Many gemstones and iconic pieces of jewelry have notorious backgrounds, whether you plucked them from conquered lands in ancient times, bought as gifts for spouses and lovers by the rich, or resided in the crown jewel collections royals worldwide.
The lore and reputation surrounding many of these jewels’ illustrious (and often scandalous) origins continue to fascinate the world. Reviews from US local jewelry stores online will show you how appreciated these pieces of jewelry are.
Let’s take a deep and exciting look at some of the world’s most popular sparkling stones here.
1. The Dresden Green Diamond Brooch
The Dresden Green is the world’s largest natural green diamond, weighing 41 carats. The diamond was bought by Friedrich Augustus I of Saxony for 400,000 thalers in the early 18th century, and it is thought to have been mined in the Golconda area of India. That amount was equal to the value at the time. You can check US-Reviews to see people’s feedback.
2. Peregrina
The La Peregrina Pearl, said to have been discovered off the coast of Panama in the mid-16th century, was given to King Phillip II of Spain (Panama was a country colony at the time). He then turned around and presented Queen Mary of England with the 58.5-carat pearl as a bridal gift. It was hailed as the most symmetrical natural pearl ever found, and Richard Burton purchased it in 1969 for Elizabeth Taylor.
3. The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond, perhaps one of the most well-known diamonds globally, has a long and rumored cursed past. It is thought to have originated in India and was first owned by King Louis XIV of France in 1668 before being stolen and ending up in the English royal court. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, now houses the 45.52-carat blue diamond.
4. Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a stunning gemstone to behold. Its deep violet hues are distinct from sapphire’s blues, and it exudes a sense of mystery that makes it an excellent choice for making statement jewelry.
Tanzanite is only found in one place, as you may have inferred from its name: the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania. Tanzanite is currently a bargain in the gemstone world, costing $1,200 per carat, although this is expected to change as availability decreases.
5. Black Opal
The black opal is much darker and enigmatic than its lighter, white, and fiery relative. And it’s getting more expensive. The black opal is also only present in a single area of the world, in this case, New South Wales, Australia.
The world’s most extensive and most expensive black opal, known as “the Royal One,” weighs in at a whopping 306 carats and is worth just over $3 million. It was found by a miner who kept it concealed for fourteen years in his home before deciding to sell it.
6. Red Beryl
The price for red beryl is only valid if it is available for purchase. Red beryl, which belongs to the same family of gemstones as emeralds, has only ever been found in a few Utah, New Mexico, and Northern Mexico locations, and it was mined in the Wah-Wah Mountains of Utah.
Red beryl of gem quality has a dark pink hue and is often found with inclusions, but it is rare that when a fine example appears, it rapidly gains value.
7. Musgravite
Musgravite is another excellent example of Australia’s wealth of rare gemstones. In 1967, the first gem-quality example of this olive-grey gemstone was discovered in the Musgrave area, after which it is named. Since then, only eight more have been found, so the price is an expert’s guess, as there are so few of these scarce gems.
8. Emerald
Emeralds are among the most common gemstones globally, and they have become a popular choice among men and women looking for fine gemstone jewelry. Emeralds can be found worldwide, but Zambia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Columbia produce most of the world’s stock. The issue with emeralds is that they are sporadic.