The Papamel: Big, Bigger, Biggest
If you like your stones big, you will not be disappointed in some of the finds from Brazil. Many of the largest known aquamarine crystals in the world have come from the region of Minas Gerais. The largest to date was the Papamel Aquamarine which was found in 1910 by David Mussi. The original crystal, which weighed over 240 pounds, was sold to a couple of Germans who in turn cut it into thousands of stones. These smaller stones were heat treated to improve color. This was the first successful use of this method of enhancement in aquamarine.
Other biggies include the Marta Rocha, which weighed 134 pounds. When cut into smaller stones, this crystal yielded around 300,000 carats. Since its discovery, the Marta Rocha has been used as the color standard for aquamarines throughout the world.
Then in 1993, the Dom Pedro was discovered. When compared to the Papamel and the Marta Rocha, this crystal was a baby, weighing only 55 pounds, but its clarity was exceptional, almost flawless. Its name came from the Brazilian emperors, Dom Pedro Primeiro and Dom Pedro Segundo. Bernd Munsteiner, who is known for his artistry with gem, cut the giant crystal into a 14-inch sculpture which he called "Waves of the Sea," making it the largest ever cut aquamarine.
