The world Largest Aquamarine is ever faceted is known by " The Dom Pedro ". It was cut and faceted byΒ Β Bernd Munsteiner, a German Artist.Β
It would have been more wonderful if the crystal would have been in its original size before it was broken into 3 pieces during in it's being a rough crystal. Yes the aquamarine crystal was huge but unfortunately it was broken into 3 pieces.Β
In 1980, a huge 100 pound aquamarine crystal was mined in the state of MinasΒ Gerais Brazil. Bad luck to the miner, the crystal dropped down the ground and was broken into three pieces. The miner sold 2 small pieces for cutting into gems for jewely purpose. jewelry.Β
The largest piece was named as " The Dom Pedro " , on the name of Brazil two emperor ( Dom Pedro I and his son, Dom Pedro II). They ruled the Brazil during 19th century.
The largest piece was acquired Bernd Munsteiner, The German gem artist who decided to carve a beautiful model sculpture from the huge crystal instead cutting it into various gems pieces despite the risk that he might have dropped the profit. He used his fantastic mind in crafting the aquamarine crystal by changing it into the splendid art.
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After cutting, it's weight came 10,000 carats. The Smithsonian Magazine described the sculpture as "shot through with radiant starburst of astonishing intricacy and precision." It appeared outstanding after cutting.Β
Before broken into pieces, the original size of the crystal was 100 pound (45 kg ) . It was measuring more than 3 feet in length. Aquamarine crystal was mined in Pedra Azul, in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil around 1980.
The unique quality of the Dom Pedro is that it is largest known single piece cut gem quality aquamarine in the world. Jane Mitchell and her husband Jeffrey Bland donated this beautiful crystal to Smithsonian.Β
Β Copyright of images are with
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty
Donald E. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution
Tom Munsteiner
