Exquisite Showcase of Rare and Magnificent Gemstones Collide in a Spectacular Exhibition
Step into a realm of opulence and wonder as the Los Angeles Natural History Museum presents a dazzling exhibition featuring a remarkable collection of the world’s largest, most exquisite, and uniquely rare gemstones. Even if your fascination with precious jewels is limited to the silver screen, this exclusive showcase offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to marvel at the beauty and grandeur of nature's finest creations.
Aaron Celestian doesn't really like "Ocean's 8." He finds it difficult to enjoy those movies because they always involve robbing museums. He chuckled as he shared, "It's hard for me to watch because it feels so personal." Standing in a vault surrounded by some of the rarest gems in the world, he expressed his sentiments.
As the curator of mineral sciences for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Celestian is responsible for overseeing the Gem & Mineral Hall. Currently, the hall is showcasing a special exhibition called “100 Carats: Icons of the Gem World.” This exhibition features over 3,000 carats of precious gems on display until April 21.
Jeweler Robert Procop, who worked with the museum to organize the exhibition, describes these gems as true treasures of the world.
The 125-carat "Jonker I" diamond, one of the most storied gems of its kind in history.
The 125-carat "Jonker I" diamond, one of the most storied gems of its kind in history.
Courtesy of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
Inside the hall's Hixon Gem Vault, you can marvel at 17 impressive gems that are securely locked every night. Additionally, nine beautiful pieces of jewelry decorate the walls outside.
One of the highlights of the display is the Jonker I diamond, a stunning 125-carat stone with a rich history. This diamond has been admired by jewelers, royals, and other notable figures from around the globe.
In 1934, diamond prospectors in South Africa discovered the gem from which Jonker I was cut.
According to Celestian, the story goes like this: On a rainy day, the rain washed away the sediment and revealed a 726-carat rough diamond.
Sir Ernest Oppenheimer purchased the diamond and later sold it to jeweler Harry Winston in 1935 for £150,000. Winston then had the diamond cut into 13 pieces by Lazare Kaplan, with the largest piece being the Jonker I. The cutting process involved a tool coated in olive oil and diamond dust.
In 1948, King Farouk of Egypt acquired the Jonker I from Winston. However, after about four years, King Farouk was deposed and exiled from Egypt, and the diamond went missing.
A quartet of dazzling pastel gems.
The door to the Natural History Museum's Hixon Gem Vault, flanked by other jewels on display.
Courtesy the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
Spencer Theodora
A view inside the Hixon Gem Vault, featuring highlights from the "100 Carats" exhibition.
Courtesy the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
All that glitters...
The gem has not been seen by the public in person for many decades, since 1937 to be exact. Celestian mentioned to CNN that it was last displayed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York for only three days after being cut. It has been captured in photographs with celebrities like Shirley Temple, but has remained out of reach for most people.
Even if you're not a jewelry expert, you won't want to miss this exhibit. It's a rare chance to admire some of the most stunning natural stones in the world. Procop and Celestian have gathered an impressive collection, from a unique teal sapphire that changes color to a flawless 241-carat emerald cut gem, and a variety of richly colored tourmalines.
The term "carat" comes from carob seeds, which weigh 0.2 grams each and gave early gem traders a uniform measure.
A quartet of dazzling pastel gems.
Courtesy the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
All the gems in the vault, except for the Jonker I, have been recently discovered and purchased in the past few years. Some are borrowed from private owners, while others, including the jewelry outside the vault, were crafted by Procop.
Procop, a renowned jeweler for royalty and the super wealthy, is known for his collaborations with celebrities like Angelina Jolie on charitable projects. His work is even featured in the Smithsonian’s collection. With a reliable network of miners, brokers, and buyers worldwide, he doesn't need to travel far to acquire a 100-carat gem. Instead, they can be securely delivered to his doorstep in armored trucks.
The Imperial, an "exquisite" green tourmaline gem.
Spencer Theodora
Ashley Barrett
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To truly grasp the importance of the gems showcased in the exhibition’s vault, it's important to understand that carats (a total of 2,387 in there) are a unit of weight, not size. For instance, rubies and sapphires are denser than diamonds, so a 1 carat ruby or sapphire will actually be smaller than a 1 carat diamond.
A Harry Winston emerald and diamond pendant necklace that sold for 882,000 Swiss francs ($983,000).
The term "carat" comes from carob seeds, which weigh 0.2 grams each and gave early gem traders a uniform measure.
Courtesy of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
To help visitors understand the size of gems, Celestian arranged a display showing gems ranging from one carat to 100 carats. For those who have never held a large gem, he included a helpful reference point: 100 carats is about the same weight as four nickels.
The educational display at the exhibition features one of the world's most precious gems that is hidden in plain sight.
Celestian, the curator, enjoys adding little surprises to the exhibits. In this case, he points out a one-carat gem that is considered the rarest gemstone in the world. Known as Kyawthuite, this reddish-orange mineral was found by a gemologist in Myanmar in 2010. Celestian mentions, "It's the only one of its kind that has ever been discovered."
In this exhibition, while nothing else is quite as rare, the other gems showcased are unique, brightly colored, and largely unseen. "The Ukrainian Flag" stands out as the largest bi-color topaz ever discovered. "The Imperial" is highlighted as the most exquisite green tourmaline ever found. Lastly, "The Crown of Colombia" is celebrated as the largest and most flawless emerald ever unearthed in Colombia.
The Imperial, an "exquisite" green tourmaline gem.
Courtesy the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
“To have something this clean, this transparent, and this big, and this saturated in color, is unreal,” Celestian told CNN of this latter piece.
Romancing the stones
The gems in the vault are all unmounted to keep them in their purest form, as Procop explained. They are showcased in glass cases, allowing viewers to admire their unique color, size, and cut. The teal sapphire even has a display light that changes every few seconds to showcase its full color spectrum.
"When I had this in the lab, it was like, woah," he shared. "It was truly amazing to see how the color kept changing."
A Harry Winston emerald and diamond pendant necklace that sold for 882,000 Swiss francs ($983,000).
courtesy Christie's
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A controversial jewelry collection has sold for a staggering $201 million, breaking records. It's doubtful that these gems will be together again. The museum's pieces will be returned to their vaults, while the others will go back to their owners or may be sold. Lori Bettison-Varga, the museum's director, hopes that visitors will be inspired by the collection.
Celestian, a geologist, expressed her love for sharing gems because of the geologic story they tell and the lessons they offer. She also admires the artistic and spectacular ways humans have brought these specimens to life.
Even after all this time, Celestian still feels wonder and amazement when looking at the stunning stones created by our planet.
"I am passionate about being an environmentalist. I believe that these beautiful stones are a reminder of how we take resources from the earth. When we look at these stones, it makes us think about our role on this planet."
Editor's P/S:
The "100 Carats: Icons of the Gem World" exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is a stunning display of some of the rarest and most beautiful gems on Earth. From the historic 125-carat Jonker I diamond to the flawless 241-carat emerald cut gem, each stone tells a unique story of geologic formation and human artistry. The exhibition is a testament to the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and it is sure to inspire awe and amazement in all who visit.
As the curator of mineral sciences for the museum, Aaron Celestian has a deep appreciation for the gems on display. He sees them not only as objects of beauty but also as reminders of the importance of environmental stewardship. "When we look at these stones, it makes us think about our role on this planet," he says. "We need to be mindful of how we use our resources and how we can protect our environment for future generations." The "100 Carats" exhibition is a powerful reminder of the fragility of our planet and the importance of protecting its treasures. offers a fascinating exploration of the diverse world of gemstones.
