John Hatleberg has created exact replicas of famous diamonds since 1987. His replicas are visually indistinguishable from the original diamonds. These diamonds are his passion. Always working with the actual gems, Hatleberg has created molds and/or replicas of the Hope, Centenary, Dresden Green, Eureka, Incomparable, Guinea Star, Portuguese, Blue Heart, Victoria Transvaal, Shah Jahan Table Cut, Excelsior I , McLean-Duchess of Windsor, Oppenheimer, Millennium Star, “Lili”, Pink Star, Heart of Eternity, Koh-i-Noor, Jonker, Light of Peace, Blue Lili, Wittelsbach-Graff, Winston-Berns, French Blue, Tavernier, and Okavango Blue Diamond.
Replicas are made solely for their owners or guardians. Replicas are made to protect the gems they represent including reasons that concern historic documentation, security, insurance, display, promotion, education and research. Replicas are faceted entirely by Hatleberg. To create a diamond replica, access to and study of the diamond is required. Hatleberg travels to the diamond at the start of the commission for this purpose. No diamonds are brought to the artist’s studio. Replicas may be made of synthetic and/or natural gem materials, including diamond. Fancy diamond colors are matched utilizing a state of the art precious metal nano dot physical vapor process.
To work intimately with these diamonds is a transporting experience.
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