Steinbeck is not alone in his belief—however romanticized—that some of the earth’s most extraordinary treasures carry with them a curse. Mythology has been an integral part of human society for millennia, so it’s no surprise that gemstones of otherworldly beauty are often blamed for misfortune. The desire to assign blame for bad luck or tragedy is ancient. If a farmer’s crops fail in the same year he acquires a stunning horse, could it be the result of a curse?
Whether or not you believe in curses, their place in history is undeniably fascinating. Join us as we explore some of history’s most notorious gemstones—natural wonders that, after passing through countless hands and leaving destruction in their wake, make us wonder: Is there something more at play?
La Peregrina Pearl
| Portrait of Queen Mary. Circa 1555. Source |
La Peregrina is one of the most famous pearls in the world, with a recorded history dating back to 1527. Its name, "La Peregrina," means "pilgrim" or "wanderer" in Spanish, reflecting its storied journey through time. At its discovery, the pearl weighed 55.95 carats, making it the largest ever found at the time. Today, it remains one of the largest and most perfectly symmetrical pear-shaped pearls in existence.
Discovered off the coast of Panama, La Peregrina was brought to Spain and gifted to King Philip II (1527–1598), who gifted it to his wife, Queen Mary I. It became a favored piece for English and Spanish queens, including Margaret of Austria, Elisabeth of France and Mariana of Austria, each of whom had the pearl featured in their official portraits.
| You can see the La Peregrina pearl around the neck of Margaret de Austria by Juan pantoja de la Cruz (1584-1611). Circa 1605. Source |
In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother, Joseph Bonaparte was installed as King of Spain. His reign lasted only five years but he took La Peregrina with him when his throne was usurped and he was forced to flee for England. The pearl was later passed to his nephew, Napoleon III. After being overthrown, Napoleon III took the pearl with him to England during his exile, where he sold it to James Hamilton, Marquess, and later Duke of Abercorn. The pearl’s remarkable size made it heavy, causing it to fall from its necklace setting twice—both times it was recovered.
The Hamilton family eventually sold La Peregrina at auction in 1969, which caught the attention of Richard Burton, one of the 20th century’s most notable jewelry connoisseurs. As the husband of Elizabeth Taylor, Burton was known not only for his award-winning acting but also for his significant contributions to Taylor’s museum-quality jewelry collection. Taylor adored the pearl, which Burton gave her as a Valentine’s Day gift. However, the pearl briefly went missing, only to be discovered in the mouth of Taylor’s dog, being used as a chew toy.
In 2011, La Peregrina was sold at auction for $11 million to an anonymous buyer, cementing its place as one of the most storied jewels in history.
The Curse:
| La Peregrina pearl in Cartier necklace, sold in Christie’s 2011 sale of Elizabeth Taylor’s collection. Source |
The alleged curse of La Peregrina Pearl is deeply intertwined with the tumultuous and often tragic fates of its owners. Whether these misfortunes are the result of fame, power and wealth—or the curse of the pearl itself—remains a matter of debate. One of the earliest alleged victims of the pearl’s curse was Queen Mary I of England. Her reign was fraught with political instability, including a failed attempt to restore Catholicism and her inability to produce an heir. Mary died in 1558, and many have since associated her misfortunes with La Peregrina.
Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, also experienced a dramatic fall from grace. After Napoleon III was deposed and exiled, Eugénie fled France, losing much of her wealth and status, with some attributing this misfortune to the pearl's curse.
The pearl's more modern owners, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, were no exception to this streak of ill fortune. Their highly publicized and passionate relationship was equally tumultuous, leading to a divorce, remarriage and eventual permanent separation—again fueling the legend of La Peregrina’s curse.
The Koh-i-Noor Diamond
| The Koh-i-Noor diamond in its original setting, from the exhibition catalog from the World’s Fair. 1851. Source |
Found at an astounding 186 carats, the Koh-i-Noor, meaning “Mountain of Light” in Persian, is one of the most famous and storied diamonds in the world. Believed to have been mined in the 13th century from the legendary Kollur mine in present-day Andhra Pradesh, the diamond’s origins are shrouded in mystery and myth. While some tales place its discovery centuries earlier, modern research suggests it was unearthed around 1740.
Officially, the Koh-i-Noor was introduced on the global stage during the violent invasion of Northern India by the fearsome Persian ruler Nader Shah in 1739. It then passed through the hands of powerful dynasties and empires across South and West Asia, each new ruler laying claim to its magnificence, though often at a terrible cost. With every transfer, the diamond's legend grew—both as a symbol of immense power and of the tragic misfortunes that often befell its possessors.
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Painting of Maharaja Sher Singh wearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond by August Schoefft. Circa 1841–42. Source
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In 1850, after the British annexation of Punjab, the Koh-i-Noor was surrendered to Queen Victoria as part of the Treaty of Lahore. Perhaps shockingly, the diamond's initial reception in Britain was underwhelming. When displayed at the Great Exhibition in 1851, its dull, outdated cut failed to impress a public that expected brilliance. Prince Albert then ordered the gem to be masterfully re-cut into its current oval shape, transforming it into the dazzling masterpiece it remains today.
Since it has been in British hands, the Koh-i-Noor has exclusively graced the crowns of female members of the British royal family, a tradition likely inspired by the legends of its curse, said to bring misfortune to any man who wears it. Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth each adorned themselves with the diamond, the latter famously wearing it during her coronation. Today, the Koh-i-Noor reigns as a jewel of extraordinary splendor, displayed in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, where it continues to awe visitors from around the globe.
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The Koh-i-Noor diamond set at the front of the crown made for Queen Mother Elizabeth, set on her coffin in April 2002. Source
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The Curse:
Throughout its history, many powerful men who owned the Koh-i-Noor faced tragic ends. To this day, some still believe the curse holds power, and it is worn only by female members of the British royal family, who seem unaffected by the tragic fates that plagued its previous male owners. These are some of the men who donned the famous gem and met unfortunate fates:
- Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316): The diamond is believed to have been in the possession of the Delhi Sultanate under Khalji. His empire crumbled soon after his reign.
- Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan: The Koh-i-Noor was passed to the Mughals and became part of their royal treasury. Shah Jahan, who loved the diamond, was deposed by his own son, Aurangzeb, and imprisoned for the rest of his life.
- Nader Shah of Persia: In 1739, Nader Shah invaded India and took the Koh-i-Noor after his victory over the Mughals. Not long after, he was assassinated by his own guards.
- Ahmad Shah Durrani (of Afghanistan): The Koh-i-Noor passed to the Afghan Durrani Empire. The rulers of this empire also experienced a series of violent deaths and political instability.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh: In the early 19th century, the diamond was acquired by Ranjit Singh, ruler of the Sikh Empire. After his death, his empire collapsed, and the diamond was taken by the British in 1849 during the annexation of Punjab.
The Sansy Diamond
The gem now known as the Sancy Diamond began its journey as a much larger stone, possibly weighing over 100 carats, and was originally called the Balle de Flandres. It first appeared as part of Valentina Visconti’s dowry when she married Louis I, Duke of Orléans. The diamond eventually found its way to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who famously lost it in battle. After Charles's death, the diamond passed—through unknown circumstances—to his cousin, King Manuel I of Portugal.
| The Sansy diamond in the gallery of Apollo at the Louvre. 2016. Source |
When Portugal fell under Spanish rule, António, Prior of Crato, smuggled the gem out of the country and sold it to Nicholas de Harlay, Seigneur de Sancy, from whom the diamond takes its name. Sancy, a French diplomat, lent the gem to Henry III of France, who famously used it as an ornament to adorn a cap in an effort to hide his premature baldness. In March 1605, Sancy was forced to sell the diamond to King James VI and I of England and Scotland. By this time, the diamond had been re-cut and weighed approximately 53 carats.
The Sancy then became part of the royal jewels of Charles I of England and later, James II. After James II’s defeat and exile, the diamond was sold to Cardinal Mazarin in 1657, who bequeathed it to the French crown. The Sancy remained in French hands until it mysteriously disappeared during the chaos of the French Revolution.
For decades, the diamond passed through various European royal collections until it resurfaced in 1867 at the Paris Exposition, with a price tag of one million francs. After briefly vanishing from public view for another 40 years, the Sancy reappeared on the market in 1906 and was acquired by the Astor family, where it remained for 72 years. In 1978, the Sancy was sold to the Louvre, where it now resides alongside other legendary gems like the Regent Diamond and the Hortensia Diamond, cementing its place in history as one of the world’s most iconic jewels.
The Curse:
The curse of the Sancy Diamond is woven through the lives of its ill-fated owners, forming a throughline of tragedy. But this litany of unfortunate events begs the question: is the diamond itself the cause of these calamities, or merely an eerie coincidence? Does possession of this great jewel invite untimely death—often by assassination—or is such ill fate simply a consequence of being wealthy and powerful enough to own it in the first place?
| Portrait of Charles the Bold, 4th Duke of Burgundy after Rogier van der Weyden. Late 16th century. Source |
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy wore the Sancy as part of his battlefield regalia and in 1477, during the Battle of Nancy, Charles met his death on the battlefield. The diamond was lost, marking the first in a series of tragic turns for its owners. The Sancy later passed into the hands of Henry III of France. His reign, already marked by political instability and turmoil, came to a violent end in 1589 when he was assassinated by a fanatical monk. His successor, Henry IV of France, brought relative stability to the country, but he too fell victim to the curse, assassinated by a religious zealot in 1610.
The next to meet an equally grim fate Charles I of England. In 1649, he was executed by beheading during the English Civil War, his royal crown shattered along with his life. Finally, the diamond fell to James II of England, who was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and exiled, marking the end of his reign and the continued misfortune of those who owned the Sancy.
Whether the Sancy Diamond's curse is one of causation or coincidence remains a mystery. What is undeniable, however, is that its legacy is one stained with the blood of monarchs and the downfall of dynasties.
Interested in more fascinating gemstones? Explore our extensive collection!
