← Adam Savage
Adam Savage’s Tested
Adam Savage Builds a Replica Diamond Collection!
2 min read29 Apr 2026Worth watching
TL;DR
Adam Savage builds custom Victorian-style display boxes for his cubic zirconia replica collection of famous gemstones, including the Cullinan diamonds. He collaborates with a colleague to create brass labels printed on a UI E1 UV printer, then crafts red velvet-lined walnut boxes to house the collection.
Key points
1
Adam has spent a decade assembling cubic zirconia replicas of famous real and fictional gemstones, including Cullinan 1 through 9, replacing an original incomplete glass set bought on eBay.
2
The Cullinan 1 (Great Star of Africa) cubic zirconia replica can be purchased on eBay for approximately $300, and visually outclasses the original glass antique replica.
3
Labels are printed on brass strips using a UI E1 UV printer, with deliberate dimensionality/relief texture to mimic the look of Victorian porcelain or enamel labels.
4
The wooden display boxes are intentionally built with slight imprecision to replicate the natural variance found in genuine Victorian hardware.
5
Each gem will live in its own red velvet-lined black walnut box, with brass labels, eventually housed in cubby holes inside a custom aluminum tool case.
Actionable insights
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Use foam core as a low-cost rapid prototyping material to test layout and display modalities before committing to final materials.
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When printing labels with a UV printer, adding dimensionality/relief to smaller text can actually improve readability, not just aesthetics.
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Apply a Vallejo wash to UV-printed brass labels and wipe back quickly to add an aged, uneven patina that makes machine-made items look handcrafted.
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Spread out expensive replica or prop purchases over years to distribute cost — Adam bought a few pieces per year over a decade.
Notable quotes
“I realize all I've ever been doing is sort of what early Germans were doing with the museum.”
“I built a fairly impressive collection of cubic zirconia replicas of famous gemstones. I'm sort of fascinated by how beautiful and how much horror they represent in terms of human misery.”
“I'm building a replica of a fictional piece of Victorian hardware. And what I know from having looked at and handled Victorian hardware is if there were a bunch of cubby boxes, they would not all be exactly the same size.”
Worth watching?
✅
Worth watching the full video?
Watch if you enjoy maker/craft process videos — the brass label printing and velvet box fabrication techniques are genuinely useful, and Adam's commentary on Victorian aesthetics and display philosophy is entertaining throughout.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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