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Institute for Contemporary Culture



The Nature of Diamonds

The Exhibition

Exploring humankind’s ongoing fascination with the diamond, The Nature of Diamonds provides an in-depth examination of it as a natural substance, digging into its geologic origins, how it is mined, its cultural significance in art, literature, and ornamentation, and its numerous uses in modern science and technology. Highlights include:

Gem Vault
The spectacular walk-in Gem Vault houses some of the exhibition’s most dazzling objects, including the Incomparable, the third largest cut diamond in the world. Also featured is a corsage ornament which once belonged to Princess Mathilde, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, comprised of over 2,600 diamonds. The magnificent Oppenheimer Diamond is also on display, weighing an incredible 254 carats.

The Historical Galleries
The Historical Galleries section illuminates the fascinating cultural and historical significance of diamonds. This section presents a historical panorama of diamond legend and lore, as well as the diamond’s role in adornment. Ancient and medieval jewellery, manuscripts, and artifacts demonstrate how diamonds moved from India to the west. 

The Mining Tunnel
This authentic recreation of a Kimberlite mine tunnel gives visitors a sense of the conditions miners face around the world.

Canadian Mining Video
The video Crystal Clear: Diamonds from Canada's North highlights the stories of three people in the Canadian diamond industry- Charles Fipke, who discovered the Ekati mine, Eira Thomas who discovered the Diavik mine and James Gowan, CEO of De Beers Canada, which is opening the Snap Lake and Victor mines.

Star Artifacts
While every diamond is beautiful, there are of course some that shine a little brighter. From historical pieces worn by royalty to Canadian stones mined and set in our own backyard, the impressive pieces in this one-of-a-kind show are unique and incredibly rare. Highlights include:

The Incomparable

The Incomparable Diamond
It is, as its name suggests, incomparable! At 407.48 carats, it is the third largest cut diamond in the world and the largest cut yellow diamond in the world. The Incomparable was found in its rough state weighing 890 carats and is the largest diamond ever offered to the public for sale. Incredibly, it was discovered by a young girl playing in a pile of rubble outside her uncle's house in the Congo in the 1980s.

Loaned by Marvin Samuels and Louis Glick

Marvin Samuels / Premier Gem Corp., New York
Louis Glick / Rose Trading, New York and Hong Kong
Cartier shoulder brooch

Cartier shoulder brooch
Once owned by Sir Elton John, this 15 cm-long shoulder brooch was created by Cartier in 1928 and is composed of round old-cut diamonds and platinum.

Photo by N. Welsh © Cartier

Diamonds in the Rough

Diamonds in the Rough
A stunning layered white gold mesh necklace dotted with rough diamonds and cultured keshi pearls, created by Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry for Tiffany & Company.

© Tiffany & Co.

Tip of the Iceberg

Tip of the Iceberg
This unique 2007 ring features a natural, uncut 2.78ct octahedral diamond from the Ekati mine (Northwest Territories), created by Toronto-based designer Niki Kavakonis.
The Aurora Butterfly of Peace

The Aurora Butterfly of Peace
An amazing suite of 240 diamonds, The Aurora represents every variety of fancy coloured diamonds and a range of cut styles.

Photo by Robert Weldon © Aurora Gems

Oppenheimer Diamond

Oppenheimer Diamond
Weighing an incredible 254 carats, the Oppenheimer was found in Kimberley, South Africa and was a gift by Harry Winston, Inc. to the Smithsonian Institution.

Photo by Chip Clark © Smithsonian Institution

Princess Mathilde Corsage Brooch

Princess Mathilde Corsage ornament
This corsage ornament once belonged to Princess Mathilde, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, measuring approximately 11.5 by 14.5 cm and comprised of over 2,600 diamonds.

Photo Doug Rosa © Siegelson

Milky Way necklace

Milky Way necklace
This stunning piece consists of a platinum grid intricately adorned with 2,000 diamonds. Created by Toronto-based designer Dieter Huebner.

Photo by Katharina Faerber © Thos. Faerber

Question Mark necklace

Question Mark necklace
The dramatic and delicate Question Mark necklace (1890) was created by the famed House of Boucheron of France.

Photo by Katharina Faerber © Thos. Faerber

Bandeau

Bandeau
This piece was specially crafted by Cartier Paris in 1920. This style of flat, flexible bandeau was made to suit the short hairstyles of flappers in the 1920s.

Photo by N. Welsh © Cartier