Gems

Objects of nature and of culture, of science and of art, of power and of seduction, gemstones have always fascinated and intrigued. Since its formation 4.6 billion years ago, planet Earth has continued to produce an amazing variety of rare minerals, prized by humanity for millennia. At the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, these treasures became the object of scientific study in the eighteenth century. Since then, minerals and gemstones have been a source of inspiration for scientists and jewelers all over the world. The city of Paris—from the scholarly institutions of the Latin Quarter to the jewelry houses on Place Vendôme—is home to some of the world’s finest gems.
Rarely shown specimens and recent finds from the Museum’s collection engage in a new dialogue with the high jewelry Maison of Van Cleef & Arpels. The Museum and the jeweler invite us to share their history and expertise, through an exceptional selection of minerals, rocks, and remarkable designs.