More Large Emeralds from NC!

Beautiful large emerald crystals are the norm for the emerald deposits of the NC Hiddenite District!

591.0 cts. twin emerald crystal (10" long) found on August 23, 2006 by Jamie Hill at the NAEM mine. 

US quarter for scale.  Ed Speer photo.

965 ct. Emerald crystal found on December 29, 2006 by Jamie Hill at the NAEM mine.  Ed Speer photo.

858 ct. Empress Caroline Emerald found by Jamie Hill in 1998 at the NAEM mine.  NAEM photo.

1,438 ct. Finger Emerald found in 1969 at the Rist mine (now the NAEM mine) by Butch Finger.  At the time, the largest North American emerald.  Aka the Stephenson Emerald.  American Gems photo.

Butch Finger with his 1,438 ct. emerald, at the discovery site at the Rist mine.  Rockhound Magazine (1972) photo.

1,686 cts. LKA Emerald on right.  For many years, this was the largest North American emerald.  Found in 1985 at the Rist mine (now the NAEM mine).  On the left is the 1,438 ct. Finger Emerald.  LKA International, Inc photo.

Philbeck Emerald. Ed Speer photo

Lapidary Journal photo

722.70 ct. Philbeck Emerald crystal (12 cm) found in 1974 at the Rist mine (now the NAEM mine).  Currently on public display at the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum.

Emeralds found on November 26, 1998 by Jamie Hill at the NAEM mine.  This is the fabulous Aladdin's Cave discovery that produced the Carolina Queen, Carolina Prince and Empress Caroline emeralds.  NAEM photo.

Emeralds found by American Gems, Inc. from 1969 until 1982.  Scale is 6" ruler.  Rist mine (now the NAEM mine). 

American Gems, Inc photo.

934.9 cts. twin crystals.  Bolick Twin discovered in 1971 at Adams mine, Hiddenite District.  Ed Speer photo.

Approx. 250 cts. twin crystals from William Hidden's mine (aka Adams mine), 1881-1888, Hiddenite District, NC.  Housed at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC.  Ed Speer photo.

1,493 cts. Reitzel Emerald found by R.N. Reitzel at the Adams mine in 1971.  Lapidary Journal photo.

William Hidden's 1,276 ct. emerald found in 1881 at the Hiddenite Mine (aka Adams mine).  North America's largest emerald at the time.  Stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in New York in 1950 and never seen again.  The smaller elongate green crystal to the right of the big emerald is the discovery specimen of Hiddenite. 

NC Geological Survey photo (1907).

Display of Hiddenite District emeralds at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC.  Ed Speer photo.

Warren Baltzley (American Gems, Inc) holds the 1,438 ct. Finger Emerald and the 59 ct. Carolina Emerald.  Both crystals found at the Rist mine.  The Carolina Emerald produced the 13.14 ct. faceted Tiffney Emerald displayed at Tiffney's New York store for many years and considered North America's finest faceted emerald gem.  Rockhound Magazine photo (1972).

300 & 350 ct. Emerald Clusters found at the Rist mine in 1970.  Rockhound Magazine photo (19720

737.5 ct. Bucky Emerald found in 1971 at the Adams mine.  Repaired crystal from two broken pieces that existed in two separate private collections for 41 years until reunited under one ownership in 2012.  North America's 17th largest emerald!  Scale is 6" ruler.  Ed Speer photo.

More Faceted Emeralds from NC!

The quality of North Carolina emeralds rivals that of the best emeralds in the world.  The color and clarity can be unsurpassed.  Unfortunately, photos generally fall far short of capturing the true beauty of the gems.  In fact, emeralds are one of the hardest crystals in the world to photography properly.  You have to see it to appreciate it---beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder!  These photos clearly show the challenge of photography.

Carolina Prince 7.85 cts.

Cut from 71 ct crystal found by Jamie Hill at the NAEM mine in 1998.  Sold in diamond setting in 2007 for $500,000 ($610,000 in 2017 dollars). NAEM photo. 

Carolina Queen 18.8 cts.

Cut from same 71 ct crystal as Carolina Prince.  Valued at more than $2,000,000.  NAEM photo.

Heart of Carolina 3.40 cts.

Faceted by Manuel Marcial de Gomar of Emeralds International

from crystal found by Jamie Hill at the NAEM mine in 1998. Emeralds International, Inc. photo.

Larger gem is the June Culp Zeiter 15.47 cts.

Cut perpendicular to the C axis of the original crystal so the 6 edges of the cut gem mimic the prism faces of the original 142.25 ct. crystal.  Found in 1974 at the Rist mine (currently the NAEM mine).  Lapidary Journal photo.

Tiffney Emerald (aka Carolina Emerald) 13.14 cts.

Cut from original 59 ct. crystal found in 1969 by Wayne Anthony at the Rist mine (currently the NEAEM mine).  For many years considered the finest North America cut emerald; valued today at $590,000.  LKA International, Inc. photo.