Top 10 Famous Individual Gemstones on Display at the The National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution)
The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with approximately 154 million artifacts and specimens.Some of the most famous gems in the world are displayed at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., which is part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Most of these famous gems were donated to the Smithsonian by generous gem enthusiasts.
This is perhaps the most famous gem ever (estimated worth between $250 - $350 million). It was donated to the Smithsonian by Harry Winston in 1958, who mailed it as a gift for $2.44 in postage and $143 in insurance!
Part of the interesting story of this gem can be found in the Top 10 Victims of the Hope Diamond "Curse."
Rosser Reeves donated it in 1965.
It's an obelisk standing 13.75 inches tall and weighing 10,363 carats (4.6 pounds). It was cut from an enormous aquamarine found in Brazil. It was donated to the Smithsonian by Jane Mitchell and Jeffrey Bland.
How can you make an obelisk out of a single gemstone? That is crazy!
A ruby of the highest quality.
One of the world's largest faceted blue sapphires (423 carats), it was a gift from Mrs. John A. Logan.
This ring was donated by Mr. and Mrs. O. Roy in 1972.
A ruby with asterism (natural 6-ray star).
Countess Mona von Bismarck donated it in 1967.
A very large topaz mined in Brazil.
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