Gem and Jewelry Exhibits

New Collection of Diamonds at the American Museum of Natural History
Ongoing
American Museum of Natural History, New York
This new display in the museum’s Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems features 25 diamonds from a variety of sources. The exhibit includes five vivid colored diamonds from the Olympia Diamond Collection.

Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry
March 27–July 25
El Paso Museum of Art, Texas
Organized by the Walters Art Museum, this exhibit provides examples of stunning jewelry from 5,000 BC through the early 20th century.

The Nature of Diamonds
Through March 28, 2010
The Field Museum, Chicago
Unlocks the unique properties of diamonds and explores the gem in its natural state, from mine to market. Combines ancient manuscripts, multimedia, and fine diamond jewelry. The Field Museum has also reopened its newly expanded Grainger Hall of Gems.

Facets of GIA
Through April 30, 2010
GIA Museum, Carlsbad, California
An exhibit of breathtaking jewelry, gems and minerals that brings to life the Institute’s groundbreaking role in gemological education and research.

Silversmiths of Guimarães: Serving God and Man
Through May 2, 2010
Museu de Alberto Sampaio
Guimarães, Portugal
Features 97 pieces of silverware bearing the mark of Guimarães, from the 18th and  19th centuries. Tours are scheduled for February 27, March 28, and April 24.

Cartier and America
Through May 9, 2010
Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California
Celebrates the imagination and creativity of Cartier in the 20th century, with jewelry and works of art from the company’s private collection.

All That Glitters: The Science and Splendor of Gems and Minerals
Starting May 15, 2010
San Diego Natural History Museum
Examines the unique geological forces that produced diamonds millions of years ago. Features an exquisite selection of mineral specimens, jewelry, and works of art.

Treasury of the World: Jewelled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals
Through June 27
Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore
Showcases 402 exquisite jeweled works of art from India’s Mogul dynasty (1526–1858).

Cristalli
Through June 30, 2010
Museum of Zoology and Natural History, "La Specola," Florence 
Features more than 500 extraordinary mineral specimens from around the world, from the collection of Adalberto Giazotto.

When Gold Blossoms: Indian Jewelry from the Susan L. Beningson Collection
Through July 11
Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Celebrates the beauty of Indian jewelry with 150 pieces that cover a span of 2,000 years.

Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars
Through July 25
Houston Museum of Natural Science, Texas
Features jewelry, clocks, picture frames, boxes, and eggs crafted by legendary goldsmith and jeweler Carl Fabergé.

Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond
Through August 1, 2010
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
On display for the first time in more than 50 years, the 31.06 ct Wittelsbach-Graff diamond will be presented with the National Gem Collection, where the renowned Hope diamond is on permanent view.

Silver Legacy: Jewelry from the Nadler Collection
Through August 8, 2010
Museum of Arts and Design, New York
Features work by skilled craftsmen from cultures in Egypt, Tunisia, the Middle East, Greece, Turkey, Russia, India, Southeast Asia, China, and North America.

Preciousness Preserved: Jewelry from the Charleston Museum's Collections from Antiquity to Today
Through September 6
The Charleston Museum, South Carolina
A display of pieces that span the globe and date from 500 BC to the mid-20th century. The gemstone jewelry features amethyst, garnet, and diamond.

Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics, and Devotion in Medieval Europe
February 13, 2011–May 8, 2011
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland
An exhibition of approximately 70 reliquaries, the containers used by medieval Christians for the bodily remains of saints. These sacred objects were covered in gold and silver and embellished with gems.