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City & Village Tours: 0845 812 5000 info@cityandvillagetours.com
So what will you see if you treat yourself to this
amazing exhibition, which will display these
wonders using state-of-the-art technology?
Fabulous cameos featuring a variety of subjects
such as Venus and Mars, a dog, the goddess Diana
bathing, and the Great Queen Elizabeth I herself.
A gold watch set in a hinged case made of a
breath-taking Columbian emerald. A gold and
white-enamelled scent bottle, set with rubies,
spinels and diamonds – did it inspire Shakespeare
to compare perfume to
‘A liquid prisoner put in
walls of glass’?
If I had my choice of the collection I would be torn
between the gorgeous aquamarine and pearl drop
earrings or the stunning gold and dark-blue
sapphire ring, either of which would make me
a very happy tour guide.
I have always loved gemstones so a few years ago
I took a degree in Gemmology at the Institute of
Gemmologists in Hatton Garden. The course was
extremely difficult as it was very science-based and
I really struggled with topics such as the crystalline
structure and chemical composition of gems. The
best parts of the course, for me, were the practical
sessions in which we had to identify and name
different stones – I found that I had a bit of a gift
for spotting real stones from fake.
I was delighted when I managed to pick out from a
whole table covered with stones, a dusty, grey lump
which turned out to be an uncut diamond, by far the
most valuable piece on display. I am fascinated by
gemstones – their colour, mystery, sparkle and
glamour. Luckily I prefer cheaper coloured stones
to diamonds, and have quite a collection of
semi-precious jewellery, much of which I have picked
up quite cheaply from street markets!
I hope you will join us to visit this incredible exhibition
which has been compared to a Time Capsule of
Elizabethan and Jacobean taste: it will add lustre to your
life and teach you so much. You’ll recognise me –
I’ll be the one in front, drooling over the emeralds!
The old and the new: Above 20th century from The London Silver Vaults, Below 16th Century from The Cheapside Hoard