possessions. |
| is held up by the pockets of the rich is key to | | | | Blue diamonds, whilst rare, continue to be |
| this of course. There is no telling what a famous | | | | amongst the most valued of precious materials. |
| stone like the Hope Diamond would go for. | | | | However, even they are not immune to the |
| That Hope Diamond, probably the most famous | | | | current global crisis; with the entire diamond |
| and largest blue diamond in the world, is located in | | | | industry having to make severe cut backs in their |
| Washington D. C.'s Smithsonian Institution. At 45.52 | | | | mining. |
| carats, it is huge and beautiful, and give you an | | | | Indeed, so virulent have mine closures been; |
| idea of how special these diamonds are, not to | | | | production of all diamonds is set to go down to |
| mention how much people strive to get them and | | | | 90 million carats in 2009, from 160 million in the |
| how much they cost when they are ever | | | | previous year. |
| available. | | | | Whilst affected however, blue diamonds continue |
| The Hope Diamond was found in the Golconda, | | | | to attract those looking for something special for |
| India in the 1600s but it is over a million years old. | | | | weddings and engagements; whilst the burgeoning |
| It has traveled the world all through its existence, | | | | economies of the East help keep the trade liquid. |
| getting cut different ways all the while. It has | | | | The future is looking as shimmering as ever. |