The Hope Diamond in its Cartier setting

Yesterday, for the first time since it was donated, the Hope Diamond went on display without a mounting. To mark its 50th anniversary at the Smithsonian' Museum of Natural History, the renowned diamond is being displayed for the first time as a stand-alone gem, with no setting at all.

The stone will be displayed "naked" while a new setting is prepared by Harry Winston, Jewelers, the company that donated the stone to the museum. Until yesterday, the stone has never been on public view as an unset stone, although it was removed from its setting on rare occasions for research and cleaning.

Since 1912, the 45.52-carat diamond has been in a platinum Cartier setting, surrounded by 16 white pear-shaped and cushion-cut diamonds, suspended from a chain containing 45 diamonds. The diamond will return to this historic setting in late 2010.

The stand-alone diamond will remain on exhibit in the museum while a new temporary setting is fabricated for display in April 2010. The new setting, designed by Harry Winston Inc., is the winner of an online vote.