Entertainment Asia / Entertainment Europe: : Italy Diamonds pt 2 - More on the history of diamonds
TAPE: EF02/0299
IN_TIME: 06:20:44 / 14:16:02
DURATION: 3:33
SOURCES: APTN
RESTRICTIONS:
DATELINE: Rome 15/03/03
SHOTLIST:
1. WS Piazza di spagna (Spanish steps square)
2. CU fountain
3.LS Bulgari, via dei condotti in Rome, with tourists passing in front
4. MS people window shopping at the Bulgari shop
5. CU necklace in window of Bulgari shop
6. WS- various inside Bulgari showroom/shop
7. LS- woman bringing out tray of jewels (note: no CU of faces - Bulgari policy not to show anyone in a recognisable manner
8.MS- various, Bulgari: gold and diamond necklace, pave-set with 62.68 carats of circular cut diamonds
9. Bracelet from lucea collection in white gold and pave diamonds
10. Corona ring, 3 carats
11. Corona earrings, set with necklace and ring
12. Cu- moving jewels on table
13. LS side street in old Rome
14. VS, jeweler at work
15. VS, setting stones, sawing gold
16. Jeweler behind a flame
17. SOT ITALIAN, Massimo Rosa, jeweler (on what is more important, the stone itself, or the way it is worn)
''The design is always the most important because it is an object that is made based on the design of the craftsman''
18. MS tiara of Pope Gregorio XVI made of silk, pearls, emeralds, rubies, saphires, and 17,000 small diamonds, all of which come from Brazil. 19th century."
19. CU, detail same
20. CU, detail same
21. SOT, ITALIAN, Caterina Cardova, exhibit curator at Rome's Scuderie Papale (Papal stables) museum.
'' All these diamonds literally cover princes, kings, emperors, and individuals linked to the highest rungs of the aristocracy.''
22. LS ruby covered turban of the Maharaja di Patiala, Punjab (18th century)
23. CU detail, same
24. MS Millennium renaissance tiara, Bulgari
25. CU detail of yellow diamond on Bulgari tiara, 29 carats in size
STORYLINE:
HISTORY OF DIAMONDS ON SHOW
Diamonds have held a timeless allure for centuries, but where do they originate from and what do those shining stones symbolize in different cultures and through different ages?
A diamond exhibition at Rome's 'Scuderie Papale' or "Papal stables', aims to answer a few of the questions, with the help of more than 160 diamonds and stones on show.
The gems come from private collections and museums from all over the world including Namibia, Congo, Angola, Botswana, Sierra Leone, India, Place Vendonme in Paris, Via dei Condotti in Rome and 5th Avenue in New York.
The diamond industry is well aware of the jewel's modern importance.
But the stones have long held a symbolic value - not just as a token of eternal love, but in religious and royal lore.
The diamond is born of carbon molecules from deep inside the earth. The closeness of these molecules makes the substance dense, and extremely strong.
This strength earned the gem its place in our traditions. Once transformed from a rough stone to a gem, over the years the diamond has represented romance, strength, beauty, wealth, purity and even immortality.
Round the corner from the exhibition, Bulgari trades on the modern symbolism of the jewel as a token of eternal love and fidelity, keeping a large stock of diamond rings alongside earrings and necklaces. For instance, the Corona ring is a contemporary interpretation of a classic diamond setting. The mounting of the diamond solitaire takes its inspiration from one of the most romantic symbols, the crown.
Smaller craftsmen agree it is the way the stone is presented, rather than the jewel itself that has become significant.
Rome jeweler Massimo Rosa has a simple shop in Rome's old district, and he says that the design is the most important, because it is based on the creativity of a craftsman.
Meanwhile, the exhibition at the Papal stables museum highlights how the stones adorned kings and aristocrats through history.
The display includes a 19th century tiara owned by Pope Gregorio XVI, made of silk, pearls, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and 17,000 small diamonds, all of which come from Brazil.
Another exhibit is an 18th century turban owned by the Maharaja di Patiala, Punjab. The turban is covered in rubies. Where the diamond represents power, rubies are a symbol of vital force - the colour of blood.
But while the diamond remains a sign of love, wealth and power, there is a price to pay.
Behind the diamond's beauty lies a difficult industry, over which many people have lost their lives.
And yet, these bright stones have their place now, and will continue to be the stuff of dreams.