The secrets of diamonds in an exhibition organized in London by Christie’s and De Beers ♦ ︎
What is natural is unique. And if what is natural has also been created millions of years ago, the fascination increases. As in the case of precious stones and, more generally, of the world of minerals. It is a fascination that translates into collecting, high jewelry and, now, also into a public exhibition organized by Christie’s in collaboration with the De Beers group. The exhibition is called Rare Treasures of the Earth (8-12 November) and aims to unravel the mystery of nature’s most beautiful gems. Spoiler: he won’t succeed. The mystery of how a mixture of elements such as carbon or cadmium turn into something beautiful for human’s eyes is, in fact, unfathomable.
The coloured diamond is the world’s most valuable gemstone, an exclusive beauty revered for its rarity and individual colour expression. With a shared dedication to scholarship and expertise, we are delighted to collaborate with De Beers Group on our Private Sales Jewellery event, Rare Treasures of the Earth, exploring the origin, rarity and value of these extraordinary gemstones. The exhibition represents our annual public facing celebration of jewels, sharing insight into the stones at the heart of the jewellery we wear, admire and aspire to own.
Mei Giam, director of private sales of Christie’s Jewelery
This is a spectacle of fancy colored diamonds combined with rocks and rare minerals remains. De Beers, the largest group in the diamond sector, have studied an educational path to explain the qualities that are summarized in the famous four C. We open a parenthesis: curiously, De Beers started to produce and sell synthetic diamonds, with a curious marketing dissociation.
In any case, the exhibition can be useful to understand, for example, also the intricate process involved in polishing a colored diamond and to provide specialized evaluation demonstrations by the Institute’s specially trained selection team.
Christie’s and De Beers Group share a passion for the miracles of nature that are diamonds and how they play a central role in the luxury world. With De Beers Group’s diamond knowledge based on a legacy of more than 100 years at the vanguard of the industry, our leading Institute of Diamonds’ grading reports provide Christie’s collectors with the assurance and insight they are seeking about these exquisite gemstones. The Rare Treasures of the Earth exhibition represents a perfect partnership where both De Beers Group and Christie’s can bring their expertise to bear, and we look forward to developing our close relationship even further.
Jonathan Kendall, president of the De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds
On display there are rare pieces, such as The Cullinan Dream, a 24.18-carat deep-blue patterned VS2 rectangular diamond, extracted from the Cullinan mine in South Africa, formerly known as the Premier mine. The combination of dimensions, color and extreme rarity make the Cullinan Dream a truly exceptional diamond, extraordinary for its pure blue color and constantly strong in every aspect. Other exceptional gems include a 2.01 ct patterned intense pinkish-purple diamond, a 1.09 ct patterned purplish red diamond and a 1.42 ct vivid fantasy blue bluish green diamond.
Rounding out the colored diamonds in the exhibition is a vast selection of minerals and unusual crystals from the remotest corners of the globe by Dale Rogers Ammonite, London’s leading crystal gallery. Stunning and magnificent examples include jade, labradorite, quartz and agate. Together, these geological marvels offer an experience of the alchemy of nature in an exhibition that pays tribute to the treasure and heritage of the earth for humanity.
Rare Treasures of the Earth
8-12 November
Christie’s, 8 King St, St. James’s, London
