11 September 1792: The French Blue diamond is stolen

On this day in 1792, a riotous mob ransacked the French crown jewels and made off with the famous French Blue diamond.

Hope diamond in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History © Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Hope diamond in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
(Image credit: © Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Precious jewels often seem to cast a spell over people. But depending on whom you asked, this was quite literally so of the famous French Blue. A spectacular gem that belonged to the kings of France, the 112-carat diamond shines a lustrous deep-blue. But held under ultraviolet light, it glows a sinister red evidence to some that the diamond was cursed.

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Chris Carter
Wealth Editor, MoneyWeek

Chris Carter spent three glorious years reading English literature on the beautiful Welsh coast at Aberystwyth University. Graduating in 2005, he left for the University of York to specialise in Renaissance literature for his MA, before returning to his native Twickenham, in southwest London. He joined a Richmond-based recruitment company, where he worked with several clients, including the Queen’s bank, Coutts, as well as the super luxury, Dorchester-owned Coworth Park country house hotel, near Ascot in Berkshire.

Then, in 2011, Chris joined MoneyWeek. Initially working as part of the website production team, Chris soon rose to the lofty heights of wealth editor, overseeing MoneyWeek’s Spending It lifestyle section. Chris travels the globe in pursuit of his work, soaking up the local culture and sampling the very finest in cuisine, hotels and resorts for the magazine’s discerning readership. He also enjoys writing his fortnightly page on collectables, delving into the fascinating world of auctions and art, classic cars, coins, watches, wine and whisky investing.

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