The Story of the Sacred Emerald Buddha

Introduction to the Sacred Emerald Buddha

The Sacred Emerald Buddha stands out as one of the world's most notable natural emerald carvings. Finished fairly recently in 2006, many believe it was crafted to pay tribute to Afghanistan's fallen standing Buddhas of Bamiyan, which Taliban extremists destroyed in 2001. Interestingly, people often mix it up with the highly revered statue called the 'Emerald Buddha' housed in Wat Phra Keo at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.

Comparing It to Thailand's Emerald Buddha

The Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Keo boasts a much longer history - legend has it dating back to 43 BC - and ranks among Thailand's most cherished treasures. Experts think that one is made from green jasper, whereas the Sacred Emerald Buddha, though notably smaller, comes from actual natural emerald, which is a type of beryl.

Discovery and Acquisition of the Emerald

This record-breaking piece was sculpted from an impressively large 3,600-carat emerald crystal found in Africa back in 1994. Its precise origin remains a bit of a mystery, but it's likely from either Zambia or Madagascar. Soon after the find, the massive emerald made its way to Thailand in September 1994 to find a buyer. It eventually landed with a private company based in Thailand, started by Jeffery Bergman, a respected gemstone expert from America. While most folks imagined slicing it into smaller bits for faceting, Jeffery chose to keep its full size and unlock its potential as one whole carving.

Choosing the Design

After lengthy negotiations to secure the stone, its new owner took nearly a year to ponder the best design for such an unusual gem. Drawing inspiration from Thailand's deep Buddhist traditions and the emerald's natural form, the decision landed on a standing Buddha. In Thai, this pose is called 'Phra ham yath,' symbolizing Lord Buddha's emphasis on peace. That meaning resonates strongly with many in Thailand. Once the shape was set, the hunt began for a skilled gem carver.

Selecting the Master Carver

Carving a stone this extraordinary demanded top-tier expertise. Europe has plenty of talented gem carvers, but few knew how to handle Buddha images. So, the owner looked to Asia, where artists have perfected jadeite Buddha carvings over generations. Though Burma - now Myanmar - and China are famous for such work, the task went to Mr. Aung Nyein, a 36-year-old Burmese artist who'd been in Thailand for over 15 years. Peers and the community hailed Aung as a true master, with more than 20 years of Buddha sculpting under his belt.

The Carving Process

Before diving in, Aung Nyein spent weeks carefully examining every aspect of the emerald he was about to shape. When he started, it took roughly a week of precise grinding to reveal the Buddha's basic outline. Gradually, finer details emerged until the vision came fully to life. After finishing the sculpture, polishing the emerald took several more weeks to boost its shine and luster to the max.

Completion and Certification

By February 2006, the Sacred Emerald Buddha was done and hailed as a masterpiece. It went to the Gemological Institute of Thailand (GIT) and Gem Research Swiss Lab (GRS) for separate evaluations. In the end, the carving earned certification at 2,620 carats. Many consider it among the largest emerald carvings globally, maybe only behind an 86,000-carat one owned by Gleim the Jeweler in Palo Alto. But here's the key difference: the Sacred Emerald Buddha used high-quality gem-grade material, unlike that larger, mostly opaque mountain-themed piece.

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