In the long river of history, emerald gemstones, as one of the world's five precious gemstones, have had different bonds with many people and things from ancient times to the present. Today, let's take a look at some of the famous emerald gemstones in history.
1. Taj Mahal emeralds
Remember the Taj Mahal, known as the "Pearl of India"?This perfect artistic gem is one of the most recognizable monuments in India, and what does it have to do with emerald gemstones?
According to research, the Taj Mahal was built by Shan Jahan, the fifth Mughal ruler of India, for his wife, Mumataz Mahal. The interior of the Taj Mahal is inlaid with a large number of gemstones, the most striking of which is the huge emerald gemstone set in the walls of the Taj Mahal.
This emerald gemstone weighs 140 carats and has an emerald green color and is crystal clear. Among them, carved with floral motifs similar to those set with colored gemstones in the Taj Mahal (e.g., chrysanthemums, lotus flowers, Mughal poppies, etc.), it is known as the world's most famous emerald gemstone.
At Christie's auction in 2019, it was sold for $1,815,000. (According to the latest news, the auctioneer is the daughter of the gambling king - He Chaoqiong.) ）
2. Queen Victoria's emerald crown.
Like the Taj Mahal emerald gemstones, Queen Victoria's emerald tiara is likewise associated with her husband. The emerald tiara was designed by Prince Albert himself and made by the Queen's Jeweller, Joseph Kitching, who gifted it to Queen Victoria in 1845.
The shape of the crown is influenced by the "Gothic" style, and the crown is topped with 19 inverted pear-shaped emeralds. Of these, the largest one is about 15 carats. Two rows of square emerald gemstones are also set below the crown, and diamonds are placed around the emeralds, creating a decorative pattern typical of the Victorian period. Moreover, the crown also has a matching emerald necklace as well as emerald brooches and emerald earrings.
3. Catrina emerald crown.
The first thing that may come to mind when you think of this emerald gemstone crown is that it sold for $12.7 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2011, making it the most expensive crown ever sold at auction.
The crown is set with a total of 11 rare Colombian pear-shaped emerald gemstones, the total weight of the emerald gemstones alone reaches about 500 carats, and the bottom of the crown is also set with a large number of diamonds, which can be described as very luxurious. It is reported that this emerald crown was a wedding gift from Count Gude Henkel von Dunnesmarck of Germany to his second wife Katrina.
In fact, there are many world-famous emerald gemstones in history, and they all have different stories from those who have owned it or now own it, and the lid is just a list of three of them here. Like our favorite Colombian emerald gemstones, the most famous ones in history are the "Oriental Star" and "Imperial Star". For example, the whole world knows that the British royal family owns many jewels, and among them, there is more jewelry about emerald gemstones, not to mention a Queen Victoria emerald crown. Even our China, there are also historical records that as early as the Yuan Dynasty, emerald gemstones have come to China. According to relevant research, the tomb of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty has unearthed a jade belt inlaid with emeralds.
*Taken from the Internet, if there is any infringement, please feel free to contact me.