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Diamond Dreaming - An Australian first
« Back | 01-Jan-2011
In 2009, Mondial Jewellers collaborated with Indigenous Designer Alison Page to create an unique range of contemporary Aboriginal jewellery using natural coloured diamonds and precious metals. Diamond Dreaming is the first range of jewellery of its type in Australia.
“Traditionally Aboriginal people have made necklaces of shells and echidna quills, and other objects of natural beauty. Diamond Dreaming, for the first time adds the brilliance of natural coloured diamonds to the Aboriginal ritual of adornment.” Alison
Jewellery with a story
As with Aboriginal art, the symbols in each piece contain simple stories with universal meaning that speak of the connection to family and the earth.
“The wumura in the Sydney Language means ‘to fly’ and contains boomerangs which always return to their thrower. It contains pink diamonds from the Australian Argyle mine. This could be given to a loved one before they travel to make sure they come home safely” Alison
Jewellery is a personal expression of your identity and so the range can be customised with various coloured diamonds such as ochre, cognac and pinks.
For a more personalised service. Alison Page is interested in creating one-off symbols to express a wearer’s desired story.
An Innovative collaboration
Mondial Jewellers, which was started by Michael’s parents Fred and Maria in 1962 in East Sydney, specialise in natural coloured diamonds, including pink Argyle diamonds, the world’s rarest gem.
Two years ago, Michael Neuman, from Mondial contacted Alison Page about designing the range and have been collaborating ever since.
“I had been wanting to create a range of Aboriginal inspired jewellery for many years but never felt I could do it with any level of authenticity. Then I saw Alison as a judge on The New Inventors and when I researched her background in Aboriginal design, I asked her if she wanted to collaborate to create a unique range of jewellery” Michael
For two years, Michael and Alison have been working together bring Diamond Dreaming to life. The joint venture is an innovative business model and one that Alison Page spoke about at the Australia 2020 Summit earlier this year.
“At the Summit, I pitched for the inclusion of joint ventures between Aboriginal artists and established businesses to make unique products for export. To me, it respects the place of Aboriginal culture as integral to the Australian identity” Alison
The initial range, Garungarung, meaning ‘beautiful’ in the Sydney language continues to grow with the inclusion of the saltwater freshwater ring, the yidaki (didgeridoo) pendant and aragung (shield) pendant and ring.
Award winning
‘Totem’ one of the pieces featuring Australian coloured diamonds, recently won one of the top awards at the 2008 JAA Jewellery Design Awards. It has been short-listed for selection in the international Champion of Champions competition to be held in Hong Kong next year.
The piece represents the Australian Aboriginal connection to the land. Cross-hatched symbols of totems are used by Aboriginal people to represent the spirit of an animal or place. Wrapping white gold 'sticks' in rose gold ‘sinew’, references traditional Aboriginal binding methods.
