PITTSBURGH, PA.-Carnegie Museum of Natural History unveils some of the most sparkling and dazzling pieces of its collection with the opening of Wertz Gallery: Gems and Jewelry.

This 2,000–square–foot addition to Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems opens to the public on Friday, September 28 and is dedicated to gems, the crystals they come from, and jewelry comprised of these precious stones. Wertz Gallery is named in honor of Ronald W. Wertz, longtime president of the Hillman Foundation.

The creation of Wertz Gallery is part of the year–long expansion and renovation of Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems, which first opened in 1980, and which presents and exhibits minerals in the manner of sculpture, showing them for their beauty as well as their physical properties and industrial uses.

When Wertz Gallery debuts it will feature both the museum’s permanent collection of gems and jewelry and a new exhibit entitled Luxe Life: Masterpieces of American Jewelry. Luxe Life, curated by Charlie Scheips. Scheips draws inspiration from the museum’s long tradition and methodology of display of artifacts and specimens from its world-class collection. Many of the pieces in Luxe Life are from the larger traveling exhibit Masterpieces of American Jewelry. For more information about Luxe Life, please see the separate news release entitled “Luxe Life press release.”

“Hillman Hall has been one of the most popular exhibit halls in museums,” said Carnegie Museum of Natural History acting co–director David A. Smith. “Wertz Gallery adds to the legacy of Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems while giving us an opportunity to exhibit many incredible gems and fascinating pieces of jewelry.”

The original Hillman Hall did display gems and jewelry but often on a temporary basis. The expanded Wertz Gallery gives the collection its own space and many new gems and pieces of jewelry that have never been on exhibit will be on display. Approximately 500 gems, crystals, jewelry and other pieces of gem art will be on display in the permanent collection of Wertz Gallery. In addition, Wertz Gallery will also host special temporary and traveling exhibits from collectors around the world.

“The specimens in Wertz Gallery will be some of the finest on exhibit anywhere in the country,” said Marc Wilson, head of the section of minerals. “The entire exhibit gallery will be sparkling with top quality stones and jewelry from world–renowned artists.”

New Displays in Wertz Gallery
The new gallery will allow for more space for the display of the museum’s collection. Each case will be dedicated to specific gems and precious stones that will delight visitors with their natural beauty and exquisite brilliance. Cases will exhibit:
� Jade
� Beryl as a Gemstone
� The 4 Cs of gemstones: carat, color, clarity, and cut
� What is a Gemstone
� Diamond replicas
� Quartz as a Gemstone
� Ruby Spinel
� Birthstones
� Tourmalines of Brazil
� Amber
� Treated & Synthetic Gemstones
� Lapidary Craft (carvings and semi–precious gem art)
� Asterism (cat eyes and star stone gems)
� Lapidary Art (precious and semi–precious gem art and jewelry)

Ron Wertz and Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Since 1982, Ron Wertz has worked with Carnegie Museum of Natural History helping to develop one of the most active and successful specimen acquisition programs of any major natural history museum in North America.

Hillman Hall was closed in early 2006 and most its collection was taken off of public view for the expansion and renovation project. Hillman Hall was outfitted with new display cases, new lights, new specimens as well as a dramatic new entranceway displaying a breathtaking selection of minerals, gems and jewelry.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., and Mondays between July 4 and the Monday before Labor Day, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, and President’s Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $6 for children ages 3-18 and full-time students with ID, and free to children under age 3 and Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh members. Starting November 21, 2007 new admission costs will be $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, $11 for children ages 3–18 and full–time students with ID, and free to children under 3 and Carnegie Museums members. Convenient visitor parking is available in the museum’s six-level garage at Forbes Avenue and S. Craig Street. For more information, please visit www.carnegiemnh.org or call (412) 622-3131.