Exhibits
A Public Record of the Columbus Pearls Assemblage — Tucson, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and New York City, 2016–2021
In February 2016, selections from the Columbus Pearls collection were exhibited at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, one of the world’s leading annual gemological events attended by collectors, curators, scientists, and dealers from across the globe. The exhibition formed one of the central historical displays of the show and was presented alongside the Logan Sapphire, the 422.98-carat Sri Lankan blue sapphire housed in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Gem Collection and among the largest faceted sapphires in the world. The Tucson exhibition marked the first major public presentation of the Columbus Pearls assemblage to the international gemological community.
2016 - Tucson Gem and Mineral Show - Main Exhibit
2017 - Jewellery Arabia - Bahrain - DANAT booth
2018 - Jewellery & Gem Fair - Hong Kong - DANAT booth
Dr. Kenneth Scarratt and his team at the DANAT booth.
Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri - President of CIBJO The World Jewellery Confederation
Dr. Kenneth Scarratt - President of the CIBJO Pearl Commission
2021 - GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ - New York
Largest Collection of Pearls Discovered
In 2021, the assemblage was certified by Guinness World Records™ in New York City as the largest collection of natural pearls ever discovered. Expert witnesses to the certification were Antoinette Matlins, P.G., FGA (Hon.) — Professional Gemologist, Honorary Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, recipient of the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology, author of eight internationally recognized works on gems and jewelry including The Pearl Book: The Definitive Buying Guide, and expert witness to the United States Attorney's Office in matters of gem fraud — and Barry S. Block, GG, ASA, Master Gemologist Appraiser® — Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America, Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers, the first person to hold the Master Gemologist.
Barry Block and Antoinette Matlins