Smithsonian gems

[T L]

I was recently at the Smithdonian and I wanted to post some pictures here and share with my fellow gem lovers!! First up, the Hope. Extremely grey with specks of blue flash. I was underwhelmed. It really looks this grey in person. It reminded me of some grey spinel I’ve seen,

 

[T L]

Next, some emeralds. The chalk emerald was a beautiful color, albeit included. The Hooker emerald was so windowed, you could only see fine color around the edges. The Inquisition necklace was nice, but it was a pity that these fine gems had drill holes.

 

[T L]

The Carmen Lucia 21 carat ruby ring was gorgeous.

 

[T L]

The Logan sapphire has an infamous window, and I love using it as an example of a windowed gem. Wow, what a window!! Some other sapphires as well.

 

[T L]

Some alexandrite. One was pretty (top photo) but too dark, and the others they had were muddy.

 

[ForteKitty]

I felt the exact same way about the Hope diamond. So underwhelming. I'm sure the yellow lighting doesn't do it any favors but it was just so... Bleh.

 

[T L]

Now this was a gorgeous blue diamond!! The blue heart owned by Marjorie Post. It was a light blue, but it was actually BLUE!!

 

[Jujeh]

I'm still a huge fan of the hope diamond.

Thanks for posting ... each one blows me away more than the last. I am a big fan of the hooker emerald and the huge alexandrites!! Even if they aren't the best color.

 

[T L]

A red diamond that looked exactly like a pyrope garnet (very very underwhelming), and some much nicer colored diamonds.

 

[T L]

A gorgeous huge Russian demantoid.

 

[T L]

OPALS!!! All were beautiful!

 

[distracts]

Not sure whether I like the demantoid or the sapphire necklace with many sapphires best... so wow

These are at the Natural History Museum, yes? I want to make sure to have it right since I'm going in a couple of months.

 

[T L]

Two lonely spinels!! They really need to add more to their collection!

 

[T L]

Not sure whether I like the demantoid or the sapphire necklace with many sapphires best... so wow

These are at the Natural History Museum, yes? I want to make sure to have it right since I'm going in a couple of months.

Yes, the Natural History Museum. The demantoid blew the sapphires away.

 

[ForteKitty]

That Victoria-Transvaal is so STUNNING I had dreams about it for weeks

 

[ForteKitty]

Yes, the Natural History Museum. The demantoid blew the sapphires away.

How big was the demantoid?

 

[T L]

More emeralds,9 and 28 carats, Colombia.

 

[T L]

How big was the demantoid?

I think like 7 carats!!!

 

[ForteKitty]

I think like 7 carats!!!

omg want

 

[T L]

omg want

You and me both. It was one of my favorite gems there.

 

[distracts]

You and me both. It was one of my favorite gems there.

It may be time for us to arrange a PS Heist... ahem I mean get-together.

 

[pwsg07]

The star of Asia and the huge star ruby are my favorite. They are highly translucent. The star of Asia has a completed well centered star. There is an amazing huge Jadeite vase. There is the star of Bombay which the gin is named after it.

 

[OoohShiny]

Great pics, thanks for taking the time to post them!

I am seriously liking Emeralds at the moment but I think @jordyonbass would probably prefer the opals lol

 

[icy_jade]

Thanks @T L !

Such delicious eye candy!

 

[chrono]

Is it bad that I recognized the names of the famous jewels without having to scroll down?

Everything is lovely except the Hope, which looks so dead.

 

[T L]

The star of Asia and the huge star ruby are my favorite. They are highly translucent. The star of Asia has a completed well centered star. There is an amazing huge Jadeite vase. There is the star of Bombay which the gin is named after it.

For some reason my camera made the asterism less sharp looking. It was very sharp and well defined IRL.

 

[T L]

I’m sorry, the demantoid was around 11 carats!! Here a pic of it from more of a distance. It was one amazing gem.

 

[T L]

Some miscellaneous gems and crystals.

 

[T L]

Some more, including a picture of my 16 and 13 year old boys next to a huge crystal for size comparison.

 

[OoohShiny]

Thank you for all the pics!

There are so many different things that are shiny and pretty lol

What is this, though??