Gemstone Misconceptions

Have you ever noticed that a story with some grain of truth but no real merit can grow legs and become "fact" or "common knowledge"? It happens all the time. A statement is repeated often enough and by enough people that it's suddenly accepted as gospel truth.

For example, you KNOW that the Hope Diamond is the biggest diamond ever found. Right? Nope….sorry, but it is NOT the biggest diamond ever found. There have been many diamonds found that are larger than the Hope Diamond. "Well", you say, "then it's the most expensive diamond ever found….right?" Nope….sorry again. There are many diamonds that are far more expensive than the Hope Diamond. "The Hope Diamond is the most flawless diamond ever found?" Sorry….wrong again. There have been many diamonds unearthed over the years with fewer flaws than the Hope Diamond.

The fact is that the Hope Diamond has passed through many hands….famous hands. It has a wonderful and storied past. It was donated to the Smithsonian Institute on November 10, 1958 by a New York jeweler, Harry Winston. The Hope Diamond is a blue grey diamond with clarity of VS1. There have been a great many diamonds discovered that are larger, more expensive, and that have fewer flaws than the Hope Diamond….but without the magical history of the Hope. You've probably heard the "fact" that diamonds cannot be destroyed (diamonds are forever). This is another misconception. It's true that only a diamond can scratch another diamond, but diamonds can be brittle and can be chipped if they aren't cared for.

 There's a "true" story that Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in vinegar in order to impress Marc Anthony by consuming the most expensive meal ever. Did it happen? It's debatable. It IS possible for vinegar to dissolve pearls, but the size of the pearl and the acidity of the vinegar would affect the time it would take. So this one is a definite "maybe." Some misconceptions are just more fun than cold hard facts.