25 Bucket List Ideas for Gem&Jewelry Lovers!

gem_head
Jul 26, 2020
9 min read

Updated: Jul 26, 2020

If you’re an adventure-holic like myself, planning your next escape is probably at the top of your mind. Although we don’t quite know when we can travel like we used to pre CV19, I started compiling a ‘revenge travel’ list of places I want to visit at the first possible opportunity. Some of these places offer virtual tours, so you don’t necessarily need to leave your home if you’re happy to settle for a virtual escape.

Here’s my list:

1/25 The MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) New York, NY

One of my all time favorite places in the world, the MET NEVER disappoints - that’s a guarantee! The museum is set to reopen to public on August 29, 2020. You can certainly do a virtual tour of the MET from home as well. I’ve visited the MET numerous times but there’s always something new to discover. The Crown of Andes, Heart Scarab of Hatnefer, vintage Tiffany&Co. jewels and several insanely gorgeous Faberge Eggs are some amazing items on the Met's permanent collection. They usually have a temporary Jewelry exhibit each year. The most recent exhibit being ‘Jewelry for America’ - which I believe is still current.

Images belong to The MET

2/25 MAD (Museum of Art and Design) New York, NY

I worked a few blocks from Columbus Circle for two years and walked by the MAD pretty much everyday but didn’t make time to visit, now definitely a top priority on my bucket list. MAD features over 950 pieces of contemporary studio jewels, art and objects. Is also the home to Tiffany & Co. Foundation Jewelry Gallery - definitely a MUST see!

Images belong to MAD

3/25 Cooper Hewitt, New York, NY

Cooper Hewitt Museum houses an impressive Product Design and Decorative Arts collection of over 39,000 objects on exhibit, including gorgeous vintage and modern high jewelry, time pieces, clocks, decorative objects and art.

Image belongs to Copper Hewitt

4/25 The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian's mineral and gem collection consists of approximately 350,000 mineral specimens and 10,000 gems, making it one of the largest in the world. The collection includes the Bismark Sapphire, Carmen Lúcia Ruby, DeYoung Pink Diamond, Dom Pedro Aquamarine, Hooker Emerald, Picasso Kunzite Necklace, Maharani Cat's Eye, Hope Diamond and so much more! Again, if you are unable to make it there physically, the Smithsonian offers an online catalogue of the gems and minerals at below link: https://geogallery.si.edu/gems

Images belong to the Smithsonian Institute

5/25 Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

From ancient Egyptian and Nubian jewels to contemporary studio jewelry, the MFA has an exciting and extensive collection of jewelry from almost every culture, and era. I’m particularly eager to see the Mughal Indian jewelry collection available at the MFA.

Images belong to MFA Boston

6/25 Tucson Gem Fair, Tucson, AZ

I visited AGTA’s Tucson Gem Fair for the first time last year, and it was amazing! Like many of Tucson’s annual patrons, I’m obviously going to return to Tucson in 2021. If you’re a gem-fanatic, Tucson is a MUST visit at least once in your life! The event is held annually in February, and is a great place to meet other gem and jewelry lovers from around the globe - Tucson is literally the United Nations General Assembly equivalent of the global gem community.

7/25 Museum of London, London UK

The fine jewelry collection of the Museum of London consists of incredible pieces from notable collectors such as Dame Joan Evans, Baroness D'Erlanger, Lady Cory and Queen Mary. The collection is supposedly rich in sentimental and mourning jewels, and good quality costume jewelry including a large collection of chatelaines. Museum of London also houses the Cheapside hoard (not on exhibition at the moment), the greatest hoard of Elizabethan and Jacobean jewelry in the world. A permanent gallery for the Cheapside Hoard is currently under construction and is set to open to public in 2024 - probably a great time to visit London!

Image belongs to Museum of London

8/25 V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum), London UK

V&A’s Jewelry Gallery displays approximately 3,500 jewels, and represent over 140 living goldsmiths and jewelers, one of the finest and most comprehensive in the world. The gallery features jewels from Réné Lalique, and Lady Mountbatten's 'tutti frutti' bandeau, fine jewelry including magnificent tiaras by Cartier, Boucheron, Chaumet, Tiffany, Faberge and many more.

Images belong to V&A

9/25 Tower of London, London UK

Ceremonial and symbolic jewels and objects from what was once the world’s largest empire is a stunning collection of 23,578 gem stones including some of the most famous in the world i.e. the Cullinan I Diamond, Stuart Sapphire, Black Prince’s Ruby (which is actually a Spinel, not a Ruby), Koh-i-Noor Diamond. it goes without saying - A MUST SEE!

Image from Wikipedia

10/25 Place Vandome, Paris France

I don’t know how or why I haven’t yet made my way to Paris, but I know I will very soon, and when I do, Place Vandome is right there on top of my tour agenda.

Van Cleef, Cartier, Piaget, Chaumet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Boucheron - Place Vandome is no doubt jewelry heaven! While I know for a fact that I can’t afford to buy a single souvenir at any of these stores, I definitely will have a ball browsing through every single vitrine, in each of these store!

Image by Julia Pfaller (Pinterest)

11/25 MAD Paris (Musée des Arts Décoratifs), Paris France

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris has a collection of over 5,000 jewels from ancient Egypt to present day. MAD Paris is house to one of the most extensive Jewels made by French artists including Morel, Chaumet, Van Cleefs, Cartier etc, and one of the world’s finest collections by Rene Lalique.

Video belongs to Hantang Culture (Youtube)

12/25 The Louvre, Paris France

The French Crown Jewels are a must see at the Lourve, the collection includes the Crown of Louis XV, Crown of Napoleon I, Crown of Empress Eugénie, Coronation swords, scepters and much more!

Images from bonjourparis.com and tellerreport.com

13/25 Museum of Coral - Liverino's Collection- Torre del Greco (Naples,) Italy

Museo del Corallo or the Museum of Coral is not usually open to the public, you need to make an appointment to gain entrance to this magnificent museum. The museum is a private family collection - for over five generations, the Liverino family has produced and processed coral - this collection of over 1000 items of sculptures and jewelry made of coral and precious stones, are the truly magnificent discoveries made during their travels around the world, over the years. Enzo Liverino who is considered the world’s foremost authority in Coral, is the current owner and curator of the museum. See below preview of what to expect, truly magnificent stuff - if you’re a fan of organic gems, this is a MUST SEE!

Video belongs to Store Liverino (Vimeo)

14/25 Museo del Gioiello Vicenza, Italy

Launched in 2018, the Museum of Jewelry (Museo del Gioiello) is the first of its kind in Italy and one of the few worldwide to be dedicated exclusively to jewelry. It's also interesting to note that Museo del Gioiello offers nine thematic exhibition rooms, each narrating a different story of jewelry i.e. Symbol, Magic, Function, Beauty, Art, Fashion, Design, Icon and Future. This presentation styles allows viewers to interpret jewelry according to profoundly different values, aesthetics and content, making it one of a kind in the world.

Images belong to Museo del Gioiello

15/25 Kremlin’s State Diamond Fund Moscow, Russia

The Diamond Fund is a Must see if you are making a trip tp Moscow, as far as I know the Museum is only accessible through an organized Tour group. The museum is full of amazing jewels and treasures, the most significant being the Russian Crown jewels including the Imperial Crown of Russia, also known as the Great Imperial Crown, from 1762 until Czar Nicholas II.

Museum also features seven historical gems, including the Shah diamond, which was a gift from Shah of Persia in 1829, Orlov diamond and a massive Ceylon Sapphire of over 200 carats. Also on display are gold nuggets and rough diamonds.

Images belong to the State Diamond Fund of Russia

16/25 Amber Room at Catherine Palace St Petersburg, Russia

The magnificent Amber room was a gift to Peter the Great in 1716 by Frederick William I in celebration of peace between Russia and Prussia. The room was made of six tons of amber arranged against mirrors and gold leaf into an enormous, golden gallery. Sadly, the Amber room was looted during WWII by the Nazis, and lost forever.

The construction of the new Amber room based on old depictions and photographs began in 1979 at Catherine Palace, and was completed in 2003. Russian President Vladimir Putin dedicated the new Amber room to then-German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, the new room marked the 300-year anniversary of St. Petersburg.

Video belongs to Tsarevich Alexei (Youtube)

17/25 Faberge Museum St Petersburg, Russia

Located within the gorgeous Shuvalov Palace on the Fontanka River in St Petersburg, the Faberge Museum is supposed to be incredible - a MUST see! The museum contains the world's largest collection of works by Carl Faberge, including nine of the famous Imperial Easter Eggs.

Image from www.viator.com

18/25 Ural Mountains Gem Adventure, Russia

Russia was one of the most significant sources for colored stones in the 19th and 20th centuries. Ural mines are known to have produced, and still produce high quality emeralds, demantoids, alexandrites, imperial topaz, tourmalines, amethyst, and rock crystal. There are several tour groups that facilitate tours to gem mines, and it is sure to be an adventure of a life time - particularly for gemologists!

Images from mindat.org

19/25 The Green Vault, Dresden Germany

World renowned as the richest treasure chamber in Europe, and possibly the World - Green Vault contains objects d’art, cabinets of curiosity, baroque contraptions, and jewels of European royalty. While I’m unable to substantiate, I believe the full collection is about 3000 items, and approx. 1000 items are on display.

During the November 2019 robbery, about 100 items from the Green Vault were stolen and not recovered as yet. The magnificent 40.70 carat Dresden Green Diamond (the world’s largest green diamond) was fortunately at the MET in New York City during the robbery in Germany. If you’re unable to make the trip to Germany, there’s a virtual tour of the Green Vault available on Google Arts&Culture.

Images from messynessychic.com

20/25 Jaipur, India

While there’s so much to see and do in Jaipur, I want to travel to Jaipur to see the gems and jewels. Home to some of the world’s most skilled gem cutters and jewelers, Jaipur is one of the most significant global centers for cutting and polishing of colored stones. I can’t wait to tour the fabulous Pink City!

VIdeo from culturechannel1 (Youtube)

21/25 Galle Fort, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka like Jaipur, is a global center for colored gemstones, particularly sapphires. Again, there’s SO much to do and see in Sri Lanka, and as a Sri Lankan I can tell you, the one place you MUST see as a gem and jewelry enthusiast in the Galle Fort! (click video below to see how incredible the fort is!)

There’s a small gem museum, live gem cutting demonstrations and many gem shops within the fort. Also lovely little eateries and cafes!

The Galle Fort is a colonial Portuguese and Dutch built fort on the southern shores of Sri Lanka - it is a MUST see!

Many gem cutters and buyers that visit Sri Lanka rush to Ratnapura to see mines, and meet with wholesale dealers - which is great, but I encourage anyone visiting Sri Lanka not to pass on the Fort.

Video from Talalla House (Youtube)

22/25 Mogok, Myanmar

I visited Myanmar last September and was in Mogok very briefly, for 24 hrs, it was on a Sunday so unfortunately I missed the gem markets - I ended up buying my rubies at a very ‘touristy’ mall. I definitely want to visit the 'Valley of Rubies', meet miners (if possible), and definitely visit the Ruby markets.

Video from IVY / YAVORSKYY Gems, Travel & Creativity (Youtube)

23/25 Lightening Ridge, Australia

Lightning Ridge is the home of the famous Black Opal! It's a small outback town in north-western New South Wales, and as far I know, one has to charter a flight or take multiple buses to get there. Although its not the most accessible town, it’s supposed to be quite amazing. They offer tours of Opal mines, and have an annual Opal Festival in June. The ultimate adventure for sure!

Video from Black Opal Direct (Youtube)

24/25 Tahitian Pearl Farm Tour

The Tahitian Pearl is one of the most valuable gems, and one of my personal favorites. In order for a Black Pearl to be marketed as a Tahitian pearls, they have to be naturally black, originating from the black lipped mollusk, and must be cultured or fished in French Polynesia.

French Polynesia, similar to the Maldives is a collection of Islands (approx 100 Islands I believe) - goes without saying absolute paradise! There are several farms that offer tours where you can visit to experience the pearl harvesting process, buy Tahitian pearls from the source and of course experience the culture and cuisine.

Video from Paul Gauguin (Youtube)

25/25 Kimberly, South Africa

Last but not least, the Kimberly mine museum in Kimberly South Africa is a MUST see! Kimberly is one of the most historically significant diamond mines, home to the world's largest diamond mine, known as the ‘Big Hole' (now inactive), has yielded some of the world's largest and finest diamonds. While I’m not sure if the Tiffany Yellow Diamond came from the Big hole or a different mine, I know it was unearthed in Kimberly.