Heart of the Ocean

The Heart of the Ocean is the name of the blue diamond in the necklace featured prominently in the 1997 blockbuster film "Titanic". It is based on the famous Hope Diamond (which never traveled on the "Titanic").

The film

In the film, treasure hunter Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) searches for the necklace, which he believes to be within the wreck of the RMS "Titanic". His hunch seems to be confirmed when his team salvages a drawing, dated the day the Titanic sank, in which a woman is portrayed wearing the necklace. The necklace was fashioned from a large blue diamond worn by Louis XVI. Shortly after his execution in 1793, the diamond disappeared and was recut into a heart like shape, known as "The Heart of the Ocean". The story of the heart of the ocean is very like the story of the Hope Diamond, except that the Hope Diamond was worn by Louis XIV in a royal necklace rather than a crown.

The woman in the pictures, Rose DeWitt Bukater (played by Gloria Stewart and Kate Winslett) contacts Lovett and is flown out to his recovery ship whwere she relates the story of her trip. She reveals that her fiancé Caledon Hockley (Billy Zane) had bought the "Le Coeur de la Mer" necklace as a symbol of his love for her. Rose wore the necklace when Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) drew her nude, the very drawing that was later salvaged. When Rose and Jack return to her room after running around the ship fleeing Spicer Lovejoy, Cal's valet, he meets them outside the door and chastises them, taking hold of Jack's arm and stealthily dropping the necklace into Jack's coat undetected. As soon as they enter the room, they are confronted by Cal, who claims Jack has stolen the necklace. In a short search of Jack, the diamond is found in the coat he is wearing. Jack's pleas of innocence are thrown in doubt when it is discovered that he has "borrowed" the coat he is wearing to sneak into first class, and he is branded a thief.

Before the "Titanic" sinks, Cal puts his outer coat on Rose in a show of care for her, forgetting that the necklace was in its pocket. When the "Titanic" sinks, Rose is still wearing the coat. After being rescued from the water and traveling to New York City, Rose discovers the necklace in the coat.

At the end of the film, Rose walks alone to the stern of the salvage ship and opens her hands to reveal the necklace, which she has kept all of her life. She lets the necklace fall from her hand and into the water.

Origin

The idea of a blue diamond originates from the 1943 film version of "Titanic," where a blue diamond plays an important role in a love affair as well. In the film the diamond was stolen, and creates a dramatic break in a romantic relationship.

Actual necklace

Jewelers Asprey & Garrard were inspired to make a real "Heart of the Ocean" diamond necklace.. The result was a 170 carat (34 g) heart shaped sapphire with 65 diamonds, totalling 30 carats (6 g). Celine Dion wore it at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony as she sang Titanic's theme song "My Heart Will Go On." It was later sold at a benefit auction for $2.2 million, to Céline Dion's husband René Angélil. [http://www.cyber-depot.com/titanic.html Titanic Heart of the Ocean Necklace and Titanic Jewelry ] ] The necklace now resides at the National Shipwreck Museum in Charlestown, Cornwall.

Jeweler Harry Winston also created a "Heart of the Ocean" blue diamond necklace. The $20 million necklace was originally worn by Gloria Stuart.

References