What is the Duke of Devonshire Emerald?

Duke of Devonshire Emerald 1,383.93 Carats

The Duke of Devonshire Emerald is believed to have been discovered in Muzo, near Santa Fe de Bogota in Columbia, early in the 19th century.

With a weight of 1,383.93 carats, this hexagonal-shaped crystal is believed to be one of the largest uncut emeralds in existence.

During a visit to London's Natural History Museum, I managed to take a relatively good photo of the Duke of Devonshire Emerald. The picture was taken from below looking up, so the light from the top of the display cabinet is shining down through the crystal.

The information below is next to the cabinet in which the Duke of Devonshire Emerald is housed.

The Duke of Devonshire Emerald found its way into the hands of Emperor Don Pedro I of Brazil (1798-1834), who passed it on to William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, around 1831.

It's unclear whether the emerald was given to him as a gift or if he purchased it. Before being on display in London's Natural History Museum, the Duke of Devonshire Emerald was at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851.

Although larger uncut emeralds are believed to exist, specific details about them are vague and scarce.

While doing my research on the Duke of Devonshire Emerald, I read an article that said the stone's exact whereabouts are currently unknown. It claimed the crystal displayed in London's Natural History Museum was a replica.

This practice is not unusual and often occurs with museum exhibits. It's also common with unique items of jewellery on display in shop windows of prestigious jewellers.

This not only safeguards the original piece of jewellery in the event of a robbery but is also likely to bring down the price of insurance.

Another benefit of using a replica is that it's not necessary to make the cabinet quite as secure. 

With curiosity getting the better of me, I wanted to see if I could establish the whereabouts of the actual Duke of Devonshire Emerald. My determination finally paid off, and I was assured, on good authority, that the exhibit at London's Natural History Museum was the actual Duke of Devonshire Emerald.

This extraordinary emerald is on a long-term loan from the Duke of Devonshire.

The picture of the Duke of Devonshire Emerald at the top of this article was taken by Stone Mania. The image is clickable and redirects to the original photo.