De Beers latest immersive installation at Frieze Masters, tracing the origin of natural diamonds, from carbon formed in the earliest stars to the hands of skilled craftspeople.
Returning to Frieze Masters for a second year, De Beers will unveil Voyage Through the Diamond Realm, Chapter II: On the Birth of a Diamond, a captivating new immersive installation that invites audiences to rediscover natural diamonds through a deeper lens, as extraordinary treasures shaped by the forces of nature and the artistry of human craftsmanship.
Taking visitors on a journey across billions of years, the installation explores the remarkable story of a natural diamond's origin, from the formation of carbon in ancient stars and the creation of diamonds deep within the Earth, to their transformation through creativity, design and craftsmanship.
Developed in collaboration with Shifron Mercury Studio, Botswana-based Mabeo Studio, and a collective of creatives spanning craft, performance, music and poetry, the multisensory experience combines natural materials, handcrafted objects, moving image and sound to bring the diamond's journey to life. Visitors will also discover De Beers' natural diamonds in their rough form, illuminated under ultraviolet light to reveal the rare phenomenon of fluorescence*, a hidden expression of the extraordinary story contained within every stone.
*Fluorescence is the natural glow some diamonds emit when exposed to ultraviolet light, caused by trace elements, such as nitrogen, naturally present within the stone.