D.C. Insurance Dept. Denies Birth Control Coverage Meddling
Controversy Over Rhee Now to Include Sex, Congress
Report: CCDC Split From UDC Is "Critical To Success"
D.C. United Icon Ben Olsen To Retire
Northeast Post Office Branch Spared From Closure List
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History held a press conference this morning (the Post even sent someone to cover it) to show off the Hope Diamond, now on display for the first time ever without any kind of setting. The 45.52-carat diamond has been at the museum for 50 years, but always in its traditional setting, a pendant circled by smaller diamonds on a diamond necklace. The naked blue gem will now remain on display until April 2010, when it will be placed into a temporary new setting, and then sometime later, returned to its original setting. 
Courtesy Smithsonian
Smithsonian Unveils Hope Diamond, Unadorned
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebookComments (17) [rss]
Post a comment (Comment Policy)
Tips
Contribute
Latest Tip:
Does anyone know about the armed robbery on 13th NW last night in Columbia Heights? The helicopters
[more]
Best of all, you get to view it for free!
The diamond is also cursed.
the most expensive thing you will not have had to pay for?
you will be completely safe if carry some mugwort and look at it with only one eye...
And whatever you do, never, ever give the Hope Diamond the finger. Otherwise, you will be haunted by the ghosts of Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, and Bing Crosby's will croon nonstop while trying to get you to drink fresh, delicious Minute Maid Orange Juice. You'll swear you've gone to hell.
Can someone explain why they are putting it in a new setting? Did the owner look at it one day and decide the current one was "too 80's"?
can't say for sure but it war probaly overwhelming the diamond - first time I saw it it just did not look as big as i had expected ... that happens often
TWSS.
"...first time I saw it it just did not look as big as i had expected ... that happens often." Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tell me about it.
That's what she said.
You have to remove the setting in order to mount it in the Staff of Ra. Only then can you descend into the map room in the Well of Souls and use it to find the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Duh.
Now I know why my face is melting.
So begins the script of Night at the Museum III...
When I was a kid, I thought the Hope Diamond belonged to Bob Hope.
OK - I need to type slower or put my glasses back on!
meh
I muddled my way (successfully) through the whole engagement ring thing, but I think "sparkly rocks" are right up there with premium vodka and Madonna as the most artificially valued items foisted on man kind.
Even more so. The De Beers cartel is possibly the most successful example in modern history of someone generating demand for something that would otherwise be nearly worthless:
http://www.theatlantic.com/past/issues/82feb/8202diamond1.htm