Do you get the National Geographic Channel on tv?  You might want to catch their special this Sunday at 8 pm EST about the Bahia Emerald. Its story is a tale full of greed, strange mysteries and disputed ownership.


This incredible 840 lb boulder containing huge cylinders of raw emerald crystals was discovered in a beryl mine in Bahia, Brazil back in 2001. One piece is as thick as a man's thigh.  It was sold by a gem trader but after that, it's not clear who owns it.

The stone somehow made its way to the US. At one point, it was even submerged in a flooded New Orleans vault after Hurricane Katrina.

There are now at least 8 claimants for the unusual and rare emerald specimen.  One man said he bought it in Brazil for $60,000K but his proof of purchase apparently disappeared in a house fire. Another claimed he lost it in a diamond deal because he was abducted by Brazilian mafia! The courts are still figuring out who the true owner is.

The estimated appraised value is a cool $400 million.  That's an enormous sum of money for emeralds that aren't even gemstone grade. This is surely a case of "emerald fever" on the brain!

You can watch the NGC's preview here.

Before You Go: 
______________________________
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips