Constantin Wild: Specialist in gemstones favoured by the nobility

May 7, 2019

By Katerina Perez

5 min read

At Baselworld 2019, Constantin Wild presented some truly royal treasures from his current gemstone collection, and proved that the world of precious stones is not limited to diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. What makes the gems from the German dealer qualify as ‘royal’? He deals in the highest quality specimens of gemstones which have historically enthralled nobility.

Blue aquamarine, bright green demantoids, shining spinels and sumptuous topaz have already taken their rightful place in the echelons of high jewellery art alongside the eminent top four. In history, you will note that the best specimens of these minerals have long charmed the world’s royal families, entered their treasuries and enjoyed global fame. 

Constantin Wild demantoid garnet

Constantin Wild demantoid garnet

Constantin Wild demantoid garnets

Constantin Wild demantoid garnets

“The history of individual gems is as captivating as the stories of their distinguished former owners. In addition to their material value, there is also an emotional value that is passed down from generation to generation,” says the gemstone expert.

English Imperial State crown with central spinel

English Imperial State crown with central spinel

“This ruby is a spinel!” The recognition of the spinel as a mineral began with this exclamation. Before that, extremely rare scarlet specimens were considered rubies. It is also very unusual to find bright pink shades of this gem: most vary between cold carmine to warm golden red. Because of this gemmological inaccuracy, many rubies that have been made famous throughout history are in fact spinels. One of the most renowned examples is the ‘Black Prince’s Ruby’ spinel, which is the centrepiece of the English Imperial State crown – made from silver in 1838 for the coronation of the young Queen Victoria. “For me, radiant red spinels are better than rubies. These breath-taking rarities have a particularly clear spark,” marvels Constantin Wild.

Constantin Wild spinels

Constantin Wild spinels

 Constantin Wild spinel

Constantin Wild spinel

 Constantin Wild spinel

Constantin Wild spinel

Another stone which has gained popularity thanks to the royal family of Great Britain is aquamarine, which reflects the entire colour range of the sea. One of the most amazing specimens glows on the ring finger of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (nee Markle); this emerald cut aquamarine is framed with small diamonds and set in yellow gold. Aquamarine is said to be a talisman for a successful marriage – making it an attractive gift for lovers.

Constantin Wild aquamarines

Constantin Wild aquamarines

Topaz is an extremely beautiful – and increasingly rare – mineral, which was discovered at least 2,000 years ago. It is mainly found in blue, brown and green tones; and pinker hues have always been considered especially desirable and valuable. A particularly magnificent specimen of intensely pink oval cut topaz weighing 18 carats belonged to Marie-Antoinette in the 1700s, then later was acquired by Constantin Wild’s father as a gift for his mother. The famed Imperial topaz is an orange-yellow shade stone from Brazil – named for its exclusivity and previous lack of availability to anyone except nobility. 

Constantin Wild Imperial topaz

Constantin Wild Imperial topaz

In the east, Empress Cixi was the most influential person in the Qing dynasty. The last Empress of China, she led the empire for nearly half a century. Cixi loved pink tourmaline so much that she bought almost the entire 90 tonnes of pink tourmaline stock which was extracted from the mines found in California in the late 19th century! 

Constantin Wild tourmaline

Constantin Wild tourmaline

Tourmaline gets its romantic nickname, the “rainbow gem”, thanks to an ancient Egyptian legend: the stone, climbing up the rainbow from the bowels of the Earth, had to accept all the colours it encountered on its way. Indeed, the colour spectrum of tourmaline covers more than 50 shades. 

Constantin Wild green tourmaline

Constantin Wild green tourmaline

 Constantin Wild pink tourmaline

Constantin Wild pink tourmaline

As you can see, the world of gems is very diverse, and Constantin Wild takes pleasure in revealing its secrets to connoisseurs of beauty. If you are keen to become acquainted with the subtleties of gemmology, then an industry expert like him will not only be able to introduce you to the best specimens of coloured stones; but also help you to understand their significance and value.   

In Bloom: Sotheby’s exhibition – an ode to floral design

continue reading

Jewel of the Month: Taking Flight with The Gift of Love Necklace by Graff 

Let’s examine this feat of jewellery artisanship and celebrate its status as our ‘Jewel of the Month’ for February 2025

by Sarah Jordan

Nature’s Folio: The Boucheron Untamed Nature High Jewellery Collection

Be prepared to feel transported to the French countryside, somewhere in the 19th century, armed with only a graphite pencil and the very earliest monochrome camera…

by Sarah Jordan

Galentine Gifts: Jewels to Celebrate Female Friendships this Valentine’s Day

If you are searching for the perfect present to spoil the hero BFFs in your universe, start with this shopping guide by Rachael Taylor

by Rachael Taylor

Ready for Love: Heart-Shaped Jewels for the Perfect Valentine’s Day

Find the perfect heart for your lover with Rachael Taylor’s guide to the latest designs, from chubby diamonds to gold embroidery and magical opals

by Rachael Taylor

Unique Proposals: Alternative Engagement Ring Designs for 2025

This year, it's all change, with some of the key alternative engagement ring trends for 2025 representing a very real evolution of this most classic of jewels

by Claire Roberts

Chain Reaction: Shells Reinvented with the Melanie Georgacopoulos Katina Collection

I spoke to Melanie to discover more about her latest, innovative offering…

by Sarah Jordan

Proudly Indian: The Myriad Facets of Zoya from the House of TATA

Let me take you behind the scenes of my visit and highlight some of the wonders I discovered…

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Gem Focus:Brazil Gem Commerce

Discover a company specialising in the cutting and trading of Brazilian and African precious gems, including Paraiba, rubellite and morganite

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.