850-Pound Emerald: Buy It Now?

by Jordan Yerman | December 27, 2008 at 02:36 pm

1256 views | 2 Recommendations | 7 comments

Not Romancing the Stone 3, but real life: a legal battle involving a stolen 850-pound emerald. Of course, this being 2008, ebay was involved.

The "Bahia Emerald" -- one of the largest ever found -- was reported stolen in September from a secured vault in South El Monte in Los Angeles County. The report was made by someone who claimed to own the giant gemstone, Los Angeles Sheriff's Lt. Thomas Grubb said.

Federal court papers showed the emerald has been at the center of a dispute between a California man who claimed ownership, a company he contracted with to sell it, and a potential buyer.

Joan Wilder is not involved.

850 lbs! Wow! I'd love to see a pic of that!

I'd like to see it on my finger!

Haha as much as I like precious stones on my finger, somehow I think 850 lbs will be too much.

"Emerald City" earrings delicately wrapped in sterling silver ~ created by artisan jeweler Shi at http://shijewels.etsy.com

Shi has contributed a photo to this story.

So, OK these are NOT 850 Lbs...but yes...real Emeralds none the less

orbitaljoe has contributed a photo to this story.

~°~ EliArt Jewelry ~°~
A memorable gift from a beloved friend - August birthstone ring

Adjustable antique brass fine and delicate ring made with peridot gemstone chips, with green and smokey quartz Swarovski crystal, wired in a rectangular shape.

This is the perfect gift for a friend whos birthday is in August! I can add in the package this information below which speaks about the SIGNIFICANCE of August birthstone and what power the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it:

~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ ~¤~ Peridot is the birthstone for August and 16th anniversary gemstone. Its name comes from the Arabic word "faridat," meaning gem. Peridot is sometimes referred to as an “Evening Emerald” because under artificial light it glows as a brilliant green.

~¤~ Ancient History ~¤~

Found in both early Greek and early Roman jewelry, peridot has been popular since 1500 BC when the Egyptians started mining it. The Egyptians called the lustrous stone the "gem of the sun" and believed it had the power to ward off anxiety, enhance speech, and foster success in relationships and marriage. Peridot crystals are sometimes combed from the black sands of Hawaii where the gemstone is abundant and available in larger sizes. Hawaiians believe that peridot is the tears shed by Pele, the volcano goddess. Pele must have traveled extensively, however, because peridot is also mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, the Congo, and in Arizona.

~¤~ Legends & Healing Properties ~¤~

Take Two and Call Me in the Morning: Legend has it that drinking from a peridot goblet can increase the potency of medicines. Egyptian priests drank from cups made of peridot, believing it would draw them closer to Isis, their goddess of nature. Peridot was said to be useful for calming raging angers, curing nervous afflictions and promoting tranquility in high-strung individuals.

Many legends state that peridot was considered a powerful amulet against all evil, as well as a remedy for sinus problems. Powdered peridot has been used to cure asthma, while a peridot stone placed under the tongue of someone with fever is believed to lessen his/her thirst.

Peridots were especially favored by pirates. The terrors of the sea considered peridot powerful amulets against all evil, and when set in gold, were said to protect the wearer from the terrors of the night…including nightmares.

Making Dreams Come True: Peridot was thought to help dreams become a reality, and was often given as a symbol of fame, strength and vitality…as well as promise of new growth in the years ahead. It also symbolizes eloquence and persuasiveness.

Eliart has contributed a photo to this story.