Beautifully Cursed
By Sophia Primos — October 29 2026
Diamonds may be forever, but so are the stories that come with them.
Throughout history, jewelry has symbolized love, wealth, and beauty. But some of the most famous pieces are known for something far darker. From jewels rumored to bring tragedy to gemstones said to carry curses, their haunting stories have fascinated people for generations.
The Hope Diamond
Since its discovery in 17th-century India, the mysterious Hope Diamond has changed owners several times, leaving a trail of bad luck in its wake.
Legend says French merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier stole the 115-carat blue diamond from a Hindu statue, where it served as an eye. When they discovered it missing, the priests allegedly cursed whoever possessed the gem. Some accounts say that Tavernier died shortly afterward, though historical records show he lived into his 80s.
The next owner was King Louis XIV, who gave the diamond the title of the “French Blue.” Five of his children died in infancy, and he himself died of gangrene in 1715.
The diamond remained in the French royal collection during the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. They were executed in 1793 during the French Revolution, but the diamond had already been stolen in September 1792 — and was not seen for 20 years.
In 1812, a smaller blue diamond appeared in London that historians now believe is the recut French Blue. Banking heir Henry Philip Hope acquired it and listed the diamond, now called the “Hope Diamond,” in his 1839 gem catalog just months before his untimely death. The diamond remained in the Hope family until 1901, when it passed through the hands of several jewelers before Pierre Cartier purchased it in 1910 and brought it to the United States. To boost sales, Cartier began embellishing stories about the Hope Diamond’s curse.
In 1911, Ned and Evalyn Walsh McLean purchased the gem after it was reset into a necklace. Evalyn Walsh McLean believed objects others considered unlucky brought her good luck, so she often wore it at her lavish parties. But, she was no exception to the gem’s curse. Her mother-in-law died, followed by her son at the age of nine. Her husband left her for another woman and later passed away in a psychiatric hospital. The curse allegedly followed Walsh McLean until her death.
In 1949, Harry Winston purchased the Hope Diamond, along with the rest of Evalyn Walsh McLean’s jewelry collection, as part of his traveling jewelry show.
In 1958, Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian, where it remains today and attracts millions of visitors each year. Although its curse has never been proven, the Hope Diamond’s haunting reputation is now as famous as the blue gemstone itself.
The Delhi Purple Sapphire
Also known as “The Gem of Sorrow,” the Delhi Purple Sapphire has a history as mysterious as its name. Despite being called a sapphire, the gemstone is actually an amethyst. Much like the Hope Diamond, it is rumored to have been stolen from a Hindu Temple.
According to legend, Colonel W. Ferris brought the gemstone home to England, where he began to suffer a series of financial misfortunes. Shortly after, members of his family also suffered from serious illnesses, causing him to suspect the gem was cursed. His theory grew when his friend allegedly died after borrowing the sapphire.
In 1890, the stone was given to Edward Heron-Allen, who also began to experience a series of unfortunate events. Heron-Allen lent the stone to a friend, who began to suffer misfortunes. When the friend returned the gem, Heron-Allen’s luck turned bad again. To get rid of it, he cast it into a local canal, but the stone resurfaced months later and returned to him. After this, Heron-Allen packed the Delhi Sapphire into seven boxes filled with charms and deposited it in his bank safe, with instructions not to open it until three years after his death.
Following his death in 1943, Heron-Allen’s daughter inherited the jewel. She donated it to London’s Natural History Museum, where it was unveiled for public display in 1972.
With the jewel came a note written by Heron-Allen, “whoever opens this box, do whatever you want with it. My advice, however, is to throw it into the sea.”
La Peregrina Pearl
Known as “The Wanderer,” La Peregrina is one of history’s most famous pearls. It was discovered in the Gulf of Panama in the 16th century, and the 50-carat pearl eventually reached the Spanish royal family.
One of La Peregrina’s most infamous owners was allegedly Queen Mary I of England, also known as “Bloody Mary.” Mary was notorious for her persecution of Protestants, which earned her the nickname that would follow her long after death.
Although royal portraits show her wearing an enormous pearl pendant, historians still question whether it was actually La Peregrina. Still, the pearl’s possible connection to one of England’s most controversial monarchs has added a layer of intrigue to its history.
Over the next several centuries, La Peregrina witnessed the rise and falls of many royal dynasties across Europe, before the pearl eventually made its way back to England. In 1969, actor Richard Burton purchased La Peregrina for his wife, Elizabeth Taylor. She quickly became one of the pearl’s most famous owners. In 1972, she worked with Cartier to redesign La Peregrina into an elaborate necklace, which she owned until her death in 2011. Afterward, it was sold for $11.8 million.
Although La Peregrina has no documented curse, its centuries of royal and controversial ownership and changing locations have allowed the pearl to outlive its owners and carry their stories forward.
Jewelry has always been more than just an accessory. Passed down through generations, these pieces carry memories and stories of those who came before us.
Part of antique jewelry’s appeal is the mystery surrounding its past. Who owned it? Where has it been? What stories does it hold? People may be initially drawn to jewelry for its beauty, but a mysterious past can make a piece even more intriguing.
From the tragedies surrounding the Hope Diamond, to the mysterious past of La Peregrina, each piece is known for much more than its beauty or value. Their chilling stories are passed down like the jewelry itself.
Though no evidence suggests any of these jewels are truly cursed, their haunting histories have fascinated people for centuries and continue to captivate us today.
For more fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content, keep reading Square Magazine. Follow Square on Instagram.
All images belong to their respective owners.