Each limited edition ‘O’ pendant is individually numbered and certified – the Mondial Neuman piece is particularly rare because it is marked #1 of 100. The rose gold O-shaped pendant is pavé set with approximately 1.3 carats of Argyle pink diamonds.
Argyle created the never-to-be-repeated series to commemorate the Argyle diamond mine’s 25th anniversary. Mondial Neuman is one of Argyle’s 18 ateliers in Australia.
Michael Neuman, gemmologist and co-owner of Mondial Neuman, said it was an honour to receive the coveted pendant.
“We are extremely honoured to have received the #1 pendant and we predict it will be in very high demand, so we decided to auction it for a greater cause,” Neuman said.
All the funds raised from the auction will go towards indigenous education programme Gawura as part of an initiative that supports literacy and numeracy programmes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at the St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney.
Neuman said, “We’ve chosen to donate the entire proceeds to Gawura because we feel strongly about sharing our good fortune in having been awarded pendant #1 and are keen to do something positive for the indigenous community.
“Health and education are major indigenous issues and Gawura is a local initiative doing great work in education and [it is] worthy of more support.”
Gawura head David North said he was extremely appreciative of Neuman’s efforts.
“On average, it costs more than $800,000 a year to run the Gawura schooling programme for 39 students from kindergarten to Year 12, with approximately 30 per cent [of the money] from the government, so we’re extremely grateful to Mondial Neuman for donating all of its proceeds from the auction to Gawura,” he said.
The auction is set to take place on May 3 at Mondial Neuman's store in the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney.
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