The Smithsonian contains a vast collection of rough and faceted gemstones, with some outstanding pieces that are truly world-class. This post shows some of the iconic gems and gemstones in the collection.
Click the pictures below for a larger version pop-up.
![The Hope Diamond](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-01.jpg)
The Famous Blue Hope
Diamond
![The Gachala Emerald](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-02.jpg)
The Gachala
Emerald from Colombia, at 828 ct.
This is one of the largest Emeralds in the World
![Giant Topaz Crystal](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-03.jpg)
Giant Gem
Topaz Crystal of 111 Lbs
![Cut Rhodochrosite Gemstones](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-04.jpg)
Cut
Rhodochrosite Gemstones from Hotazel, South Africa
![Emerald Crystals from Hiddenite, North Carolina](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-05.jpg)
Large
Emerald Crystals from the Hiddenite Mine, Stony Point, North Carolina
![Etched Heliodor Crystal from Volodark, Zhitomir, Ukraine](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-06.jpg)
Etched
Heliodor Crystal from Volodark, Zhitomir, Ukraine
![Gem Topaz from Brazil](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-07.jpg)
Gem
Topaz from Brazil, Rough and Faceted
Labradorite Showing Amazing Color Sheen from Nain, Nefoundland, Canada
![Incredible Iris Agate from Oregon](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-09.jpg)
Incredible
Iris Agate from Oregon
![Cats Eye Elbaite Tourmaline from Minas Gerais, Brazil](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-10.jpg)
Cat's Eye
Elbaite Tourmaline from Minas Gerais, Brazil
Elbaite Tourmaline "Candelabra" with
Albite and
Quartz
From the Tourmaline Queen Mine, San Diego Co., California
![Large Blue Topaz Crystal from Mursinka, Ekaterinburg, Urals, Russia](/image.axd?picture=%2f2015%2f11%2fsmithsonian-museum-gem-minerals-s-12.jpg)
Large Blue
Topaz Crystal from Mursinka, Ekaterinburg, Urals, Russia