Renowned jeweller Fabergé has collaborated with Gemfields to create the one-of-a-kind Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg, with $100,000 from its sale to be donated to the Gemfields Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gemfields Group, to support community projects which alleviate poverty in Mozambique.
‘Malaika’ means ‘angel’ in Swahili, a language spoken in Mozambique, where the rubies on this egg were unearthed, at the Montepuez mine. The rubies are set in 18k rose gold and paired with white and brown diamonds, pink sapphires, amethysts and pearls. The Malaika Egg was made by a small team of craftspeople in England, using time-honoured techniques.
The exterior of the egg is a homage to Mozambican rubies, with a symphony of the red gems, accented with other precious gemstones and guilloché enamel, in a pattern resembling the feathers on an angel’s wings. A closer inspection reveals carefully placed gaps within the design, allowing one to catch a glimpse of a Fabergé surprise nestled within.
The egg is crafted using 4,312 round brilliant-cut white diamonds and 252 round brilliant-cut brown diamonds that bring out the colours of the 308 rubies. These colours are further complemented by 421 round pink sapphires and 61 amethysts, all set in 18k rose gold.
“Colour is in Fabergé’s DNA and has always played a pivotal role in our creations. Often referred to as ‘the artist jeweller’, we like to ‘paint’ our creations with the finest coloured gemstones, and the Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg is a testament to this creative flare,” said Antony Lindsay, Fabergé CEO.
The Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg is available for $1,200,000/£960,000, which includes a $100,000 pledge to the Gemfields Foundation.