Diamante

In Diamante, Teresa Estapé takes a 0.20 carat brilliant cut diamond (the one with the most facets and which reflects the light the most) and subjects it to a process that “freezes” the stone. Though diamonds rank as the hardest material on Earth, exposure to extreme heat  (2500–3000°C) followed by rapid cooling causes them to “freeze”, losing all brilliance. Subjected to an appraisal prior to this process, the diamond’s commercial value drops to zero, as it no longer possesses the qualities that define the gemstone’s worth. 

Instead, it gains new meaning as an artwork. It is displayed with a ten times enlargement magnifying glass, typically used by appraisers to determine purity, allowing viewers to observe how the diamond has turned chalky white and porous, its facets nearly melted away, a stark visual testament to the loss of its prized jewel-like attributes.  

0.20-carat diamond.