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Naked Hope Diamond Is Rare Sight Indeed

The Hope Diamond went back on display yesterday at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. It is the first time the rare gem has been displayed "naked" -- that is, by itself rather than in a jeweled setting...

... The Hope Diamond was originally much larger but has been cut down over the years. Detailed records of its history begin when it was sold to the king of France in 1668. After numerous owners through the years, it was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958. When he donated the gem, American jeweler Harry Winston mailed the diamond in a plain brown envelope via U.S. mail!
Read entire article at The Washingron Post