The year was 1997

• Diana, Princess of Wales, dies in an auto crash in Paris
• The Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle debuts in Japan
• At age 14, Tara Lipinski becomes the world’s youngest figure skating champion

Meanwhile . . .

One of the most beautiful and precious gems ever imagined is the Hope Diamond, a stone that has dazzled as many eyes as have beheld it.

The diamond is a perfect cut, 45.52 carats of glittering violet-blue, with sparkle in each and every one of its 74 facets.

It’s been stolen twice in its history. Diebold protects it now from ever being stolen again.

In its history, this most famous diamond has crossed oceans and continents, possessed both by kings and commoners. Its recorded history dates back to 1630 when it was believed found in its original size of 112 carats in the Golconda area of India. It was then made part of the statue of the god Rama Sita. Then it was stolen. It turned up again in 1642, bought by French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier.

In 1668, the stone was sold to Louis XIV, was recut to a smaller size, and became part of the French Crown Jewels, remaining so through the reins of Louis XV and Louis XVI. Then, during the French Revolution in 1792, it was stolen again and not seen for another 20 years.

Around 1820, the diamond turned up in England, recut to its present size. It became a part of the English Crown Jewels for 10 years under the rule of King George IV. Afterward, it was purchased by Henry Philip Hope, a London banker and gem collector, and remained in his family for 71 years. From then on, the diamond bore the Hope name.

Between 1901 and 1908 the diamond changed hands several times among merchants and collectors in London, England, New York City, N.Y., and Paris, France. In 1908, it was sold to the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul Hamid, then to Parisian jeweler Pierre Cartier. It landed in American hands in 1912 when wealthy Virginian Evalyn Walsh McLean bought it. Cartier designed its current setting to please McLean. The diamond is surrounded by 16 smaller, white diamonds and suspended from a platinum chain bearing 46 additional diamonds.

In 1949, famous New York City jeweler Harry Winston acquired the diamond from the McLean estate, then donated it in 1958 to the Smithsonian. It has been protected by Diebold ever since.

In the 1990s, Diebold was asked to design a new protective system for the Hope Diamond. It was to be the showpiece display at the entrance to the Smithsonian’s remodeled gemstone and mineral collection at the Annenberg Hooker Hall of geology, gems and minerals. The hall opened in September 1997.

It took a dozen Diebold associates more than 6,000 hours of work during two years to design and build the new display system for the diamond. When it was finished, the system was as unique as the stone it protects. The diamond’s case is made from exceptionally thick, yet clear “water white” security glass for maximum visibility and protection. At the close of viewing hours – and millions of people view the display annually – the diamond and its entire platform retract into a vault-like safe that is clad in marble and is a part of the pedestal’s base.

Diebold designed the display to withstand vibrations from thousands of visitors every day, but the diamond retreats into its safe in a fraction of a second if sensors pick up unusual events. Special alarms also protect the gemstone’s environment.

The materials and resources employed to design and build the diamond’s display system represented a gift from Diebold to the Smithsonian of approximately $500,000.

When on display, the platform rotates counterclockwise, stopping for 10 seconds at each quarter turn so as to be seen by many visitors all at one time. The previous display allowed only one viewer at a time. The display uses the same fiber optic lighting system used for the Crown Jewels of England.

And it still dazzles the eyes.