LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opened its special exhibition Green Diamonds: Natural Radiance, which adds eight cases of bright color and shine inside the Museum’s renowned Gem and Mineral Hall. The vibrant diamonds on display as loose gems and mounted jewelry are part of the Gamma Collection, which was amassed over the course of 20 years and is comprised of more than 60 of the most rare and prestigious natural colored diamonds in the world. At the center of Natural Radiance at NHMLA is “The Mantis”, the largest Vivid Yellowish Green diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America, alongside “The Shangri-La”, the finest example of a large vivid green diamond, both of which are mounted in rings. Organized by NHMLA Associate Curator of Mineral Sciences Dr. Aaron Celestian in partnership with Optimum Diamonds, Natural Radiance is on view from December 9, 2017, through April 1, 2018. 

"The Mantis" green diamond. The best 6.06 natural intense green diamond ever. © SAMER HALIMEH.

“We are thrilled to share some of the world’s rarest diamonds with museum visitors, providing opportunities to learn about the science behind their color and formation,” said Celestian. “This extraordinary array of colored diamonds, on loan from Optimum Diamonds, showcases some of the finest naturally occurring minerals in the world.” 

The exhibition features over 60 green diamonds, both loose and mounted in ring and earring settings, that showcase a variety of shapes, cuts, and vast shades of the color spectrum from vivid-green and red to yellow-green and deep gray violet, and everything in between. Through highlights such as “The Light of Erasmus,” an extremely rare 1.63 carat vivid greenish blue diamond, the exhibition will give visitors the chance to discover the formation of diamonds and scientific origins of the green color, including the gamma radiation, which inspired the name of the collection. 

"The Light of Erasmus" ring. An extremely rare 1.63 carat vivid greenish blue diamond. ©Optimum Diamonds.

The exhibition also explores the unsolved mysteries behind rare ‘Chameleon Diamonds,’ which change color when exposed to light or heat. Natural Radiance features three of these extremely rare and valuable diamonds including a 3.08-carat Dark Gray Greenish Yellow diamond. 

Green Diamonds: Natural Radiance will be complemented by seasonal offerings in the Museum’s Gem Store and an array of public programs, including “All that Glitters,” an all-day winter celebration of Green Diamonds that includes live cabbing demonstrations, tours of the NHMLA Gem Vault, and hands-on activities for all ages.

December 9, 2017 – April 1, 2018

A 0.58-carat fancy vivid green diamond. ©Optimum Diamonds.

A 1.01-carat vivid yellowish-green diamond. ©Optimum Diamonds.

A 1.38-carat fancy vivid bluish-green diamond. ©Optimum Diamonds.

A 0.54-carat fancy intense green-blue diamond. ©Optimum Diamonds.

A 3.08-carat fancy dark gray-greenish “Chameleon” diamond. ©Optimum Diamonds.

The Caribbean Diamond Earrings, Nicholas Sparks Collection, 4.04 Carat / Radiant, GIA Grade: Fancy Vivid Blue-Green, SI2, 4.03 Carat / Radiant, GIA Grade: Fancy Vivid Blue-Green, I1, ©Optimum Diamonds.

3.88 Fancy Vivid Green, from The Optimum Gamma Green Collection, a collection of the most rare and prestigious natural green diamonds in the world, with more than 50 stones accrued over 20 years. PHOTO: Copyright © Digital Jewelry Photography 

The Argyle Everglow™, a 2.11 carat polished radiant cut Fancy Red diamond. PHOTO: Copyright © 2017 Argyle Diamonds Limited

The Argyle Liberté™, a 0.91 carat radiant shaped Fancy Deep Gray-Violet diamond. PHOTO: Copyright © 2017 Argyle Diamonds Limited