The Sun King's French Blue

The 45.52 carat blue Hope Diamond was found in India as a rough crystal weighing 112 carats. It first came to light when Jean Baptiste Tavernier, noted French traveler of the 17th century, purchased the stone and smuggled it to Paris, where he later sold it to Louis XIV. It was cut there into a triangular pear shaped stone weighing 67.50 carats and was then known as the French Blue or the Tavernier Blue. Louis gave the stone to Madame Montespan, his mistress, who soon went to royal discard and the stone was lost now. The diamond disappeared, and for many years it was not heard. Above is Tavernier's diagram of the diamond.