Naturally, you’d expect an exhibit about diamonds to be dazzling—full of gorgeously designed pieces by Tiffany & Co. and Cartier, worn by queens and celebrities. But “The Nature of Diamonds” is much more. And if you have the patience, you’ll truly learn something from the Field Museum’s newest exhibit, which opens Friday, October 23 and stays through March 28, 2010.

You’ll view nearly 800 exquisite objects, including some of the world’s most stunning gems. Among them: the yellow 128.54 Tiffany Diamond worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and now fashioned by designer Jean Schlumberger into a “Bird on a Rock” brooch; Salma Hayek’s tiara by Cynthia Bach; Princess Mathilde Bonaparte’s corsage ornament with 2,637 Brazilian diamonds; and the Aurora Butterfly of Peace, featuring 240 natural diamonds that total 167 carats and which glows in ultraviolet light.

But the strength of “The Nature of Diamonds” is that it discusses not just the glamorous bits of the diamond’s past, but also looks at its geological origins, its place in history and its uses in modern technology. Oh sure, you’ll learn about the four C’s—cut, color, clarity and carat weight—and compare diamonds of different quality. But before that, you’ll find out about how diamonds are made. You’ll learn what diamonds are made of and why they’re so hard. Did you know that diamonds stick to grease but repel water? And did you know that diamonds are formed by a pressure of 88 tons and that they often grow in pairs?

You can walk into a kimberlite (volcanic rock) pipe, in which diamonds are hurled up from deep within the earth by way of volcanic explosions. You can experience the ways that diamonds were cut and set in medieval times and how painters represented them in portraits. The exhibit provides information about separating diamonds from ore, selling them and creating an industry. These beautiful jewels, after all, have been mined on every continent except Europe and Antartica. You can also discover how they became so desirable as engagement rings, thanks to the ingenuity of certain capitalists and their marketing campaigns. At the end of the exhibit you can see how diamonds are utilized in medicine, the auto industry, optics, outer space and more. Yes, there is also information about conflict diamonds as well, and how groups would sell diamonds for weapons in some of the world’s most contentious disputes.

With such a wealth of information, The Nature of Diamonds is inevitably text-heavy, especially in the beginning. There are interactive elements such as videos and buttons to push that will add variety, along with examples of inclusions (minerals trapped within diamonds) and other interesting geological specimens. But just reading the panels takes time. For those visitors who are impatient to see finished pieces of jewelry, wading through all this scientific and historical information can seem tedious—but it’s worth it. What an education!

Eventually you’ll get to the Vault—it’s a walk-in area that houses some of the most gorgeous objects in the collection. These include the Milky Way Way necklace, with 2,000 diamonds and 67.96 carats and the Incomparable Diamond, a gold-colored rock with 407.48 carats. This area is definitely the highlight of the exhibition, and what most people have paid to see.

Ultimately, though, the full effect of “The Nature of Diamonds” is more about learning about science, culture, geology and history than seeing famous pieces of sparkly jewelry—and that’s as it should be. WCG recommends the exhibit wholeheartedly, but cautions that this is one that might be boring for children, especially those under 8.

Tickets to “The Nature of Diamonds” include basic admission to The Field Museum and are priced at $23 for adults, $20 for seniors and $13 for kids aged 3-11. While you're there, visit the newly renovated Grainger Hall of Gems, which shows off the Field's thorough but non-imposing permanent collection in a beautifully textured, well-lit setting. Visit fieldmuseum.org or call (312) 922-9410 for additional information.

-Helen A. Lee