Sapphire, the birthstone for September, has been prized throughout history and coveted by kings, queens and nobility of many cultures. Ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its blue reflection colored the sky. Throughout history, sapphires have been among the most coveted gemstones. But did you know that the world's largest carved sapphire is not set in a ring or a necklace?
The 61,500-carat Millennium Sapphire holds the record as the world's largest carved sapphire. The sapphire, which was discovered a decade ago on an island off the southeastern coast of Africa, originally weighed 89,850 carats.
The stone's owners decided not to break up the remarkable sapphire, but rather to commission master gem carvers to pay tribute to humanity's greatest examples of ingenuity and accomplishment through a series of 134 elaborate surface carvings. Italian artist Alessio Boschi was commissioned to design the artwork and oversee the carving process. Among the intricate carvings on the Millennium Sapphire are images of human achievement ranging from ancient wonders like the pyramids of Giza to modern day accomplishments, such as Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.
The carving was completed in 2000 and the resulting piece is considered by both art and gem experts as a unique and invaluable "one of a kind" historical and international treasure.
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