703-Carat L'Heure Bleu Tanzanite Carving Awarded GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Title

On March 28, 2024, Naomi Sarna Designs announced that the L'Heure Bleu, a 703-carat tanzanite carving by artist Naomi Sarna, has been awarded a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the world's largest cut tanzanite. The historical achievement was celebrated at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals in Hillsboro, Oregon.

A significant crowd gathered for the event, where Guinness World Records adjudicator Michael Empric, along with gemstone experts Jessie English and Madeline Saunders, verified the record. The presence of Rice Museum board president Gail Spann and director Kim Vagner underscored the importance of this milestone.

Naomi Sarna's journey to this achievement began with a trip to the Tanzanite mines at Mt. Kilimanjaro, where she was inspired not only to create the L'Heure Bleu but also to commit to humanitarian efforts in Tanzania. Sarna pledged to donate the profits from the sale of the carving to the Casey Eye Institute, aiming to provide eye care to the Maasai community. This contribution was celebrated by Dr. Andreas Lauer, Chair of the Casey Eye Institute, who recognized Sarna's passion for improving vision in Tanzania.

The international recognition of Sarna's tanzanite carving by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS highlights not just a remarkable artistic achievement but also a promise of hope and assistance to the Maasai people of Tanzania.