Origin of name
The Star of the East Diamond was part of the collection
of jewels belonging to the Ottoman Sultan, Abdul Hamid II , who ruled between
1876 and 1909. The exact circumstances under which the diamond came into the
possession of the Sultan are not known. Even the origin of the name and at
what point in it's history it was christened, remains a mystery.
Characteristics of the
stone
The diamond is a 94.80-carat, pear-shaped, D-color stone,
of unknown clarity grade.
Early History
The early history of the diamond such as the country of
origin, mine of origin, the year of discovery, etc are not known, but what
we know for certain is that the diamond was part of the collection of
jewelry belonging to Sultan Abdul Hamid II of Turkey (1876-1909). This
was the period around which diamonds were being discovered in South Africa,
and the new diamond mines such as the Kimberley, De Beers, Premier etc. had
just been established and gone into production. All significant finds around
this time originating either in the deep mines or the alluvial deposits were
being extensively reported, and a diamond such as the "Star of the East"
weighing 94.80 carats in the finished state, and probably as twice as big in
the rough state, could not have gone unnoticed. As such it is highly
improbable that the "Star of the East" could have originated in the diamond
mines of South Africa. Judging by the size, color, and clarity of the stone,
it appears to have had it's origin in any one of the five groups of mines
that were situated on the eastern side of the Deccan Plateau in southern and
central India.
Later history
Sultan Abdul Hamid II ascended the throne on August 31,
1876, at a time when the Ottomans had earned the indignation of the Western
Powers and Russia, for the suppression of the Bulgarian uprising. Abdul
Hamid II adopted a policy of pan-Islamism in opposition to Western
intervention in Ottoman affairs. He dismissed parliament in 1877, and
suspended the constitution, and ruled as an absolute dictator for 33 years,
from the seclusion of the Yildiz Palace in Istanbul, assisted by his secret
police and severe press censorship. During his rule he introduced
educational reforms, and established 18 professional schools, and a network
of primary, secondary, and military schools. He also developed the Railway
and Telegraphic systems in the country.
However Abdul Hamid II was deposed in 1909, following the
military uprising of the "Young Turks", who were dissatisfied with his
despotic rule and also resented European intervention in the Balkans. Abdul
Hamid's brother Mehmed V was installed as the new Sultan. Just before the
deposition of Sultan Abdul Hamid II some of his jewels appeared in Paris for
sale, and the Star of the East was one of these jewels. Cartier's of Paris
put up the diamond for sale in 1908.
It was around this time that Evalyn Walsh daughter of the
multimillionaire miner and gold prospector Thomas Walsh got married to
Edward Beale Mclean, heir to the Washington Post and Cincinnati Enquirer
publishing fortune. In fact Evalyn eloped with her childhood friend Edward,
against the wishes of her family, but later the two families reconciled and
agreed to their marriage. The newly wedded couple sailed off on a
three-month honeymoon to Europe and the Middle East, with $ 200,000 in "pin"
money as a wedding gift from both families. At the end of the trip, Evalyn
and Ned arrived in Paris without even enough money to pay the hotel bills,
Evalyn cabled her father and got down more money for her expenses . The
couple then visited Cartier's of Paris, and Pierre Cartier, who was a family
friend, thought that this would be an ideal opportunity to dispose of the
94.80- carat "star of the East" diamond. He showed the diamond to Evalyn,
which was mounted on a chain below a hexagonal emerald of 34 carats and a
pearl of 32 grains. Evalyn was so impressed by the diamond that she decided
to purchase it, in spite of objections from her husband. The purchase price
of the diamond was $ 200,000, but no money was paid immediately. Being
family friends Evalyn told her husband that her father would settle Pierre
Cartier subsequently. Later when the couple arrived in the United States,
Evalyn had no money to pay the customs duty on the diamond and she smuggled
the stone without paying duty.
It was three years later in 1911, when Evalyn and her
Husband visited Paris again, that she purchased the infamous diamond, "the
Hope" diamond for $ 180.000. The main reason why she decided to purchase
"the Hope", was because of it's notorious past. She thought that things that
were unlucky for everybody else would be lucky for her, because she thought
she was an exception. "The Hope" diamond became her favorite ornament , and
she wore it for all occasions, such as her appearances in the latest Paris
fashions, and also the lavish parties she threw at her Washington residence,
for politicians, business tycoons, celebrities, and dignitaries from
around the world. Evalyn writes in her autobiography, " My own preference
generally is for show. It's only when the thing I buy creates a show for
those around me that I get my money's worth."
But the curse of "the Hope" diamond seems to catch up
with her later in life. She runs short of money and had to pawn her jewelry
on several occasions. Her adored first born son, Vinson is killed in an
automobile accident at he age of nine. Her husband Ned runs off with another
woman and dissipates their fortune. A chronic alcoholic he eventually dies
in a Sanatorium. Their family newspaper the Washington Post goes bankrupt
and Evalyn is forced to sell some of her properties. Then in 1946 Evalyn's
daughter dies of an overdose of sleeping pills, at the age of 25. All these
misfortunes were attributed to the curse of "the Hope" diamond, but Evalyn
herself was more down to earth in her views on the diamond's curse. "What
tragedies have befallen me might have occurred had I never seen or touched
"the Hope" Diamond. My observations have persuaded me that tragedies, for
anyone who lives are not escapable." Evalyn Walsh died in 1947, and her
collection of jewels including "the hope" diamond and the "Star of the East"
was sold in 1949 to pay the debts of her estate.
It was the New York Jeweler, Harry Winston, who purchased
Mrs. McLean's entire jewelry collection, that included "the Hope" diamond,
the 94.8-carat "Star of the East" diamond, the 15-carat "Star of the South"
diamond, a 9-carat green diamond, and a 31-carat diamond which is presently
known as the McLean diamond.
"The Hope" diamond was then sent on a goodwill tour for
10 years, around the United States and worldwide, and was shown at many
exhibitions and charitable events, including their own court of Jewels
exhibition. Later in 1958, Harry Winston donated the Hope diamond to the
Smithsonian Institution, with the primary aim of helping the institution to
build up a major national gems collection for the American people. The Hope
diamond is exhibited today in the National History Museum of the
Institution, in the hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, in the Harry Winston
Room, revolving slowly on it's pedestal behind 3" of bullet proof
glass.
As for the "Star of the East" diamond, Harry Winston sold
it to King Farouk of Egypt in 1951,just one year before his overthrow by the
free officers led by Mohammed Neguib, who subsequently became the President
of the newly formed United Arab Republic. Unfortunately for Harry Winston,
he had not received payment from the King, for the diamond purchased, and
had to wait for 3 years for the inquiry and ruling of the government
appointed legal board entrusted with the disposal of the former royal
assets. the board ruled in his favor, but the diamond was in a safe-deposit
box in a Bank in Switzerland. This required several years of litigation,
until finally the Bank released the diamond to it's rightful owner, Mr.
Harry Winston.
Last transaction and
present owner of the diamond
In 1969, Harry Winston sold the "Star of the East" to an
Anonymous buyer, who requested that the diamond be remount as a pendant, to
a diamond necklace with provision for attachment of two matching
pear-shaped diamonds on either side, as shown in the photograph,
In 1978, Harry Winston Inc. celebrated their 50th
Anniversary. At an exhibition organized to mark this event, at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the "Star of the East" was also a
prominent exhibit, Subsequently Harry Winston re-purchased the "Star of the
East" diamond from it's owner, but the present whereabouts of the diamond
are not known.
Chemistry of D-color
diamonds
D-color diamonds also known as top-color diamonds are the
"purest of the pure" of all naturally occurring diamonds, with perfectly
formed crystals, and complete absence of impurities such as Nitrogen and
boron. Color in diamonds are formed in three possible ways :-
(1) Presence of trace quantities of impurities such
as Nitrogen and Boron. Nitrogen is a common impurity and imparts a yellow
color to diamonds. Boron is a rare impurity and imparts a blue color to
diamonds.
(2) Plastic deformation of the crystal during it's
formation and subsequent rise to the surface of the earth. Such deformed
areas can absorb light in different regions of the spectrum giving rise to a
variety of colors such as pink, red, purple, orange, brown etc.
(3) exposure to natural irradiation for prolonged periods
of time of several million years in duration causing the crystals to absorb
magenta wave lengths giving rise to a green color.
D-color diamonds have not been subjected to any one of
the above conditions and therefore they are absolutely pure and colorless.
Only about 1-2 % of all naturally occurring diamonds may fall under this
category.
