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List Of Individual Gemstones
A number of individual gemstones are famous in their own right, either because of their size and beauty or because of the people who owned or wore them. Aquamarines * Dom Pedro, the world's largest cut and polished aquamarine. It is currently housed in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Diamonds :''See List of diamonds'' Emeralds * Bahia Emerald * Carolina Emperor, 310 carats uncut, 64.8 carats cut; discovered in the United States in 2009, resides in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, US * Chalk Emerald * Duke of Devonshire Emerald * Emerald of Saint Louis, 51.60 carats cut; discovered in Austria, probably Habachtal, resides in the National Museum of Natural History, Paris * Gachalá Emerald * Mogul Mughal Emerald, 217.80 carats cut; mined in Colombia and cut in the Mughal empire in Hijri year 1107 (1695–1696), resides in the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar * Patricia Em ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gemstone
A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, semiprecious stone, or simply gem) is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut or polished, is used to make jewellery, jewelry or other adornments. Certain Rock (geology), rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, and obsidian) and occasionally organic chemistry, organic materials that are not minerals (such as amber, Jet (gemstone), jet, and pearl) may also be used for jewelry and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some softer minerals such as brazilianite may be used in jewelry because of their color or Lustre (mineralogy), luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. However, generally speaking, soft minerals are not typically used as gemstones by virtue of their brittleness and lack of durability. Found all over the world, the industry of coloured gemstones (i.e. anything other than diamonds) is currently estimated at US$1.55billion and is projected to s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Christie's
Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, and it has additional salerooms in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Milan, Geneva, Shanghai, and Dubai. It is owned by Groupe Artémis, the holding company of François Pinault. In 2022 Christie's sold US$8.4 billion in art and luxury goods, an all-time high for any auction house. On 15 November 2017, the ''Salvator Mundi (Leonardo), Salvator Mundi'' was sold at Christie's in New York for $450 million to Saudi Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud, List of most expensive paintings, the highest price ever paid for a painting. History Founding The official company literature states that founder James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie (1730–1803) conducted the first sale in London on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766. However, other sources note that James Chri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pearl Of Lao Tzu
The Pearl of Lao Tzu was once considered the world's largest known pearl. The pearl was found by a Filipino diver in the Palawan sea, which surrounds the island of Palawan in the Philippines. It is not considered a gemstone pearl, but is instead known as a "clam pearl" or "''Tridacna'' pearl" from a giant clam. It measures 24 centimeters in diameter (9.45 inches) and weighs 6.4 kilograms (14.2 lb). History The only clues as to the pearl's provenance come from Wilburn Dowell Cobb, a visiting US archaeologist from San Francisco, who brought the pearl from the Philippines in 1939 and owned it until his death in 1979. He published an account of how he came to own it in ''Natural History'' magazine. According to Cobb, it was found by a diver at Brooke's Point, Palawan. Cobb gave a lengthy, detailed and convoluted account of how he wanted to buy it from a Philippine Dayak tribal chief when he first heard of it in 1934, but the chief, a Muslim, did not want to sell because h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
La Peregrina
The La Peregrina pearl is one of the most famous pearls in the world. Its owners include the Monarchy of Spain, Spanish monarchs, the history of the pearl spans almost 500 years and recently belonged to actress Elizabeth Taylor. The jewel is now in private ownership. Origin of name ''La Peregrina'' is a Spanish language, Spanish word. It means "the Pilgrim-woman" or female "Wanderer". Physical characteristics The original weight of this wiktionary:go pear-shaped, pear-shaped pearl was 223.8 Grain (unit), grains, (55.95 Carat (mass), carats, 11.2 g, almost .4 oz.). At the time of its discovery, it was the largest pearl ever found. In 1913 the pearl had to be drilled and cleaned to secure it firmly to its setting. After drilling and cleaning, the pearl's weight decreased to 203.84 grains. La Peregrina remains one of the largest perfectly symmetrical pear-shaped pearls in the world. History The first reference to this pearl can be found in ''Commentarios Reales de Los Incas'' b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arco Valley Pearl
The Arco Valley Pearl is a white natural blister baroque pearl with pink and yellow overtones. It measures 79 x 41 x 34 mm. It is the largest natural pearl outside a museum and the second biggest ever. Mongolian emperor Khubilai Khan reportedly gave it to Marco Polo. During 2007, an UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as i ... collectionner said he bought the pearl from a French owner for 8M US$ but it is still owned by a European company (August 2008). References External links Arco-Valley Pearlby Dr. Shihaan M. Larif Individual pearls {{mineral-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abernathy Pearl
The Abernethy pearl, also known as the Little Willie pearl, is a freshwater pearl named after William Abernethy (1925–2021), who discovered it in Perth, Scotland, in the River Tay in 1967. It is also known as Bill's pearl. The Abernethy pearl was produced by a mussel Mussel () is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and Freshwater bivalve, freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other ... belonging to the species '' Margaritifera margaritifera''. It is spherically shaped and coloured white with a slightly pink overtone. The pearl was reportedly valued at £10,000 in 1967 (). It is now displayed at the A&G Cairncross in Perth. References Individual pearls {{gemology-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Olympic Australis Opal
The Olympic Australis opal is the largest and most valuable opal yet found () and was valued at in 1997. It was found in 1956 at the 'Eight Mile' opal field near the town of Coober Pedy in South Australia. The opal was found at a depth of . The Olympic Australis opal was named in honor of the Olympic Games, which were being held in Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ... in the year of the opal's discovery. It consists of 99% gem opal with an even colour throughout the stone, and has been left in a natural state, unpolished and uncut with blemishes. Olympic Australis is 280 mm long, 120 mm thick, and 115 mm wide (11 in long, 4.75 in thick, and 4.5 in wide). It weighs 17,000 carats (3450 g/121.7 oz/7.6 lbs). , the opal is kept in Sydney, at ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Halley's Comet Opal
The Halley's Comet Opal is the largest uncut black opal in the world, according to the ''Guinness Book of World Records''. It is so named because it was unearthed in 1986, a year when Halley's Comet could be seen from Earth. It is the third largest gem grade black opal ever recorded, the largest one extant, and the largest specimen ever found in its region. It was found at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia, by the Lunatic Hill Mining Syndicate. It weighs and is about the size of a man's fist. The Halley's Comet Opal is a very fine specimen, with few flaws or blemishes and a large green and orange thick color bar which goes through the opal. Formed about 20 million years ago, it is an example of a nobby, which is a natural lump-shaped opal found only at Lightning Ridge. As of 2006 it was for sale at $1.2 million. See also * List of individual gemstones * Andamooka Opal * Flame Queen Opal * Galaxy Opal * Olympic Australis Opal The Olympic Australis opal is the large ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galaxy Opal
The Galaxy Opal is the world's largest polished opal, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1992. It was found at the Boi Morto Mine in Brazil in 1976. The finished opal weighs approximately 3,749 carats, or 0.75 kg. It was carved from a grapefruit-sized piece of rough stone weighing 5,205 carats by Scott Cooley into a shape resembling a child's head. The weight of the finished stone was beyond the capacity of any gem measuring scale at the Gemological Institute of America and an approximation of its weight in carats had to be determined using a postal scale. The stone measures . It is currently part of a private collection. See also * List of individual gemstones A number of individual gemstones are famous in their own right, either because of their size and beauty or because of the people who owned or wore them. Aquamarines * Dom Pedro, the world's largest cut and polished aquamarine. It is currently h ... Other notable individual opals: * Andamooka Opal * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flame Queen Opal
The Flame Queen Opal is perhaps the best-known example of "eye-of-opal", an eye-like effect created when opal in-fills a cavity. The Flame Queen's flat central raised dome flashes red or gold depending on the angle of view, and is surrounded by a band of deep blue-green, giving the stone an appearance somewhat like that of a fried egg. The Flame Queen weighs and is somewhat triangular in shape, measuring 7.0 x 6.3 x 1.2 centimeters (2.75 x 2.50 x .50 inches). The Flame Queen was discovered in 1914 by three partners: Jack Philips, Walter Bradley and "Irish" Joe Hegarty, at the Bald Hill Workings, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Tunneling down at around revealed no trace of the tell-tale coloring in the clay that indicates the likely presence of opal. However, despite the poor ventilation and the constant danger of tunnel collapse, Bradley and Philips wanted to continue digging. At , Bradley's pick found a large, black opal nodule. It was not until they reached ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She had been queen regnant of List of sovereign states headed by Elizabeth II, 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the List of monarchs in Britain by length of reign, longest of any British monarch, the List of longest-reigning monarchs, second-longest of any sovereign state, and the List of female monarchs, longest of any queen regnant in history. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon Abdication of Edward VIII, the abdic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andamooka Opal
The Andamooka Opal is a famous opal which was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 on the occasion of her first visit to South Australia. The opal was mined in Andamooka in 1949. The opal was cut and polished by John Altmann to a weight of . It displays a magnificent array of reds, blues, and greens and was set with diamonds into an 18 karat (75%) palladium necklet. See also * List of individual gemstones A number of individual gemstones are famous in their own right, either because of their size and beauty or because of the people who owned or wore them. Aquamarines * Dom Pedro, the world's largest cut and polished aquamarine. It is currently h ... Other notable individual opals: * Galaxy Opal * Flame Queen Opal * Halley's Comet Opal * Olympic Australis Opal References Individual opals {{gemology-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
