Diamond Divas

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Not being of the female sex or a big fan of the bling-bling rap culture, all the girls’ best friends on display at Diamond Divas still managed to impress me. It’s hard for a collection of the most famous and extravagant jewels not to. The curators have succeeded in pulling even the most guarded diamonds out of private collections. The Moon of Baroda, for instance, that was worn by Marilyn Monroe in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and hasn’t seen the light of day since 1944. Another high-profile draw is the Hope Diamond that once was the property of King Louis XIV of France and was believed to put a curse on its owners. Yes, the same one the old Rose throws into the ocean at the end of Titanic. Shortly put, the stuff of legend lays here and it is all in eyes' reach.

The exhibition is organized around three types of divas: crowned heads, rich and famous socialites and red carpet celebrities. I was particularly drawn to the tiara Grace Kelly wore at her wedding, the three star-like hairpins of Empress Sissi and Nicole Kidman’s 'Satine' necklace from Moulin Rouge. I had expected a little more information though on the rich history of some of the jewels or visual aids of its wearers. A picture of Sarah Jessica Parker on the red carpet next to the gorgeous Vera Wang bracelet would have been nice. It is about the diamonds ánd the divas, no?

Kerri-Lynn, Stephanie and I had a great time at the black-tie opening where the Veuve Clicquot flowed richly and fresh fruit was destined for a plunge in a chocolate fountain. Isn’t it nice to get a taste of decadent glamour every now and then?

Diamond Divas runs till June 8 at the Diamantmuseum. A ticket (combined with entrance to the Fotomuseum and Modemuseum) will cost you €12,5. For more info, visit www.diamonddivas.be.

Arnaldo