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Cypress point by K. David

This area is called Snows Lake and is a part of the great Pee Dee river in South Carolina. Frances Marion [The swamp Fox] hid from the Red Coats not far from this scene.

22"x36" alkyd paint on wood panel

$ 2800 plus shipping and tax

The 18.88-carat pear-shaped "Carolina Queen Emerald" is said to be the largest, finest and most significant emerald ever found in North America, which can rival the finest of the fine emeralds of Muzo and Chivor mines of Colombia, the international standard for quality in emeralds. The emerald discovered by James K. Hill, president and CEO of North American Emerald Mines, in his 94-acre family estate in Hiddenite, North Carolina, in 1998, was named "Carolina Queen" to reflect the state of origin of the emerald as well his intention to start a series with royal names. Thus another 7.85-carat cushion-cut emerald, cut from the same rough stone as the "Carolina Queen Emerald" was named as the "Carolina Prince," and a 3.37-carat oval-cut was known as the Carolina Princess. A larger 858-carat rough emerald crystal uncovered at the same time was christened the "Empress Caroline."

The 18.8-carat "Carolina Queen Emerald" was cut from an 71-carat rough emerald crystal, that was one of a pocket of emerald crystals totaling 3,300 carats that was discovered by James K. Hill in Hiddenite in 1998. The color of the stone as seen from the photographs is deep bluish-green, characteristic of the emeralds produced in the historic Chivor mines of Colombia or the Zambian emeralds, whose discovery changed the perception of the accepted qualities of emeralds.

The clarity of the emerald is also exceptional with the minimum of inclusions (jardin). Inclusions are commonly seen in most emeralds and accepted as normal, until the discovery of the inclusion-free Zambian emeralds. The diaphaneity of the stone which is a function of its clarity is also exceptional, being exceptionally transparent with the interior of the stone clearly visible.

Closely related to an emeralds clarity is its brittleness. When a stone is heavily included with faults such as cracks and fissures, the clarity of the stone will be poor and so also will be its tendency to break and chip easily due to its increased brittleness. The emerald-cut which places less strain on the crystal during the cutting and polishing process was specially developed for the emeralds of Colombian origin, which are normally brittle. But the Zambian emeralds which are relatively inclusion-free are less brittle than the Colombian emeralds, and are cut in multifarious shapes as any other gemstone, such as pear-shape, heart-shape, cushion-shape etc. Likewise Colombian emeralds are normally treated with oils and epoxy resins to hide the cracks and fissures, and this is normally accepted in the trade. Such treatment is not normally necessary for Zambian emeralds as these are generally free of such faults. Thus Zambian emeralds are bluish-green in color, and are usually untreated, less brittle and cut in a variety of shapes unlike other emeralds.

The "Carolina Queen Emerald" also has characteristics closely resembling the Zambian Emeralds. It is bluish-green in color, with perfect clarity and transparency, untreated, less brittle and cut as a perfect pear-shape, which is unconventional for emeralds.

^ Nice one jc6chan!