From left: A Quartz Crystal Cluster from Arkansas 90 x 87 x 57 cm, The Cullinan Dream: A 24.18ct Fancy Intense Blue VS2 Rectangular-Shaped Diamond, A 1.09ct Fancy Purplish Red SI2 Square-Shaped Diamond, An Amethyst Geode with Calcite and Agate from Brazil 89 x 67 x 32cm. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

LONDON – From 8 to 12 November 2019, Christie’s in partnership with De Beers Group will present Rare Treasures of the Earth, a museum-quality public exhibition uncovering the mystery of nature’s most beautiful gems. Featuring spectacular fancy coloured diamonds alongside rare rocks and minerals, the exhibition will showcase interactive demonstrations from De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds, tracing the diamond’s journey from deep within the earth to a captivating jewel.

Focusing on the science behind the diamonds, experts from De Beers Group will be on hand to educate visitors as to what gives these rare diamonds their unique colours, and the rigorous criteria a diamond must meet to be classified as a fancy colour. They will also share the intricate process involved when polishing a fancy coloured diamond and provide specialist grading demonstrations from the Institute’s team of specially trained graders.

Mei Giam, Christie’s Jewellery Private Sales Director: “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.”

Jonathan Kendall, President of De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds: “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.”

Leading the exhibition is The Cullinan Dream, a 24.18ct Fancy Intense Blue VS2 Rectangular-Shaped Diamond, drawn from the Cullinan mine in South Africa, formerly known as the Premier mine. The combination of the size, colour and extreme rarity together make the Cullinan Dream a truly exceptional diamond, remarkable for its pure and consistently strong blue colour throughout every facet. Further highlights include superb coloured diamonds including a Fancy Vivid Pinkish Purple Diamond of 2.01ct, a Fancy Purplish Red Diamond of 1.09ct and a Fancy Vivid Bluish Green Diamond of 1.42ct. 

The Cullinan Dream, 24.18ct Fancy Intense Blue VS2 Rectangular Shaped Diamond. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

A 2.01ct Fancy Vivid Pinkish Purple VS1 Rectangular-Shaped Diamond. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

A 1.42ct Fancy Vivid Bluish Green SI1 Rectangular Shaped Diamond. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

Complementing the coloured diamonds in the exhibition is a vast selection of unusual minerals and crystals sourced from the furthest corners of the globe by Dale Rogers Ammonite, London’s premier crystal gallery. Breathtaking and magnificent examples include jade, labradorite, quartz and agate. Together these geological wonders offer an experience of nature’s alchemy in an exhibition paying tribute to earth’s treasury and legacy to mankind.

This selling exhibition is curated by Christie’s Jewellery Private Sales and the Natural History Department, demonstrating the striking synergy between these rare crystals and exceptional jewels, each formed within the earth and marking the first time such a collaboration has taken place at the auction house.

Christie’s Jewellery Private Sales is a bespoke service dedicated to clients who wish to acquire jewels privately as and when they wish outside the auction calendar. Building upon Christie’s long-standing tradition, with a global presence in over 40 countries, Private Sales provide privileged access to rare and exquisite gems through an extensive network of collectors and professionals around the world.