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Adam Savage Builds a Replica Diamond Collection!
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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
→
Use foam core as a low-cost rapid prototyping material to test layout and display modalities before committing to final materials.
→
When printing labels with a UV printer, adding dimensionality/relief to smaller text can actually improve readability, not just aesthetics.
→
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.
→
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.
Topics
Personal DevelopmentAdam Savage

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