Origin of name
Mouawad Splendor is another eponymous diamond in the rare
and magnificent collection of diamonds belonging to Robert Mouawad. There
are eight eponymous diamonds in this collection bearing the name Mouawad.
Robert Mouawad is the head of the international jewelry empire, Mouawad
Jewelers, which has an unblemished record, of 117 years of service to it's
worldwide
customers.
Characteristics of the
diamond
The Mouawad Splendor is a 101.84-carat, D-color,
internally flawless (IF) diamond, with an unusual 11-sided pear shape. The
current estimated value of the diamond is over $ 12 million.
The Mouawad Splendor is the 7th largest diamond in the
Mouawad's rare and unique collection of diamonds, and the 3rd largest
eponymous diamond in the collection. See tables below.
List of Mouawad's eponymous
diamonds
|
S/N |
Name |
Carat Weight |
Shape/Cut |
Color |
|
1 |
Mouawad Magic |
108.81 |
emerald |
D-color |
|
2 |
Mouawad Monolith |
104.02 |
emerald |
|
|
3 |
Mouawad Splendor |
101.84 |
pear |
D-color |
|
4 |
Mouawad Mondera |
60.19 |
pear |
D-color |
|
5 |
Mouawad white |
48.28 |
marquise |
D-color |
|
6 |
Mouawad blue |
42.92 |
pear |
fancy blue |
|
7 |
Mouawad Lilac |
24.44 |
emarald |
fancy pink |
|
8 |
Mouawad Pink |
21.06 |
radiant |
fancy pink |
Robert Mouawad's collection of
diamonds
|
S/N |
Name |
carat weight |
color |
Shape/Cut |
|
1 |
Jubilee |
245.35 |
D-color |
cushion |
|
2 |
Premier rose |
137.02 |
D-color |
pear |
|
3 |
Queen of Holland |
135.92 |
D-color |
cushion |
|
4 |
Mouawad Magic |
108.81 |
D-color |
emerald |
|
5 |
Unnamed |
106.00 |
|
modified pear |
|
6 |
Mouawad Monolith |
104.02 |
|
emerald |
|
7 |
Mouawad Splendor |
101.84 |
D-color |
pear |
|
8 |
Ahmedabad |
78.86 |
D-color |
pear |
|
9 |
Excelsior I |
69.68 |
D-color |
pear |
|
10 |
Taylor-Burton |
68.07 |
D-color |
pear |
|
11 |
Mouawad Mondera |
60.19 |
D-color |
pear |
|
12 |
Star of Abdul Aziz |
59.00 |
D-color |
pear |
|
13 |
Mouawad White |
48.28 |
D-color |
marquise |
|
14 |
Indore Pears I |
46.95 |
D-color |
pear |
|
15 |
Indore Pears II |
46.70 |
D-color |
pear |
|
16 |
President Vargas |
44.17 |
|
emerald |
|
17 |
Mouawad Blue |
42.92 |
fancy blue |
pear |
|
18 |
Mouawad Lilac |
24.44 |
fancy pink |
emerald |
|
19 |
Mouawad Pink |
21.06 |
fancy pink |
radiant |
The Mouawad Splendor is a Type IIa diamond, being a
D-color diamond, that is absolutely colorless. Such diamonds are free of all
impurities such as nitrogen and boron and have perfectly formed crystals,
without any plastic distortions. Impurities and structural abnormalities are
two factors that can cause color in diamonds. In the absence of these
factors the diamonds are absolutely colorless. However these diamonds form
only 1-2 % of all naturally occurring diamonds.
History
None of the details in respect of the diamond's early
history are available. The only known facts about the diamond are, it's
characteristics, it's current estimated value, and that the diamond is
presently owned by the connoisseur and collector of diamonds Robert Mouawad.
Mouawad
Splendor set as the centerpiece of a Fantasy Bra
In the year 2005 the Mouawad Splendor was incorporated as
the centerpiece of the 5th Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra. This spectacular
creation based on Victoria's secret very sexy lingerie line, was a result of
the partnership between Mouawad Jewelers and Victoria's secret, the leading
American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products.
The fabulous 18-carat gold bra with ruby-centered floral
patterns, consists of 2,966 pave diamonds weighing 108.37 carats, and 22
rubies weighing 38.25 carats. The 101.84-carat Mouawad Splendor diamond was
chosen as the centerpiece of the bra, because of its exceptional beauty.
The 5th Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra was presented to
the world on 1st November 2005, by the Brazilian beauty and international
star, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, who wore the bra, together with two
complementary accessories, a matching belt and a pendant necklace. The belt
with matching ruby-centered floral patterns as the bra was composed of 785
pave diamonds weighing 24.67 carats, and 8 rubies weighing 8.57 carats. The
necklace made of 18-carat white gold had a single ruby-centered diamond
flower pendant. The whole set-up had a price tag of $ 12.5 million placed on
it.
Click Here for Image of the Fantasy Bra
(External Link)
Mouawad Splendor Diamond, hanging as the centerpiece of a
Victoria's secret fantasy bra
History of Mouawad
Jewelers
Mouawad Jewelers which has a history of 117 years, is
headed by Robert Mouawad, who is the third in line of succession to the
ownership of this internationally renowned jewelry establishment. The
company had it's beginning in a small way, when it's founder Daoud
Mouawad opened the first jewelry store in downtown Beirut in 1890, having
learnt the art of crafting jewelry in New York and Mexico. Daoud was
succeeded by his son Fayes, who further expanded the business, and in 1950
decided to move his business to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This was a wise
and timely move, that opened opportunities for further expansion, and to
benefit from the growing affluence of Saudi Arabia and other oil producing
nations of the Gulf. Fayes was succeeded by his son Robert, who was
responsible for transforming the company into a truly global outfit, by
first expanding the business into Europe, and subsequently into North
America and the Far East.
The Company is involved in many aspects of the gem and
jewelry industry, such as the processing of rough gems and diamonds, and the
manufacture and sale of fine jewelry. The company has a network of 16
offices, 8 workshops, and over 50 showrooms spread across the globe, and
manned by nearly 1,500 employees.
During his years as a successful gem and jewelry dealer,
Robert Mouawad was always enchanted by diamonds. In the early 1970s he first
entered the international diamond and jewelry auctions, and soon became a
significant player at these events. The very presence of Robert Mouawad at
the auction rooms was enough to send pulses racing, and he, together with
Sheik Ahmed Hassan Fitaihi of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Laurence Graff of
Graff Diamonds, London, had been responsible for some of the record prices
for diamonds achieved at these auctions.
Mouawad's intention was to start his own diamond
collection, and initially his main interest was in acquiring famous and
historic diamonds. After competitive bidding at several auctions he was able
to acquire many historic diamonds, such as the Ahmedabad, the Excelsior I,
the Indore Pears, the Jubilee, the Tereschenko, the Queen of Holland,
President Vargas and the Nassak. Later he also acquired more recent but
famous diamonds, such as the Premier Rose, the Taylor-Burton, the Star of
Abdul Aziz and several recent but rare discoveries which were named after
him, and known as eponymous diamonds.
The Mouawad family made a generous donation of 6.8
million dollars to the Gemological Institute of America, and in recognition
of this donation the new world headquarters of the institute in Carlsbad,
California, has been name the Robert Mouawad Campus.
Robert Mouawad also completed a laudable project in his
motherland Lebanon, in which he restored a 110 year old palace in Beirut,
the Pharaon Palace and turned into a private museum dedicated to works of
art and to his own personal collection of jewelry.
Related
Mouawad Lilac Diamond
Mouawad Magic Diamond
Mouawad Mondera
Diamond
Mouawad
Pink Diamond
Back to Famous Diamonds,Gemstones and Pearls
References
1. Mondera Website(Retail website of Mouawad)
2. Mouawad
Company Website
3. Website of GIA- Gemmological Institute of America
4.
Wikipedia
5. Encyclopedia Britanica 2006
6. Encyclopedia Encarta
External Links
1. Mouawad Press Release 01 November 2005
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