The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has officially renamed its Gem and Mineral Hall in honor of Robert Procop—the gem expert, jewelry designer and entrepreneur whose influence spans the global jewelry industry and the Los Angeles community he has long called home.
For many, such recognition would mark the pinnacle of a distinguished career. For Procop, however, it is simply another milestone. At 67, and after more than five decades in the gem and jewelry business, he remains deeply active—acquiring rare stones, creating high jewelry and expanding an increasingly vertically integrated operation.
Recent moves include the acquisition of a sapphire mine in Montana and the opening of an atelier in Paris, where many of his newest designs are realized. These ventures complement his private salon and design studio in Beverly Hills, as well as his longstanding relationships with miners, dealers, craftsmen and cutting workshops worldwide.
Some of those in attendance at the April 26 renaming ceremony for Robert Procop
Robert Procop Creative Studio
Procop has served on the museum’s board of trustees for the past five years. According to museum leadership and those close to him, his impact has been immediate and substantial.
That influence was on full display on April 26, when friends and associates from around the world gathered in the museum’s Grand Foyer for a reception celebrating the renaming. Guests mingled beneath the towering fossil skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops as museum officials highlighted Procop’s contributions.
Lori Bettison-Varga, the museum’s president and director, said the naming recognizes both Procop’s efforts to elevate the Gem and Mineral Hall and his success in driving fundraising initiatives. He also organized two major exhibitions at the museum.
Lori Bettison-Varga, president of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County with Robert Procop
Robert Procop Creative Studio
The first, Brilliance: The Art and Science of Rare Jewels, ran in 2021 and 2022 and led directly to his invitation to join the board. The second, the acclaimed 100 Carats: Icons of the Gem World, brought together extraordinary 100-carat gemstones curated from Procop’s own holdings, the museum’s collection and other sources.
Beyond exhibitions, Procop spearheaded the redesign and expansion of the hall’s secure vault, which houses many of its most important specimens. He is now playing a central role in the broader renovation of the newly named Robert Procop Gem and Mineral Hall, which has not undergone a major update in roughly 50 years.
The project will involve fundraising, acquiring new specimens and reimagining the visitor experience. The hall’s collection includes more than 2,000 gems and minerals sourced from around the globe—and even from outer space.
The gathering at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Grand Foyer honoring Robert Procop
Robert Procop Creative Studio
“Procop has been important to the gem and mineral collection and to the work of our scientists since becoming a trustee,” Bettison-Varga said. “We’re honoring his commitment and vision. He will help energize the thinking behind the new hall, and this is an ideal moment to launch the design process.”
A key component of the redesign is the expansion of the hall’s laboratory, led by Aaron Celestian, associate curator of mineral sciences. The goal is to enhance its already significant research capabilities.
“Aaron is such a brilliant scientist—there’s no one like him I’ve ever met,” Procop said. “He’s developing materials with real-world applications, including medical uses. He’s even studied how the local mineral, benitoite, might help remove toxins from the brain.”
The new signage for the Robert Procop Gem and Mineral Hall
Robert Procop Creative Studio
Bettison-Varga emphasized that the renovation would highlight not only the beauty of the collection but also its scientific relevance.
“The Gem and Mineral Hall inspires visitors through the sheer beauty of its specimens,” she said. “But we also want to showcase the research behind them. Many people don’t realize how these materials connect to their daily lives. There is applied research going on at the museum with Dr. Celestian, and we’re also learning about new minerals. There’s a lot of research going on behind the scenes, and we want people to see that this work is happening.”
From Rock Collector to Rock Star
Procop noted that the naming was neither solicited nor financially driven—a distinction in an era when such honors are often tied to major donations.
“I was very shocked,” he said. “The board had to pass a resolution to approve it. I’m deeply humbled. I can’t believe a kid who started out as a rock collector in the Valley would receive this honor.”
Aaron Celestian, associate curator of mineral sciences, at the Robert Procop Gem and Mineral Hall
Robert Procop Creative Studio
Procop’s journey began in his teenage years, working summers with his father, an engineer. While he showed promise in that field, it didn’t capture his youthful ambition.
“I knew I’d never make enough money to even afford a car,” he recalled. “My brother-in-law said his cousin owns a pawn shop in South Central LA and I might make enough money in the summer to have a used car. What 16-year-old boy do you know would turn an opportunity like this down. Especially in L.A. with our car culture.”
That experience led him into gem dealing. Over time, the stones grew larger and more valuable, and his network expanded internationally. Drawing on his engineering instincts, he eventually began designing jewelry under his own name.
Robert Procop at the renaming event
Robert Procop Creative Studio
After college, he opened a boutique on Rodeo Drive. Early commissions included work for former President Ronald Reagan, which led to commissions from other presidents and followed by projects for Queen Elizabeth II and other royal clients. Over time, Procop contributed to some of the most important historic jewels in the world.
Before his work with the Los Angeles museum, he also collaborated with the National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, helping to expand and upgrade its gem and mineral laboratory and held events to encourage his colleagues to donate specimens to the museum.
In the retail and wholesale sectors, Procop served as CEO of the London jewelry house Asprey & Garrard, guiding it through a challenging period by separating it back into its original entities. He later led Garrard independently.
An exhibit at the Robert Procop Gem and Mineral Hall
Robert Procop Creative Studio
He is perhaps best known to the broader public for his collaborations in Hollywood. In 2011, he partnered with Angelina Jolie on the “Style of Jolie” collection, with proceeds funding schools for girls in underserved regions. Two years later, he worked with Brad Pitt to design Jolie’s engagement ring.
In 2015, he collaborated with Brooke Shields on the “Legacy Brooke” collection, benefiting the House of Ruth, which supports women and children affected by domestic abuse. Procop has long supported the organization. He also helped fund the construction of a middle school in Sri Lanka.
Bettison-Varga said his philanthropic work aligns closely with the museum’s mission.
“Obviously, the science and the specimens are important to him, but he’s also dedicated with the mission we have, which is engaging children and the community. He has that perfect balance for the museum world, of loving the science and the esthetics of the gem and minerals in our collection, and understanding the importance of that collection and supporting the fact that the museum is a public institution.”
For Procop, inspiring curiosity—especially in young people—is central.
“Our mission is to inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds,” he said. “We want to spark that same sense of curiosity in children that first drew me to rocks and minerals.”
He also hopes the renewed hall will encourage collectors and industry figures to contribute important specimens.
“How do you inspire people to donate something truly meaningful?” he said. “You do it by creating wonder. That’s what will draw people in and make them want to be part of it.”
As Bettison-Varga put it: “He understands the full story—he loves the special and unique objects, and he’s equally inspired by the work we do with the public.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com