For LA people - some amazing gems at the Natural History Museum

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Brilliance: The Art and Science of Rare Jewels

nhm.org

Robert Procop is an amazing man!

 

[Mreader]

Oh my gosh I really wish I could visit! I love this museum anyway and with an exhibition like this – maybe I will need to plan a trip to visit my relatives!

 

[VeryUndecided]

Brilliance: The Art and Science of Rare Jewels

nhm.org

Robert Procop is an amazing man!

So cool to see such amazing gems! Would love to see them in person. Would you happen to know if there are any similar museums in Europe?

 

[VeryUndecided]

I have to say that I absolutely adore all the jewel showns on the website. Well, maybe with one exception. The ring with the "star" and all those stones on the side of it, seemed a bit too busy to me. But of course, I would not mind having any of those However, my question is, is there a place in our modern lives for exquisite jewels like that? Where do you wear them?

I am kind of "use it or loose it" person so I only have jewerly, which I wear every day. The rest was gifted away to my niece or put into storage for her when she's older. I am even seriously considering re-styling one of my diamond bracelets into a dog collar because I am just not using it enough. Turns out, I am not a fan of marquise cut diamonds. It's gonna be my private joke to see my dog wear actual diamonds and everybody assuming it is Swarovski crystals

Times had changed. We don't change anymore for lunch and dinner, and we pour own own wine as butlers and footman have become very scarce! ...I still love seeing those pretty things but where do you wear them? And why own them if they are just sitting in the vault?

What do you see happening in the future of high end jewerly?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

What do you see happening in the future of high end jewerly?

Rich are not getting less rich!

 

[JackTrick]

I actually went to the gem exhibit recently! Had a lovely time. Was especially fun seeing an actual Kashmir sapphire IRL for the first time.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Wowza!
Beautiful

 

[JackTrick]

Isn’t it spectacular? I’d always wanted to see what the fuss was all about

 

[JackTrick]

Couple more… and pardon the sapphire pic. The only one I had was me comparing my own sapphire color.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Have you seen the Procop collection yet?

 

[JackTrick]

I don’t recall it being there when I visited!

 

[theredspinel]

Wow!

I actually went to the gem exhibit recently! Had a lovely time. Was especially fun seeing an actual Kashmir sapphire IRL for the first time.

Wow! Thanks!

 

[Mreader]

@JackTrick thanks for sharing! The Procop expo started the 8th so idk if it was happening when you were there? It requires special timed tix. Ugh I wish I could go!

 

[kenny]

Wowza!
Beautiful

My reaction exactly.

Thanks Garry.
I intend to make a very rare exception to my strict COVID isolation to attend this exhibition, if only to see this one gem.

I've always long to see a Kashmir Sapphire, especially a good large silky one.
In defiance of one of Color Stone Forums dictates, location matters to me.
Kashmir blues hold a special mystique, as do Muzo Columbian emeralds, Golconda diamonds, as do Argyle pinks.

Now that the Argyle mine has closed I feel very lucky to have snagged a nice little pink 10 years ago.
I could never afford one now, or a gem from these other mines of mythical status.

If they let me use a tripod I'll take my camera, which is very unlikely.

 

[VeryUndecided]

I actually went to the gem exhibit recently! Had a lovely time. Was especially fun seeing an actual Kashmir sapphire IRL for the first time.

Thank you so much for getting these pictures! Totally enjoyed seeing those jewels!

 

[JackTrick]

@JackTrick thanks for sharing! The Procop expo started the 8th so idk if it was happening when you were there? It requires special timed tix. Ugh I wish I could go!

Ah, yep! I went there in October/November. So now I have a reason to go back

 

[VeryUndecided]

Rich are not getting less rich!

No, of course not. But their tastes change.

There is hardly anyone now who dresses in formal attire and jewerly for dinner. Where would people wear those amazing jewels? Grocery shopping? Picking kids from school? Going to a birthday party of a neighbour? Or let's even say a gala dinner? Would anyone wear something like that these days?

Ok. Maybe I would Given a chance But most people wouldn't. And the super rich would prefer to remain anonymous anyway and not attract any attention.

 

[VeryUndecided]

Ah, yep! I went there in October/November. So now I have a reason to go back

I am just curious. What were the light conditions showcasing the Kashmir sapphire? Was it brightly lit up in particular or just under general defused light from above?

 

[kenny]

...

JackTrick, can you estimate how many inches this Kashmir sapphire was from the glass?
Knowing that distance will help me bring the right macro lens; I have four.

Museum security understandably doesn't like people bringing in a camera case full of lenses.
You're more likely to be allowed in if the only lens you bring is mounted on the camera body.

 

[JackTrick]

4-6 inches maybe? That bottom gray edge is about where the glass is.

All the lighting for the gems was the same. Basically pretty direct light from above. I actually found it wasn't super ideal lighting for gems

 

[theredspinel]

No, of course not. But their tastes change.

There is hardly anyone now who dresses in formal attire and jewerly for dinner. Where would people wear those amazing jewels? Grocery shopping? Picking kids from school? Going to a birthday party of a neighbour? Or let's even say a gala dinner? Would anyone wear something like that these days?

Ok. Maybe I would Given a chance But most people wouldn't. And the super rich would prefer to remain anonymous anyway and not attract any attention.

I don’t think you’ve seen how the other half live

(Insert smiley wink here because I’m posting from my phone and emojis don’t seem to work from it).

 

[kenny]

4-6 inches maybe? That bottom gray edge is about where the glass is.

All the lighting for the gems was the same. Basically pretty direct light from above. I actually found it wasn't super ideal lighting for gems

Thanks much!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I don’t think you’ve seen how the other half live

(Insert smiley wink here because I’m posting from my phone and emojis don’t seem to work from it).

They are 1% according to Pickety, with 80% of the wealth!

 

[LightBright]

JackTrick, can you estimate how many inches this Kashmir sapphire was from the glass?
Knowing that distance will help me bring the right macro lens; I have four.

Museum security understandably doesn't like people bringing in a camera case full of lenses.
You're more likely to be allowed in if the only lens you bring is mounted on the camera body.

Thank you JackTrick for sharing this close up photo, I visit this beautiful sapphire any time I’m at the museum. Kenny, I’d love to see any more photos you take of this little beauty. The sapphire is quite deep as well, it’s not a flat stone, and it’s a multidemensionally rich in color.

I look forward to going to see Procop Collection “in the vault” after the winter holidays, I have until Feb 12!

 

[VeryUndecided]

I don’t think you’ve seen how the other half live

(Insert smiley wink here because I’m posting from my phone and emojis don’t seem to work from it).

You’re very right about that! Not even through a telescope Huh!

However, when I stay on the French Riviera in Winter, I don’t see a lot of people flashing their bling. Quite on the contrary. The "international richest" wear t-shirts and sweatpants (unless they’re French, of course. Then it’s a total no-go . I’ve certainly never seen any French person wear any flashy jewerly at all…They could have some amazing (basically priceless) historical estates directly by the sea but they would still only wear a very smart get-up and a modest wedding ring No expensive bling at all.

Sure, they can afford all those amazing jewels! But nobody wears it anywhere. Maybe the jewels are resting in some vaults but they are certainly not visible. So what’s the point of having them?

French Riviera is not the safest place to be. The criminality rates are quite similar to London, only that you have 1/10th of the population. Everybody thinks, why make yourself a target?

Even the Russians I have encountered on the French Riviera are basically staying under the radar and trying not to attract too much attention to their wealth.

So, who is wearing those jewels? And where? And if you cannot wear them, what's the point?...

 

[theredspinel]

You’re very right about that! Not even through a telescope Huh!

However, when I stay on the French Riviera in Winter, I don’t see a lot of people flashing their bling. Quite on the contrary. The "international richest" wear t-shirts and sweatpants (unless they’re French, of course. Then it’s a total no-go . I’ve certainly never seen any French person wear any flashy jewerly at all…They could have some amazing (basically priceless) historical estates directly by the sea but they would still only wear a very smart get-up and a modest wedding ring No expensive bling at all.

Sure, they can afford all those amazing jewels! But nobody wears it anywhere. Maybe the jewels are resting in some vaults but they are certainly not visible. So what’s the point of having them?

French Riviera is not the safest place to be. The criminality rates are quite similar to London, only that you have 1/10th of the population. Everybody thinks, why make yourself a target?

Even the Russians I have encountered on the French Riviera are basically staying under the radar and trying not to attract too much attention to their wealth.

So, who is wearing those jewels? And where? And if you cannot wear them, what's the point?...

I think that might be a very specific French cultural thing, the lack of bling.

 

[kenny]

... if you cannot wear them, what's the point?...

Wearing and enjoying them for yourself, instead of for others.

There's so much more to having nice things than showing them off as status symbols.
I "show my diamond off" to myself when I'm alone.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

We just made an over the top braclet for an older lady. She wants it for herself to look at.

 

[lambskin]

I assume big baubles are worn amongst the elite in their homes, villas, mansions, yachts, etc alone or while entertaining other elites. As such jewelry can be worn safely and discretely.

 

[theredspinel]

There’s a thread on PriceScope somewhere (or two) called high karat gold jewellery or (maybe and) family heirloom jewellery; search for these @VeryUndecided

There’s an entire world of different cultures and situations and environments where people of all sorts wear fancy jewellery of all sorts, it’s so beautiful!