The world of natural diamonds is one where science and wonder collide, and this is exactly what De Beers’ latest immersive installation at Frieze Masters masterfully showcases. Following last year’s first edition, De Beers returns with the second chapter of Voyage Through the Diamond Realm, On the Birth of a Diamond. It invites visitors to connect with the metaphysical origins of a natural diamond through a series of artworks, a captivating cinematic experience and a reflection room that shows how natural diamonds are works of art in themselves.
“Voyage Through the Diamond Realm, Chapter Two explores the extraordinary origin story of natural diamonds through the twin concepts of creation and creativity,” says Lynn Serfaty, general manager of natural diamonds at De Beers. “Working with talented artists, craftspeople, actors, musicians, we are delighted to bring the story of these natural works of art to life.”
What to expect from the installation
Across three rooms, the installation traces the origin story of natural diamonds, from the earliest formation of carbon in the stars to their birth deep within the earth, and on to the making of treasured objects through creativity and craftsmanship.
The story of their birth connects visitors to the origins of the cosmos, our planet and life itself, inviting audiences to see something of our own story of origin reflected in the remarkable journey of a natural diamond.
What artworks are featured in the installation?
Visitors can marvel at a majestic tapestry evoking the geological layers of the earth, created in collaboration with Shifron Mercury Studio. Woven from natural fibres originating from Botswana’s Okavango Delta, the piece incorporates ceramic fragments inspired by the forms of rough diamonds.
Alongside the tapestry is a collection of handcrafted amulets, created by Botswana-based design collective Mabeo Studio and featuring natural diamonds. “For this work, basket weavers, potters and wood carvers from across Botswana bring different crafts and materials together.” shares founder Peter Mabeo. “Each amulet carries the particular skill of the person who made it, and each skilled person carries within them the capacity to relate with the natural world, simply, through the senses.”
“The making remains visible,” he adds. The amulets are an expression of convergence, with different materials, skills and people coming together.
Respecting the potential of natural materials
The artworks reflect the artists’ shared philosophy, rooted in respect for natural materials, the role of human hands and revealing the potential of materials through craftsmanship.
“It was important to us that we keep the materials in their simplest state,” says Shifron Mercury Studio. “Trying not to transform them too much, but to let them express their own character.”
Showcasing natural materials from Botswana in this way poignantly mirrors the importance of time, craftsmanship and natural beauty present in the origin story of natural diamonds.
The cinematic merging of science and wonder
After appreciating the artworks, guests can then move into an immersive cinematic space to learn the enthralling story of how carbon was formed billions of years ago deep beneath the surface of the earth. Explored through the perspectives of both science and wonder, this mesmerising film charts the birth of a natural diamond and how their story is a part of our story.
An illuminating moment of reflection
One of the most fascinating facts about natural diamonds is their ability to fluoresce. In the final space of the installation, visitors are invited to reflect on their connection to diamonds and the earth through the enchanting rich blue glow of De Beers’ rough diamonds under ultraviolet light. Diamond fluorescence is a mesmerizing natural phenomenon often described as ‘the secret within the stone’. It offers a rare glimpse into the remarkable geological journey held within each diamond.
Voyage Through the Diamond Realm Chapter II not only celebrates the wonder of natural diamonds but the human connection to their origin story. It reinforces the value and emotional resonance of natural diamonds, and their ties to craftsmanship and the world’s greatest works of art, while highlighting the stories, people and places that bring them to life.
Voyage Through the Diamond Realm: On the Birth of a Diamond is at FRIEZE Master until Sunday October 18 2026
