Feature Gems & Gemology, Summer 1989, Vol. 25, No. 2

Grading the Hope Diamond


For the first time ever, the famous Hope diamond was graded by a widely recognized system. Although the 45.52-ct weight was confirmed, the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory graders found the clarity—recently reported as "apparently flawless”—to be VS1.  Color graded "fancy dark grayish blue,'' the Hope phosphoresces an exciting red to short-wave U. V. radiation.