On March 9th, artist Naomi Sarna‘s 703-carat L’Heure Bleu tanzanite carving made history at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals in Hillsboro, Oregon. The gemstone was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest cut tanzanite, in front of a packed audience. The weighing was conducted by Guinness World Records adjudicator, Michael Empric, with gemstone experts Jessie English of J.S. English Appraisals and Madeline Saunders of Oregon Estate Jewelry serving as official witnesses. Gail Spann, the Rice Museum board president, and Kim Vagner, the museum director, were also present at this historic event.
“As the Director of the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals board, and long-time supporter of this wonderful ‘gem’ in Hillsboro, I couldn’t have been more delighted that we hosted Naomi Sarna on her adventure with Guinness World Records that was enjoyed by many attendees! We are lucky to have such talent grace our Museum’s doorstep,” said Gail Copus Spann, president, board of directors, Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals.
A few years back, Naomi Sarna, an artist, was invited to visit the Tanzanite mines located in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She was requested to create a carving for an international competition. These mines are situated on the ancestral land of the Maasai, and it is the only place in the world where this blue-violet gemstone is found. During her stay there, Sarna was asked to do humanitarian work. She taught the Maasai women how to create wire-wrap jewelry from tanzanite. She was moved by the community, poverty and the eye disease she witnessed. Therefore, Sarna decided that when she sells her award-winning tanzanite L’Heure Bleu carving, she will donate the profits to the world-renowned Portland-based Casey Eye Institute to provide eye care to the Maasai. Dr. Andreas Lauer, Chair of the Casey Eye Institute, came as its representative, and just as the weighing ceremony took place, doctors from the Institute were landing in Tanzania for a cataract conference!
“The Casey Eye Institute is in Naomi’s debt. In the future, patients, their families and the Maasai community will feel her passion and love as they express it through their smiles and joy from improved vision,” commented Dr. Andreas K. Lauer, director, Casey Eye Institute.
“The Guinness World Records brings international recognition and attention to my tanzanite carving L’Heure Bleu. This recognition gives great strength to my promise to help the Maasai with their vision difficulties. This is the cornerstone for our future hopes to provide eye care to the Maasai in Tanzania,” stated artist Naomi Sarna.
During her time in Tanzania, Sarna was given various tanzanite crystals. She chose one of them and hand-carved it into the 703-carat L’Heure Bleu, which won the First-Place Spectrum Award for carving from the American Gem Trade Association. The crystal is now placed on a Sterling Silver base that is inspired by the winds of Tanzania’s Great Rift Valley.
