Top Picks

Long before photography could preserve a royal face, portraits were painted, sculpted, engraved, and sometimes carved into gemstones small enough to be worn on a finger or carried as a personal possession. Marie Antoinette’s Carnelian Intaglio is a fascinating example of this tradition, capturing royal portraiture in miniature gemstone form. Among the most fascinating examples...

The Hope Spinel, the historic red gem once mistaken for ruby, reflects a time when magnificent red gemstones were often described simply as “rubies.” Without modern gemological testing, distinguishing ruby from visually similar red stones could be extremely difficult. One remarkable gem connected with this history is the Hope Spinel, a spectacular red spinel weighing...

Queen Victoria’s influence on nineteenth-century fashion extended far beyond dresses, mourning jewelry, and diamonds. Queen Victoria’s Scottish Agates became part of one of the more distinctive trends associated with her reign, reflecting her growing enthusiasm for jewelry and designs inspired by Scotland. After Queen Victoria and Prince Albert developed a deep affection for the Scottish...

The Hidden Secrets of Moonstone begin with its appearance, which is unlike most other gemstones. At first glance, it may seem colorless, white, peach, gray, or even nearly transparent. But when the stone moves under light, a soft glow can appear to float beneath its surface. This mysterious light is one of the reasons moonstone...

Few royal jewelry collections have attracted as much fascination as that of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. Her jewels were bold, personal, and often closely connected to her relationship with Edward, Duke of Windsor. Among the most memorable was The Duchess of Windsor’s Amethyst Necklace, a spectacular Cartier amethyst, turquoise, and diamond bib necklace...

Few archaeological discoveries have captured the world’s imagination quite like Tutankhamun’s Lapis Lazuli Treasures. When his tomb was uncovered in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922, it revealed an extraordinary collection of gold, jewelry, ceremonial objects, amulets, and funerary treasures that had remained hidden for more than 3,000 years. Among these remarkable discoveries, lapis...

Napoleon Bonaparte is remembered for military ambition, political power, and an extraordinary ability to shape European history. Yet among the grand symbols associated with the French emperor is a much smaller and more mysterious object: Napoleon’s carnelian seal. This modest carved gemstone reportedly accompanied Napoleon after his campaign in Egypt and later passed through the...

Few gemstones carry a name as dramatic as the Black Prince’s Ruby. Set prominently in the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom, this extraordinary red gemstone has been connected with kings, battles, coronations, and centuries of British royal history. There is, however, one fascinating detail hidden behind its famous name: the Black Prince’s Ruby...

The 2026 Met Gala once again proved that while couture may define the theme of the evening, extraordinary jewelry creates the moments people remember forever, with many of the evening’s creations becoming the jewelry that truly stole the spotlight at the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, “Fashion is Art,” transformed the red carpet into...

At the 2026 White House State Dinner, Queen Camilla delivered one of the most memorable jewelry moments of the year, wearing Queen Camilla’s Show-Stopping Amethyst Necklace, a bold and historic amethyst and diamond piece that instantly drew global attention. As widely noted in media coverage, including the NY Post report on King Charles’ US visit,...