Musson has celebrated 50 years in business, unveiling a $1,850,000 ring in its milestone year.
The Diavik Midnight Sun ring is created from a rare 36.75 carat intense yellow rough diamond.
The diamond crystal was unearthed at Rio Tinto’s Diavik Mine, in the Canadian tundra. It is named after the natural phenomena that occurs when the sun is seen at midnight in the Arctic.
Musson has worked in collaboration with Rio Tinto and rare gem specialist Glajz THG, as part of Rio Tinto’s Icon Partner programe, on the project. The rough diamond was cut into an 18.08 carat fancy intense oval-shaped yellow diamond, and sister 3.02 carat lighter yellow pear-shaped diamond.
The hero 18.08 carat fancy intense oval diamond has been set into a ring designed by Musson, featuring a bouquet of 4.09 carats of Argyle Pink Diamonds.
“The warmth, potency and beauty inherent in the golden and pink hues of this natural wonder are truly embodied in this enthralling creation,” Rio Tinto GM of diamond sales and marketing Patrick Coppens said.
Musson creative director Olivar Musson said the project was a career highlight.
“The piece is reflective of the colours of sunset and sunrise. It is powerfully evocative of summer. To work with a rough diamond straight from the mine is a dream come true. It’s the creative pinnacle of our art, perhaps the purest expression of jewellery design, and an opportunity we embrace with joy and excitement."
Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine has been operating since 2003 and typically produces white gem quality diamonds, with yellow diamonds comprising only 1% of its total production. The Mine has yielded less than four other fancy intense yellow rough diamonds above 30 carats in the past five years.