Exquisite gems, jewels from Cartier, Harry Winston on display at Marjorie Merriweather Post’s DC estate

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Art and history in the form of jewelry, this summer at Hillwood (海角社区app's Rachel Nania )

WASHINGTON 鈥� At , Executive Director Kate Markert fully expects to be cleaning nose prints off the glass cases in the exhibit space all summer long.

鈥淭his is the kind of show that you鈥檙e going to want to look at very close up,鈥� Markert said.

How else would one study a 1961 turquoise and diamond necklace from Harry Winston, or a 1928 emerald and diamond brooch from Cartier, both of which belonged to one of America鈥檚 wealthiest women?

On Saturday, June 10, 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection鈥� opens to the public at Hillwood. The exhibit includes 50 pieces of jewelry that Marjorie Merriweather Post 鈥� daughter of C.W. Post, of Post cereals 鈥� collected from the 1920s through the 1970s.

On Saturday, June 10, 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection鈥� opens to the public at Hillwood. The exhibit includes 50 pieces of jewelry that Marjorie Merriweather Post 鈥� daughter of C.W. Post, of Post cereals 鈥� collected from the 1920s through the 1970s. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

A Harry Winston Diamond Necklace from 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection.” (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens)聽 (Square Moose Inc. )

The Van Cleef & Arpels “Marguerite” ruby and diamond brooch from 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection.” (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) (Square Moose Inc. )

A Cartier turquoise and amethyst necklace from 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection.” (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) (Square Moose Inc. )

Marjorie Merriweather Post was the daughter of C.W. Post, of Post cereals. (Courtesy聽Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens)

A 1928 Cartier emerald and diamond brooch from 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection." (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) — A 1928 Cartier emerald and diamond brooch from 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection.” (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens)

The collection includes a pair of diamond drop earrings that once belonged to Marie Antoinette and were later reset by Harry Winston. There鈥檚 also a ruby and diamond floral brooch made by Van Cleef & Arpels, and a rare 31-carat emerald ring, also from Harry Winston. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

A diamond engagement ring from Harry A. Meyers from 鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection.” (Photo by Bruce White, courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens)

A sapphire and diamond necklace that breaks into three pieces: two bracelets and a central brooch. (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) (Square Moose Inc. )

A pearl and moonstone necklace designed by George Headley and made by Charles Vaillant. (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) (Square Moose Inc. )

Marjorie Merriweather Post collected her jewelry as if it was artwork 鈥� but she wore every piece. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

An antique ruby and diamond necklace and earrings from聽Marjorie Merriweather Post’s jewelry collection. (Photo by Square Moose Inc., courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) (Square Moose Inc. )

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To be clear, this is not just any old album of jewelry. The collection includes a pair of diamond drop earrings that once belonged to Marie Antoinette and were later reset by Harry Winston. There鈥檚 also a ruby and diamond floral brooch made by聽Van Cleef & Arpels, and a rare 31-carat emerald ring, also from Harry Winston.

Then, there鈥檚 the collection of Cartier 鈥� diamond necklaces, ruby bracelets and a 250-carat Indian emerald brooch.

鈥淸Merriweather Post] started off with Cartier in the 1920s and she was the biggest collector of Cartier in America,鈥� said Markert, who added that although Merriweather Post collected jewelry much like artwork, she wore every piece.

鈥淪he really lived a sort of curated life.鈥�

鈥淪pectacular Gems and Jewelry from the Merriweather Post Collection鈥� is on display through Jan. 1, 2018. For more information on the exhibit, .

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