Followed by a Gourmet Gazette Slide Show
Paris, France — The gemstones are shimmering behind closed doors right now. But one of the most beautiful exhibitions is unfolding in Paris this season at the National Museum of Natural History devoted to the gemstones of the world. Entitled Precious Gems, the show offers a journey into the good earth, a good earth abounding with beauty, beauty showcased in a glittering array of emeralds, rubies, diamonds, sapphires but the semi-precious as well like the peridots, known as the emeralds of the night, or the amethysts in their myriad hues of violet and purple. There is a blue topaz from the Urals that is over 250 million years old. So if you are waiting for the museums to re-open in France or if you can’t come to France when they do, The Gourmet Gazette brings the sparkling show to you.
The show is being held in collaboration wit the Parisian house of high jewelry Van Cleef & Arpels. Precious Gemstones juxtaposes science with the aesthetic showcasing some 500 pieces from the museum’s extraordinary collection of minerals and gems and objects — one of the most prestigious in the world — complementing an array of 200 jewelry creations from the heritage collection of the house of Van Cleef & Arpels. The ruby opens the show and is presented in its raw state, as cut gemstones and a high jewelry piece, a three-part presentation that is found throughout the second part of the exhibition with myriad gems and minerals.
One of the most spectacular pieces in the show comes from the museum’s own collection, the great table of Orsini in black and white marble and incrusted with precious gems and stones like lapis lazuli, jasper and mother-of-pearl.The table was given to Cardinal Mazarin, the chief minister to Kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV in 1659 by the princes of Orsini and was subsequently given to the Count de Buffon, the superintendent of the Botanical Gardens of the museum by Louis XV, a monarch who was particularly fascinated with the sciences. The exhibition also showcases the dynamics of the Earth that create minerals and gems like pressure, temperature, fluids, water and oxygen.
The exhibition is running through to June 14th.
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A Gourmet Gazette Slide Show
Ruby set in marble dating from some 30 million years ago emanating from Mogok, Myanmar. Photo ©MNHN / F. Farges 
The great Orsini table in bronze and Carrera marble adorned with myriad gems and minerals like lapis lazuli, jasper, mother-of-pearl and agates. It dates from the 17th century. Photo ©MNHN / B. Faye 
Bird clip jewel in blue, 1963 in platinum, yellow gold, sapphires, turquoise, coral and diamonds. Collection Van Cleef & Arpels.Patrick Gries ©Van Cleef & Arpels SA 
Bracelet of entwined red and white flowers, 1924 in platinum, onyx, rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Collection Van Cleef & Arpels. ©Van Cleef & Arpels SA 
Amethysts (77.1 carats) from the French crown jewels belonging to Empress Marie Louise of Austria (1791-1847). Photo© MNHN / F. Farges 
A gouache for the Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece by Pierre-André Jacqmin, 1749. ©Collection privée 
Gladiator brooch, 1956, in yellow gold with emeralds, rubies, pearls, Baroque pearls and diamonds. Collection Van Cleef & Arpels. Anthony Falcone ©Van Cleef & Arpels SA 
Drawing of a lesser bird of paradise by R.-P. Lesson, J.-G. Prêtre in the Natural History of Birds of Paradise and Epimachus birds. The bird of paradise has been a source of inspiration for jewelers for generations. ©MNHN 
Bird of Paradise clip jewel , 1942, in yellow gold and platinum with rubies, sapphires and diamonds. Collection Van Cleef & Arpels Patrick Gries ©Van Cleef & Arpels SA The poppy clip jewel , 1937, in plantinum, yellow gold and the Mystery Setting that Van Clef & Arpels is celebrated for in rubies and diamonds. Formerly in the collection of Her Royal Highness Faiza of Egypt. Collection Van Cleef & Arpels Patrick Gries ©Van Cleef & Arpels SA The Walska pendant and brooch clip, 1971-1972 in yellow gold, emeralds, sapphires yellow and white diamonds and a yellow diamond in a briolette cut weighing 96.62. This piece is a fine example of jewels that can be transformed. Collection Van Cleef & Arpels Patrick Gries ©Van Cleef & Arpels SA Tantalizing tanzanite cut into a 30.9 carat gemstone, from the Merelani mines, (Arusha, Tanzania). Photo ©MNHN / F. Farges
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