Singapore Again- Part 1

A long weekend trip to Singapore was prompted by the opportunity to visit an exhibit called "The Art and Science of Gems" at the Artscience Museum in cooperation with the French National Museum of Natural History.

There is also a new natural history museum in Singapore. Next we wanted to visit the National Orchid Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. We didn't get the chance to see this on our last visit to the Gardens. Lastly, there is a very large craft store in Singapore. All good reasons, right?

On arrival Thursday we made our plan: Friday- ArtScience Museum and Spotlight, Saturday- Natural History Museum and Botanic Gardens, Sunday- fly back home.

It turns out our plan was not the greatest. On arrival at the ArtScience Museum Friday morning we learned it was Family day so kids were free. Crowds! Fortunately they were interested in 2 other exhibits which didn't really interest us so the Gem collection was relatively quiet. We didn't do enough research into the Natural History Museum. Both Saturday and Sunday on this weekend were free for all of the nurses in Singapore. We figured the place would be packed so we put this visit aside for another trip to Singapore and spent more time at the gardens.  If only we'd switched the days in our plan. Oh, well. Thankfully, though, the forecast of rain for both Friday and Saturday didn't happen but it was hot.

The ArtScience Museum is located at the famous Marina Bay Sands resort/shopping site. We see ads for it on TV all the time.

Just a few gems and minerals from the exhibit ( non-flash photos were OK!):

Possibly reconstructed emerald and pyrite on calcite. Another piece was labed "Reconstructed". This one might be real.

Rubies waiting to be mounted in the famous Mystery Rail setting

Papillon Oeil de Tigre Clip of gold, yellow sapphires, spessartite garnet, tiger's eye and diamonds

Gold, emerald, diamond necklace with detachable pendant. Can become 3 bracelets.

Emerald single crystal- 365 ct

Aquamarine with black tourmaline closeup

Blue topaz 21560 ct (yep, 21560 ct)

I'd like to be able to touch all of these. Can you ID the stones from the list in the caption?

includes  37 ct tanzanite, 653 ct purple flourite, 107 ct green ceryl, 109 and 57 ct kunzite, ametrine, orthoclase, citrine, danburite, 2624 ct smoky quarta, 308 ct green flourite, alexandrite variety of chrysoberyl, 111 ct aquamarine beryl, 107 ct blue flourite, chinese amber carving, 40 ct apatite, 54 ct spessartite garnet, 54 ct almandine garnet, 1436 almondine garnet sphere ! 

A famous zipper necklace. These necklaces can come apart to form  bracelets and earrings

Polished malachite

Gorgeous pin!

Amethyst crystal

Just one photo from several sets of animal related jewelry- inspired by cartoons seen in the 1950s. 

A hidden watch

An 800 kg quartz crystal discovered in the Alps in 1754 and presented to General Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797. (very difficult to get a good photo of this! It's not white but is lit from below.)

Bowl of sapphires

There were lots of items previously owned and worn by Liz Taylor, Princess Faiza of Egypt, Queen Nazli of Egypt, Her Serene Highness Grace of Monaco, Princess Caroline of Monaco and others. This one was worn by Her Serene Highness Charlene of Monaco (married Prince Albert III of Monaco).

gold, sapphires, diamonds

A multi-ruby display from raw ore to polished faceted stones

Butterfly gem and mineral mobile