Diamond Divas

Antwerp, Diamond Museum            

April 11 through June 8, 2008

This exhibition is about women, exceptional women. Women who distinguished themselves by their exquisite taste, strong faith and independent spirit. ‘Diamond Divas’ features stunning diamond jewellery worn by celebrated actresses such as Marilyn Monroe, Elisabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Madonna and Nicole Kidman in movies, on the red carpet or at award ceremonies.

A tiara worn by American megastar Madonna, when she wed the British film director Guy Richie at Skibo Castle in Scotland, will be among the items featured in the show. The Edwardian diamond tiara was loaned to Madonna for her wedding by the London jewellery house Asprey & Garrard, London. Made in approximately 1910, the tiara includes 765 old cut diamonds weighing 78 carats, and another two larger diamonds with a combined weight of 2.50 carats.

The star of the exhibition is without doubt the most famous of all diamonds, the Moon of Baroda. This superb canary yellow diamond of Indian origin, 24.04 carats in size, was last seen on public display in 1944 and was exhibited only once before that in 1926.

The jewellery is on loan by world-famous auction houses, prestigious private and museum collections. The exhibition is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. Late night opening is offered on Thursday until 10 p.m. A combination ticket priced at € 12,5 offers admission to the Diamond Museum,  Photo Museum and MoMu, the Fashion Museum. For more information check the website.

Photos N. Welsh, Collection Cartier © Cartier