3 Billion Year Old Portrait of a Woman

From the Mona Lisa to Whistler’s Mother – portraits of women have always held intrigue and mystery. If a 500 year old portrait of a woman can be so entrancing, can you imagine the story that lies beneath a 3 billion year old portrait?

The “3 Billion Year Old Portrait of a Woman” is not quite what you would expect. It was created by Mother Nature and is a magnificent example of her imagination shining through in this unique design. What makes this portrait so special is not its flawless artistry, but rather its imperfection – nature’s fingerprint. Its one-of-a-kind characteristics denote that no value can be attached to it. Only with the help of the master craftsman was the true beauty of the woman’s portrait brought to life from underneath the rough exterior.

Although it appears delicate and small in size, the portrait was created 3 billion years ago and is made from one of nature’s most precious gem on earth, the diamond. Unlike most diamonds, which are valued for their perfection, this natural fancy yellow diamond is treasured for its inclusion in the shape of a woman’s portrait, visible from both sides of the faceted, flat diamond.

The “3 Billion Year Old Portrait of a Woman” diamond will be on display at the Tourism Indaba stand DEC1E03 from 11 to the 14 May, thereafter it will be on display at the Cape Town Diamond Museum.