The Hot Rock Trivia Quiz

Answer: The first diamond found in South Africa

The Eureka was the first diamond to be found in South Africa. In 1866 it was literally picked up from the ground by a 15 year old boy when he saw something shining in the sun. It was put on display at the 1867 Paris Exhibition, after which it returned to South Africa where the Governor of Cape Colony bought it for £500.

He took it with him to America, where it stayed for the next 100 years. It was cut and polished from the rough size of 21 carats to 10.73 carats at some time during this period. 100 years after it was discovered De Beers purchased it and donated it to the South African people.

It can be seen in the Kimberley Mine Museum.

Answer: Blue

The Hope diamond may, at one time, have been part of the Blue Tavernier Diamond owned by King Louis XIV of France. This was stolen during the French revolution and many believe the Hope was cut from it, but this has never been proved. It was purchased in 1830 by Mr Hope, an English banker. Bad luck and tragedy has followed the owners ever since.

His son lost his fortune shortly after inheriting the diamond. It was then bought by a widow, Mrs McLean. Her only son was killed in an accident, she lost her money and committed suicide.

The diamond then came into the hands of a New York diamond dealer, but legends about it were circulating and his clients refused to have anything to do with it. It is now in the Smithsonian Institute.

Answer: Napoleon's step daughter

This 20 carat peach coloured stone is named after the Queen of Holland, who was Napoleon Bonaparte's step daughter, the daughter of Empress Josephine.
Although not named until Napoleonic times the stone had been part of the French crown jewels since at least 1691. It is shown in an inventory of that year. In 1792 it was stolen, but was recovered a year later. Many of the French crown jewels were sold in 1887 but the Hortensia was one that was retained, and it can be seen in the Louvre.

Answer: The Tower of London

The Cullinan I, or Star of Africa, is set in the sceptre, which is part of the British crown jewels. These are kept in the Tower of London and can be viewed when the tower is open. This diamond was cut from the 3,106 carat Cullinan, which was discovered in South Africa.

When cut this massive stone yielded ten major and ninety six smaller stones. There were signs the the Cullinan might have been part of an even larger diamond, but despite vigorous searching no sign of the other part of it has been discovered.

Answer: James I

The Sancy probably originated in India, but it's validated history begins in 1570 when it was purchased by Nicholas de Sancy. He loaned it to Henry III of France and Henry IV of France before selling it to James I of England. After that it was briefly owned by Charles I of England.

After he was deposed his son, James, fled to France with the diamond, which he was forced to sell. It became part of the French crown jewels, but disappeared during the French revolution. It surfaced again in 1828 when it was offered for sale at an auction, was displayed at the 1867 Paris Exposition and then disappeared again, this time for forty years.

In 1906 it was bought by William Astor and the Astor family held it for the next 72 years, before selling it to the Louvre museum, where it still resides.

Answer: Mountain of Light

The Koh-i-Noor has the longest known history of any of the great diamonds of the world. The history starts in 1304 when it was the property of the Persian Emperors. It may even have been set in the fabled Peacock Throne. After the Persian empire crumbled the diamond came into Indian ownership. It was appropriated by the East India Company who presented it to Queen Victoria.
She first wore it as a brooch but later had it mounted in the state crown.
When first presented to Victoria it weighed 198 carats but re-cutting to set it in the crown reduced this to 108 carats.

Answer: Audrey Hepburn

The Tiffany diamond is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever found. It was found in South Africa in 1877 and purchased by jeweller Charles Tiffany. At 128 carats it is some two and half times larger than the Hope diamond.

It has only been worn very seldom, once by Mrs Sheldon Whitehouse at the Tiffany ball held in 1957, where it was mounted in a necklace of white diamonds, and once by Audrey Hepburn when doing publicity shots for her film "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Lady Gaga and Beyonce have also worn it.

Answer: His sword

The Regent diamond was among the crown jewels of France that were stolen in 1792. By 1801 they had been found and returned, and Napoleon used it to decorate the hilt of his battle sword. When his second wife returned to Austria after his death the gem went with her, but her father gifted it back to France.

It can now be seen in the Louvre along with other items of the French crown jewels. It is 140 carats in size, and has a very slight blue tinge to the colour.

Answer: Topkapi Palace

According to the legend a poor fisherman in Istanbul was returning home when he saw something shining in some litter. He picked it up, not knowing what it was. After carrying it around for a few days he took it to a jeweller in the market. The jeweller looked at it and told him it was just a pretty piece of glass, but he would give him three spoons for it because he felt sorry for him.

The fisherman took the three spoons, leaving the jeweller with an immense treasure. The 86 carat pear shaped gem is now in the Topkapi Palace as part of the Imperial Treasury.

Answer: Garfield and Friends

Mark Evans claims credit for adding references to this diamond to "Garfield and Friends". It even has one whole episode devoted to it, "The Curse of Klopman". It is also the subject of a well known joke

"A businessman boarded a plane to find sitting next to him an elegant woman wearing the largest, most stunning diamond ring he had ever seen. He asked her about it. "This is the Klopman diamond," she said. "It is beautiful, but it's like the Hope diamond; there is a terrible curse that goes with it." "What's the curse?" the man asked. "Mr. Klopman."

The diamond is legendary, and, as is right and proper for a legend, is said to be huge, but it is doubtful as to whether it ever actually existed.