Continuing our educational journeys through the history of gems and jewelry, I wanted to roll right into a fascinating topic that naturally follows our recent look at rare gold and hard to find gemstones: jewelry that is hidden away due to global conflict.

When I think about legendary, locked-away treasures, the absolute pinnacle is the Iranian Crown Jewels. This is the largest and most valuable collection of royal jewelry in the world. It contains pieces that have absolutely no equal—such as the famous Peacock Throne, the staggering Globe of Jewels, and the Darya-e-Noor (Sea of Light), a breathtaking, historic pink diamond.

Like many of you, I have only ever seen photographs of these masterpieces (images from the coronation of the Shah of Iran are seared into my memory), and I have been dying to see them in person for years. Unfortunately, these jewels are currently completely out of sight due to global politics and strict security. Held in a subterranean basement vault of the Treasury of National Jewels at the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran, this incredible collection is entirely off-limits to the public. Today, it exists almost as a myth... but what a history.

The Wealth of Persia

Historically known as Persia, Iran is home to one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations, with a heritage spanning over 2,500 years of successive empires. Over the 

centuries, this mind-boggling treasure was amassed through military conquests (most notably the conquest of India in 1739), strategic diplomacy, and systematic collecting by Persian monarchs. During peak periods, royal ambassadors and merchants were actively dispatched to Europe and neighboring empires to purchase the finest precious stones available, establishing the foundation of (an unmatched) treasury.

What makes the Iranian jewels truly unique is the simple fact that they still exist. Unlike many European royal collections that were dispersed, sold, or broken up during revolutions, Iran's jewels were transferred to state ownership in the 1930s. Since then, they have been legally held inside a vault to serve as a financial reserve backing the national currency.

Bringing History into the Light

There is a quiet tragedy to a gemstone that lives entirely in the dark. Jewelry is meant to be animated by light, real life, and human movement. I don't believe in hiding beauty away in a bank vault.

While I certainly don't own the Iranian crown jewels, this history serves as a reminder to look at our own collections. If you have stunning pieces stashed away in a safety deposit box because they feel "too fine" or you're too nervous to wear them—bring them out. Enjoy them. Love them. Put them on when you’re sitting in a bubble bath. Jewelry loses its magic when it sits in the dark.

And, if you are looking for a masterpiece that you can actually live in every single day, you don't have to wait for an empire to fall to find it. My collection features rare, one-of-a-kind treasures that are ready to walk out the door today. For example, sitting in the Santa Fe gallery right now is my long and versatile Raspberries Necklace, featuring rare Umba sapphire beads in the most perfect shades of berries. It doesn't need to wait in a vault—it's just waiting for someone to wear it out into the New Mexico sun.