Mysterious diamonds and the leafy Adelaide Hills… this is the basis of inspiration for our most mystical collection yet. The Echunga collection features diamonds in soft hues of green, yellow and pink, similar to the colours that make the Adelaide Hills so famous. These colours leave a striking impression in your mind. But what makes them so mysterious?
The folklore of the Echunga diamonds, found in Echunga in the late 1800s, inspired Gerard when he had the opportunity to set eyes on such a rare collection in 1994. Approximately 50 saleable diamonds were found at the site, with the largest being the ‘Glover Stone’ named after John Glover who discovered it in 1877.
The origin of the Echunga diamonds remains a mystery, as there are no known Kimberlite pipes (which are responsible for the formation of mined diamonds) in the area where they were found.
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The gems ranged in colour, with the most memorable being various shades of yellow. The natural variation in colour is caused by different chemical compounds, with the yellow hue caused by small levels of nitrogen.
Gerard was privileged enough to be invited by the South Australian Museum to appraise five of the original diamonds. This is what sparked his curiosity and consequently the Echunga Collection.
From reality to inception, the collection has taken roughly 17 years to perfect. Detail and colour were of paramount importance, in an effort to capture the essence and mystery of the original diamonds that Gerard appraised.%20Multiple%20Images%20(40).jpg?width=849&height=478&name=(Various)%20Multiple%20Images%20(40).jpg)
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THE SPARKLING LEGACY OF JUPITER CREEK
Each natural coloured diamond in Gerard McCabe’s Echunga collection is one of a kind. The collection draws inspiration from the fascinating local mystery of the rare Echunga diamonds, with this design named after the historic Jupiter Creek goldfield. During the peak of the South Australian gold rush (1868 - 1907), up to 1,500 diggers worked the rich goldfield, adding to its legacy.%20Multiple%20Images%20(38).jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=(Various)%20Multiple%20Images%20(38).jpg)
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Good things take time, and there was no rushing a collection like this. Using internationally sourced diamonds, carefully arranged by Gerard, these pieces are designed to captivate as much as the original diamonds did all those years ago.
Of course, we can only hope you are as intrigued by this collection as we are! If you'd like to see these pieces up close, discover the Echunga collection online or in-store today!
