Gems | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/gems/RSS feed for GemsenMon, 23 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000These Historic Snuffboxes Associated With 18th-Century Monarchs Were Stolen in a Shocking Heist. Now, They're Back on Public Displayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-historic-snuffboxes-associated-with-18th-century-monarchs-were-stolen-in-a-shocking-heist-now-theyre-back-on-public-display-180988366/In 2024, thieves made away with the intricately decorated boxes, which had been on display in Paris. Two of the boxes, which were later recovered, are now on view at the Victoria & Albert Museum in LondonMon, 23 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-historic-snuffboxes-associated-with-18th-century-monarchs-were-stolen-in-a-shocking-heist-now-theyre-back-on-public-display-180988366/Fabergé Egg Gifted by Russia's Last Czar Breaks World Record, Selling for $30.2 Million at Auctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/faberge-egg-gifted-by-russias-last-czar-breaks-world-record-selling-for-30-million-at-auction-180987792/For the third time in its history, the Winter Egg is now the most valuable Fabergé item ever soldThu, 04 Dec 2025 19:31:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/faberge-egg-gifted-by-russias-last-czar-breaks-world-record-selling-for-30-million-at-auction-180987792/The Florentine Diamond Was Thought to Be Lost to History. It's Actually Been Safely Tucked Away in a Canadian Bank Vault All Alonghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-florentine-diamond-was-thought-to-be-lost-to-history-its-actually-been-safely-tucked-away-in-a-canadian-bank-vault-all-along-180987665/Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma wanted the jewel's location to be kept secret for 100 years after the death of her husband, Charles I, in 1922. Their descendants now plan to display it at a museumFri, 14 Nov 2025 20:05:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-florentine-diamond-was-thought-to-be-lost-to-history-its-actually-been-safely-tucked-away-in-a-canadian-bank-vault-all-along-180987665/She Spent Three Weeks Digging for a Diamond for Her Engagement Ring—and Unearthed a 2.3-Carat Stunnerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/she-spent-three-weeks-digging-for-a-diamond-for-her-engagement-ring-and-unearthed-a-2-3-carat-stunner-180987254/When Micherre Fox and her boyfriend decided to get married, she flew to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas to search for the diamond herselfThu, 28 Aug 2025 18:33:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/she-spent-three-weeks-digging-for-a-diamond-for-her-engagement-ring-and-unearthed-a-2-3-carat-stunner-180987254/How Do I Research Ancestors Who Sailed to America in the 1600s? And More Questions From Our Readershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-do-i-research-ancestors-who-sailed-to-america-in-the-1600s-and-more-questions-from-our-readers-180986823/You’ve got questions. We’ve got expertsTue, 24 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-do-i-research-ancestors-who-sailed-to-america-in-the-1600s-and-more-questions-from-our-readers-180986823/Smuggled Out of France During a Bloody Revolution, Marie Antoinette’s Shimmering Pink Diamond Is Heading to Auctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smuggled-out-of-france-during-bloody-revolution-marie-antoinettes-shimmering-pink-diamond-is-heading-to-auction-180986764/The 10.38-carat gemstone, which carries an estimate of $3 million to $5 million, was owned by generations of European royaltyMon, 09 Jun 2025 20:02:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smuggled-out-of-france-during-bloody-revolution-marie-antoinettes-shimmering-pink-diamond-is-heading-to-auction-180986764/India Is Trying to Stop the Sale of Hundreds of Ancient Gems Associated With the Buddhahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/india-is-trying-to-stop-the-sale-of-hundreds-of-ancient-gems-associated-with-the-buddha-180986569/The 300 sacred jewels are part of a larger trove found in India in 1898. They're scheduled to be sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong, where bidding will start at roughly $1.3 millionTue, 06 May 2025 20:37:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/india-is-trying-to-stop-the-sale-of-hundreds-of-ancient-gems-associated-with-the-buddha-180986569/See for Yourself One of the World's Rarest Red Diamonds at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museumhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/fancy-yourself-look-worlds-rarest-diamonds-red-smithsonian-natural-history-museum-180986244/Unraveling the surprising science that gives colorful diamonds their special allureMon, 31 Mar 2025 13:03:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/fancy-yourself-look-worlds-rarest-diamonds-red-smithsonian-natural-history-museum-180986244/Largest Diamond Since 1905 Unearthed by Miners in Botswanahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/largest-diamond-since-1905-unearthed-by-miners-in-botswana-180984962/Volcanic eruptions long ago brought the 2,492-carat diamond—the latest in a string of stunning discoveries over the last decade—to the surfaceFri, 23 Aug 2024 20:22:06 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/largest-diamond-since-1905-unearthed-by-miners-in-botswana-180984962/Discover the Special Meaning Behind Kamala Harris’ Pearlshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/discover-the-special-meaning-behind-kamala-harris-pearls-180976766/The vice president, who will give a speech at the Democratic National Convention to accept the presidential nomination Thursday night, often wears jewelry connected to her historically Black sorority, Alpha Kappa AlphaFri, 15 Jan 2021 15:50:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/discover-the-special-meaning-behind-kamala-harris-pearls-180976766/