It might sound strange for an astrology blog to focus on data, especially when astrology is so often dismissed by the experts as a pseudo science… yet paying strict attention to the data we use for our birth charts, or to cast charts for any event, is critically important. If the data is wrong, the interpretations are wrong and the chart is useless.

If you take nothing else from this post — always, always, always check and recheck your data. Do this before you do anything else.

Consider the most basic of all astrological studies — the birth chart. Just as our physical body is what the outside world sees of us… our birth chart (also known as a natal chart) is a picture of our inner world, taken at the exact moment we entered this world. Your birth chart shows the traits and talents and challenges you were born with, and gives clues as to how these might play out over your lifetime. A serious study of your natal chart can help you learn much about yourself… as well as where you came from and where you’re headed.

In fact, you’ll find that identical twins always have slightly different birth charts. Often astrologers find that twins split up the energies of the chart… which might explain why they are so different from each other. Twins tend to divide the energies of the chart between them… each choosing different ones to act out. One twin may own the Sun sign energies, while the other might choose the Moon sign… or one twin may live out the other twin’s shadow. Sharing features leads us to a false expectation that twins will be just as much alike on the inside. Yet this isn’t the case, each has his or her own unique journey to make through this life.

Thanks to the internet there are any number of places (Astrolabe and Astrodienst being two of the best) to get a free natal chart. This can be a blessing if you have all the correct birth information; a curse if you don’t — especially if you guess at your birth time or give in to the temptation to use a default (noon or 6:00 AM) time. The chart that will be generated for you will be misleading and largely inaccurate — like using another person’s x-ray to see if your hacking cough is really pneumonia.

Which brings us to an often overlooked point — any birth chart, whether computed online or by a professional astrologer as part of your reading, is only as good as the data you supply. To get a truly accurate natal chart, you’ll need to know your birth date (month, day and year), the exact time you were born, and the location. Before you convince yourself your own data is beyond reproach… ask yourself — are you relying on the memories of your parents or grandparents or do you have a birth certificate or other more unimpeachable record? Do you know the exact location of your birth… big city hospital or at home?

If you were born more than 20 or 30 years ago, the records of your birth may not be all that accurate, and tracking down the truth can be a challenge. Still there are ways to resolve an unknown birth time, and you should make the effort before you have a chart cast. A difference of 4 minutes can change things in a chart… which is why astrologers work so hard, and put such focus on having an accurate birth time. Using the right time ensures that the birth chart you end up with is truly representative of you.

If your own investigations into the time of your birth fail you, you might consider birth time rectification (the process of pinpointing your birth time based on the dates of other key events in your life). Be prepared to spend at least $100 to $150 for the service and be sure to use an astrologer who specializes in this type of work. You’ll be asked to supply dates and times of important events in your life, and the astrologer will use these to back into the likely time of your birth.

The accuracy of birth chart data for well known public figures has taken a huge step forward thanks to the lifelong dedication of Lois Rodden who collected data on 26,000 births over her 40 year career. Her high standards for data integrity have changed everything… and have given astrologers and students of astrology a way to tell good data from bad. The Rodden Rating system is now the universal standard for rating the accuracy of birth data according to where it comes from. Data marked with an AA, A and B are the best sources for information on the famous (or infamous) who are notorious for misrepresenting their birth data… except when visiting an astrologer.

You see now how critical it is to have the right data… an accurate time and place of birth (or accurate details for any event)… so that the chart you get back reflects the real possibilities and potentials inherent in that moment, at that place. By ensuring the data you use is the best it can be, you’ll avoid having a chart cast that won’t fit — and instead get one that contains valuable astrological insights to help you along the way.

Here’s a final version of Chris’ graduation movie… all photos and songs in place. 

So watch and enjoy… feel free to comment… that’s why the video is up here.

I’m as concerned about the economy, my own livelihood and the value of my home as the next guy… but the unrelenting barrage of media attention on this topic is getting ridiculous. 

I was always taught to give credit where it’s due, and the seed of this idea came to life in my own thoughts while reading a piece by Paul Greenberg that appeared earlier this week in Jewish World Review. While he makes a lot of great points about optimism, and leadership, the ones I’ll touch on here focus on the doom and gloom economic reports delivered by the nightly news and mainstream media.

Greenberg’s points would certainly take the wind out of the sails of my ever-eager local anchor team…

In 2008, the American economy lost 3.4 million jobs, 2.2 percent of the labor force. If you remember, back in November of 1981 to October of 1982, we lost 2.4 million jobs — a smaller number of a smaller labor force, and coincidentally it works out to the very same 2.2 percent. What’s more, the unemployment rate this past January (7.6 percent) was far below the peak in 1982 of 10.8 percent. 

I actually heard that some companies are hiring this year. Hiring! What’s more, there are some technical jobs open at the companies in this regularly updated spreadsheet. There’s also a top 100 list out of Yahoo HotJobs that’s worth a look. 

And curiously, despite the economy that I’m told is hanging by the slimmest of threads, demanding immediate action and billions of dollars, I’m still waiting for a table at the local restaurant in my town, even on weeknights. The cash registers in every store I go in (especially the grocery store) are humming right along, and I continue to stand in my share of lines. The nail place is almost as booked as ever. Even reservations at ski lodges in my area, though down an estimated 10% this season, are still robust — despite all the gloomy economic news.

But unless you’re out there looking, you won’t be told this side of the story.

What’s so worrisome is that the mainstream media is so willingly (dare I say gleefully) reporting the economic downturn as the death of us all. It’s all doom… all the time. My local station has a smarmy graphic and catchy name for what’s going on… following drops in the stock market or releases of economic figures like they were casualty laden breaking news.

Greenberg caught a whopper of his own in mid February by the supposedly objective Associated Press. 

Quoting from an AP dispatch that appeared as straight news February 16, 2009 — “Passage of the stimulus measure — unprecedented in its cost — was a triumph for Obama as he struggles to lift the country from a financial nosedive unseen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.”

I checked, and found that story was reprinted everywhere, and if you tell people something enough, they come to believe it IS true. But Greenberg points out that comparisons to the 1930s are pretty unrealistic.

In the early 1930s, jobs were being lost at three times today’s rate, with one quarter of the country jobless by 1933. Over 10,000 banks would fail that year as well. While things today might be bad… even my parents (and those of their generation alive today) will tell you what’s going on right now is nothing like how dark and desperate it really was back then.

So what’s up? Why the emergency?

Funny thing about “emergencies” — people act without thinking, do things they might not otherwise… agree to anything (wage freezes, benefit cuts, service cuts) in hopes of surviving the crisis. The focus is on action… immediate, sweeping, grand gestures that are meant to strike fear in an unseen enemy, closing fast. Cooler heads usually can’t be heard over the hysterical din of the masses.

Now you can call me a cynic if you like… I’ve been (and probably will be) called much worse than that… but part of me can’t help but wonder if this “economic emergency” the media is trying so hard to cram down our throats is a clever way to get people to be driven by fear.

Why do that, you ask?

How much easier it is to present wage freezes, service cuts, toll hikes and the like when the dark cloud of the economic downturn looms overhead. How much simpler to get people to agree to just about anything that will “save” them during these uncertain days.

But what if we don’t need saving? What if we’re all just fine without all that, thank you? An article, and the email responses it generated in WritersWeekly, an online publication I get each week echoes the same theme. It’s just what I’ve been seeing here in suburban New Hampshire.

Which makes us all the more foolish if we let a complacent, well heeled and indolent mainstream media convince us otherwise. And if you need practical tips to fight the fear and take back your thoughts… here’s a great article that can help you do just that.

Here’s where you’ll find a final version of Michelle’s 2009 graduation video.

So watch and enjoy… feel free to comment… that’s why the video is up here.

In case you want them, here are the song lyrics…

I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder 
You get your fill to eat 
But always keep that hunger 
May you never take one single breath for granted 
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed 
I hope you still feel small 
When you stand by the ocean 
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens 
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance 
I hope you dance 
I hope you dance 

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance 
Never settle for the path of least resistance 
Living might mean taking chances 
But they’re worth taking 
Lovin’ might be a mistake 
But it’s worth making 
Don’t let some hell bent heart 
Leave you bitter 
When you come close to selling out 
Reconsider 
Give the heavens above 
More than just a passing glance 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance 
I hope you dance 
(Time is a real and constant motion always) 
I hope you dance 
(Rolling us along) 
I hope you dance 
(Tell me who) 
I hope you dance 
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) 
(Where those years have gone) 

I hope you still feel small 
When you stand by the ocean 
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens 
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance 
Dance 
I hope you dance 
I hope you dance 
(Time is a real and constant motion always) 
I hope you dance 
(Rolling us along) 
I hope you dance 
(Tell me who) 
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) 
I hope you dance 
(Where those years have gone) 

(Tell me who) 
I hope you dance 
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) 
(Where those years have gone) 

It’s Only Life (Brian Malouf Mix), Kate Voegele

Tears are forming in your eyes,
a storm is warning in the skies,
the end of the world it seems,
you bend down and you fall on your knees,
well get back on your feet ,yeah,
don’t look away, don’t run away,
baby it’s only life,
don’t lose your faith,don’t run away,
it’s only life.
you were always playing hard,
never could let down your guard,
you can’t win, if you never give in,
to that voice within, saying pick up your chin, 
baby let go of it , yeah,
don’t look away, don’t run away , 
baby, it’s only life.
don’t lose your faith, don’t run away,
baby it’s only life.(repeat)
take your hesitance, and your self defense,
leave them behind, it’s only life,
don’t be so afraid of facing every day, 
just take your time, it’s only life,
i’ll be your stepping stone, don’t be so alone, 
just hold on tight,it’s only life,
oh..don’t look away, don’t run away,
baby it’s only life,
don’t lose your faith, don’t run away, baby, it’s only life (repeat),
it’s only life, it’s only life,
don’t look away…

While messenger Mercury gets all the attention when it comes to retrograde motion — the appearance of moving backward in the sky from our viewpoint here on Earth — most people don’t realize that all the other planets (except the Sun and Moon) have retrograde periods as well. To understand retrogrades, it’s best to view them as a cycle that begins as a planet slows down and comes to a stop (that station) and includes the time spent moving in the opposite direction, as well as the slowdown and stopping points that send the heavenly body forward once more.

Think of the planet as the what, but the tone of the retrograde comes from the sign occupied by the planet. If you were born with a retrograde planet (or planets) in your chart, than these periods will be especially important. As for the rest of us, the influence of a retrograde will have personal meaning only if it involves a planet that’s strong in your chart… Saturn for example. You may also feel the impact of the retrograde if the planet in question is moving over another planet or point in your own chart.

Retrogrades generally are periods when you need to slow down… as the planets above are doing. They are time of change… changes in things, in minds, in information and in people. The energy of the planets, quite literally, is reversed… turned inside out.

It sometimes seems the retrograde periods come before an event that feels inevitable or fated, perhaps especially related to the sign where the retrograde occurs. In the interest of fairness, let’s look at the other retrograde periods to come during 2009.

Let’s start with graceful, pleasure loving Venus…

Planet              How Often                     Period in 2009                     Sign                         

Venus            every 18 months            03/06 to 04/17                      15:27 Aries

When the goddess of love and beauty is backing up… the things Venus influences will be of less concern to the world. We may evaluate the real worth and the value of people and things in our life. People may dress with less style… and our color senses might be off. Redecorating now isn’t always wise, and this isn’t a time to buy clothing or fine jewelry, or make a change in makeup or hairstyle. Relationships slow down or if they begin now are stormy and short lived. Negotiations grind to a halt and it’s not the best time to get married or host a big event.

These are times when our values may be called into question. There can be betrayals, severing of a relationship or even public scandals. Sometimes these periods challenge us to go back and take care of unfinished business… deal with deep feelings that have their origins in the past.

Next is energetic, warrior god Mars…

Planet              How Often                     Period in 2009                     Sign                         

Mars               once every 2 yrs            12/20 to 03/10/10                19:42 Leo

The strength and direction of the will to achieve is certainly changed when this planet goes retrograde. When the red planet backs up it gives rise to irrational action, introspection, depression and self-assessment, sexual issues and possible conflict in relationships. Sometimes tempers can be uncertain and people get restless.

Trouble with authority, particularly male authority can be common during this time.

Your vitality may very well be depleted during this time, so it’s not a good idea to initiate, a new project, a new relationship, an argument or any conflict. In fact, slowing down in general is a good idea now. Anything started during this time is  at greater risk of fizzling out… going nowhere. You might also not want to buy anything mechanical… or at least not doing so without lots of insurance.

The solar system giant optimistic Jupiter goes retrograde…

Planet              How Often                     Period in 2009                     Sign                         

Jupiter            once a year                     06/15 to 10/12                     27:01 Aquarius

When naturally expansive Jupiter goes retrograde, the emphasis is on inner awareness and growth. It’s an excellent time to get in touch with personal integrity. Look at ways you might not be being honest with yourself… or playing a role that’s disloyal to who you really are.

Expansion often runs into problems… sure things aren’t so certain anymore. Sometime the things we think we need are removed from our lives under this influence, the end result being beneficial to us moving forward.

Sometimes this period brings an event that reminds you of a time when you had better perspective. It’s an excellent time to pursue Jupitarian projects like returning to school, taking a trip you’ve postponed or making a connection to a long, lost friend. Due to the spiritual cast of this particular retrograde, it may not be the best time to start material projects.

Taskmaster Saturn has been retrograde since the start of 2009…

Planet              How Often                     Period in 2009                     Sign                         

Saturn            once a year                     12/31/08 to 05/17                21:46 Virgo

During retrograde motion, Saturn slows down the regular rate of activity so that better methods and strategies can be created. It can make us work with extra effort, think deeply… no rushing or shortcuts. Now’s the time to go back and solidify past commitments made, projects started or responsibilities undertaken — only deal with issues from the past, don’t take on new things (especially new businesses) now.

Upsets and delays are often a normal part of life… there may be extra responsibility or demands for your time. Re-evaluate and be open to new ways to structure your inner world. Sometimes you may find yourself facing an inescapable dilemma.

Weed out any sources of frustration now and understand how much you can do before you start to feel frustrated, trapped or confined.

Uranus, erratic and independent goes retrograde…

Planet              How Often                              Period in 2009            Sign                         

Uranus           5 months of every year          07/01 to 12/01            26:37 Pisces

When retrograde Uranus is more potent, the energy builds to a point and then explodes into the outer world. Expect the unexpected… sudden shifts and reversals. This period stimulates deep psychological investigation and analysis. Tap into your innermost creativity for new ideas. Rebelliousness can be intense and sometimes misdirected. Sometimes urges to be free are reawakened, though it’s best just to be aware of these urges at this time, not to act on them.

This period can see a wild side set free, or turn a shy person into an engaging extrovert, the shifts will amaze and maybe amuse you. Look for things to bring the complete opposite, or no effect at all.

Dreamy Neptune wants to dissolve boundaries and will be retrograde this year…

Planet              How Often                              Period in 2009            Sign                         

Neptune        5 months of every year          05/28 to 11/04             26:29 Aquarius

When Neptune backs up it causes boundaries between reality and illusion are blurred; there’s a sensitivity that’s much more acute, and we can see further than normal. Perhaps our intuition or inner vision is stronger and allows a more insightful perspective on things. Delusions are possible a

nd this can be a time that’s dangerous for decision-making as you may be unrealistic in your optimism.

Logic is often trumped by intuition and feelings during these times… and you can listen to that voice now. You might notice and pay more attention to dreams, or simply explore a creative outlet. As the planet of make believe, these periods sometimes bring shifts in film and television.

During this time we’re better able to pick up illusions, and find out about issues that have eluded us at other time.  Listen to your inner voice, though Neptune retrograde can bring a sort of psychic overload for very sensitive people. Avoid drugs, chemicals and stimulants during this time.

Lastly, lord of the underworld, powerful, intense Pluto goes retrograde…

Planet              How Often                              Period in 2009            Sign                         

Pluto               5 months of every year          04/04 to 06/11            03:18 Capricorn

During times when Pluto is retrograde you can see much more than normal, so it’s easy to get suspicious of others motives. The emphasis is always directed inward, toward the psyche or psychological patters that can affect the body. The regenerative powers of this sub-planet are far greater during retrogrades.

Fresh starts and dead ends often are part of retrograde Pluto… destruction and rebuilding, regeneration. Sometimes what we hold most tightly can suddenly be taken, and we are at the mercy of heavy forces that our outside our control. The forces of war, weapons and upheaval.

You might find yourself letting go — so of an intern al house cleaning. We have an intense power of investigation now, and can use this to look at recurring patterns in our lives that make us feel out of control. Use this time to get more control over your personal life.

As you can see the outer planets stay retrograde for some months, in fact, you have one retrograde planet in your chart even as you read this. In a personal chart, the aspects to the outer planets make to the personal planets or points are key. Further study on your own, or a consultation with a professional astrologer can help you uncover the opportunities and challenges of retrograde periods in your own life.

If you’ve spent any time learning about astrology, you’ve probably heard the warnings about the dreaded Mercury Retrograde, those three week periods when the planet of the messenger god looks like its going backwards… at least from our perspective here on Earth. The effect is an optical illusion… and might hold a rather large cosmic hint as to the real meaning of these often maligned times.

The first retrograde for 2009 began on Sunday January 11th (along with a potent Full Moon in Cancer) and will last until February 1st – the first of an unusual four for the year. The next Mercury retrograde of this year will begin on May 6 and last until May 30, then there’s September 6 to September 29, with the final retrograde for the year beginning December 26th and running through the New Year until January 15, 2010.

The tone of the retrograde takes on the energies of the sign Mercury occupies… now in original, intellectual Aquarius. This can be expected to play out as a hyper focus on originality and independence… the sudden need to cast aside the conventions of society. When Mercury moves into earthy Capricorn on January 21st, there may be challenges involved in bringing knowledge or ideas into practical reality, as well as communication breakdown in organizations.

The speedy little planet will make its deepest foray into Capricorn at 27:45, turn direct by February 1st and begin moving forward again. The dates of the station, and the days leading up to them, can be especially powerful and potent. Most astrologers believe that until Mercury returns to the point where it first stopped, the influence of the period continues to be felt. The current retrograde won’t have Mercury back to 07:45 Aquarius until St. Valentines Day, February 14th.

It’s seems unfair that these 21 day periods have gotten such a reputation for bringing problems in transportation, communication, mail, the internet… as well as our thinking processes. Pay attention to the small print, we’re told, and be prepared that decisions you make during this time can be based on poor communication, misinformation or careless thinking. Recheck everything… expect detours and delays in travel. Try not to sign contracts or get married. Mechanical breakdowns are also likely and better safe than sorry… the wary among us usually do a computer backup, just in case.

Less obvious perhaps than the mechanical problems, Mercury’s involvement with communication makes these times when nothing goes without saying. People speak their mind… perhaps revealing things that otherwise would not be said. Don’t be surprised if you come to regret something you may have revealed during these weeks, so if you can hold back, do so. It’s also a good idea to review every email or voicemail message before you send it.

But as many challenges as these cycles bring (or get blamed for) they have an underappreciated and mostly unrecognized up side too. These are exceptional times to find, learn or see something that would have gone unnoticed before. Any activity that has a “re” at the beginning is a good bet… review, research, reorganize. Look for lost articles, find the perfect wallpaper, uncover information or resources, learn what you absolutely must know… all these are wonderful uses of the Mercury Retrograde energy.

Astrologer Rob Tillett has a rather well rounded take on the current cycle, as does Marguerite Manning who isn’t at all put off or ready to give ground to these regular, though oddball, astrological events. Rather than running for cover, these pros suggest being prepared for the minor breakdowns or detours, review carefully anything you must sign and use this time to revisit, retrieve or uncover data – a sort of cosmic second chance to find the answer.

How will Mercury Retrograde affect you? Astrologers suggest you look to the house in your own birth chart where the retrograde happens (in this case 07:45 Aquarius to 21:45 Capricorn) for the area of life likely to be affected. If you have a heavy Aquarian cast to your chart (your Sun, Moon or Rising signs are Aquarius) or the retrograde motion of Mercury passes over planets or key points on your chart, you might find the next 21 days more eventful or stressful.

By being aware of the astrological weather, you can be prepared for whatever comes and make the most of it.

Though Winter has yet to officially arrive much of the Northeast was caught in the grips of an unprecedented ice storm late last week, and as these blasts of Mother Nature usually do, the resulting carnage brought our technology driven, 21st century world to a complete standstill. No warning. No escape. Some described what happened up here as “Katrina without the water.”

This is one that I’ve long thought overdue… men are under so much pressure sometimes to buy the “right” piece. And they don’t have a clue. They really don’t. Just like we don’t know who the all time rushing title went to in 1983;… they don’t know this. 

So, here’s a guide that I hope men find useful…

A Woman’s Suggestions For Male Jewelry Shoppers

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Anyone who knows me well knows how I LOVE fine jewelry. I’m one of those people who love to browse jewerly stores… admire celebrity bling… and never get enough of the history and lore of gemstones. I’d love, someday, to see the Crown Jewels of England for myself.

But for now, I just have to content myself with admiring from afar, and have found a wonderful blog that has all kinds of great gemstone informaiton. Check this out…

What You’ve Always Wanted To Know About Gemstone Jewelry But Were Afraid To Ask

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While white diamonds have long been praised for their sparkle and shine… colored gemstones offer a rich and vibrant array of shades, shapes and sizes to suit everyone. In times past, vibrantly colored gemstones were used to decorate the hair, the clothing, the trinkets, the artwork and of course the jewelry of the monarch’s and nobility of the world.

In what was to be a tragic miscalculation, most, but not all, of the English Crown Jewels dating from Anglo Saxon times were lost near The Wash by John of England in 1216.  An incoming tide swept away the treasures, leaving King John to lament the loss for what was left of his life. New pieces were made

to replace what was gone forever and over the centuries colored gemstones came to take a rather prominent place as part of the Crown Jewels.

One of the most famous colored stones to become part of the collection is known as The Black Prince’s Ruby and was given to Edward of Woodstock in 1367 by Don Pedro of Castille as payment for the Prince’s help in putting down an uprising backed by an illegitimate half-brother. The gem, about the size of a chicken’s egg, and of an amazingly rich red color, weighs in at about 170 carats. Now correctly identified as a spinel, not a ruby as often happened before it was possible to tell the two close in color gemstones apart, the stone wasn’t seen again until 1415 when Henry V campaigned in France and wore the bauble into battle. Mounted in the helmet that saved him, the stone was next worn into battle by Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, but with vastly different results.

The incredible colored gemstone was finally set into the Imperial State Crown by James I. Through a quirk of fate, the crown was not stored with the other royal jewels and thus was saved from being dismantled, melted down and sold during the Commonwealth of Oliver Cromwell. When the monarchy was restored, the crown, along with its historic spinel, was returned and has remained safely in the Tower of London ever since.

The rich blue of sapphire also has a prominent place in this same crown. Known as St. Edward’s Sapphire, this remarkable gem made its appearance in 1042 when the stone was set into Edward’s coronation ring. The legend goes that as King Edward was known for his generosity, when approached by a beggar on his way to Westminster Abbey, he was quick to search his pockets for something to give the poor soul. Finding nothing, the King, without thinking, slipped the sapphire ring off his finger and gave it to the beggar. Many years later two pilgrims from the Holy Land returned the ring to the King and told him they’d gotten if from St. John the Evangelist who had been disguised as the beggar all those years ago. Congratulated on his kindness, the King was told that he would see St. John in heaven in six months time. Exactly six months later, Edward was dead.

Emeralds, deep green and beguiling, have also found their way into some incredible pieces. The largest collection of emeralds is said to be the crown jewels of Iran. This sumptuous collection boasts many priceless pieces including a belt set with a huge emerald, the Pahlavi and Empress Crowns and some rather impressive emerald necklaces. Tradition dictates that any new piece be made from the many loose stones that are part of the collection, added over the centuries and waiting for the right piece to showcase their beauty.

Outside Iran, one of the most well known emerald pieces is The Crown of the Andes, fashioned in 1593 (and finished in 1599) for the Madonna statue in Popayan Colombia from a solid block of 20 carat gold. The piece, crafted by local artisans as thinks for being spared a smallpox epidemic, was set with 453 stones (1,521 carats) and includes the Atahualpa Emerald (45 carats on it’s own) named for one of the last Inca emperors. The crown weighs in at 4.8 pounds and is 13 inches tall. Briefly captured by English pirates in 1650, the crown was recovered and became a prize of Columbia’s revolutionary war with Spain for independence in the 1812. Its present location is unknown.

These fabulous colored gemstones are just a few of the many rich and beautiful ones owned and enjoyed by royalty through the ages. Whether it is distinctive colored diamonds, regal amethysts, lustrous pearls or the incredible colors of rubies, sapphires and emeralds, royalty is often alone in its ability to own gemstones of such rare beauty set amid timeless works of art.