HISTORY
as a Gem, has had a long historical past.
Since the beginning of the time, The Emerald has been associated with the world's most important people: Like Cleopatra, who wore the most wonderful Emeralds, that came from her own emerald mines in Upper Egypt.
Nero, also had a famous Emerald through which He was said to have watched the gladiator fights.
In the days of the Russian Czars, The Emeralds were the most prized of the Russian Crown Jewels.
Today exists in the world several important jewelry pieces with Emeralds and other precious stones.
THE LECHUGA:
The piece contains: 62 pearls of Curazao, 168 amethyst from India, 28 South African diamonds, 13 rubies from Ceylan, 1 Brazilian topaz, 1 Sapphire from Tailand and 1.486 Colombian emeralds of excellent quality. The total of 1.759 precious stones, are set in a spectacular "custodia", of morisco and barroco style, that weighs 8.850.00 grams of 18 Cts. Gold.
In 1.985, this piece was apprised by Phillips Sons & Neale inc. For a value of US$2.520.164.oo.
At that time El Banco de la República, (the central bank of Colombia) bought The Lechuga for a value of $413.000.000,oo colombian pesos.
The Compañía de Jesus designated that money to social benefits.
At this time The Lechuga is in exhibition in El Banco de la República, in Bogotá Colombia.
Other very interesting piece is "The Crown of the Immaculate Conception" from the city of Popayán, in the sixteenth century. Six years were spent in the development of this jewel that contains 453 Emeralds.
The legend says that one of the most beautiful "emeralds" of the Crown, was given by the Chief Atahualpa to the explorer Francisco Pizarro in exchange for his life. The importance of this Crown was so, that when the Zar Nicolás II Learned that the Crown existed, he sent to Colombia, A Representative to inquire about the possibility of purchasing it.