Actress Charlize Theron wore these remarkable diamond earrings by Chopard to the Oscars in February. But that’s the least interesting part of their story. The mismatched danglers feature a 26 ct. heart-shape diamond and a 25 ct. pear shape belonging to a suite of 23 gems cut from a single 342 ct. piece of rough. Discovered at the Karowe mine in Botswana in 2015, the flawless type IIa diamond—nicknamed the “Queen of Kalahari”—seduced Caroline Scheufele, copresident of the Geneva-based brand, who created the lace-inspired Garden of Kalahari collection using its spectacular yield. Talk about storytelling at its finest.

Fab Five

Five of the gems cut from the Queen of Kalahari weigh more than 20 cts. each, including a round diamond that totals some 50 cts. “Each of these gems is of absolute color and purity,” Scheufele says. “And each of the main stone cuts—cushion, brilliant, heart, emerald, and pear—is represented.”

The Green Carpet

In 2013, Chopard began promoting ethical mining and transparency through its supply chain to ensure its jewelry production is sustainable. The Queen of Kalahari, while not sourced from a fair trade–certified mine, comes with more assurances than most large stones. “The ultimate luxury is knowing how the piece has been produced,” Scheufele says.

Girl on Film

Chopard produced a documentary about the Queen of Kalahari, tracing its journey to market. The film, which premiered Jan. 21 at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet, contains one part that makes Scheufele a little uneasy: “When the diamond starts getting cut by the laser, oof, it’s like we’re destroying it.”