A beautiful movie star, a talented designer, fabulous gemstones and a humanitarian mission all play into the yellow citrine necklace donated to the Smithsonian National Gem Collection by film actress Angelina Jolie Pitt. Designed with 64 graduated bezel-set cushion-cut citrines set in 18-karat yellow gold, the necklace features a 177.11-carat pear-shaped citrine drop. Named the Jolie Citrine Necklace, the jewel is on display in the Janet Annenberg Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D. C. It will be on display indefinitely.
The necklace is from the Style of Jolie jewelry collection, a collaboration between Jolie Pitt and American jewelry designer Robert Procop. The collection was developed by Jolie Pitt to promote education and establish schools in nations affected by conflict. Proceeds from the sale of jewelry from the Style of Jolie collection are donated to the Education Partnership for Children in Conflict, which builds schools for children around the world. The first schools were built in Afghanistan. “Robert and I are honored to have this great institution feature one of our jeweled creations,” says Jolie Pitt. “As the Smithsonian has educated so many of us, this jewel is a symbol of our efforts to help educate underprivileged children in conflict areas of the world.”
This is the first piece of citrine jewelry in the National Gem collection. Citrine is a variety of quartz composed of silicon and oxygen. It gets its color from traces of iron and ranges in shades from golden yellow to orange. The name citrine comes from the French word citron, which means lemon, and references the yellow color of the stone. “We are thrilled to receive this important piece for the Smithsonian,” comments Jeffrey Post, curator of the National Gem Collection. “It is the first piece of citrine jewelry in the collection. The fact that it was personally designed by Angelina Jolie Pitt and Robert Procop makes it all the more significant.”
The Janet Annenberg Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals is one of the most visited exhibitions at the Smithsonian and is home to the Hope Diamond. “I am honored and also humbled to have our citrine necklace placed among the great jewels of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution,” concludes designer Procop. “From one endeavor, Angelina’s creative vision draws two equally impressive outcomes: to transform the finest gems into works of art and ultimately to improve the lives of many that are in need.”Article from the Rapaport Magazine - March 2016. To subscribe click here.