ACCESS Newswire

Naomi Sarna Designs

Share
703-Carat L'Heure Bleu Tanzanite Carving Sets New GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS(TM) Title as World's Largest Cut Tanzanite

HILLSBORO, OR / ACCESSWIRE / March 28, 2024 / It was an exciting day at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon, when artist Naomi Sarna's 703-carat L'Heure Bleu tanzanite carving set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title as the world's largest cut tanzanite, on March 9.

To view this piece of content from cdn.nwe.io, please give your consent at the top of this page.

A standing room only crowd witnessed the "weigh in" as Guinness World Records adjudicator, Michael Empric, verified and announced the results. Gemstone experts, Jessie English, J.S. English Appraisals and Madeline Saunders, Oregon Estate Jewelry, were the official witnesses for the weighing. Rice Museum board president Gail Spann and museum director, Kim Vagner were also on hand for 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.

Several years ago, artist Naomi Sarna was invited to travel to the Tanzanite mines located in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She was asked to create a carving for an international competition. The mines are on the ancestral land of the Maasai and it is the only place in the world where this blue-violet gemstone is found. While there Sarna was asked to do humanitarian work, so she taught Maasai women how to make wire-wrap jewelry from tanzanite. Touched by the community, the poverty and the eye disease she witnessed, Sarna decided that she 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 eyecare 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 touching down 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.

While she was in Tanzania, Sarna was presented with several tanzanite crystals eventually selecting the piece that she hand-carved into the 703-carat L'Heure Bleu. It won a First-Place Spectrum Award for carving from the American Gem Trade Association. It sits on a Sterling Silver base inspired by the winds of Tanzania's Great Rift Valley.

Contact Information

Naomi Sarna
info@naomisarna.com

Related Images

To view this piece of content from cdn.nwe.io, please give your consent at the top of this page.
To view this piece of content from cdn.nwe.io, please give your consent at the top of this page.

SOURCE: Naomi Sarna Designs

To view this piece of content from stats.nwe.io, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View the original press release on newswire.com.

To view this piece of content from www.accesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

About ACCESS Newswire

DK

Subscribe to releases from ACCESS Newswire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from ACCESS Newswire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from ACCESS Newswire

IXOPAY Surges Past 500 Certified Adapters, Solidifies Leadership in Enterprise-Grade Payment Orchestration15.7.2025 06:00:00 CEST | Press release

With 200 PSPs and 300 payment methods, IXOPAY is unlocking faster global expansion, improved approval rates, and full-stack control for enterprise merchants. LEHI, UT / ACCESS Newswire / July 15, 2025 / As global commerce accelerates, enterprise merchants are hitting a wall - their legacy payment stacks weren't built for the scale, complexity, or speed modern commerce demands. To stay competitive, merchants need infrastructure that adapts across markets, providers, and payment methods without costly rewrites or vendor lock-in. IXOPAY, a global leader in enterprise-grade payment orchestration, is addressing that challenge head-on with the announcement it has reached 500 certified adapters, connecting 200 payment service providers (PSPs) and 300 payment methods through a single, vendor-agnostic API. Payment orchestration is rapidly emerging as vital infrastructure for modern payments, and its effectiveness depends on the scale and breadth of the adapter ecosystem. IXOPAY's industry-leadi

Gun, Cocaine, and a High-Speed Chase: Luton Crime Haul Sparks Fresh Questions and Public Appeal11.7.2025 13:45:00 CEST | Press release

Officers discovered an estimated 25 kilograms of suspected Class A drugs, tightly packed and hidden in secret compartments. Alongside the drugs, they recovered a Beretta 92FS 9mm semi-automatic handgun, loaded with 38 rounds of ammunition. LUTON, GB / ACCESS Newswire / July 11, 2025 / A dramatic police pursuit through Luton on the night of June 29 resulted in the seizure of a loaded firearm and an estimated £600,000 worth of suspected cocaine. Nearly a week later, crucial questions remain unanswered, and police are still searching for individuals who fled the scene. The incident, which unfolded between 11:30 PM and 1:00 AM, began in Marsh Farm when Bedfordshire Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle as part of a proactive investigation into organised criminal activity. The driver failed to stop, sparking a high-speed chase that stretched through Dallow, Farley Hill, and eventually ended on Beechwood Road, where the vehicle was forcibly brought to a halt. Inside, officers discovere

The Battery Show Europe Showcases Global Acceleration10.7.2025 10:00:00 CEST | Press release

Europe's flagship event advancing the battery and EV industry from cell design to policy frameworks STUTTGART, GERMANY / ACCESS Newswire / July 10, 2025 / The Battery Show Europe and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe, co-located with Energy Storage Summit Germany (ESG), welcomed over 17,000 industry professionals and more than 1,100 exhibitors to Messe Stuttgart. This combined event represents the only place where the entire advanced battery, electric & hybrid vehicle technology and energy storage supply chain can be accessed under one roof. From breakthrough technologies and policy insights to hands-on demos and global partnerships, the 2025 edition captured the rapid pace of industry evolution and the growing international significance. Keynote sessions across the three-day event featured high-profile speakers from across the battery, automotive and energy sectors, including BMW Group, Verkor, Mercedes-Benz, CATL and Shanghai Putailai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Th

Eagle Football Chairman John Textor Congratulates Olympique Lyonnais on Qualification for Ligue 1 and UEFA Europa League9.7.2025 18:55:00 CEST | Press release

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 9, 2025 / John Textor, Chairman and CEO of Eagle Football Holdings, today issued the following statement in response to the decision by the French Football Federation (FFF) to uphold Olympique Lyonnais's (OL) appeal, reversing the earlier decision of the DNCG, and confirming OL's participation in Ligue 1 and UEFA Europa League: John Textor, Chairman and majority owner of Eagle Football Holdings, stated: "I would like to congratulate our whole team at Olympique Lyonnais for demonstrating clearly what we have long known, that our great club in Lyon is financially strong and ready to continue its climb up the tables in France and in Europe. We previously cleared through a rigorous sustainability review by UEFA, and now, under the remarkable leadership of our Chair Michele Kang, OL has succeeded on appeal, in cooperation with the DNCG, to confirm our place in Ligue 1 and in Europa League." He continued, "Today's decision is a vital recognitio

Sandline Global Expands International Presence with New London Office9.7.2025 15:15:00 CEST | Press release

LONDON, GB / ACCESS Newswire / July 9, 2025 / Sandline Global, a leading provider of legal technology, eDiscovery, and litigation support services, is proud to announce the opening of its new office in London. This milestone marks a strategic expansion of Sandline's international footprint and reinforces the company's commitment to serving clients across the UK and broader EMEA region.Sandline Global Logo Sandline Global Logo The decision to establish a permanent presence in London was driven by significant and sustained demand for Sandline's services in the region. With a growing number of cross-border matters and increasing interest in Sandline's capabilities-including digital forensics, eDiscovery services, and managed review-the new location will enable the company to deliver tailored, more localized support to clients with complex legal and regulatory needs. "Our expansion into London reflects both the strength of our partnerships in the UK and our long-term vision for internation

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye