In court, Daniel Hutchinson’s loved ones remembered the jeweler as a giver, a role model, and a leader.
This $2M Yellow Diamond Is Shrouded in Black
An artist made one of LJ West’s stones “disappear” to make statements on contrast, value and the monopolization of materials in the art world.
![This $2 million fancy vivid yellow SI1 diamond owned by L.J. West is on display at the New York Stock Exchange until late November, but it doesn’t look anything like this. 20190917_Redemption_of_Vanity_header.jpg](/uploads/8ba4be1c573cd6913242267a5c32e37b.jpg)
New York—There is a $2 million diamond on display at the New York Stock Exchange right now, but you can’t really see it.
On Friday, the New York Stock Exchange and MIT opened “The Redemption of Vanity,” a work by conceptual artist Diemut Strebe that involved coating a 16.78-carat vivid yellow diamond with carbon nanotubes, muting the diamond’s color, flattening its lines and making it essentially invisible against a black background.
The stone is from the collection of L.J. West Diamonds Inc., a New York-based company that specializes in natural colored diamonds.
In an interview at the stock exchange Friday, the Boston-based Strebe said her project has numerous aspects to it, standing as a statement on contrast, value and the monopolization of materials in the art world.
There is, first, the juxtaposition of the two materials, the “unification of extreme opposites,” she said.
While both the diamond and the tubes are made of the same element, carbon, one absorbs light while the other reflects it.
The patented carbon nanotube technology used in Redemption was developed by Professor Brian Wardle and his necstlab (pronounced “next lab”) research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Strebe is the Ida Ely Rubin Artist in Residence at MIT.)
Any object covered with CNT material is flattened out, reduced to a black silhouette, and, in the case, of a diamond, loses its sparkle.
At the New York Stock Exchange, the now-shrouded-in-black stone sits at one end of the Board Room, an opulent turn-of-the-century event space located two levels above the trading floor.
On display to the left of the diamond is a juxtaposing image indeed—a giant screen displays a rotating, 360-degree image of the 16.78-carat vivid yellow radiant-cut stone, sparkling in its polished state.
Secondly, Strebe said she wanted the work to be a statement on the arbitrary and man-made nature of value, a topic that artists—she mentioned specifically French artist Yves Klein, who once organized an exhibition that consisted of nothing but an empty room—have been creating works around for decades.
In looking at The Redemption of Vanity, one might say the artist has devalued this diamond by concealing what is considered, in the diamond world at least, to be valuable about it—its
But, she pointed out, someone could see value in the piece as a work of art and offer to pay more for it; objects are worth what they are perceived to be worth.
“People take this man-made system [of value] as the physical laws of nature,” Strebe said, “and it is not.”
Strebe said she approached, and was rebuffed by, a number of big-name jewelers about lending her a diamond for her project before coming across the name L.J. West in an CNN article. She eventually got in touch with company President Larry West, and the longtime diamantaire readily agreed to participate.
West said he’s always had an interest in the sciences—he actually wanted to be a scientist before his father died in the early 1970s and he had to step in to help run the family business—and he also likes the questions the exhibition raises about the arbitrary nature of value.
Is the diamond worth more now, or less?
![](/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcFVYIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--9ace6bdc67899cafb730847223dbcb56c5511a94/20190917_Redemption_of_Vanity_inset_1.jpg)
In addition to serving as a commentary on contrast and value, The Redemption of Vanity stands as a statement against the purchase of exclusive rights to a carbon nanotube formula for use in artwork by British sculptor Anish Kapoor (he did the sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park popularly known as “The Bean”).
Strebe said monopolization of materials in this manner is a “business approach” that does not have a place in art. The CNTs Wardle and Strebe created for the diamond exhibition use a different composition that’ll be available for any artist to use.
The Redemption of Vanity will be on display at the New York Stock Exchange until Nov. 25.
It is available for viewing by appointment only. To schedule one, email peter.asch@nyse.com.
The Latest
![Jade Trau’s new “Billie” bangle in 18-karat yellow gold with round-, pear-, and marquise-cut diamonds totaling 1.72 carats and set in white gold ($22,600) Billie Bangle](/uploads/9283ce5927cbdb1e24a1284caf4027b1.jpg)
Take a walk along this bangle’s diamond “cobblestone” made from round-, pear-, and marquise-cut diamonds.
![Graphic with headshots for My Next Question 2024 Las Vegas webinar](/uploads/7726017f0495dee18fbf95a8bb83de62.jpg)
The National Jeweler editors discuss the hot topics, best jewels, and current trends that stood out during Jewelry Market Week.
![Untitled design.jpg](/uploads/583fbcb2bb839782810080debef35d3c.jpg)
As the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
![A lab-grown diamond engagement ring by the Vera Wang Love brand at Signet Jewelers-owned banner Zales. Signet posted declining revenue and same-store sales in its first quarter. Vera Wang Love True lab-grown diamond engagement ring](/uploads/b19b470b396ee18fc0ff5a20628224fb.jpg)
The company is expecting to see a 5 to 10 percent increase in engagements this year.
![](/uploads/99a46b30cc354962ac2e29ecd113587a.jpg)
![Qurate Retail, the parent company of shopping networks HSN and QVC, may be delisted from the NASDQ if it can’t boost its share price. QVC HSN logo](/uploads/5223a29ac22a127d36dde36088186320.jpg)
Qurate Retail is in the middle of a turnaround plan as it battles declining sales.
![The headlining lot of Phillips New York jewels auction, a 45-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond, was withdrawn prior to the start of the sale, which took place June 12. 45.07-carat step cut fancy vivid yellow diamond](/uploads/fbdd750b402ae8902874db6c06861d38.jpg)
Signed jewels and period pieces stood out at the sale.
![1872 x 1052 Gemolite.jpg](/uploads/9d60901b44425a53b9010301897a3bbc.jpg)
GIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
![In her latest Style File, Amanda Gizzi features 13 pieces any dad would love to receive on Father’s Day.
Marie Lichtenberg Scapular necklace](/uploads/a650a81608a6264bdcc843b7bd7dedfe.jpg)
Showcase your dad’s personal style with a piece of fine jewelry for Father’s Day.
![“The Eden Rose,” a fancy intense pink diamond weighing a little over 10 carats, appeared at auction for the first time Tuesday, headlining Christie’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale in New York. An unnamed buyer paid $13.3 million for the stone. The Eden Rose Diamond](/uploads/1d0d8e61c848da5bf9252beabc019081.jpg)
“The Eden Rose” is a fancy intense pink diamond that was appearing at auction for the first time.
![A 1.18-carat marquise “Forever One” moissanite three-stone ring in 14-karat yellow gold by Charles & Colvard. The company has teamed up with the International Gemological Institute to provide grading reports for its moissanite. Charles & Colvard moissanite ring](/uploads/762f0c7c7cb4e5c6ce686d049bfd7744.jpg)
The partnership follows the launch of the jewelry company’s B2B moissanite platform.
![Family-owned retailer Edward Arthur Jewelers in Columbia, Maryland, is closing after 53 years, and is hosting a retirement sale. (Image courtesy of Edward Arthur Jewelers’ website) Edward Arthur Jewelers logo](/uploads/330a9d4c526b796c726974b954a4d93e.jpg)
Owner Randy Brooks, whose brother opened the Maryland jewelry store in 1971, is retiring.
![New York City-based jewelry store Greenwich St. Jewelers is selling raffle tickets with all sales going to support nonprofit Trans Lifeline. Greenwich St jewelers pride raffle](/uploads/2e4de5c09c89ac4cae73547681350dbc.jpg)
Tickets to win a ring are for sale until June 13, with proceeds going to a trans care nonprofit.
![Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com. National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith](/uploads/291907a2143b601916626b3326bf8fac.jpg)
Fresh off Jewelry Market Week 2024, Peter Smith separates the positive—retail and product innovation—from the positively annoying.
![Jewelers of America is accepting entries for its annual CASE Awards, open to all employees of JA member retailers and suppliers now through July 17. Pictured here is last year’s Supplier “Best in Show” winner, the “Unicorn” ring from Katherine Jetter featuring an 11.77-carat square emerald-cut tanzanite. Katherine Jetter CASE Award winning ring](/uploads/a3107d057607803f12b5555c96d26dd6.jpg)
Submissions will be accepted now through July 17.
![Swarovksi's new flagship on New York City's Fifth Avenue. In her State of the Majors story, Associate Editor Lenore Fedow highlights Swarovski and other retailers that showcase the latest retail design trends. Swarovski New York City flagship](/uploads/859412c03d1548358dfeb14551beb52c.jpg)
From lighter color palettes to the integration of AR, experts offer inspiration for jewelers in need of an aesthetic refresh.
![A tie necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1929, sold for three times its estimate at Sotheby’s jewelry auction on Friday, going for $3.6 million. Van Cleef & Arpels 1929 tie necklace](/uploads/a0ac52e334906177964decdb48ca8b49.jpg)
The rare piece went home with a Sotheby’s executive.
![The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose in May after three consecutive months of decline. Woman shopping](/uploads/6c11c0f58b9ea92701a5957763675337.jpg)
Expectations of a recession rose for the second consecutive month.
![Sam Hines, left, is now Sotheby’s chairman of watches while Geoff Hess has been promoted to global head of watches. Sotheby’s watch executives Sam Hines and Geoff Hess](/uploads/fd1ad4dd8f270fdded88589b6ac6d264.jpg)
Sam Hines returns to the auction house as chairman, watches, while Geoff Hess moves up to the role of global head of watches.
![Elephants wade in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in the early morning. Ecotourism in the Delta is one area in which government officials see potential for job growth and revenue generation. (Photo by Chris Boyes/National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project) Elephants wading in the Okavango Delta in Botswana](/uploads/c1cb4f91dc45fd9141a41f942a87b1d4.jpg)
From moringa to ecotourism in the Okavango Delta, the country and its leaders are exploring how Botswana can diversify its economy.
![Seymour Holtzman, the owner of C.D. Peacock, died at the age of 88 on May 28. Seymour Holtzman](/uploads/e06dff698f19185f174773c644be69e9.jpg)
He was remembered by loved ones as “an authentic, original American entrepreneur.”
![This 45-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond is the highlight of Phillips’ upcoming jewelry auction in New York. 45 carat yellow diamond](/uploads/5dde67a812a014421fe4025be808497c.jpg)
The stone features rare step-cut faceting and is estimated to sell for up to $3.5 million.
![Tabayer Oera ‘Unity’ Ring](/uploads/10fbc6736a60d3c933c886803a6878bf.jpg)
Crafted in Fairmined gold with a rainbow of agate, the ring is a joyful symbol of inclusivity, diversity, and solidarity.
![<a href="https://www.theinstoreshow.com?utm_source=national-jeweler&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nj-supplier-eblast&utm_id=insshow%20" target="_blank">Don't miss this show!</a> INS Show_NJ Supplier eBlast Banner.jpg](/uploads/76dd73f0db140db847acdbb6eb79cb09.jpg)
Grab Your Free Show Badge Today. Sponsored by INSTORE
![Sarah Alden, 53, died following an attack at the Venice Canals in Los Angeles. A GoFundMe in her honor is hoping to raise $150,000. Sarah Alden](/uploads/80c62c9b127847f19504369064d6aa7b.jpg)
Vintage jewelry seller Sarah Alden, 53, died after a brutal attack at the Venice Canals in Los Angeles.
![Sotheby’s sold each of the 11 watches in Sylvester Stallone’s personal collection for a total of $6.7 million at its New York sale this week. Pictured here is the actor’s Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime. Sylvester Stallone Sotheby’s watch](/uploads/acfdbce3d42e921b320170754500225a.jpg)
The auction house sold all 11 watches from the “Rocky” star’s collection, with his Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime setting a new record.
![Stock image of a gavel](/uploads/a3c58092503a7acb54cdca278fb093a2.jpg)
A jury convicted Marco Bisbikis and Roy Larry in the murder-for-hire plot targeting Daniel “Hutch” Hutchinson, owner of Hutch’s Jewelry.