Today, let’s discuss a rare deep pink spinel – the Hope Spinel.
This spinel is one of the “Hope Collection of Gems,” along with a blue diamond (Hope Diamond) and a baroque pearl (Hope Pearl), all once owned by Henry Philip Hope. These gems are named after their owner and embody the meaning of “hope,” representing some of the world’s most outstanding and rare gemstones.
Henry Philip Hope, one of the greatest gem collectors of the 19th century, owned about 700 gems in his lifetime. Although he spent many years searching for and acquiring top-tier gems, in his later years, having no children, he gifted his gems and jewelry to his nephew. After Henry Philip Hope’s death, his nephew’s grandsons sold many of these jewels, including the Hope Spinel we’re discussing today.
The Hope Spinel weighs 50.13 carats and is octagon-cut. SSEF has confirmed its origin from an ancient mine. This beautiful spinel is set in a 19th-century silver and gold brooch. It’s not only similar in size to a rose but also in color, boasting an excellent rose hue.
Throughout history, the Hope Spinel has passed through many owners:
- Henry Philip Hope (1774-1839)
- Henry Thomas Hope, Philip’s nephew (1808-1862)
- Anne Adele Hope, Thomas’s wife (? – 1884)
- Lord Francis Hope, Adele’s grandson (1866-1941)
- On July 17, 1917, Christie’s held the “Hope Heirloom Auction,” where the Hope Spinel was sold for 1,060 pounds.
- Lady Mount Stephen (1864-1933)
- Elsie Reford, Lady Mount Stephen’s niece (1872-1967)
The spinel was carefully preserved by Lady Mount Stephen’s descendants until September 24, 2015, when it was auctioned at Bonhams in London.
Its last owner before the auction was a direct descendant who knew it as “Aunt Gian’s (Lady Mount Stephen’s) Hope Spinel” from the moment he received it. A handwritten note describing it as the spinel-ruby from the Hope collection was included in the box with the gem.
Although the Hope Spinel’s carat weight is not extraordinary, it possesses incredible clarity and impeccable cutting, leading Bonhams to classify it as an “Extraordinary Treasure.” The spinel ultimately sold for an astonishing 962,500 pounds, which Emily Barber of Bonhams described as “incredible.”
Emily Barber added more information about the spinel: Henry Philip Hope wanted these collections to be scientifically and properly arranged. He stored these gems in a custom-made mahogany cabinet, with the most outstanding pieces kept in the 16th drawer. These treasures included the Hope Diamond, the Hope Pearl (then the largest natural baroque pearl), a 133-carat emerald (once belonging to Tipu Sultan), and this Hope Spinel.
The fact that this spinel was stored alongside the Hope Diamond testifies to its importance, and Henry Philip Hope hoped this arrangement would ensure future generations would hold it in high regard.
The Legendary Hope Spinel: One of Hope’s ‘Famous Trio’ Shatters World Record at Auction!
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