Famous Emeralds Through the Ages

Emerald, the birthstone for May, is one of the world's most valued gems. Mined by the Egyptians more than 3,500 years ago for the Pharaohs, this precious green stone also has been worshipped by the ancient Incas and Aztecs, the Indian Maharajas and Maharanis, and kings, queens and other royals all over the world throughout history.

The stone is prized for its shades of green, which represent the color of life and the eternally returning spring. For this reason, emerald has held a special religious position in many cultures. In honor of this special gemstone, Jewelry.com takes a look at some of the most famous emeralds and emerald items throughout history:

The Duke of Devonshire, a highly included, deep green hexagonal prism of 5 cm in diameter and 6 cm in height weighing 1,383.95 carats, is one of the most famous emeralds in the world. This uncut crystal from Muzo, Colombia, was given to the sixth Duke of Devonshire by Emperor Don Pedro in 1831.
The Patricia, named in honor of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland (the "Emerald Isle") was found in Chivor, Colombia, in 1921. The stone measures 8 cm by 5.5 cm and weighs 632 carats. It resides in the Museum of Natural History in New York.
The Mogul Emerald is one of the largest emeralds in the world. The rectangular cut tablet, which dates back to 1695, weighs 217.80 carats and is about 10 cm high. One side is inscribed with Islamic prayers and the other is engraved with opulent flower ornaments. The emerald is thought to have come from the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb --the last of the great Mogul rulers, who controlled much of India. It was discovered in Colombia by the Spanish conquistadors and most likely arrived in India through trade during the Mogul dynasty, according to experts. The emerald was auctioned off at Christie's of London for $2.2 million to an anonymous buyer in 2001.
The Gachala Emerald, an uncut 5-cm stone weight 858 carats, was found in Colombia in 1967. It was given to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., by famous New York jeweler Harry Winston.
The tiara of ex-Empress Farah of Iran holds seven large emeralds across its top varying from 65 carats to 10 carats. The tiara, part of the Irani State Treasury, was designed by Harry Winston for the occasion of Farah's marriage to Reza Shah Pahlevi in 1958. It is one of several important emerald pieces in the treasury.
The Crown of Andes, said to be worn by the last Inca king of Peru who was taken prisoner by Conquistador Pizzaro in 1532, was set with some 453 emeralds, which collectively weight 1,523 carats. The crown was sold to, then broken up by, an American syndicate in the 1940s.
Queen Elizabeth II owns the Cambridge and Delhi Dunbar Parure, a fantastic suite of emerald jewelry that includes a stunning necklace and diadem. Queen Mary had the necklace made when she and her husband, King George V, went to India for their acclamation as emperor and empress.
The Hiddenite Emeralds, discovered by treasure hunter Jamie Hill in his backyard in Hiddenite, N.C., in 1998, are among the largest and most valuable emeralds ever found in North America. The largest is The Empress Caroline, an 858-carat uncut stone. Hill also found some 3,300 additional carats of fine emeralds in his backyard, at a depth of only 12 feet. They include The Carolina Queen, an 18.88-carat pear shaped emerald valued in excess of $1 million; The Carolina Prince, a 7.85-carat oval sold for $500,000 to an anonymous private investor; the 3.37-carat Princess of Carolina; and the 3.40-ct. heart-shaped Heart of Carolina.
The Emerald Dagger, a priceless artifact on display in the Treasury of Topkapi Museum in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, has three large, clear emeralds on one side of its sheath said to be the size of pigeon's eggs. The point of the handle also includes an octagonal cover of emerald, which reveals a small watch when lifted. The gold, diamond and enamel dagger is richly decorated and also includes a large emerald at the curved tip of the sheath. The dagger was made in 1747 by Ottoman Padishah Mahmud as a gift for Nadir Shah of Iran. While en route to deliver the valuable treasure, the Turkish embassy learned that Nadir Shah had been assassinated. The dagger was returned to the Treasury. It was made famous by the 1964 U.S. film "Topkapi," which concerned a gang of art thieves who conceive of incredible plans to steal the priceless dagger from the Treasury of Topkapi Museum.
The famous Jewel-Studded Globe in the Irani State Treasury is undoubtedly the most magnificent globe in existence. At a height of 110 cm and a diameter of 45 cm, the globe is covered with more than 51,000 gemstones, and its wood base is covered with a layer of pure gold weighing some 35 kgs. Seas and oceans are shown in emeralds, while land masses are shown in diamonds, rubies and spinels. The largest emerald used in the globe is approximately 175 carats. According to legend, Nasseridin Shah (1848-1896) ordered the construction of the globe to help keep track of the loose gemstones in the Treasury.
A 4.5-inch vase in the Viennese Treasury was carved from a single emerald crystal and weighs 2,205 carats.