The world’s most famous diamonds carry more than carat weight. They carry stories of conquest, theft, royal pageantry and personal tragedy. Those stories grew into legends — curses, blessings, and romantic origin myths. Below I look closely at five of the best known gems: what they are, where they came from, and why the legends around them still make headlines. I also explain the practical reasons behind each legend so you can tell fact from fiction.
1. Koh-i-Noor (The Mountain of Light) — 105.6 ct
What it is: The Koh-i-Noor is now 105.6 carats after recutting in 1852. It is traditionally described as a pale, brilliant-cut diamond. Its origins are usually placed in the Indian subcontinent, likely from Golconda mines.
The legend: The Koh-i-Noor is said to carry a curse that harms any man who wears it. The stone supposedly brings misfortune or loss of power to male owners, while it brings good fortune to women.
Why the legend exists: The Koh-i-Noor passed through many hands under violent and political circumstances. It was seized during wars, transferred as part of treaties, and recut on Queen Victoria’s orders. Men who held it were often deposed or killed, but so were many rulers in the turbulent regions where the diamond changed hands. That historical pattern created a narrative of a curse. The “only women are safe” angle likely served to justify the stone’s final placement in the British Crown Jewels — a female monarch was considered a suitable wearer.
2. Hope Diamond — 45.52 ct (deep blue, Type IIb)
What it is: The Hope Diamond is about 45.52 carats, a deep blue, nitrogen-poor Type IIb diamond. It displays peculiar optical behavior, including a sometimes-noted red phosphorescence after exposure to ultraviolet light, which helped fuel its mystique.
The legend: The Hope is often described as cursed. Stories link it to bankruptcies, murders, suicides and general bad luck among its owners.
Why the legend exists: The stone’s documented history includes dramatic events: it was part of a larger jewel that went missing during the French Revolution. Several owners suffered misfortune or financial ruin in periods before or after possessing the stone. Newspapers and showmen amplified these coincidences in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Scientifically, the Hope’s blue color comes from traces of boron, not a supernatural force. Its reputation is a mix of sensational press, a checkered provenance, and human tendency to link unrelated tragedies to an object with a dramatic backstory.
3. Cullinan and the Great Star of Africa — 3,106 ct rough → Cullinan I 530.4 ct
What it is: The Cullinan rough weighed 3,106 carats when discovered in South Africa in 1905. The largest polished piece, Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa, is 530.4 carats. It is a top-quality D-color brilliant and is set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.
The legend: Cullinan is less associated with curses and more with extraordinary fortune and imperial power. The mythic element is its sheer size and the drama of cutting such a large rough stone.
Why the legend exists: Finding the largest gem-quality rough diamond in recorded history created near-instant myth. The cutting process itself was an act of high drama: Joseph Asscher, the Amsterdam-based firm that cleaved it, insured themselves and made a public show of skill. The Cullinan’s fate — portions set in the British Crown Jewels — linked it to monarchy and state rituals. Legends around Cullinan reflect human awe at scale and the political symbolism of great gems rather than claims of supernatural harm.
4. Regent (Pitt) Diamond — 140.64 ct
What it is: The Regent diamond weighs about 140.64 carats. It was found in India in 1698 and later became part of France’s crown jewels. Its cut is a brilliant that maximizes brilliance and fire.
The legend: Unlike the Hope or Koh-i-Noor, the Regent has a reputation for bringing good luck. It survived the French Revolution and was worn by kings and emperors, including Louis XV and Napoleon.
Why the legend exists: The Regent’s documented survival through revolution and war made it a symbol of continuity and good fortune. Its exceptional cut and brilliance also helped create an emotional reaction: people historically read luck into beauty and endurance. The “lucky” story is as much a product of successful continuity as any mystical property.
5. Orlov Diamond — ≈189.62 ct (rose-cut)
What it is: The Orlov is a rose-cut diamond of about 189.62 carats. It sits in the Imperial Sceptre of Russia and has a slightly irregular, rose-like shape from traditional Indian cutting methods.
The legend: A persistent tale says the Orlov was stolen from the eye of a Hindu temple idol and smuggled out of India. In Russia, it became a romantic gift to Catherine the Great from Count Grigori Orlov.
Why the legend exists: The temple-theft story fits a common colonial-era narrative that exoticizes Indian culture and justifies the gem’s removal. The romantic gift story in Russia helped elevate the gem into a symbol of imperial romance and power. Both stories fed each other: a dramatic origin plus regal use equals a compelling myth. In reality, provenance from the 18th century is often thin and repeated anecdotes gain traction because they explain something otherwise opaque.
Why these legends last
Legends attach to famous diamonds because of three practical things: dramatic provenance, political stakes, and human storytelling. Diamonds move through heads of state, thefts, and auctions. Each transfer happens during conflict or upheaval. That creates a pattern easy to narrate as “curse” or “luck.” Second, the gems are rare and beautiful, which invites projection. People want simple reasons for complex events. Finally, sensational press and showmanship — 19th-century newspapers, exhibitions, jewelers’ publicity — codified these stories into popular culture.
Bottom line: The curses are cultural products, not physical properties. Diamonds don’t carry intent. But their histories often involve violence, loss and political change. That makes the myths believable and keeps them alive.
I am G S Sachin, a gemologist with a Diploma in Polished Diamond Grading from KGK Academy, Jaipur. I love writing about jewelry, gems, and diamonds, and I share simple, honest reviews and easy buying tips on JewellersReviews.com to help you choose pieces you’ll love with confidence.