Maximilian Emerald Ring

Flaunt the Emperor’s Emerald. Once set in a ring of Maximilian I (crowned emperor of Mexico in 1864), the stunning 21-carat Columbian emerald was later reset in a Cartier, Inc. design with six baguette-cut diamonds. Donated to the Smithsonian in 1964 by Marjorie Merriweather Post, this adaptation of our Maximilian Emerald Ring features a silver-plated band and cubic zirconia. Assembled in the USA. The stone is 14x10mm oval shape, which would be the equivalent, if a real Emerald of approximately 5.50 carats.  Sizes 5-9.

Museum Provenance

Gems accumulate history. The very stone that once adorned a king or queen might today be set in someone’s cocktail ring. (The history of the Hope Diamond includes a stint in the French Crown Jewels, a daring theft, two recuttings, and purchase by an English king.) The astonishing replica collections presented on these next pages—a mere sampling of the extraordinary holdings in our National Museum of Natural History’s National Gem Collection—let you dazzle in their reflected glory.

Every Smithsonian purchase will arrive with a museum provenance card explaining how it is adapted from or inspired by an object or objects in our collection.