National Museum to Induct Jewelry to Celebrate 100th Anniversary
On March 5...
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History recently acquired four remarkable gemstones and jewelry pieces for the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the museum, on March 5.
Among the donated pieces was the Cullinan Blue Diamond Necklace featuring a bow motif with nine sparkling and extremely rare blue diamonds. In addition to the necklace’s 5.32 carats of blue diamonds, 251 other diamonds were used to craft this exquisite piece of work.
The Tourmaline Triplets are a rare example of tricolor elbaite tourmalines. At 60.13, 75.25 and 90.03 carats, they total approximately 225 carats. The multihued stones are nearly identical and all feature an elongated octagonal step cut. The distinctive color zoning results from different impurity atoms that were incorporated into the growing crystal, and in the case of the triplets, transitions from a vivid deep green to yellow and orange-red.
Cindy Chao’s Black Label Masterpiece Royal Butterfly brooch, created in 2009, which holds 2,328 gemstones totaling 77 carats, is comprised of fancy-color and color-changing sapphires, rubies, diamonds and tsavorite garnets. At the center of each of the insect’s wings are large faceted diamond slices on top of a layer of faceted pavé diamonds.
Chao’s one-of-a-kind Black Label Masterpieces are limited to 36 pieces per year, with each taking at least two years to create, from sketch to wax mold to three-dimensional product.
The designer is not only the first Taiwanese jewelry artist to have her work permanently inducted into the Smithsonian; she is also the first designer from Taiwan to have her work featured in Christie’s fine jewelry auctions.
By: Idex
Comments