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Gem Collection (page 3)

Background imageGem Collection: Suffragette Breaking Window Gem Library

Suffragette Breaking Window Gem Library. An issue of The Gem Library in which a suffragette hurls stones through the window of a grocers shop in a story entitled, The Suffragette and the Sack

Background imageGem Collection: Advert for The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company 1937

Advert for The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company 1937
For fine gem jewellery. 1937

Background imageGem Collection: Advert for Parisian Diamond Company 1904

Advert for Parisian Diamond Company 1904
Woman wearing decorative fashionable jewellery by Parisian Diamond Company. 1904

Background imageGem Collection: USS Columbia - The Gem of the Ocean

USS Columbia - The Gem of the Ocean
Decorative, embossed picture postcard depicting (a very stylised and factually incorrect) USS Columbia - The Gem of the Ocean, pictured above the musical score the Three Cheers for the Red

Background imageGem Collection: Aeronautical Development Establishment of India

Aeronautical Development Establishment of India ADE GEM-1

Background imageGem Collection: Diamond in pebble

Diamond in pebble
A solitary diamond in conglomerate, from Golconda, India

Background imageGem Collection: Aquamarine

Aquamarine
This Russian gem is about the size of a peach and weighs 898 carats

Background imageGem Collection: Morganite

Morganite
This gemstone is 600 carats and one of the worlds largest Morganite specimens

Background imageGem Collection: Opal

Opal in its natural form. The boulder has been split open to reveal the shimmering opal inside

Background imageGem Collection: Diamond flower brooch

Diamond flower brooch
Victorian diamond-encrusted flower with a sapphire at its centre

Background imageGem Collection: Tourmaline cut stones see 666

Tourmaline cut stones see 666
A group of tourmaline cut stones. Tourmaline is the name given to a group of eleven minerals which all have a general chemical formula

Background imageGem Collection: Jade

Jade
A block of jade measuring more than a metre across and weighing over half a tonne

Background imageGem Collection: Black opal

Black opal
131-carat black opal found in the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia

Background imageGem Collection: Emerald

Emerald
Possibly from the collection of Rt Hon Charles Greville in 1810. Emerald is a variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate). The green colour attributed to small amounts of chromium

Background imageGem Collection: Yellow sapphire

Yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka, 101 carats. Acquired by the museum in 1874

Background imageGem Collection: Agate thundereggs

Agate thundereggs

Background imageGem Collection: Imperial Topaz

Imperial Topaz
Found in 1852 in one of the oldest mines in the southeastern Ouro Preto region of Brazil

Background imageGem Collection: Padparadscha

Padparadscha is one of the most unusual varieties of the mineral corundum

Background imageGem Collection: Moss agate

Moss agate specimen

Background imageGem Collection: Bloodstone or heliotrope carvings

Bloodstone or heliotrope carvings
These frogs were carved from bloodstone by Paul Dreher. Bloodstone is green agate containing speckles of red jasper. All these derive from the cryptocrystalline quartz group

Background imageGem Collection: Opal necklace

Opal necklace given to the museum in 1958

Background imageGem Collection: Spinel specimen

Spinel specimen
Spinel crystals from Vietnam. The rock has been chipped away to reveal the well-defined crystals

Background imageGem Collection: Diamond spikes

Diamond spikes

Background imageGem Collection: Natural ruby crystal

Natural ruby crystal
This ruby is a staggering 1, 085 carats. Mined in Burmas Mogok (Myanmar s) mines and bought by the Museum in 1924 from Burma Ruby Mines Ltd. It is one of the largest crystals in the Museum collection

Background imageGem Collection: Jade group

Jade group
A selection of rough and worked specimens of jadeite and nephrite. Jade is a gemstone and ornamental stone

Background imageGem Collection: Star sapphire

Star sapphire
Parallel bundles of fibres are formed in the stone as it crystallises. When the sapphire is cut in the correct orientation the silky needles reflect light to form a star effect

Background imageGem Collection: Natural ruby in marble

Natural ruby in marble
From the mines of Mogok in Burma (Myanmar). Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum with small impurities of chromium that turn it red

Background imageGem Collection: Cursed amethyst

Cursed amethyst
When the Mineralogy Department received this amethyst in 1943 they found a note inside the box: this stone is trebly accursed and is stained with the blood

Background imageGem Collection: Plaster mould recording the original shape of the Koh-i-Noor

Plaster mould recording the original shape of the Koh-i-Noor
Made in 1851 before the diamond was re-cut to a brilliant oval. This cast records the Mogul-style cut of the Koh-i-Noor diamond

Background imageGem Collection: Plate 3a from Histoire naturelle? (1789)

Plate 3a from Histoire naturelle? (1789)
Plate 3a, Histoire Naturel Des Mineraux et de Pierres Precieuses, from Histoire naturelle: ou, Exposition des morceaux, les mieux choisis pour servir? (1789) by by Swebach Desfontaines

Background imageGem Collection: Variety of Gemstones

Variety of Gemstones
Left to right, top: Onyx, cornelian, tigers eye, jet, turquoise, lapis lazuli, hematite, jade. Bottom: Ivory, amber, coral, cultured pearl, freshwater pearl, shell, cameo

Background imageGem Collection: Baltic amber jewellery

Baltic amber jewellery
Matching necklace and earring set made of Baltic amber. Borrowed from Wendy Turner Coates. Image from Amber the Natural Time Capsule Fig. 22

Background imageGem Collection: Hannays diamond

Hannays diamond
No.1 of Hannays diamonds. Specimen held in the Mineralogy Department at The Natural History Museum, London

Background imageGem Collection: Burmese amber

Burmese amber
A large specimen of Burmese amber measuring 50 cms left to right

Background imageGem Collection: Tray of Precious Gemstones

Tray of Precious Gemstones held in the mineralogy department of the Natural History Museum

Background imageGem Collection: Turquoise variety Henwoodite

Turquoise variety Henwoodite
A specimen of the turquoise variety called Henwoodite, named after William Jory Henwood (1805-1875) from West Phoenix Mine, Linkinhorne, Cornwall

Background imageGem Collection: Tray of Precious Gemstone

Tray of Precious Gemstones held in the mineralogy department of the Natural History Museum

Background imageGem Collection: Chrome diopside

Chrome diopside
Two variations of a diopside gemstone (calcium magnesium silicate). Left: Deep-green faceted cut stone; locality unknown. Right: Small translucent green detached crystal from Outokumpu, Finland

Background imageGem Collection: Corundum group

Corundum group
A collection of crystals including ruby and sapphire particolor, ruby rhomboid, and hexagonal cut sapphire

Background imageGem Collection: Ruby and Sapphire

Ruby and Sapphire
Specimens of the mineral corundum (Aluminum Oxide), a ruby and saphire. These gemstones are varieties of the corundum mineral. A collection of crystals including the Edwardes ruby

Background imageGem Collection: Birthstone Series: Zircon

Birthstone Series: Zircon
Zircon comes in a variety of colours, but most commonly brown or green. It is the birthstone for the month of December (along with Tanzinte and Turquoise). Photographed by Harry Taylor

Background imageGem Collection: Birthstone Series: Fire Opal

Birthstone Series: Fire Opal
This specimen is called a fire opal because of its red-orange colour. Many of these specimens originate from Mexico. Opal is the birthstone for the month of October. Photographed by Harry Taylor

Background imageGem Collection: Birthstone Series: Lazurite

Birthstone Series: Lazurite

Background imageGem Collection: Birthstone Series: Citrine

Birthstone Series: Citrine
Citrine is a form of quartz that appears in different a variety of yellows and oranges, it is the birthstone for the month of November along with Topaz. Specimen number 21470

Background imageGem Collection: Included diamond gemstone

Included diamond gemstone
A two-carat rectangular step-cut diamond with a large violet-red garnet inclusion visible in the table facet

Background imageGem Collection: Birthstone Series: Opal

Birthstone Series: Opal
Opal is a form of silica and it is the birthstone (along with Tourmaline) for the month of October. Natural History Museum specimen number: 1908, 235. Photographed by Harry Taylor

Background imageGem Collection: Sapphire turban button

Sapphire turban button
A rose-cut facetted deep-blue sapphire mounted in a button of quartz, inlaid with gold, rubies & emeralds. No 198 in the collection of Sir Hans Sloane



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