Iran is a land shrouded in mystery with a grand empirical legacy dating back thousands of years. Over considerable time the precious contents of its incredible royal treasuries and the Iranian Crown Jewels, have waxed, waned and sometimes even wobbled. So fabulous is this priceless and totally unrivalled collection of Colombian emeralds, Burmese rubies, sapphires, Golconda and African diamonds, and Badkashan spinels that they are still counted today as part of the Iranian National Currency Reserve. While many of the treasures were looted and carried off by Indian Moghul emperors, soldiers and thieves, what remains is a peerless gemstone collection that royalty, gemologists, collectors and museums alike, such as the British Royal Family, J.P. Morgan, George F. Kunz and the American Museum of National History, can only fantasize about.

The museum's inventory is a catalogue of superlatives - the largest spinels in the world, the largest fancy colored diamonds, the largest quality Mogok rubies, countless huge Colombian emeralds and other ancient and precious jewels both loose and set into gold jewelry and ornaments. Some gems have been reworked by modern masters, such as Harry Winston & Co. of New York, and Van Cleef & Arpels of Paris. In fact, so numerous were the amount of gemstones in this collection, that in 1869, Nassereddin Shah was having a difficult time keeping track of them, which prompted him to create perhaps the most fabulous piece of gem set jewelry ever (Editor's Note - whether one could call it jewelry is debatable, the total weight is nearly 50 Kilograms!).
 

The Gemstone Globe. Clearly visible are the emerald seas and the ruby and spinel set Australian, South East Asian and Chinese landmasses.

Perhaps using the harem method, that is, keeping all your loved ones in one place, he commissioned the crafting of a magnificent globe of the Earth to combine many of these wayward gems. Over 51,000 gemstones and 34 Kilograms of pure gold were used in its creation. This magnificent golden gem set globe stands at 110 cm and has a diameter of 45 cm. The oceans and seas are huge Colombian emeralds, the biggest of which is a staggering 175 Carats! Landmasses are depicted in huge spinels and rubies from Mogok and Badkashan, with the largest spinel and ruby weighing 110 Carats and 75 Carats respectively. The colonial powers of the time, England and France, are encrusted in large diamonds, the largest of which is 15 Carats. Diamonds also coat the landmasses of Southeast Asia and Iran, while pale rubies and pink sapphires represent India, and blue sapphires depict the Central and South America landmasses. The Shah in his love for precious gems had quite literally created a world of gems.

And what of the other main characters in this opulent treasury of the world's finest gemstones? Unique diamonds and gems reside within the repository walls as both loose gems, and gems set in more-than-52 separate ceremonial pieces to what make up the largest, and most valuable collection of jewels anywhere in the world. Perhaps the oldest gem in the collection, which has been connected to the bible, is the famed "Samarian Spinel," a spinel so large that its 500 Carat hulk is the largest in the world. Legend accords the blazing red Samarian spinel to be the gem that adorned the neck of the Biblical Golden Calf, created by the Israelites while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments from God himself.

Another legendary piece is the Darya-e Noor (Sea Of Light). So valuable is this 186 Carat fancy pink diamond that Iranian King, Nader Shah, invaded India and ransacked Delhi in 1739 to reclaim it and its famous white twin, the Koh-e Noor (Mountain Of Light). Sadly for Iran, after repossession of the two fabulous white and pink diamonds, the Koh-e Noor slipped away again across the mountains, through Afghanistan, to India. The priceless white diamond found its way into the sticky fingers of the Colonial British, who whisked it away to England where it remains to this day as part of the British Crown jewels. The Royal Iranian Crown Jewels also includes literally thousands of loose white and fancy diamonds, many of which are over 50 Carat and even 100 Carat sizes.
 

Left & Bottom - The Rose Water Sprinkler & Bowl. Right - The Darya-e Noor (Sea Of Light). So valuable is this 186 Carat diamond that Nader Shah invaded India and sacked Delhi in 1739 to reclaim it and its twin the Koh-e Noor (Mountain Of Light).

Other loose gems include hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of loose Colombian emeralds in trays and buckets set out in ornamental display cases. However, not all other objects in this "Aladdin's Cave" museum are loose gems. Many of the treasures are labors of love that fuse everyday utilitarian ideas with precious metals and world-class jewels. Iranian artisans used precious gemstones, gold, pearls and ivory to beautify everyday objects: jewel encrusted coffee cups, dish covers, incense burners, swords, boxes, candlesticks, cloaks and even a rosewater sprinkler that has nearly 5 Kilograms of gold that is encrusted with huge Burmese rubies weighing up to 22 Carats and fine Colombian emeralds weighing up to 30 Carats - just for washing your hands!

Among the collection and even though an instrument of destruction, The Royal Sword or Shahi Sword, was a gift of respect and love to Nasseridin Shah from Prime Minister Amin O'Sultan. And if his love was measured in jewels, then the Prime Minister had a big heart. The scabbard is encrusted with approximately 3,000 jewels of similar quality found elsewhere in the treasury. The total length of the sword is 103 cm and among the many gems it holds, is two 100 Carat+ top quality emeralds. Large diamonds, rubies, and spinels, also adorn the sword, which was worn by the last Shah of Iran (Mohammad Reza Shah) during his 1967 coronation.

Other inclusions to the museum are fusions of ancient jewels with designs by the world's best and most talented jewelers. Worn by the Empress Farah during her coronation, also in 1967, were a splendid diamond and emerald necklace with matching earrings made by Van Cleef & Arpels along with the Empress' Crown made in Tehran by Pierre Arpels. The necklace, mounted in platinum and gold, includes an enormous engraved hexagonal emerald, mounted in a pendant and surrounded by old cut diamonds, four large square emeralds and five smaller ones, four hanging pear pearls and 11 yellow diamonds. Two tiaras designed by Harry Winston for her wedding and for touring purposes are exquisite - they host huge white, yellow and pink diamonds as well as 100 Carat emeralds and other fantastic jewels that we mere mortals can only fantasize about.
 

The collection doesn't stop here, but we must. It goes on to include many more tiaras, thrones, loose gems and more - items that are essentially incomparable. It was perhaps the love of beauty, or women, or of the country itself that drove the monarchs of Iran to search the globe for the finest specimens for this incomparable imperial treasure trove. Aside from the turquoise which was mined locally, all other gemstones - diamonds, spinels, emeralds, sapphires, pearls and rubies - were imported from South Africa, India, South America, Burma, Sri Lanka, Turkey, France and Italy. Many were purchased from historical passers by, such as the French gem legend and traveler, John Baptist Tavernier, who recorded his visit to Iran in 1642. Others gems have been lost or looted by soldiers, and sold to markets in India.

The seas of emeralds, rubies, spinels, pearls, and diamonds that adorn the contents of 37 illuminated glass cases of crowns, tiaras, ceremonial swords and more, make the British Crown Jewels locked in the Tower of London look like baubles from a discount Kingdom. From the outside, Iran is frequently perceived as a place of dark uncertainty. Few people visit and less still gain insight into its customs, fables and tradition. The Iranian Crown Jewels show that locked this bedrock of civilization is a history and tradition inextricably bound to, as well as a love for, the world's most fabulous precious gemstones.

Click here to read previous Gem Scoops.

Weekly Jewelry Special

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Premium quality blue sapphires totaling 0.48 Carats are prong set into two channels of bright white gold. A broad collar inscribed with the "key" pattern of the ancient Greeks is crafted in glacier-like white gold to accent the bright blue sapphires. The upper shoulders of ring are host to an attractive tiled pattern.

Get noticed with this bright sapphire and white gold ring that captures the eye's attention for only $79.99.

Click here to view previous Weekly Specials.

Ask...

Got a question about gems? Every week our Gemological Manager answers one of the more popular questions asked about gems and gemology.
 

In response to numerous questions over many months regarding peridot, we have written a comprehensive buyers' guide to this gem.

The pronunciation of this popular gem is often confused and should be pronounced pair-ee-doh, as opposed to pair-ee-dot. Birthstone for August and gem for Librans, peridot is a gem variety of forsterite-olivine, which exhibits golden lime-greens and rich grass-greens. Known as the "Gem of the Sun" to the Ancient Egyptians, peridot was a favorite gemstone of Cleopatra and was frequently mistaken for emerald.

Perennially popular, this often-charming gem is in an unusual position of being both excellent value and highly collectable in good quality, large sizes - especially when hailing from favored locales. With prices for a 1 Carat peridot starting at around $15, peridot is an excellent and highly affordable substitute for emerald, which when exhibiting top color, offers an unbeatable value for money to the consumer.

Color Is The Most Important Factor In Determining A Peridot's Value

Colored by iron, peridot is an idiochromatic gem meaning that its color is an essential part of its composition - unlike gems such as ruby or sapphire that are colored by trace elements present as impurities. The green hues of peridot vary in color from rich grass-like greens reminiscent of emeralds and tsavorite, to yellowish greens that may at times have hints of brown. While the ideal or perhaps most valued color hue is this rich grass-like green, many peridots with slight yellowish hues exhibit attractive colors that can still command premium prices.

The Carat Weight Of Peridot Greatly Affects Per Carat Prices

Sharing traits with members of the quartz and tourmaline families, peridot is commonly found in large crystal sizes that can easily reach up to 50 - 100 Carats in the good qualities. Such large crystal sizes do much to enhance a peridot's depth and richness of color. Due to the fairly abundant occurrence rates of medium to large size peridot, weight related price-per-carat jumps are not severe.
 

Freedom From Inclusions

Generally, peridot is thought of as a fairly clean gem. While the GIA lists it as a Type II colored gem [usually slightly included], market abundance and low prices dictate that eye-clean peridot is readily available.

The slightly "oily" or "sleepy" frequently seen in larger peridots is a result of strong double refraction that duplicates and blurs the images of the back facet junctions. This effect is not counted as a clarity issue.

Shape & Cut

Due to the lack of any prevalent crystal shape types recovered from the mines, peridot is most frequently cut as oval in accordance to market demands. However, all other cuts are common, as well as experimental and innovative fantasy cuts that take advantage of relatively inexpensive and good value gem rough.

As always, gems should always exhibit good symmetry and polish conditions; facets should be aligned straight in relation to the gem's girdle, and also to each other; polish conditions should be good with no visible surface pits or polishing lines.

Classical Sources Of Peridot

Peridot is found in several places around the world, but interestingly not in nearly as many locales as diamonds or sapphire, technically making it rarer! Burma and Pakistan are regarded as the sources of choice and are noted for quality crystals in the most desirable colors. Other locations include the U.S. and China The famed peridot-producing island of Zabargad off Egyptian Red Sea coast has now been abandoned.

The Use Of Heat, Treatments & Synthetics

Peridot is generally not enhanced. Click here to learn more.
 

Create Your Jewelry creates freedom, by giving you the freedom to create. To design the jewelry of your dreams, simply combine our unrivaled selection of Gems, Diamonds & Pearls with over 1,000 stunning jewelry designs.

This week's showcase is an 18 Karat White Gold Ring set with a 4.45 Carat Paraiba Color Topaz. Total Price: US$137.95. Handcrafted & shipped in only 14 days from receipt of order.

To order a similar design, select Gemstone Rings and this design will appear on the first page of the Gem Scoop Gallery. For rapid assistance or advice, click on any of the "Live Support" icons appearing on the website or email  support@thaigem.com

The Gem Quiz

For this fortnight's gem quiz, we cryptically wove three gemstones into the characters of three young women that were featured in last week's Gem Scoop (Friday 06/06/03). Click here to read this issue.

For the fabulous prize of the Ruby & Sapphire 14K Gold Ring pictured left, with a Retail Value Of $156, simply tell us: what gemstones do the three female characters represent, and why are we asking this question at this moment in time?

Send your answer to gemquiz@thaigem.net by June 17, 2003. The winner will be selected randomly from all correct answers. Gem Quiz winners will be informed via email and also announced in the Gem Scoop. All decisions are final.


Click here to view previous Gem Quiz questions and winners.

Thanks for taking the time to read about the colorful world of gems and recent developments at Thaigem.com.

Yours truly,

The Thaigem.com Team

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