Where Do Diamond Bra’s Go Once They Have Debuted on the Runway

There has always been much debate about the Diamond Bra, and the purpose of it.  Since 1996 Victoria Secrets have produced a spectacular array of these amazing pieces and have seen meteoric press coverage as a result. Yet it appears none of them have been sold,  I have even heard rumours that the diamonds were simply recycled etc much to my horror.

I am a little surprised that diamonds bras are not more widely adopted, as the use of diamonds to adorn oneself is very prevelant in all societies. Yet when actually included on a bra in a beautiful and celebratory fashion why is not purchased. 

The lingerie, fashion, shoe and handbag industry on a whole spends a lot of money replicating the glamourous appeal and allure of the Diamond with the use of Swarovski Crystals.  Given a preference I know most people purchase a diamond over a cubic zirconia or crystal.

So I am not sure why more designers are not jumping into the diamond dresses, diamond bras, diamond shoe and diamond handbag fashion race. Ok I hear the battle cry that Bling is Bad, Credit Crunch and Global Economic Crisis.. Yes Yes but I believe in getting back to the basics, getting real and getting value for money.

By the time you have set a cubic zirconia or Swarovski Crystal into a bra, dress, shoe or handbag, in my opinion for what it is worth you could have easily set it with a diamond. Giving the client a real level of luxury, a real sense of worth and in these interesting economic times diamonds do make for sensible currency especially if they are Pink.

Harlette Luxury Lingerie loves to work with diamonds and platinum and has a special service www.harletteplatinumlingerie.com it is by invitiation only and is not for the faint hearted.

I decided to do a little investigation work into the Diamond Bra’s and discovered a that the GIA have a couple of replica’s on display in California. I received this email below.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Guestservices Mailbox <guestservices@gia.edu>
Date: 2009/4/17
Subject: RE:
To: Harlette DeFalaise <harlette.limited@gmail.com>

Hi Harlette,

The bras you are inquiring about are actually replicas of the originals, made with cubic zirconias and synthetic gemstones. I’ve included the press release from Oct. 8, 2004 when GIA first received the donations

 

GIA Displays Jeweled Victoria’s Secret Bras Created by Mouawad The “Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra” replica is now on display at GIA. When supermodels Karolina Kurkova and Heidi Klum strutted down runways in them, they were dubbed some of the world’s most luxurious and expensive lingerie. Two of the Victoria’s Secret Fantasy bras designed by Mouawad – studded with a total of more than 2,500 carats of diamonds, sapphires, and other gemstones – caused quite a stir when they were unveiled at the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Now, anyone who visits GIA’s world headquarters and Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad can see firsthand replicas of those one-of-a-kind bras, each originally valued at more than $10 million. Mouawad handcrafted the replicas of these world-famous jeweled creations and donated them to the GIA Collection.

Labeled “Star of Victoria” and “Very Sexy,” the bras, which each took more than 370 hours to create, were part of the Fantasy series created by Mouawad to highlight the Victoria’s Secret 2002 and 2003 holiday campaigns. The multi-million-dollar lingerie featured the 60-ct. pear-shaped Mouawad Mondera diamond (on the “Star of Victoria”) and the 70-ct. Mouawad Excelsior diamond (on the “Very Sexy”), both of which have been duplicated in the center of the replica bras. The bras are Mouawad’s first in-kind gifts to the Institute and promise to be hugely popular with the public. A replica of the “Very Sexy Fantasy Bra” is also on view at the Institute.

Sterling silver, cubic zirconias, and synthetic colored gems represent the white gold, and 2, 200 diamonds, sapphires, amethysts, and rhodolites of the original “Very Sexy” bra.

The “Star of Victoria” reproduction is composed of sterling silver, cubic zirconias, and synthetic colored gemstones, and features a rose and leaf motif. The original contains 320 carats of gems. “As the GIA Collection and Museum grow, gifts such as these illustrate our efforts to engage the public, not only with gems and jewelry, but with unusual one-of-a-kind jeweled objects,” said GIA’s In-Kind Gifts Manager Patricia Syvrud. “As our most significant donors, the Mouawads continue to demonstrate unparalleled support for the Institute.” GIA’s Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad was named in honor of the firm’s generous $6.9 million donation in 1996.

Regards,

 

Larne Antrim

__________________________________
Larne Antrim, A.J.P.
Guest Services Supervisor
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
The Robert Mouawad Campus
5345 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, California  92008
Tel: 760-603-4119
Fax: 760-603-4267
E-mail: larne.antrim@gia.edu
http://www.gia.eduThe World’s Foremost Authority in Gemology™
Ensuring the Public Trust through Nonprofit Service since 1931.

 So here is the Diamond Bra Hall of Fame… 1996 – 2008