The joint collaboration of Gemfields and Fabergé has created the $1.2 million one-of-a-kind Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg. It was unveiled in July, the month for which Ruby is the birthstone. “Fabergé will be donating $100,000 from the sale of the egg to the Gemfields Foundation, to help fund projects that aim to alleviate poverty in the communities that surround the Montepuez mine in Mozambique,” stated Antony Lindsay, Fabergé CEO.
Malaika means angel in Swahili, a language spoken in Mozambique, where the rubies on this precious egg were unearthed. The fiery, deep red gems featured in this piece were responsibly mined at the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique, which is majority-owned by Gemfields. The rubies are set in 18K rose gold and paired with white and brown diamonds, pink sapphires, amethysts and pearls. The egg was made by a small team of craftspeople in England, using time-honored techniques.
In true Fabergé spirit, a surprise treasure is hidden within the egg. As the pearl ring at the base is turned anticlockwise, the blades of the egg slowly unfurl, resembling the wings of an angel – inspiring the name choice of Malaika. The five wings open in unison and reveal a hidden gem: a five-carat, responsibly-mined Gemfields Mozambican ruby, encased in a rose gold filigree-like sphere. The golden sphere can be opened and removed from the egg, allowing a closer view of the gem. While the ruby gemstone surprise has been set within the piece, it can be removed and set into a bespoke jewelry creation designed especially for the owner.
