Making the Heart of the Ocean Real

In the 1999 hit blockbuster "Titanic," a large blue diamond called The Heart of the Ocean became a prominent element. In fact, it was the hunt for this rare, large blue diamond that initially led the characters to each other, allowing the heroine Rose DeWitt Bukater to relate her entire story on the ill-fated ship to treasure hunter Brock Lovett and the audience.

The Heart of the Ocean is, of course, a fictional diamond based on the great 45.52 carat deep-blue Hope Diamond, which is housed in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. The diamond used in the filming, now stored in the archives of Twentieth Century Fox, was made from a low-cost blue cubic zirconium set in a white gold necklace. But it became so popular that rich personalities became interested to acquire real Hearts.

Master jewellers were commissioned to make a real Heart of the Ocean using the original design. They were able to create a platinum necklace with the Heart at its centre. The Heart was a heart-shaped Ceylon sapphire centred by a row of 65 pure round diamonds, which totalled 36 carats. It was exactly valued at 2.3 million pounds. This particular piece was sold at a benefit auction at 1.45 million pounds and was worn by singer Celine Dion when she sang the movie's love theme during the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony.

At the same time, another jeweller made an even more expensive Heart of the Ocean. He used a real 15-carat blue diamond for the piece. Valued at a hefty 13.26 million pounds, this particular Heart was worn by Gloria Stuart during the 1998 Academy Awards.

Since the release of the film, many less costly reproductions became available. In most cases, the Hearts are made of blue cubic zirconium.