SourcingJan 24, 2022
How One Collaboration Is Trying to Bring More American Gems to MuseumsSourcingJan 27, 2022
A Tapestry Set with 26K Gemstones Is Making Its US Debut
Its display at the University of Tucson’s gem and mineral museum has been a long time coming.
“The Royal Tapestry,” featuring more than 26,000 calibrated gemstones set in hand-fabricated prongs, will be on display at the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum through at least March 2024.
Tucson, Ariz.—Somewhere in the Rainbow’s Shelly Sergent said she wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came to finding a way to get a tapestry set with more than 26,000 gemstones on display in Tucson.
Even if the logistics seemed to present challenge after challenge.
One look at the piece or the specifics behind it, though, and it’s not hard to see why she and the museum’s team fought so hard for it to get there and then worked so hard to get it ready.
Created by Parisian jeweler Cristofol for a royal family in the 1980s, the “The Royal Tapestry,” as it has recently been dubbed, features 26,649 total gemstones—yellow, pink, and blue sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
Each gemstone is calibrated to match in size and weigh about 0.5 carats each. The tapestry also features more than 100,000 hand-fabricated 18-karat gold prongs, set so smoothly “you can run silk over it, and it won’t snag,” Sergent told National Jeweler.
At 42 inches by 24 inches and weighing just over 40 pounds, it took five master artisans working for 18 months to complete it. Five years were spent sourcing and cutting the gems.
And so too did it take plenty of time to get it to its current, and temporary, home in Tucson—the University of Arizona’s Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum.
Even if the logistics seemed to present challenge after challenge.
One look at the piece or the specifics behind it, though, and it’s not hard to see why she and the museum’s team fought so hard for it to get there and then worked so hard to get it ready.
Created by Parisian jeweler Cristofol for a royal family in the 1980s, the “The Royal Tapestry,” as it has recently been dubbed, features 26,649 total gemstones—yellow, pink, and blue sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
Each gemstone is calibrated to match in size and weigh about 0.5 carats each. The tapestry also features more than 100,000 hand-fabricated 18-karat gold prongs, set so smoothly “you can run silk over it, and it won’t snag,” Sergent told National Jeweler.
At 42 inches by 24 inches and weighing just over 40 pounds, it took five master artisans working for 18 months to complete it. Five years were spent sourcing and cutting the gems.
And so too did it take plenty of time to get it to its current, and temporary, home in Tucson—the University of Arizona’s Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum.
After first serving as an object of art in a palace, the tapestry was sold to a private collector, who has had it in their possession since.
It was this owner who got in touch with Sergent in 2010, initially just to show her the piece.
Then, a few years ago, the owner again came to Sergent and Eric Fritz, the manager of the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, with interest in temporarily displaying the tapestry in the new museum.
They eventually agreed to a one-year display before COVID-19 came and wrecked the plans, as it did for many others.
Amid myriad issues stemming from trying to safely get the tapestry from Geneva to Arizona during a pandemic, the collaboration took a backseat, though Sergent said they kept working to make it happen.
The delay from the pandemic ended up being fortuitous, she noted, because then a donor came forward who wanted to help, donating thousands of dollars for a showcase, shipping, and logistics.
It was this owner who got in touch with Sergent in 2010, initially just to show her the piece.
Then, a few years ago, the owner again came to Sergent and Eric Fritz, the manager of the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, with interest in temporarily displaying the tapestry in the new museum.
They eventually agreed to a one-year display before COVID-19 came and wrecked the plans, as it did for many others.
Amid myriad issues stemming from trying to safely get the tapestry from Geneva to Arizona during a pandemic, the collaboration took a backseat, though Sergent said they kept working to make it happen.
The delay from the pandemic ended up being fortuitous, she noted, because then a donor came forward who wanted to help, donating thousands of dollars for a showcase, shipping, and logistics.
Another silver lining was that the air travel involved became a little easier.
Originally, the plan included multiple flights and stops, resulting in a days-long trip for the tapestry.
But then Swiss Air started offering direct flights from Zurich to L.A., which meant the piece needed to take one flight from Switzerland to the West Coast before being delivered in an armored vehicle to Tucson.
So the plan came together, involving a lot of paperwork, multiple countries, and two continents—not only through Sergent, Fritz and the museum staff, the donor, and the tapestry’s owner, who is based out of country, but also the state of Arizona for insurance underwriting, the London office of logistics company Malca Amit, and customs in L.A.
After receiving it, the museum staff worked hard to prepare it for display, giving it an updated condition report and creating a special new case just for the tapestry, flooding it with light for maximum brilliance.
Needless to say, after all that, the owner realized one year on display wasn’t enough.
The tapestry will now be at the Tucson museum, where it’s officially making its U.S. debut, until at least March 2024, with the possibility of extending beyond that.
For more information about its temporary home, the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, visit its website.
Related stories will be right here …
Originally, the plan included multiple flights and stops, resulting in a days-long trip for the tapestry.
But then Swiss Air started offering direct flights from Zurich to L.A., which meant the piece needed to take one flight from Switzerland to the West Coast before being delivered in an armored vehicle to Tucson.
So the plan came together, involving a lot of paperwork, multiple countries, and two continents—not only through Sergent, Fritz and the museum staff, the donor, and the tapestry’s owner, who is based out of country, but also the state of Arizona for insurance underwriting, the London office of logistics company Malca Amit, and customs in L.A.
After receiving it, the museum staff worked hard to prepare it for display, giving it an updated condition report and creating a special new case just for the tapestry, flooding it with light for maximum brilliance.
Needless to say, after all that, the owner realized one year on display wasn’t enough.
The tapestry will now be at the Tucson museum, where it’s officially making its U.S. debut, until at least March 2024, with the possibility of extending beyond that.
For more information about its temporary home, the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, visit its website.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
MajorsOct 23, 2026
PGI USA Set to Close at Year’s EndThe closure is part of a global restructuring that also includes PGI winding down its operations in Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
TechnologyOct 23, 2026
JA Unveils New Website, LogoThe website offers enhanced member benefit access, industry directories, educational resources, a job board, and access to the MJSA Journal.
FinancialsOct 23, 2026
Kering’s Jewelry Sales Up Double Digits in Q3Boucheron and Pomellato had a strong third quarter, with Kering looking at jewelry as an increasingly important part of its portfolio.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Launches 2026 Holiday Campaign Championing Natural DiamondsA Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.
CrimeOct 22, 2026
Jeweler Shot and Killed in His Suburban Cincinnati Store Tara Sinchuri was the owner of Everest Jewels in Fairfield, Ohio, and a father of three. He was found dead in his store on Tuesday.
Weekly QuizOct 22, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsOct 22, 2026
Neiman Marcus Has Gifts for the Jewelry Lover Who Has EverythingBespoke experiences from Buccellati and Verdura are on the retailer’s 2026 “Fantasy Gifts” list.
Events & AwardsOct 22, 2026
JIS Fall 2026 Reports Record-Breaking Attendance The number of participants at the fall show was up 12 percent.
Brought to you by
Open an Account, Get $50 Off Your First Order. No Code Needed.Built on Relationships. Refined by Craft.
CollectionsOct 22, 2026
Billie Eilish, Finneas Co-Design Collection for John HardyThe Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings have collaborated with John Hardy on a new jewelry line inspired by their personal style.
PodcastsOct 21, 2026
Episode 10: This Episode Is Haunted Diana Singer shared the stories of two “cursed” diamonds on this month’s podcast, which was inexplicably riddled with technical issues.
IndependentsOct 21, 2026
Gardner-Collier Jewelry to Close After 9 Decades in BusinessThe family-owned jeweler has three locations across Missouri and Iowa.
CollectionsOct 21, 2026
Helzberg, Nordstrom Carrying New Jewelry Collection From Off-WhiteThe collection centers designs with clean geometric lines, chunky sculptural pieces, and recognizable details from the luxury fashion brand.
SourcingOct 21, 2026
Gemfields’ Mixed-Quality Ruby Auction Earns $52MThe miner said it saw particularly strong prices for larger, fine-quality rubies at the sale.
CrimeOct 20, 2026
Security Guard Charged With Murder in Shooting at Texas MallThe guard opened fire on a man who was smashing a jewelry display case at La Gran Plaza in Fort Worth last week, police said.
IndependentsOct 20, 2026
David Gardner’s Jewelers Unveils Newly Expanded, Revamped ShowroomThe Texas jeweler added 2,000 square feet to its reimagined showroom, complete with a new design studio and an event space.
SourcingOct 20, 2026
The $50M Victoria’s Secret ‘Fantasy Bra’ By The NumbersJacob & Co.'s diamond masterpiece is the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever worn on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway.
CollectionsOct 20, 2026
Mignon Faget’s Collection Chooses Handmade Over AIThe “Atelier” collection was inspired by the tools, rituals, and objects in an artist’s studio as a quiet rebuttal to an automated world.
MajorsOct 19, 2026
The Knot to Acquire Rival Wedding Planning Platform ZolaThe pending acquisition is an “exciting opportunity” for wedding vendors to grow their business, said The Knot Worldwide’s CEO.
SourcingOct 19, 2026
Jewelry Design Competition Show Airs in Thailand"The Secret Gems" features eight Thai jewelry brands paired with a team of young craftspeople who create jewelry together to win challenges.
CollectionsOct 19, 2026
John Hardy Enters the Medallion Chat With Talisman Collection The brand’s “Modern Talisman” capsule collection introduces pendants inspired by the mythology, natural world, and spiritual ethos of Bali.
IndependentsOct 19, 2026
The Stories of 5 Jewelers Celebrating Their Centennials in 2026Independent jewelers from New Mexico to New Jersey answer the question: What has kept your store in business for 100 years?
SurveysOct 16, 2026
How Inflation, Gas Prices Will Affect Holiday Sales The NRF is expecting holiday sales to increase this year, but consumers and retailers alike are facing Grinch-like headwinds.
CollectionsOct 16, 2026
Christina Puchi’s Earrings Hold the UniverseOur Piece of the Week gathers the planets, represented by a variety of colored gemstones, in a pair of 14-karat yellow gold earrings.
IndependentsOct 16, 2026
Reeds Jewelers Expands, Relocates FlagshipThe New York-based jeweler is moving its Amherst flagship store to a larger location in nearby Snyder.
MajorsOct 16, 2026
Katy Chen Appointed Executive Vice President of Graff USA Chen, who worked at Cartier and Tiffany & Co., will lead retail sales and operations for the luxury jeweler’s 11 U.S. stores.
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
