Gems & Butterflies

Sender: Tomocox
Gems and butterflies from Japan!

'A' is for 'Amethyst'

Sender: Purpleferret

Text on card: Amethyst. A crystalline variety of quartz, this semiprecious stone can be found along the Fundy shore, particularly after the frosts of winter. It is the birthstone for February.

The Fundy Shore of Nova Scotia is one of Canada's great coastal treasures.

Beautiful Gems!!

Sender: TeamBearCat
The National Gem Collection - Marie Louise Diadem. The diadem is an elaborate design of scrolls, palmettes, and medallions. Originally the diadem was set with emeralds and was given by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise in 1810 when they were married. Currently it contains 79 Persian turquoise stones (540 carats) and 1,006 mine-cut diamonds (totalling approximately 700 carats), set in silver and gold. Marjorie Merriweather Post purchased the diadem from Van Cleef & Arpels for the Smithsonian Institution in 1971.