Famous Gemstone - Information about Gemstones

Famous Gemstones From Around The World

There are many gemstones around the world which we stand in awe of, whether it be because of their size, their colour, or the tradition surrounding them. Here are some examples:

Famous Diamonds
The Cullinan diamond, the largest ever found rough diamond at 3,106 carats, has had 9 large stones cut from it. The Cullinan I, the Great Star of Africa, is the largest colourless diamond in the world, and is the diamond found in the sceptre of the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. The stone can be removed from the Royal Sceptre and worn as a pin or pendant.

The Cullinan II, or the Lesser Star of Africa is just over 317 carats, and is found in the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain, also in the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels.
The Cullinan III is a pear-shaped diamond of over 94 carats, and is in the finial of Queen Mary's Crown.
The Cullinan IV is over 63 carats, and is in the band of Queen Mary's crown, Both the III and the IV can also be worn as jewellery.
The Cullinan V is over 18 carats, and is a triangular-pear, which was originally mounted in a brooch for Queen Mary, to be worn alternately with the Koh-i-Noor in her crown.
The Cullinan VI is over 11 carats and was originally presented by King Edward to his wife, Queen Alexandra. It is now worn by Elizabeth II as a drop on a diamond and emerald necklace.
The Cullinan VII is nearly 9 carats and is mounted in a pendant on a small all-diamond brooch. In the centre of this brooch is the 6.80 carat Cullinan VIII.
The Cullinan IX is over 4 carats, and is a pear shaped mount in a ring made for Queen Mary.

The Centenary Diamond is also part of the British Crown Jewels and is the largest modern-cut flawless diamond, at over 273 carats.

It was found on July 17th, 1986, using an electric X-ray recovery system, at the Premier Mine of De Beers Consolidated Mines.

The Orloff is now in the diamond treasury of Russia, but legend have it that it was originally the eye of a god in a Hindu temple. It is 300 carats.

The Regent was discovered in 1701 by an Indian slave. The Duke of Orleans and the Regent of France have been owners, and it was in Louis XV coronation crown, but it is now in the Louvre, Paris, in Napoleon's sword hilt.

A famous blue diamond is the Blue Hope, displayed in Washington D.C. Legend has it that it brings bad luck to the owners.

The Sancy diamond shows various colours, depending on the type of light.

It is pale yellow, just over 55 carats, from India. It was first owned by the French Ambassador to Turkey in 1570, then was owned by various French Kings and King James I, when it 'disappeared' in 1792. In 1828 it was found and had various owners until the Astor family bought it in 1906.
Finally, the Uncle Sam, just over 14 carats is one of the few large diamonds found in North America, found in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, USA.

Famous Emeralds
The Duke of Devonshire emerald is deep green in colour, 2 inches square and weighs over 1383 carats. The Duke of Devonshire was given the emerald in 1836 by the Emperor of Brazil.
The Crown of Andes was made in an ancient Inca city in 1590, during the Plague, which missed the city because of its isolation. It was made to thank the Blessed Mother for saving them from the Plague, and it contains 453 emeralds from Inca treasures. The Guinness Emerald Crystal is 1759 carats, one of the largest in the world.

It is in the Banco Nazionale de la Republica in Bogot, Columbia.

Other Famous Gemstones
The Delong Star Ruby is over 100 carats and is now found in the Natural History Museum in New York.

In 1964 the Delong Star Ruby and the Star of India sapphire were stolen by a gang of 3, including Jack Murphy (or 'Murph the Surf') and were ransomed from $25,000 and both recovered. The Delong Star was found at a designated drop off site - a phone booth in Florida.

The Star of India, is over 563 carats. It is the largest and most famous star sapphire in the world. It was discovered in Sri Lanka more than 300 years ago.

The gemstone on the left is the world's largest spinel, at 500 carats. The gemstone on the right weighs 270 carats and is the world's 4th largest spinel and this one has a 350-year-old inscription on it, showing it was at one time owned by Jehangir, the Mogul Emperor of India.

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