One usually does not associate beautiful gems at the Spanish Inquisition. However, the collection of Smithsonian gems has exquisite necklaces of diamonds and emeralds.
It is a gorgeous double row of diamonds and emeralds finished with emerald chandeliers. Unfortunately there is little information about the origin of this necklace. Big diamonds and Colombian emeralds were probably cut in India in the 17th century. This will be one of the earliest examples of cut gems in the Smithsonian collection. There is really only one legend surrounding this necklace. I understand that I came to Spanish and French at the time of arrival. In the early 20th century, purchased by Maharaja of Indore, his son sold a necklace to Harry-Winston in 1947. Winston, then Mr. Necklaces from Pittsburgh of Kohabad Williams. She passed it to Smithsonian in 1972.
Emeralds are a crystalline form known as beryls. Beryls are usually clear crystals, but when infused with chromium or vanadium, they achieve various gradations of green. The purest green is the rarest emerald, and many people actually prefer an emerald that has a turquoise tint.
Before the 16th century, the only emerald deposit known was in the Egyptian mine of Cleopatra. However, after the emeralds were found in Colombia, they became "gold standard" of the emeralds. The emeralds of Columbus, by archaeologists among tribal artifacts such as Inca, Maya, Aztec, Toltech, and the lesser known Chibcha Indians, are the rarest of the gems and more carat than the finest diamonds Each can be expensive! They are hard minerals, with a scale of 7 or 8 Moh hardness (compared to 10 of diamond). Emerald gold is found in Africa, Russia and Africa in the United States North Carolina State of Emerald Gold!
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