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| Angelina Jolie wearing the “Jolie Citrine Necklace” that she donated to the Smithsonian. Photo by RP Studio |
Angelina Jolie gave the Smithsonian Institution an early Christmas present.
The actress and humanitarian has gifted a citrine necklace to the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection. The piece is from the Style of Jolie jewelry collection, a collaboration between Jolie and American high jewelry designer, Robert Procop.
The 18k yellow gold necklace features 64 graduated bezel-set cushion-shaped citrine gems highlighted by a 177.11-carat pear-shaped citrine drop. The new piece, named the “Jolie Citrine Necklace,” will be displayed in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals beginning today and remain on view indefinitely. It’s the same hall that contains the Hope Diamond, the Star of Asia sapphire and other famous gems.
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| The 18k yellow gold necklace features 64 graduated bezel-set cushion-shaped citrine gems highlighted by a 177.11-carat pear-shaped citrine drop. Photo by RP Studio |
“We are thrilled to receive this important piece for the Smithsonian,” said Jeffrey Post, curator of the National Gem Collection. “It is the first piece of citrine jewelry in the collection. The fact that it was personally designed by Angelina Jolie Pitt and Robert Procop makes it all the more significant.”
Jolie (who now prefers to include her husband’s surname, “Pitt,” with her name) added, “Robert and I are honored to have this great institution feature one of our jeweled creations. As the Smithsonian has educated so many of us, this jewel is a symbol of our efforts to help educate underprivileged children in conflict areas of the world.”
The Style of Jolie collection was developed by Jolie Pitt to promote education and establish schools in conflict-affected countries. Proceeds from the sales of jewelry in the collection are donated to the Education Partnership for Children in Conflict, which builds schools for children around the world. The first few schools were built in Afghanistan.
The National Gem Collection in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals is one of the most visited exhibitions at the Smithsonian. The mineral and gem collection consists of approximately 350,000 mineral specimens and 10,000 gems, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
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