Dec 21st, 2012

Aurora Butterfly of Peace

The Aurora Butterfly of Peace diamond collection is an artwork consisting of 240 natural, fancy colored diamonds weighing a combined total of 167 carat.

This butterfly-shaped diamond mosaic was created over a period of twelve years by Alan Bronstein and Harry Rodman. The diamonds were collected and assembled one stone at a time. The Aurora Butterfly of Peace was conceived by the artists as an eternal icon of love, beauty, energy, nature, and peace. It symbolizes a spiritual connection to earth for all mankind.

Two research studies involving the Butterfly of Peace have resulted in new scientific breakthroughs about fluorescence and phosphorescence in fancy colored diamonds. The amazing phenomena of fluorescence can be seen as a skeletal pattern of glowing colors when the diamonds are exposed to ultraviolet light. There are rare and unusual color diamonds that make up the design including purples from Russia, blues and oranges from South Africa, lime greens from Brazil, violets and dozens of pinks from the Argyle Mine in Australia.

Displayed in lighting that alternates between natural and ultraviolet every 15 seconds, the collection also demonstrates the fluorescent properties of diamond.

The Butterfly’s creators are also known for the Aurora Pyramid of Hope of 260 natural-color diamonds, which has been on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York since 1989.

Sources:

Wikipedia

GIA

The Smithsonian Museum