George Switzer (mineralogist) - Smithsonian - Hope Diamond

Hope Diamond

Switzer, who was working as an associate curator at the time, first approached jeweler Harry Winston about donating the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian for a proposed national gem collection to be housed at the museum. Winston had purchased the Hope Diamond, which has been nicknamed the "King of Diamonds," in 1949 from the estate of Evalyn Walsh McLean, whose father had become wealthy during the gold rushes of the 1800s.

Winston was persuaded by Switzer's argument, and agreed to his proposition. He donated the 45.52 carats (9.10 g), blue Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1958. Winston mailed the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian wrapped in brown paper. The postage to send the Hope Diamond from New York City to its new home at the Smithsonian cost $145.29. Winston's wife, Edna Winston, later more formally presented the blue diamond to Switzer and Leonard Carmichael, the secretary of the Smithsonian at the time, on November 10, 1958. The Hope Diamond was placed on display, surrounded by a pendant of 16 white diamonds on a necklace containing over 45 other white diamonds.

The acquisition of the Hope Diamond by the Smithsonian, "...started the national collection.", according to Sorena Sorensen, the current chairwoman of the Smithsonian's mineral sciences department. Sorensen also stated that, "The idea for the national collection at the Smithsonian was a collaboration between Harry Winston and George (Switzer)."

Switzer reportedly began to wonder if there was some truth to the supposed Hope Diamond curse during a trip with the Diamond to the Louvre for the "Ten Centuries of French Jewelry" exhibition in April 1962. The Smithsonian had determined that secrecy was the best defense against the potential theft of the Hope Diamond. Switzer traveled to Paris with the Hope Diamond inside a velvet pouch, which had been specially sewn by his wife, Sue. The Hope Diamond was placed inside the pouch and then pinned inside Switzer's pants pocket.

Switzer's plane, Pan American Flight 116, which was supposed to fly first from Baltimore Friendship Airport, with several refueling stops, and continuing onto Paris, made a "hard landing" in Philadelphia, which nearly tore the plane's wing off. (Please note that some reports state that the hard landing was actually made in Pittsburgh, so there is some discrepancy.) Switzer's next flight arrived in Paris nearly nine hours late on the day that the Hope Diamond was supposed to go on exhibition. Switzer's car then got into a minor fender bender while traveling from the airport to the Louvre.