De Beers Diamonds lights up the world with rare gems and talent for a good cause

De Beers Diamonds has a very close relationship with women, for whom almost all of its diamond creations are destined.

Drawing on its 125-year heritage, enhancing the light of a diamond is the mission of De Beers Diamond Jewellers. And in 2014, De Beers is shining its light on the talent of five remarkable women who have shared their particular Moment in Light - a motivational moment in their lives or career that inspired them to excel - with De Beers.

In turn, the Moments in Light exhibition shines its rays on the Women for Women International charity, which is designed to help women in the world's war-torn regions to rebuild their lives with financial aid, job-skills training, small business assistance and education in basic rights. In 2014 and 2015, as part of the Moments in Light initiative, De Beers will provide financial support for six year-long programmes for women in Kosovo, Nigeria, Iraq and Rwanda. As François Delage, CEO of De Beers Diamonds Jewellers, points out: "It is truly a project for women, by women."

Photogaphed by Mary McCartney, British fashion designer Alice Temperley MBE, Chinese fashion photographer Chen Man, British sculptor and artist Cornelia Parker OBE, Michelin-starred Australian chef Skye Gyngell and Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton all took their turn in front of the camera to create the series of images that formed the Moments in Light exhibition this summer.

At the launch of this all-female exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts in London, De Beers unveiled a selection of exceptional diamonds from its 1888 Master Diamond and Creative Solitaires collections. As one of a kind as the women involved in the Moments in Light project, each diamond has been cut to compliment its character and accentuate its unique beauty.

Most impressive are the coloured diamonds in the collection, each of which is rare and extremely valuable. The De Beers Aura Solitaire ring features an impressive and highly unusual Fancy dark yellowish-green diamond weighing 2.23 carats. With its emerald cut, the entrancing green stone is framed by diamonds on the bezel and ring.

Glowing like the iris of a cat's eye, thanks to its Fancy deep brown-orange diamond, the De Beers Caress ring has a darkly hypnotic appeal, while the Radiant ring, with its delicate Fancy pink diamond, speaks of unabashed femininity.

The coloured diamonds featured in the Creative Solitaire collection are nestled in impressive, imaginative settings. Far from detracting from the colour, the white diamond settings channel the fire, life and brilliance of these remarkable stones with great intensity. The Marie Antoinette ring, with its sunshine-yellow diamond surrounded by 19 impressive marquise, pear and round brilliant white diamonds, is an especially fine example of De Beers' commitment to creativity.

The world's finest purveyor of diamonds, talented women and good causes - it doesn't get any better than that.

De Beers 188 Master Diamonds Aura Solitaire ring, set with a 2.23ct Fancy dark yellowish green emerald-cut diamond.
De Beers 1888 Master Diamonds Aura pendant, set with a shield-cut Fancy Intense pink diamond, round brilliant diamonds and a shield-cut Fancy Intense blue diamond.
De Beers 1888 Master Diamonds Caress ring, set with a 2.53ct round brilliant Fancy deep brown-orange diamond.
De Beers 1888 Master Diamonds DB Classic ring, set with a Radiant fancy pink diamond with a pavé diamond set band.
De Beers 1888 Master Diamonds ring, set with a 4.42ct cushion-cut Fancy Intense pink diamond flanked by two pear-cut diamonds.
De Beers 1888 Creative Solitaires Phenomena Frost Flower ring, set with a central yellow diamond.
De Beers 1888 Creative Solitaires Marie Antoinette ring.
De Beers 1888 Creative Solitaires Aurora ring, with an oval Fancy Intense pink diamond surrounded by a pavé of round brilliant diamonds.
De Beers 1888 Creative Solitaires Imaginary Nature Embrace ring, set with a central 8.88ct pear-cut diamond.
De Beers 1888 Master Diamonds Volute ring featuring a pear-shaped blue diamond solitaire.
Photographer Mary McCartney is best known for her candid portraits. Bearing a striking resemblance to her father, Sir Paul McCartney, she was excited to be invited to be part of De Beers' Moments in Light project. "It has been an honour to curate this unique project and in doing so, to support Women for Women International," she says. "It’s a very exciting project for me to reveal these talented women in a new light.”
Artist Cornelia Parker OBE is one of five women chosen by De Beers to be part of its Moments in Light collaboration with photographer Mary McCartney. The aim of the project is to engage women by celebrating talented and inspiring role models, and through it supporting the charity Women for Women International.