Offered without a minimum reserve.

Large 4.39 carat round cut emerald from Muzo via the Nuestra Señora de Atocha.

To bid on this lot, please complete the form: Guernsey's Bidder Agreement and return it by email to sjaffe@guernseys.com or by fax at 212-744-3638.

The "Queen of the Sea" is a name that befits this 4.39 carat fine, round-cut treasure emerald from Muzo, initially discovered in the largest find of emeralds ever recovered by the Spaniards during the years between 1620 and 1622. Selected by Marcial as payment for services rendered to Mel Fisher almost 30 years ago, this gem was originally cut from a 13.63 carat rough emerald in 1997.

Whosoever wins this emerald, which lay on the bottom of the sea for almost 400 years, will become the possessor of a treasure that was intended for King Felipe IV of Spain. This "Queen" has the unique distinction of being the largest round cut emerald among those cut from the rough emeralds recovered from the sunken galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha. There is no larger fine quality round Colombian emerald from the wreck of any Spanish galleon that we know of to date. To put into perspective the unique size and shape of this gem: Even in non-treasure emeralds, a 1.00 carat round cut emerald is considered large. Incomparable then, is one over four times that size of fine quality, from the most famous treasure galleon, lost to the world in not one but two hurricanes in 1622.

Accompanied by GIA Report 1182154024 of February 17, 2017 and Mel Fisher’s Motivation, Inc. Certificate of Authenticity (Emerald Number 95A-26360).

Note: Due to the inability of current technology capturing the blue green hues and light dispersion in emeralds accurately, digital and particularly print images, do no justice to the true beauty, color and fire of Colombian emeralds. These magnificent specimens truly need to be seen with the naked eye to be appreciated to their full extent.