5 celebrity jewellery pieces reimagined in semi-precious gemstones
Many gemstones and iconic pieces of jewellery have infamous history, whether they were looted from conquered nations in ancient times, given as presents by renowned spouses and lovers, or resided in the crown jewel collections of royals worldwide. The history and infamy of many of these diamonds' rich (and occasionally scandalous) origins continue to captivate the globe. Here, we take a deep and intriguing look into some of the most famous dazzling stones.
The Dresden Green semi-precious gemstone
The Dresden Green is the world's most giant natural green diamond, weighing 41 carats. Thought to have been mined in India's Golconda area, the diamond's history dates back to the early 18th century, when it was acquired for 400,000 thalers by Friedrich Augustus I of Saxony. That quantity was worth four tonnes of gold at the time. The diamond is presently on display in Dresden Castle in Germany.
La Peregrina Pearl semi-precious gemstone
The La Peregrina Pearl, said to have been discovered off the coast of Panama in the mid-16th century, was given to King Phillip II of Spain (Panama was a colony of the country at the time). He then turned around and delivered the 58.5-carat pearl as a bridal gift to Queen Mary of England. It was hailed as the most symmetrical natural pearl ever discovered and was finally purchased by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969.
The Taylor-Burton Diamond semi-precious gemstone
Harry Winston acquired a raw diamond weighing 241 carats in 1966, which was cut into a pear-shaped, almost 70 carat, flawless diamond. Richard Burton eventually reached this renowned stone as a gift for his wife Elizabeth Taylor, and the stone was christened the Taylor-Burton Diamond. The house now pays homage to the extraordinary diamond with items like the Diamond Loop necklace, celebrating the original's pear form.
The Graff Pink semi-precious gemstone
Laurence Graff of the famed and eponymous jewellery business set out to fulfil the stone's ultimate potential after buying a 24.78-carat pink diamond in 2010. Before calling it the Graff Pink, he had the diamond reshaped and 20 inherent imperfections eliminated. As a result, the stone is currently the most perfect pink diamond globally, with brilliant colour, no internal defects, and a weight of 23.88 carats.
The Hope Diamond semi-precious gemstone
The Hope Diamond, maybe the most well-known diamond globally, has a lengthy and allegedly cursed history. It is thought to have originated in India and was initially possessed by King Louis XIV of France in 1668 before being stolen and appearing in the English royal court. The 45.52-carat blue diamond is presently housed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
