Gemstones cover a large number of stones that we find precious. Some gemstones are more precious than the others, such as the special Ceylon sapphires. There are a number of gemstones that are unique and one of a kind with interesting histories. Here are the most famous gemstones in history.
The Hope Diamond
Though the diamond has a happy name, people link the jewel with death and bad luck. Throughout its history, many owners of the diamond have either died or gone bankrupt. The Hope Diamond came from one large gemstone that people cut into many smaller diamonds.
The Star of India
The Star of India has a relatively unknown history, as the gem was found just before the turn of the 1900s as part of a gem collection. The gem does have origins in Sri Lanka and is one of the largest gemstones in the world. It is a nearly flawless star sapphire, with the star appearing on both sides of the gemstone.
Delong Star Ruby
The Delong Star Ruby is one of nine beautiful gems that were stolen, along with the Star of India and the Midnight Star. The thieves eventually ransomed the gems back for a huge sum of money. The gem itself is a large, round star ruby.
The Pearl of Lao Tzu
There are many legends around the Pearl of Lao Tzu, which was the largest pearl at the time of its discovery. Some claim that the pearl has a carving by Lao Tzu of himself and two others: Confucius and Buddha. It is true that you can see a carving in the pearl of a single man, but the rest might be false.
The Fabergé Egg
This artwork is not a singular famous gemstone; rather, it is an egg that has been decorated with many different cut gemstones. The first eggs were gifts to Russian tzars and their families. The tzar then made Peter Carl Fabergé, the craftsman, the imperial court’s supplier. Even now, the Fabergé eggs are famous artworks, with only 57 remaining.
These are just some of the most famous gemstones in history, and each one has its own unique history and style. Oddly, most of these gemstones seem to hold mystery, but that is what probably makes them famous.
Additional Resources:
Money
