The “Miss Universe” crown… is Lebanese

This year’s Miss Universe title holder was crowned with a Lebanese-designed crown. This rare piece, which cost about $6 million, was designed by the Mouawad House of Jewelry under the supervision of Farad Mouawad, who is from the fourth generation of this house, which was founded in 1890.

Moawad, who was ranked by Wells X in 2013 as the eighth richest owner of diamonds in the world, loves precious stones, especially colored ones, and has been passionate about his profession since childhood. He tells Asharq Al-Awsat: “Every precious stone we use knows its story and follows its story, just as I stand on its value. Based on this information, I make my decision regarding the design that is appropriate for it.

The crown contains 108.44 carats of blue sapphires and 48.12 carats of white diamonds. Closer examination of the crown reveals that the wave-like curls at its base resemble the head of a snake, symbolizing the challenges to persuasion of adversaries and those who benefit from maintaining the status quo.

Moawad says about the crown: “It carries many meanings that translate its title (strength for good). Color gradations and ripples clearly express change and its long and arduous path. Therefore, we see colors starting from white, all the way to bright blue, and becoming dark as the color of the sapphire stone (royal blue), which is studded above in the form of a pear.