Emeralds of Empress Ekaterina II of Russia. C. 1830. Gold, silver, emeralds, diamonds. Set consisting of an emerald and diamond necklace with matching earrings. Every generation of the family of the Marquis of Lothian has believed that the majority of these emeralds were given by the Empress Ekaterina II to their ancestor, the Earl…
Recovered Titanic Jewels
Premier Exhibitions discovered the gems—diamonds, sapphires, pearls, and gold jewelry belonging to elite passengers of the Titanic—in an unmarked leather bag during a deep-sea expedition. Small 14k yellow gold ribbon brooch set with one old mine cut diamond in the center and one old mine cut drop diamond. Made in France, England, Netherlands, and Spain from…
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An Incomparable Ruby from Italy’s Last Queen
In 1930, Italian bookseller and scholar Tammaro de Marinis gifted Maria José of Savoy a ruby-and-diamond ring for her marriage to Italy’s Crown Prince Umberto. Maria José eventually became the queen of Italy in 1946; but it was unfortunately a short-lived title because, 27 days later, the Italian electorate abolished the monarchy. Fast-forward nearly 70…
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Garrard Star and Garter collection pulls rank
Jewels with a strong military inspiration make their debut at the oldest jewellery house in the world as Garrard’s Star and Garter collection goes out on parade. Jewels with a strong military inspiration make their debut at the oldest jewellery house in the world as Garrard’s Star and Garter collection goes out on parade.…
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The Hope Spinel
The Hope Spinel’s history is every bit as colorful as its lustrous rose hue. Often confused for a ruby-although the spinel has fewer inclusions-the plum-size gemstone was mined from the ancient Kuh-i-Lal mines in Tajikistan and acquired by London banker Henry Philip Hope in the 1800s. After Hope’s death,his gemstone collection (which comprised over 700…
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10 Museums To Visit If You Love Jewelry
Is jewelry art? These priceless collections are housed in some of the world’s greatest museums and prove that it is. COOPER HEWITT MUSEUM, NEW YORK CITY Along with the jewelry in its permanent collection, the museum also has exhibits dedicated to gems, like the 2011 show of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry in which this intricate brooch, topped off with…
