Wood Diamonds

The designer Tom Chung explores the relationship between luxury, material and craftsmanship with this experiment.

Diamond cutting is a task that requires skill and patience. The resulting diamond is the highest symbol of luxury. Does this symbol change with material? These wood diamonds are individually cut by the cabinet makers at Carl Malmsten School. Each diamond is cut from fjallbjork (mountain birch), an inexpensive wood found only in the mountains of Sweden. The wood is put through a special drying process that prevents cracking through seasons. Through the simple act of cutting, the wood is transformed into something precious. The offcuts are then used to create a box mimicking the original birch logs.