Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Marilyn Monroe and Madonna told me so! That is… unless those diamonds are cursed! This episode is a deep-dive into the Hope Diamond, a 45.52 carat blue diamond in the collection of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Come for an almost too-thorough history, stay for stories about a blingy great dane named Mike.
Jan 2024
Episode 105: Handling the Hope Diamond
Dr. Jeffrey Post, the recently retired curator for gems and minerals at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, joined us to discuss the stories behind gemstones, his favorite moments from a 40-year career, and, of course, the Hope Diamond.
53m 36s
Jul 2020
Diamond Wars | The Future of the Diamond Industry | 8
Today we conclude our Diamond Wars series. These precious stones are known to be undeniably beautiful, rare and a symbol of luxury. But diamonds have also been associated with war, human rights abuses and death. In response, consumers these days are demanding more transparency ab ... Show More
20m 49s
May 2020
Diamonds: Articles of Interest #11
Diamonds represent value, in all its multiple meanings: values, as in ethics, and value as in actual price. But what are these rocks actually worth? The ethics and costs of diamond rings have shifted with society, from their artificial scarcity perpetuated by DeBeers to their art ... Show More
31m 20s
Aug 2018
The Curse of the Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is one of the most iconic items in the Smithsonian's collections, but this glittering gem is rumored to have a dark side. French monarchs, an heiress, and at least one unlucky postman have met misfortune after possessing it—though does that really constitute a cu ... Show More
27m 18s