| Some of the world's most spectacular diamonds | | | | owned by Catherine the Great of Russia, it was |
| and other gems can be admired in the National | | | | presented by Emperor Napoleon of France to his |
| Gem Collection in the Museum of Natural History, | | | | second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria on the birth |
| Smithsonian Collection in Washington, D.C. The | | | | of their son in 1811. After a succession of owners, |
| collection is comprised of diamonds known to | | | | it eventually was sold to Harry Winston in 1960. |
| almost everyone, as well as other diamonds and | | | | Marjorie Merriweather Post obtained the necklace |
| precious gems possessing a priceless place in | | | | from Winston and donated it to the Smithsonian |
| history. | | | | Institution in 1962. While difficult to place value on |
| While many are familiar with the Hope Diamond, | | | | a piece such as this in today's market, it is |
| they may be surprised to find out it is not a clear | | | | estimated to be worth millions. |
| diamond, but instead of brilliant blue stone, | | | | While one does not typically associate diamonds |
| surrounded by white diamonds and suspended | | | | with the Spanish Inquisition, a stunning necklace of |
| from a diamond necklace. The Hope Diamond first | | | | diamonds and emeralds of the same name is part |
| appeared in history around the mid-1600s when it | | | | of the Smithsonian Collection. According to legend, |
| was purchased by a merchant named Jean | | | | a portion of the necklace belonged to Spanish |
| Baptiste Tavernier who admired the stone's | | | | royalty and was later worn by ladies of the |
| original violet color. He later sold the stone Louis | | | | French court. However, there's little information |
| XIV of France, who gave it to Marie Antoinette. | | | | about the provenance of the necklace. In the |
| The spectacular Blue Heart Diamond is a large, | | | | early 20th century, it was purchased by the |
| heart-shaped diamond mounted on a platinum ring | | | | Maharajah of Indore, whose son sold the necklace |
| surrounded by white diamonds. It was cut in Paris | | | | to Harry Winston. Winston sold the necklace to |
| between 1909 and 1910 but the stone's origin - | | | | Mrs. Cora Hubbard Williams of Pittsburgh. She |
| Africa or India - is unclear. Famous jeweler Harry | | | | bequeathed it to the Smithsonian in 1972. |
| Winston mounted the diamond in its current | | | | Having met an untimely end at the guillotine in |
| setting in 1959 and sold the ring to Marjorie | | | | 1793, Marie Antoinette loved jewelry and |
| Merriweather Post. It's possible that the popular | | | | possessed many magnificent jewels. Two large, |
| "Heart of the Ocean" heart-shaped diamond | | | | pear-shaped earrings, part of the Smithsonian |
| necklace in the movie Titanic was based on the | | | | collection, were supposedly set in earrings that |
| Blue Heart Diamond, which is actually set in a ring. | | | | belonged to Marie Antoinette. The diamonds were |
| A wedding present from Napoleon, the | | | | later acquired by the Grand Duchess Tatiana |
| Marie-Louise Diadem was presented to his wife on | | | | Yousupoff of Russia. They were never rested in |
| the occasion of their marriage in 1810. The | | | | the 100 years that they were in the family. |
| diadem, originally part of a set that also included a | | | | Marjorie Merriweather Post acquired the earrings |
| necklace, comb, belt buckle and earrings, were all | | | | in 1928. They were eventually reset in platinum |
| made of emeralds and diamonds set in silver and | | | | replicas of the original silver settings in the 1950s. |
| gold. They were made by French jeweler Etienne | | | | The diamonds are originally from India or Brazil. |
| Nitot et Fils of Paris. After the fall of the empire, | | | | Women who discover Pandora Jewelry bracelets |
| Marie-Louis fled to Vienna with her jewelry. She | | | | and complementing jewelry create their own |
| left the diadem to her aunt in Hapsburg. The | | | | collections with these exquisite pieces made of |
| emeralds were eventually sold individually as | | | | 14K gold and sterling silver. These Danish-designed |
| pieces "from the historic Napoleon Tiara." The | | | | pieces are also handcrafted with colorful precious |
| diadem, reset with turquoise cabochons, was | | | | stones and cultured pearls. With more than 600 |
| purchased by Majorie Merriweather Post for the | | | | beads and matching jewelry to choose from, |
| Smithsonian Institute. | | | | Pandora bracelet wearers have an endless array |
| One of the most spectacular all-diamond pieces of | | | | of combinations from which to create their own |
| jewelry in the Smithsonian Institution is the | | | | masterpiece. |
| Napoleon Necklace. Though to have originally been | | | | |