History and Travels of The Hope Diamond #4 – A Journey to France


King Louis XIV
- Jean Baptiste Tavernier bought the Hope Diamond to France and sold it to King Louis XIV along with many other stones for approximately 147 Kilograms of Gold
- There he also bought Patent of Nobility from the King’s Finance Minister
- The Tavernier Diamond was provided to the Court Jeweller Sieur Pitau( Possible Alternate Name – Jean Pitau)
- This was then recut into 69 carat stone
- It was later known as The French Blue / Blue Diamond of the Crown of France / Diament Bleu de la Couronne de France

- The French Blue was set in gold and suspended in neck ribbon
- It took Pitau two years to complete this design.
- 1st Sept 1715 – King Louis XIV died of Gangrene
- It is speculated that half of the Travernier’s Diamond was cut and sold later to Charles II, Duke of Brunswick, hence the name Brunswick Blue (Source – langantiques.com), which is a different adventure altogether
King Louis XV


- After the death of King Louis XIV, the French Blue, was inherited by King Louis XV of France
- 1749 – King Louis appointed court jeweler Andre Jacquemin to reset the Diamond.
- He wanted it in a different cut so that he can wear it as a ceremonial jewellery for the Order of Golden Fleece (More Info – Wikipedia)

- 10 May 1774 – Death of King Louis XV by smallpox
King Louis XVI
- The French Blue was then inherited by King Louis XVI

- It was used by his Wife Marie Antoinette for personal adornment

- It was placed in a pendant for Marie Antoinette for a brief time
- 1787 – It was removed by Mathurin Jacques Brisson for scientific research

- The diamond was returned shortly to its original place shortly thereafter
- 11 Sept. 1792 – While King Louis XVI and his family were imprisoned, the Diamond was stolen by a group of thieves who broke into the Royal Storehouse (Garde – Mueble)
- 21st Jan 1793 – King Louis XVI was beheaded
- 16th Oct 1793 – Marie Antoinette was beheaded
- 23rd June 1806 – Death of Mathurin Jacques Brisson
- The French Blue was lost in history for Twenty Years
History and Travels of The Hope Diamond – List Of Articles in Chronological Order
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