The Dom Pedro Aquamarine is one of the most expressive gemstones in the world—and holds the record as the largest single-cut aquamarine on the planet.
Now housed in the Smithsonian Institution, it’s a beloved highlight at the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, displayed alongside iconic treasures like the Marie Antoinette earrings and the Hope Diamond.
This massive gemstone weighs about 4.6 pounds and was carved from an original 100-pound aquamarine crystal discovered in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the late 1980s. Originally an enormous three-foot-long crystal, it suffered a fall during excavation that fractured it into three parts. Two of these fragments were sold and cut into smaller jewelry stones, but the largest piece was preserved.
Named Dom Pedro in honour of Brazil’s first and second emperors, this majestic gem was shaped into an obelisk by famed lapidary artist Bernd Munsteiner. The final masterpiece measures 14 inches tall (36 cm) and 4 inches wide (10 cm), showcasing its mesmerizing blue-green hue.
Though it was offered to the Smithsonian for $7 to $10 million in the late 1990s, experts say its true value is immeasurable, thanks to its rarity, size, and vibrant colour. The Dom Pedro Aquamarine remains an irreplaceable monument in the world of gemology.
