Smithsonian Acquires "royal Butterfly" Fancy Diamond Brooch

The Smithsonian Institute has purchased a butterfly brooch constructed of sapphires

, rubies, garnets, and fancy diamonds for its National Gem and Mineral Collection.

The fancy diamond jewel, constructed by jewelry artist Cindy Chao, is the first piece by any Asian artist to join the esteemed collection.

Chao, who studied in New York, founded CINDY CHAO The Art Jewel in 2004, a company that specializes in custom-manufactured gemstone and fancy diamond jewelry. In 2009, one of Chao's rings constructed from fancy diamonds and white diamonds fetched $37,500 at a Christie's auction in Dubai.

She spent two years working on the "Royal Butterfly," which in addition to fancy diamonds includes special gemstones such as color-change sapphires. In the The Royal Butterfly, Chao dared to cut up the fine fancy diamonds and "stack" them on top of a pave layer of cut diamonds. The fancy diamond design visionary says the brooch symbolizes her transition from jewelry designer to jewelry artist.

Chao's Majesty Beauty Fan design was featured in the Forevermark Precious Collection, and her fancy diamond jewelry pieces are available at Bergdorf Goodman in New York.

The National Gem and Mineral Collection contains some of the most famous fancy diamonds in the world. The 45.52-carat Hope Diamond, one of the most famous Fancy Diamonds in the world (its color is graded fancy grayish blue and the stone is believed by many to carry a curse) is one of the prize fancy diamonds in the Smithsonian's gem collection.

Another fancy diamond on display at the Smithsonian is the 30.62-carat Blue Heart Diamond, which has a GIA color grade of Natural Fancy Deep Blue. The 375,000 gemstone and mineral items on display at the museum also include important historical pieces like the Napoleon Diamond Necklace, with its 275 carats of fine diamonds; the Marie Antoinette Earrings, a pair of extremely large pear-shaped earrings said to have been the French queen's favorite pieces of jewelry; and the Inquisition Necklace, a stunning diamond and emerald necklace that Katharine Hepburn wore to the 19th Academy Awards.

by: Zarfati Irani

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