REPRODUCTIONS - After the release of the film in 1998, The J. Peterman Company sold less expensive reproductions. Their necklace consisted of 137 Austrian crystals and a detachable, inauthentic "blue diamond" pendant packaged in a navy blue, hinged presentation box. This is the only officially licensed reproduction of the necklace. This particular replica can still be found on the secondary market, although likely in used condition.

There are many other unofficial inspired reproductions available on the secondary market ranging in price from as little as $5 to thousands of dollars.

SUPERB PERFORMERS - Gloria Stuart is fantastic as the mature Rose Dawson, adding a touch of realism to the story and reminding us that memories are precious. Celine Dione gives us the haunting background music and Kate Winslett beautifully portrays Rose as a girl following her heart no matter what.

NECKLACE DESIGN

London-based jewelers Asprey & Garrard used cubic zirconias set in white gold to create an Edwardian-style necklace to be used as a prop in the film. Asprey & Garrard produced and designed the necklaces: the result was three different and unique designs. Two of their designs were used in the film while the other went unused until after the film had been released. The three necklaces are commonly known as the original prop, the J. Peterman necklace, and the Asprey necklace. The three necklaces are all very similar but have distinguishable differences.

The Original Necklace

The original necklace was the necklace seen throughout the film. This necklace has a large London-blue stone cut into a trillion/cleftless heart surrounded by white round cut cubic zirconias set in white gold. The chain is composed of a mix of round, pear, and marquise cut white cubic zirconias. The bail on this necklace was a heart cut white cubic zirconia attached to a white round cut stone which was attached to the cage on the main stone. The necklace is owned today by a private collector named George Holmes. However, it is currently being lent to James Cameron to display next to other props for tours in his office building in California.

The J. Peterman Necklace

Due to The J. Peterman Company's acquisition of this particular necklace through the sale of props from the film, this design is often referred to as the J. Peterman design, though officially the necklace does not hold this designation. This particular design is another blue cubic zirconia; however, it is cut into the shape of a heart rather than a trillion cut. The main stone is surrounded by round cut cubic zirconias and features a white round cut stone at the top where it attaches to the chain. The chain is composed of white round cut cubic zirconias, with a larger inverted pear cut cubic zirconia as the bail. This particular design is featured in the film for a brief moment when Caledon retrieves the necklace from his safe during the sinking, this is the only time the necklace is seen on screen. This particular necklace is believed to still be in the possession of the J. Peterman Company.

The Asprey & Garrard Necklace

The third and final design was not used in the film. After the film's success, Asprey & Garrard were commissioned to create an authentic Heart of the Ocean necklace using the original design. The result was a platinum-set, 171-carat (34.2 g) heart-shaped Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 103 diamonds. This design featured a much larger inverted pear shaped Ceylon sapphire with a subtle cleft to resemble a heart. The chain for this necklace also featured a mix of round, pear, and marquise cut white diamonds. The bail also featured a heart cut white diamond with another round cut diamond attached to an inverted pear shape diamond which was then attached to the cage of the main stone. The necklace was donated to Sotheby's auction house in Beverly Hills for an auction benefiting the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and Southern California's Aid For AIDS. It was sold to an unidentified Asprey client for $1.4 million, under the agreement that Celine Dion would wear it two nights later at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony. This necklace has also never been made available for public viewing.

SUPERB PERFORMERS - The story of the Hope Diamond bears many similarities to the story of the Heart of the Ocean with the obvious exception of the Hope Diamond not actually having been on board the Titanic. In the 1943 film Titanic, a blue diamond plays an important role in a love affair as well. A primary plot point in this earlier film is the theft of the diamond, which creates a dramatic break in a romantic relationship also similar to the 1997 film. 

THE 1997 FILM

In the 1997 film fictional treasure hunter Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) searches for a diamond necklace, which he believes lies within the wreck of the RMS Titanic. Lovett reveals that the necklace was fashioned from a large blue diamond worn by Louis XVI. Shortly after the King's execution in 1793, the diamond was cut into a heart and became known as The Heart of the Ocean. Lovett states that the Heart of the Ocean was 56 carats, which would make it more valuable than the Hope Diamond which is 45 carats. The story of the Heart of the Ocean is similar to the story of the Hope Diamond, except the Hope Diamond was worn by Louis XIV in a royal necklace rather than a crown. Lovett's hunch about the diamond's whereabouts seems to be confirmed when his team salvages a drawing in which a nude woman is wearing the necklace. The drawing is dated April 14, 1912, the day the Titanic sank.

Later on an elderly woman (Gloria Stuart) claiming to be the woman in the picture contacts Lovett and is flown out to his recovery ship. The elderly woman tells the story of her voyage on the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic. She reveals that although now known as Rose Dawson Calvert, she was once Rose DeWitt Bukater. During the film the audience's perspective alternates between the past and present as Rose shares her memories. Rose relates the details of the night she wore the necklace and her relationship with the artist of the drawing, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio).

On the night of the sinking the diamond changes hands a few times. First Rose and Jack return to her cabin where she opens a safe to show off the gem to Jack. While Jack examines the necklace Rose asks Jack if he would draw her like one of the girls from his portfolio. Jack accepts and Rose puts on the necklace to pose for a drawing. After Jack completes the portrait Rose asks Jack to put the necklace back in the safe. Rose and Jack leave the cabin in a hurry leaving Jack's drawings behind. Cal's bodyguard, Spicer Lovejoy, returns to the suite, fearing they have been discovered Jack and Rose run throughout the ship hoping to hide from Mr. Lovejoy. Cal returns to the cabin to discover Rose has taken off with Jack and in a jealous fit Cal hatches a plan to frame Jack.

Jack and Rose having successfully evaded Mr. Lovejoy proclaim they plan to run away together as the Titanic docks in New York. Just as they kiss tragedy befalls the ocean liner and Titanic strikes an iceberg. Fearing the worst Jack and Rose return to Cal's cabin just as they enter the hallway leading to the suite Mr. Lovejoy places the Heart of the Ocean in Jack's overcoat. When the couple enter the room it is revealed that the Master at Arms has been called and Jack is implicated as a thief.

As the ship starts to sink it becomes more clear that the Titanic is doomed and Cal returns to the suite and empties his safe. It is not thoroughly stated whether or not Rose (Gloria Stuart) told Brock Lovett that before the Titanic sank, Caledon emptied the safe placing the diamond in his coat. This is the very coat that he later put on Rose forgetting about the precious gem in its pocket. At the end of the film, Rose walks alone to the stern of the salvage ship and opens her hands to reveal the necklace. Rose flashes back to her past arriving in New York still wearing the coat, she discovers the necklace in her pocket. Rose flashes back to the present and with a smile, she throws the necklace from her hand into the water presumably above the Titanic wreck site.

HEART OF THE OCEAN - The fictional diamond is based on a real necklace that according to an article in the Washington Times was worn by Kate Phillips and was diamond and sapphire, rather than a blue diamond.

HEART OF THE OCEAN - This jewel of a Volkswagen engine powers our ocean awareness campaign wagon. It will power us around the UK and Europe as we spread the word about plastic pollution that is damaging our marine environment - and just like the famous diamond that Kate Winslett wore in the film, it is blue. Copyright © photograph 6 November 2017, all rights reserved.

LINKS & REFERENCE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_the_Ocean

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/31/titanic-true-story-real-heart-ocean-necklace/