$1M Rough Diamond Necklace Dazzles at Toronto Film Festival

Allie MacDonald, star of SCORE: A Hockey Musical, walked the red carpet Thursday night wearing a $1 million rough Ontario diamond necklace during opening night at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The 75-ct. rough diamond necklace, contained 27 uncut, unpolished Ontario diamonds valued at $1 million. It was created by Toronto-based jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia. Its inspiration was the historic Mace of Ontario (Ontario Legislature), also designed by Ahluwalia.

“I wanted to design a statement necklace with an understated natural elegance. Rough diamonds were the perfect choice—understated, pure and just the way nature intended them to be,” Ahluwalia said. “The spiraling form secures the rough diamond gently and is intended to portray social responsibility, signifying the diamond mine and the natural riches of Ontario. The raw brilliance of these rough diamonds is unmatchable. They are organic, inherently one-of-a-kind and make a strong statement about one’s identity, desire to return to nature and of course, diamonds conflict-free origin.”

The event itself was the result of a partnership among luxury jewelry retailer, Birks, diamond company Crossworks Manufacturing and De Beers Canada to promote Ontario diamonds.

Crossworks produced the rough diamonds used for the necklace. It has an exclusive agreement to polish an allocation from the Victor Mine in Ontario and is the only company in the world to provide diamonds that are mined, cut and polished in Ontario. In April 2010, Birks unveiled the first 131 diamonds certified by the Government of Ontario and has been offering a selection of Canadian diamonds in Birks stores ever since. Following the celebrations at the Toronto International Film Festival, the necklace worn by MacDonald will be available for purchase at the Birks store on Bloor Street in Toronto.

Below is a video of MacDonald wearing and talking about the necklace:



 

Reena Ahluwalia’s Award-Winning Diamond Necklace to be Showcased in Oscars Celebrity Suite

Canoe diamond necklace

Toronto-based jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia was recently honored as a winner of the Rio Tinto Diamonds Global Design Competition for her “Canoe” diamond necklace. It will be among winning designs that will be showcased at the annual Academy Awards 2012 with a chance to be selected and worn on the red carpet by Hollywood’s elite.

Set in 18K white gold, with 28.96 carats of Canadian diamonds, Ahluwalia said the necklace was inspired by a poetic image of the magical Canadian landscape and its pristine white winters. It captures a snapshot of a snow covered canoe in a frozen crystalline lake.

“Celebrating the magic and beauty of Canada, my home, is the inspiration for my design,” she said. “Canoe is a carrier of Canadian myths, a symbol very unique to Canada that represents voyage, harmony with nature, discovery and courage. It is one of the greatest gifts the First Nations people gave to all those who came after.”

Reena Ahluwalia with her trophy.

After receiving a record number of entries from around the globe, a panel of judges from the U.S. jewelry and fashion industries gathered in New York to select nine winners in four categories: Ahluwalia, received the Master Craftsman award in the Canadian Diamonds category.  

The necklace comes together with two diamond-studded links embracing the neck that represent the fluidity of lake. Irregular intersecting lines, studded with Ideal Square cut diamonds depict the chunks of floating ice. The necklace culminates into a canoe shaped element. “Canoe” has an angled faceted interior,

“I wanted the diamonds to reflect on the opposite facets for a dramatic shine and create an icy crystalline look,” Ahluwalia said.

Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., a manufacturer of branded Canadian diamonds, collaborated with Ahluwalia, sponsored manufacturing and provided Canadian diamonds for the necklace.