I enjoyed looking at fine gems and was excited when I could find something that would fit into one of my favorite museums. I asked Hemchand to bid for it and we were finally successful in buying this piece I wanted so badly. My only interest was in the 52-carat star sapphire. I suggested that he get in touch with my backers to either come by themselves if interested or send someone more familiar with the prices and of such fine gems. I told Hemchand that to purchase such beautiful and expensive material was beyond my authority. This sapphire is available, Inventory #18527. From the Harris Gemstone Collection, a 173-stone collection assembled over nearly twelve years. This blue star sapphire from Mogok weighs 17.66 carats, and measures 15 x 11.85 x 9.92 mm. Also a very fine 52-carat star sapphire cabochon which had a very beautiful sky blue color, and a magnificent star interested me very much. I was also shown a magnificent pear shaped diamond weighing about 73 carats, of the finest quality and surely one of the old riverstones from India. The jewelry consisted of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings, all of which were over 200 years old and had been produced by the very famous Indian goldsmiths of the 18th century. There were many old pieces of antique jewelry set with diamonds and the finest Indian antique emerald jewelry.
I had never seen such an array of large gemstones-emeralds up to 60 carats of the finest quality and numerous rubies and sapphires in large sizes. Arrangements were made for me to see his collection the following day. The collection I was about to see was one of the finest gem collections in India belonging to one of the most powerful maharajas, who had decided to leave India to live in Europe for political reasons. Ehrmann.” I answered, “Glad to be back in Bombay.” Monanhal greeted me with a welcome smile and said, “We were waiting for you, Mr. We entered the door marked Hemchand Monanhal, Diamond Merchants.
Several entrances to offices became visible with name plates and type of business printed on the entrance doors. The corridors themselves were the same but empty. When we reached the fourth floor of the building, its character suddenly changed. Hemp and cotton were visible in open sacks, bins and a variety of other containers. Sari-clad women in the corridors were busily engaged in cooking and selling food items, such as rice, all kinds of spices and nuts. Naked children were running about everywhere.
The odors were obnoxious and of all varieties including that of cooking. There were about three hundred people on each floor. The wooden dilapidated stairway had a landing on each floor with corridors leading in all directions. It was quite an adventure to walk the four flights. They were located on the fourth floor of a walkup building. It was late afternoon when we drove to the offices of Hemchand Monanhal. First we drove to the Taj Mahal Hotel where I just checked in. Hemchand met me at the airport with his private car and driver, a bearded turbaned sheik. I had cabled Hemchand Monanhal, my agent, to make arrangements with the Maharaja for the following day as my stay in India was to be a very short one. I had with me new travel money, the assurance of my backers, and the knowledge of their complete confidence in my purchasing ability. (Note: We have attempted to locate the owner of this portrait, but according to Secretary of State records, Bushnell Photo Studio no longer does business in the State of California.)Īfter having sold most of the gems from my last very successful buying expedition back to Burma I a stopover in Bombay. Martin Ehrmann, in a pre-1956 portrait by Bushnell Photo Studio, Los Angeles. See also Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Four, Chapter Five Part One, Chapter Five Part Two, and Chapter Six.
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