The Stuart Sapphire is one of the most remarkable gemstones in the British Crown Jewels, renowned for its vivid royal blue hue and its storied past. As a symbol of royal power and legacy, this sapphire has witnessed centuries of dynastic upheavals, from the English Civil War to its current place of honor in the Imperial State Crown.
Few pieces of jewelry carry the intrigue and romantic sentiment of Lover’s Eye jewelry. These uniquely personal adornments, popularized in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, feature miniature portraits of a lover’s eye. They are painted with exquisite detail and set into rings, brooches, pendants, or lockets.
These enchanting creations date back to the Georgian and Victorian eras, when secret messages of love and devotion were cleverly embedded within the gemstones of a ring.
When it comes to famous diamonds, the Oppenheimer Diamond holds a special place in the world of luxury and rarity. This 253.7-carat, nearly flawless yellow diamond is one of the largest and most exquisite uncut diamonds ever discovered.
The Black Prince's Ruby, an extraordinary gemstone embedded in the British Imperial State Crown, is neither a ruby nor an ordinary jewel. Despite its name, this mesmerizing stone is a large, uncut spinel—a gem species often mistaken for rubies due to their similar hue.
When it comes to iconic gemstones, the Cullinan Diamond stands in a league of its own. Unearthed in 1905, this extraordinary diamond remains the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered, weighing a staggering 3,106 carats.
Among the world’s most famous diamonds, the Tiffany Diamond shines as a symbol of timeless elegance and extraordinary craftsmanship. Renowned for its unmatched brilliance and sunny yellow hue, this exquisite gemstone has captivated the world since its discovery in the late 19th century.
A dazzling diamond necklace with ties to one of history's most infamous scandals and the fall of France’s last queen, Marie Antoinette, sold for a staggering $4.81 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva on November 13. The Georgian-era piece, featuring approximately 300 carats of diamonds, exceeded its pre-sale estimate by nearly double.
Queen Victoria’s engagement ring was both unique and highly symbolic. Unlike the diamond solitaire rings common today, Victoria's ring featured a coiled snake, which held deep significance in the 19th century. In Victorian symbolism, snakes were not seen as menacing creatures but as symbols of eternal love, wisdom, and protection.
Granulation is an ancient and intricate technique in goldsmithing that has fascinated jewelers and enthusiasts alike for thousands of years. This decorative method involves the application of tiny beads, or granules, of gold onto a surface to create elaborate patterns and textures.
Inlaying stones in jewelry is a time-honored technique that merges technical precision with artistic vision. This intricate process involves setting stones into a base material, such as metal or wood, creating a flat, seamless surface where the stones and the substrate appear as one cohesive piece.
Cameos are among the most iconic forms of jewelry, renowned for their intricate craftsmanship and timeless appeal. These small, sculpted pieces of art, often depicting portraits or mythological scenes, have been cherished for centuries as symbols of elegance and sophistication.
