Exhibiting enthusiasm

Whether you’re beginning a career in gemology or looking for a refresher on a lifelong passion, viewing an extensive gemstone collection in person is edifying as well as entertaining. These must-visit museum collections have been selected based on their importance, the quality of the overall gemstone selection and the educative experience they provide.

Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum

Idar-Oberstein, Germany, is home to many significant gemstone dealers, and the Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum illustrates the region’s historical significance in the gemology world. The museum, which opened in 1859, boasts 10,000 gem specimens arranged across four floors of a manor house. The art of gemstone carving gets particular attention, and there are regularly changing temporary exhibits alongside the permanent selection. On the second floor is the “Object of the Month,” a showcase that highlights some of the museum’s distinctive specimens. edelsteinmuseum.de

The Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Collection

With around 375,000 specimens, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, contains one of the world’s largest gemstone and mineral collections. Among the treasures in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals is the famous Hope diamond. The institute is devoted to supporting scientific research, and as such, it maintains a collection that is accessible to researchers from all over the globe. The intention is that generation after generation of gemologists, geologists and scientists will be able to study these items and contribute to our understanding of gems and minerals for centuries to come. naturalhistory.si.edu

Victoria and Albert Museum

For the aesthete, jewelry lover and gem aficionado, one of the most visually arresting gemstone displays can be found in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). At this British institution of art and design, the standout offering is a swirling spiral of 154 gemstones, including a spectrum of sapphires, tourmalines and garnets. The V&A is perfect if you are partial to expanding your jewelry-history knowledge: The museum boasts one of the most comprehensive collections in the world, with more than 3,000 creations that map the story of jewelry design and techniques from ancient times to the present day. vam.ac.uk

GIA New York

The Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) headquarters in Carlsbad, California, is home to the GIA Museum, but the institute also hosts an outpost in New York’s International Gem Tower. The tower’s current gemstone exhibition features 14 display cases brimming with nearly 100 items from the Carlsbad campus. The 18-foot vitrines contain enormous aquamarine crystals, mineral sculptures and rare pearl varieties — a refined collection for those who are scarce on time. gia.edu

The Yamanashi Gem Museum

The Yamanashi Gem Museum in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan, celebrates the Yamanashi district’s association with gems. The region’s gem-processing industry developed in the 17th century, and mining peaked between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. The museum’s specialty is communicating the processes and history of gem production via more than 3,000 rough and faceted gems collected from around the world. Image: gemmuseum.jp/en

Image: Victoria and Albert Museum

Article from the Rapaport Magazine - December 2019. To subscribe click here.