Museum of Natural History in Smithsonian Collection

Some of the world’s most spectacularmade of 700 carats in diamonds and 79 emeralds.
diamonds and other gems are located in theThe emeralds have been replaced with Persian
National Gem Collection in the Museum of Naturalturquoise cabochons.
History in Smithsonian Collection in Washington,You can also see the 182-carat Star of Bombay
D.C.  In the collection are diamonds known tostar sapphire that was given to Mary Pickford by
almost everyone, such as the Hope Diamond, asDouglas Fairbanks and a brilliantly colored black
well as other large diamonds and other preciousopal. Black opals are the most valuable of the opal
gems and jewelry.family of gems.
In the National Gem Collection are examples ofThere are also extraordinary examples of quartz
spectacular minerals and crystals, as wellcrystals, including a 7,000 faceted clear quartz
gemstones and jewelry. You can see a beautifulegg! Part of the Smithsonian’s collection
purple quartz amethyst crystal, or the mineralincludes pieces of jade and turquoise used in other
azurite, which is a bright blue copper compoundcultures. This includes a collection of Zuni Indian
mineral. You can also see a huge green berylturquoise jewelry and jade lanterns carved from
crystal. Beryls are the mineral family that includenephrite for the Chinese emperor Chi’en Lung
emeralds, aquamarines, heliodor and morganite.in 1750. A more modern piece is the Dragon
It’s almost as exciting to see the raw crystalVase, carved from a rare piece of lavender jade.
as it is to see the finished product when it’sBut of course, the most dazzling items in the
been cut and polished.collection are the individual gemstones and jewelry
Some of the finished pieces in the Smithsonianthat have been owned by royalty through the
Collection include the crown Napoleon used for thecenturies.
second Empress, Marie Louise. It originally was