THE NATURE OF DIAMONDS 

The ROM is the sole Canadian venue to host this glittering showcase October 25, 2008 to March 22, 2009

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is pleased to present The Nature of Diamonds, the most wide-ranging exhibition ever developed on the allure of diamonds. From Saturday, October 25, 2008 until Sunday, March 22, 2009, visitors to the ROM’s Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall on level B2 in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal will be dazzled by the exhibition’s spectacular jewellery and stunning gemstones.

The Nature of Diamonds is a reprise of an extremely successful and acclaimed exhibition, organised and toured by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in the late 1990s. Featuring approximately 500 objects, the current exhibition is enhanced by new components, absorbing computer animations and compelling multimedia in telling the rich and storied history of this extraordinary material. In addition to being a collaborating institution on Diamonds, the ROM is proud to be the inaugural and sole Canadian venue in this exclusive North American tour.

William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the ROM, states, "The Nature of Diamonds brilliantly highlights the ROM’s dual mandate of natural history and world cultures. Once again, we have collaborated with other renowned institutions to bring our visitors a comprehensive exhibition focusing on a fascinating, and highly appealing, subject."

Diamonds is divided into seven informative sections: Introduction to Diamonds; Where Do Diamonds Come From?; Cultural History; Resource History, including the component on the Canadian mining industry; Diamond Vault, a spectacular walk-in area housing a magnificent array of jewels from around the world; The Four C’s, and, finally, Industry and Technology.

Eye-catching highlight objects are showcased throughout the exhibition. Among them is the ROM’s own imposing oil painting of Marie d’Medici, who is adorned in an impressive amount of jewels, including diamond upon diamond. An imposing 1.2 by 3 metres (4 by 10 feet), it was painted by Flemish Frans Pourbus the younger, circa 1600. Other highlights include a corsage ornament belonging to Princess Mathilde, niece of Napoleon I. Measuring approximately 11.5 x 14.5 cm, the stunning piece is comprised of 2,600 diamonds. Another object of note is a shoulder brooch, created as a special order by Cartier, New York in 1928, and composed of round old-cut diamonds and platinum. Formerly owned by Sir Elton John, the stunning accessory is 15 cm long.

Lenders to Diamonds include esteemed companies such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, and the ROM’s Presenting Sponsor, De Beers Canada.