#diamond and emerald

[retrogamingblog2]

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Emerald Spectacles from India, c. 1620-1660 CE: the lenses of these spectacles were cut from a single 300-carat emerald, and it was believed that they possessed mystical properties

These eyeglasses are also known by the name "Astaneh-e ferdaws," meaning "Gate of Paradise," based on the symbolic associations between the color green and the concept of spiritual salvation/Paradise. That symbolism (which is rooted in Islamic tradition) was especially popular in Mughal-era India, where the spectacles were made.

The lenses were crafted from two thin slices of the same emerald. Together, the lenses have a combined weight of about 27 carats, but given the precision, size, and shape of each lens, experts believe that the original emerald likely weighed in excess of 300 carats (more than sixty grams) before it was cleaved down in order to produce the lenses. The emerald was sourced from a mine in Muzo, Colombia, and it was then transported across the Atlantic by Spanish or Portuguese merchants.

Each lens is encircled by a series of rose-cut diamonds, which run along an ornate frame made of gold and silver. The diamond-studded frame was added in the 1890s, when the original prince-nez design was fitted with more modern frames.

The emerald eyeglasses have long been paired with a second set of spectacles, and they were almost certainly commissioned by the same patron. This second pair is known as "Halqeh-e nur," or the "Halo of Light."

The Halo of Light features lenses that were made from slices of diamond. The diamond lenses were cleaved from a single stone, just like the emerald lenses, with the diamond itself being sourced from a mine in Southern India. It's estimated that the original, uncut diamond would have weighed about 200-300 carats, which would make it one of the largest uncut diamonds ever found.

The lenses are so clear and so smoothly cut that it sometimes looks like they're not even there.

Both sets of spectacles date back to the mid-1600s, and it's generally believed that they were commissioned by a Mughal emperor or prince. The identity of that person is still a bit of a mystery, but it has been widely speculated that the patron was Shah Jahan -- the Mughal ruler who famously commissioned the Taj Mahal after the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan did rule as the Mughal emperor from about 1628 to 1658.

The emerald and diamond lenses may have been chosen for symbolic, sentimental, and/or cultural reasons, or they may have been chosen simply because they're pretty and extravagant; the original meaning and purpose behind the design is still unclear. Experts do believe that the eyeglasses were designed to be worn by someone, though.

At times, it was believed that the spectacles had spiritual properties, like the ability to promote healing, to ward off evil, to impart wisdom, and to bring the wearer closer to enlightenment. Those beliefs are largely based on the spiritual significance that emeralds and diamonds can have within certain Indic and Islamic traditions -- emeralds may be viewed as an emblem of Paradise, salvation, healing, cleansing, and eternal life, while diamonds are similarly associated with enlightenment, wisdom, celestial light, and mysticism.

The Gate of Paradise and the Halo of Light were both kept in the collections of a wealthy Indian family until 1980, when they were sold to private collectors, and they were then put up for auction once again in 2021. They were most recently valued at about $2 million to $3.4 million per pair.

Sources & More Info:

Sotheby's: Mughal Spectacles

Architectural Digest of India: At Sotheby's auction, Mughal-era eyeglasses made of diamond and emerald create a stir

Only Natural Diamonds: Auspicious Sight & the Halqeh-e Nur Spectacles

The Royal Society Publishing: Cleaving the Halqeh-Ye Nur Diamonds

Gemological Institution of America: Two Antique Mughal Spectacles with Gemstone Lenses

Manuscript: From Satan's Crown to the Holy Grail: emeralds in myth, magic, and history

CNN: The $3.5 million Spectacles Said to Ward off Evil

BBC: Rare Mughal Era Spectacles to be Auctioned by Sotheby's

[hydriiaas]

Some memes with legendary/mythical pokemon

[massiveluxuryoverdose]

"Globe of Jewels"

It was made around 1869 by order of Nassereddin Shah. Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (1831 – 1896).

It made of 34kg of solid gold and more than 51,000 diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires.

[toyastales]

Gold, emerald, diamond, and enamel signet ring with clock, crafted by Johannes Butz of Augsburg, Germany, 2nd quarter of the 17th Century AD.

[paletapessoal]

Art deco necklace in platinum, diamond and emerald, 1929, Van Cleef & Arpels for Princess Faiza of Egypt

[gemville]

Emerald, Diamond, Silver and Gold Pendant Brooch, Circa 1840

Source: 1stdibs.com

[tiarascrowns]

Blue Sapphire Rings

Bayco's Sapphire & Diamond Lotus Ring

"A platinum & oxidized silver Lotus ring centered upon a cushion Ceylon sapphire, set atop a bed of sapphire pavé setting with an underlying colorless diamond micropavé accent."

- Jedora

Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring

"A sapphire and diamond ring, set with an oval faceted Ceylon sapphire, weighing an estimated 2.07cts, surrounded by round brilliant-cut diamonds, weighing an estimated total of 0.92cts, within a navette shape, with calibré sapphires and round brilliant-cut diamonds forming a scallop shaped surround, with diamond set shoulders, mounted in platinum."

- 1st Dibs

Marquise Halo Diamond & Sapphire Ring

"This stunning ... ring has a 4.4 x 10 marquise diamond center stone with square sapphires on the inner halo and paves of diamonds in the rounded scallops, bows and ribbons; surrounded by milgrain all over. The bow on each side has a bezel diamond with a twisted ribbon shank half way."

- PriceScope.com

Chatila Sapphire and Diamond Flower Ring

"This mesmerizing 18 carat white gold transparent blue oval sapphire and diamond ring by Chatila features 49 smaller sapphires spread out on a bed of white diamonds on the petals. The band is also decorated with three rows of diamonds and a front row of blue sapphires. Guaranteed to turn heads."

- 1st Dibs

Cultured Pearl and Sapphire Ring

"Centering on a cultured pearl surrounded by light and dark blue sapphires

Metal: 18k white gold Sapphires: 24 oval and 16 round sapphires Cultured Pearl: 1 white cultured pearl measuring approximately 15.00 mm in diameter Marks: 750 Size/Dimensions: US ring size 6.75 Gross Weight: 18.7 grams"

- Christie's

Secret Wonder by Harry Winston

"Exquisite medallions, meticulously set with a starburst of round and pear-shaped diamonds, rotate to reveal a symphony of sapphires, diamonds, and aquamarines hidden on the other side."

- Harry Winston & Vogue

Sapphire, Diamond and Emerald Ring

"Designed as a serpent set with round sapphires, the eyes set with round emeralds, centering a cabochon sapphire weighing 10.32 carats, size 7."

- Sotheby's

[tangramkey]

I made gijinkas of Ruby and all her sisters !!! Who is your favorite?

(Version without names under the cut!!!)

[magicalwarriordiamondheart]

Hi how's it going?

[retrogamingblog2]

[johnmcdevitt]

What if... Super Lanolin the Sheep?

[mrs-trophy-wife]

[boylerpf248]

Two in one...

Transformable tiara with lily motif belonged to the Leuchtenberg family, descendants of Empress Josephine, c. 1830. The large hexagonal emerald solitaire can be worn as a brooch.

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Statuette of St. George ( gold, enamel, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, opals, agate, chalcedony, rock crystal and pearls) Munich, 1586 - 1597, GERMANY

[five-crows-in-a-trenchcoat]

Yknow, it took a very long time for me to realise what the title of pokemon x y (and z) meant bc up until then they were all pretty solid counterparts. Red, blue and yellow, the primary colours. Gold, silver and crystal, the luxurious. Ruby, sapphire and emerald, not only precious gems but the rgb colours (and just colour matching the legendaries too). Diamond (the classic ‘most valuable’ stone), pearl (the classic ‘most valuable’ biological ‘stone’), and platinum (the classic ‘most valuable’ metal). Black and white.

After x and y we of course had sun and moon, sword and shield and finally scarlet and violet (infrared and ultraviolet, the two ends of the colour spectrum. The only reason they wouldn’t have called it pokemon infrared and ultraviolet is bc pokemon red already exists and ppl would think it was a gen 1 remake, and ultra sun/moon also already exists).

But back when x and y came around, and I thought ‘it’s just letters, I know that the legendaries sort of look like them but if it’s opposites then shouldn’t it be a and z?’ (Cool how they brought that back with legends z-a)

And it took me way too fucking long to realise that x y and z are the three digital planes to symbolise Pokémon’s first mainline 3D game. Idk I just thought that was neat.