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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    An Epic Emerald Fight

    Weighing in at a staggering 840 pounds, the Brazilian Bahia Emerald is thought to be the biggest uncut emerald in the world. It’s being held in an evidence locker at an undisclosed sheriff’s department facility here in Los Angeles, and today the Brazilian government and an Idaho businessman are in court arguing over who owns the giant gem.

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    By Madeleine Brand • May 15, 2015 • 1 min read

    Weighing in at a staggering 840 pounds, the Brazilian Bahia Emerald is thought to be the biggest uncut emerald in the world. It’s being held in an evidence locker at an undisclosed sheriff’s department facility here in Los Angeles, and today the Brazilian government and an Idaho businessman are in court arguing over who owns the giant gem. Before the Bahia emerald ended up in LA, it went on a globe-trotting adventure that spanned eight years. We trace its journey and the big fight over it.

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    Paul Tanaka, L.A.’s Minimum Wage, and Harry Shearer Leaves 'The Simpsons'
    1. 0:00Paul Tanaka Indicted
    2. 8:14An Epic Emerald FightYou’re reading this
    3. 16:32L.A.’s Minimum Wage War
    4. 27:51'Iris' and the State of Docs
    5. 43:54Harry Shearer Leaves 'The Simpsons'
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Brendan Borrell

      writer

      News

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    Paul Tanaka, L.A.’s Minimum Wage, and Harry Shearer Leaves 'The Simpsons'
    1. 0:00Paul Tanaka Indicted
    2. 8:14An Epic Emerald FightYou’re reading this
    3. 16:32L.A.’s Minimum Wage War
    4. 27:51'Iris' and the State of Docs
    5. 43:54Harry Shearer Leaves 'The Simpsons'
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand