In 1885, Russian Tsar Alexander III commissioned the House of Fabergé to create a fabulous Easter egg for his wife, the Empress Maria Feodorovna. The Tsar was so pleased with the result that he decided to establish a tradition that would last 33 years. Over that time, designer and master goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé would create 52 eggs. He was given complete freedom to design the Imperial Easter eggs, under one stipulation. Each one had to contain a surprise.
In the spirit of Peter Carl, the Fabergé brand and gemstone miner Gemfields have collaborated on the latest Fabergé egg, a ruby-themed masterpiece released in July as a nod to the month for which ruby is the official birthstone. And like all the Fabergé eggs that came before, this one has a surprise hidden within — a fiery, deep red, 5-carat Gemfields Mozambican ruby.
As the pearl-embellished ring at the base of the egg is turned counter-clockwise, the five blades of the egg slowly unfurl, resembling the wings of an angel. This design element inspired the egg's name: "Malaika," which means angel in Swahili, one of the languages spoken in Mozambique.
Caressed within the angel wings is a removable rose gold filigree-like sphere on which the 5-carat ruby treasure is mounted. Carefully placed gaps within the design of the outer egg allows one to catch a glimpse of the surprise nestled within.
Elena Basaglia, Gemfields’ Head of Partnerships and Product – Downstream, described the shape of the ruby as a square cushion with softly bowed sides, offering an ideal window to enjoy the vibrant red body color and lively reflections within.
"The large spread of the gemstone means that no weight is hidden below the setting line, allowing maximum appreciation of its beauty," she said. "No visible inclusions are present within the gemstone, making it a deserving piece for this special egg.”
The luxurious piece features 308 rubies sourced at Gemfields' Montepuez mine, as well as 4,312 round brilliant-cut white diamonds, 252 round brilliant-cut brown diamonds, 421 round pink sapphires and 61 amethysts, all set in 18-karat rose gold. Peter Carl pioneered the use of rose gold, and the company that bears his name continues that tradition today.
The precious gemstones interplay with colorful guilloché enameling, an ancient and highly complex technique perfected by Peter Carl. Fabergé's UK-based craftspeople followed the same process of hand-painting the enameling powder onto the gold sections. It takes at least three layers and five firings in a kiln at 800 degrees centigrade to create the desired translucent effect, according to the company. A few seconds too long in the kiln and the piece would have to be re-started from scratch.
The Malaika Egg is valued at $1.2 million, with Fabergé pledging $100,000 from the sale to the Gemfields Foundation, which funds poverty-alleviating projects in communities near Gemfields’ mines in Mozambique and Zambia, and more widely in sub-Saharan Africa. Gemfields acquired the Faberge brand in 2013.
Credits: Images courtesy of Gemfields.