Carnegie Museum Wertz Gallery dramatic gems
"Luxe Life: Masterpieces of American Jewelry" -- which has been to many museums and is on display through early January -- features extravagant pieces of jewelry, ranging in age from mid-19th-century to modern.
Both exhibits, which feature pieces donated from private collectors, will dazzle museum visitors with their pure beauty, says Marc Wilson, head of the section of minerals.
"They are going to see top-quality jewelry and gemstones displayed in a beautiful setting, and learn how to evaluate them," Wilson says.
Debra Wilson, collections assistant, agrees.
"We want to make it attractive enough and glittery enough so that everybody's going to like it, whether they like jewelry or not," says Wilson, who is married to Marc Wilson.
"Gems and Jewelry" includes a wall with glass cases that demonstrate how to determine a gem's worth according to the four C's: carats, which is weight; color and its intensity; clarity; and cut, for which there is an exact, scientific formula.
Probably the most popular part of "Gems and Jewelry" is the large case full of each month's birthstones, Debra Wilson says.
"Everyone loves birthstones," she says. "One thing we try to do in this exhibit is show the range of colors in birthstones."
People might be surprised to know that sapphire, for instance, is not just the deep blue for which the September birthstone is most known: The stone comes in every color except red. If the same stone type, called corundum, is transparent and red, it's called a ruby, July's birthstone. Pearls, June's birthstones, don't come only from oysters; they also come from conch and melo shells. Garnets, January's birthstone, aren't always maroon or blood-red; they come in several shades, including green.
"Gems and Jewelry" has a few very old pieces, including an intricately carved, full-bodied diamond necklace. The ornate piece dates to the 17th century.
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