Gem Lore

Russian Imperial Emerald Traditions: Ural Gems

Russian Imperial Emerald Traditions: Ural Gems

The Ural Mountains of Russia produced emeralds of exceptional quality that gave Russian imperial jewelry a uniquely national character — stones that combined the heart-healing properties of emerald with the...

Russian Imperial Emerald Traditions: Ural Gems

The Ural Mountains of Russia produced emeralds of exceptional quality that gave Russian imperial jewelry a uniquely national character — stones that combined the heart-healing properties of emerald with the...

Russian Imperial Sapphire Traditions: Blue Stone

Russian Imperial Sapphire Traditions: Blue Stone

Sapphires held a place of profound importance in Russian imperial jewelry tradition — prized for their celestial blue color, their association with divine wisdom and Orthodox spirituality, and their exceptional...

Russian Imperial Sapphire Traditions: Blue Stone

Sapphires held a place of profound importance in Russian imperial jewelry tradition — prized for their celestial blue color, their association with divine wisdom and Orthodox spirituality, and their exceptional...

Orlov Diamond: Catherine's Great Gem History

Orlov Diamond: Catherine's Great Gem History

The Orlov Diamond — a 189.62-carat Indian rose-cut diamond of faint bluish-green color — was given to Catherine the Great by Count Grigory Orlov in 1774 and set into the...

Orlov Diamond: Catherine's Great Gem History

The Orlov Diamond — a 189.62-carat Indian rose-cut diamond of faint bluish-green color — was given to Catherine the Great by Count Grigory Orlov in 1774 and set into the...

Russian Imperial Diamond Fund: Kremlin Treasures

Russian Imperial Diamond Fund: Kremlin Treasures

The Kremlin Diamond Fund in Moscow is one of the world's great gemstone repositories — housing the surviving core of the Russian Imperial gem collection including the Orlov Diamond, the...

Russian Imperial Diamond Fund: Kremlin Treasures

The Kremlin Diamond Fund in Moscow is one of the world's great gemstone repositories — housing the surviving core of the Russian Imperial gem collection including the Orlov Diamond, the...

Catherine the Great's Jewelry: Empress Gem Collection

Catherine the Great's Jewelry: Empress Gem Coll...

Catherine the Great assembled the most magnificent gem collection in Russian imperial history — acquiring the Orlov Diamond, the Shah Diamond, and hundreds of exceptional stones that formed the foundation...

Catherine the Great's Jewelry: Empress Gem Coll...

Catherine the Great assembled the most magnificent gem collection in Russian imperial history — acquiring the Orlov Diamond, the Shah Diamond, and hundreds of exceptional stones that formed the foundation...

Russian Imperial Crown: Romanov Coronation Gems

Russian Imperial Crown: Romanov Coronation Gems

The Great Imperial Crown of Russia — created for Catherine the Great's coronation in 1762 and set with 4,936 diamonds and a magnificent 398-carat red spinel — is one of...

Russian Imperial Crown: Romanov Coronation Gems

The Great Imperial Crown of Russia — created for Catherine the Great's coronation in 1762 and set with 4,936 diamonds and a magnificent 398-carat red spinel — is one of...