Sunken Treasure and Stolen Jewels: Emeralds Through History
by Kat Paulick
On September 4, 1622, a convoy of 28 Spanish ships departed Havana, stuffed to the brim with treasure. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of silver, gold, emeralds, and pearls plundered from across Central and South America filled the holds, but many of the sailors bound for home with these riches would never reach the Spanish shores. The day after their departure, a hurricane struck the fleet off the coast of Florida. Nuestra Señora de Atocha, carrying a 25.87-carat emerald known as the Atocha Star, was one of eight ships claimed by the storm, which killed hundreds and left priceless treasure scattered among the wreckage at the bottom of the Caribbean.
Due to the rarity of these conditions, most emeralds originate from just a handful of locations: Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil, with smaller mines also found in Pakistan, Russia, Australia, the United States, and Afghanistan. The earliest known mines are in Egypt, dating back to 330 BC. Cleopatra favored the gem, setting it into adornments and even owning mines.
Topkapi Emerald Dagger at the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ancient cultures revered the stone not just for its beauty but for its metaphysical properties. Emeralds were believed to reveal the truth of one's speech, increase eloquence, and even allow a person to see into the future. They were said to bring good fortune and health and were used to aid in the healing of cholera, malaria, and eye inflammation – lapidaries still gaze into emeralds to relieve eye strain. They are considered regenerative to both the physical body and the emotions, symbolizing love, success, and fertility. The emerald is May's birthstone and represents spring's new life and beginnings.
The emeralds brought home by the Spanish conquistadors explored the stone's popularity among European and Asian royalty, and many Colombian gems were set into now-infamous jewelry pieces. The Colombian Chalk Emerald now sits at the Smithsonian, but the 37.8-carat stone was once the centerpiece of a diamond necklace owned by Indian Maharani Sita Devi.
The Chalk Emerald. Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most famous emerald pieces, the Vladimir tiara, originally featured no emeralds at all. Commissioned by Grand Duchess Vladimir of the Russian Romanovs, the crown was crafted from diamonds and adorned with hanging pearl pendants. When the Russian Revolution put her family in peril, the duchess fled to a hideout in Kislovodsk, leaving the tiara and her other jewels in a safe at the palace.
Queen Victoria wearing the Vladimir Tiara, 1959. Image: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.
They were eventually smuggled out by a family friend and passed to the duchess's daughter before being sold to Queen Mary, grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Mary replaced the tiara's hanging pearls with emeralds from her collection, and the stunning piece now sits on display at Buckingham Palace. More recently, British tabloids reported that Megan Markle had hoped to wear the crown to Prince Harry's wedding but was refused.
Considering the desirability of these gems, it's no surprise that many attempts were made to recover the sunken Atocha Star. Mel and Deo Fisher searched for 16 years before striking literal and figurative gold in 1985. They discovered a 13,500-carat pile of emeralds, which they dubbed "Emerald City," and recovered the Star, as well as $400 million in treasure. The stone was eventually mounted on The Golden Eagle, an 18-pound, solid-gold and diamond-encrusted eagle statue, and displayed at the Art Vancouver exhibit. However, the slippery gem's journey didn't end there: It was stolen after only four days, and its whereabouts are still unknown.
Crown of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Crown of the Andes. Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you're fortunate enough to own an emerald, avoid using heat or harsh chemical cleaners when cleaning it. This precious stone is best cared for with mild, soapy water (but avoid soaking it) and a soft cloth. Store it individually to prevent scratches, and enjoy its beauty (and possibly good health and fortune) for years to come.