A museum treasure
The Hope Diamond weighs 45.52 carats and is held by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Harry Winston donated it in 1958. Its celebrated blue color and long history make it one of the museum’s defining objects.
A story across centuries
Its history connects the French royal court, European collectors and American owners. The Smithsonian traces its relationship to the larger French Blue and provides a detailed chronology of its travels.
Priceless is not an auction result
The Smithsonian describes the Hope as priceless and makes clear that it is not for sale. We therefore give it no speculative dollar value. Its place here is cultural and historical, separate from the completed transactions in our auction archive.
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