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The finest quality of natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. Because of this, pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable. The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but are extremely rare. These wild pearls are referred to as natural pearls.
Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be 3 Al 2 (SiO 3) 6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium. [2] Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. [2] Most emeralds have many inclusions, [3] so their toughness (resistance to breakage) is
Stemorrhages sericea, the large emerald pearl, is a moth of the subfamily of Spilomelinae within the family Crambidae. It lives throughout Africa south of the Sahara, [1] and the Indian Ocean islands of Réunion, Madagascar, Mauritius and the Comoros. Adults are pale turquoise with a brown stripe at the front edge of the wings.
Zambia is the world's second biggest producer, with Kagem mine being the world's largest emerald mine [11] responsible for 25–30% of the world's production of gem-quality stones. [12] In 2019 Kagem emerald mine produced 42.4 million carats of emeralds. [13] The Zambian emerald sector is an important contributor of tax revenue to the Government.
A decorative crown with studded Emeralds A decorative crown for the Nizam's of Hyderabad. In 1995, the Indian government bought the jewels for ₹218 crore (about US$70 million) many years after the death of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, in 1967. The government tried to buy the collection for a mere amount of $25 million. [2]
Diamonds and colored gemstones are set between two rows of pearls on the circlet and are also set into the four arches that rise behind the fleur-de-lis and the eight ornamental points between the fleur-de-lis. At the junction of these four arches is a small pedestal surrounded by two rows of small diamonds on either side of a row of small pearls.
The pearl industry in Hyderabad flourished due to the patronage of the Qutub Shahi kings and the Asaf Jahis, who were said to have an affinity for sparkling jewels. [1] The pearls were not only part of the traditional regalia of this royal clientele but the pearls' crushed form are also believed to have healing and beautifying properties.
The pearl was greater than an inch in diameter, of the purest white and emitted light like moonglow. In the dark it could illuminate an entire room. For these reasons it was known as "Duke Sui's Pearl" [隋侯珠] or the "Spirit Snake's Pearl" [靈蛇珠], or, again, the "Moonlight Pearl" [明月珠]. (tr. DeWoskin and Crump 1996: 239).