A small blue diamond with inclusions, seen as dark spots. Fittingly, the birth of a blue diamond like the Hope requires a complex geologic sequence, a new study published Wednesday in the journal Nature suggests. Blue diamonds are the rarest diamonds on Earth. (The study authors did not study the Hope Diamond itself, but Post said the gem is representative of natural blue diamonds.) The Smithsonian has acquired a few blue diamonds, mostly scraps from cut gems, it is willing to sacrifice, Post said.

Source: Washington Post August 01, 2018 17:04 UTC