Estate Diamond Jewelry is excited to announce that we have broken the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for the most valuable dreidel in the world, valued at $70,000.
- Why We Created this Dreidel?
- The Inspiration Behind the Design
- Achieving The Guinness World Record Title
- The History of Chanukah
Why We Created the Dreidel?
Several reasons motivated us to craft the world’s most valuable dreidel. 1) Our primary motivation was to bring awareness to the special festival of Chanukah. See below. 2) We were intrigued by the idea of mixing diamonds and precious metals into a children’s game. 3) The dreidel represents perseverance in the values of God despite world pressure. We couldn’t think of a more timely message.
About Estate Diamond Jewelry
We, Estate Diamond Jewelry, are a family-owned jewelry boutique located in Midtown Manhattan, specializing in vintage jewelry and engagement rings. We’ve been in business for over 40 years and boast one of the rarest collections of Art Deco Engagement Rings in the world. In fact, our deep passion for history was a big driving force behind our determination to craft this dreidel.
Before beginning this project, we had no idea how difficult it would be to create a studded diamond and gold dreidel. We assumed that this would be just like crafting any other jewelry project. It turned out that handcrafting a dreidel of this size and weight, which was also usable in real life, was a lot harder than we ever could imagine.
But that being said, we also had no idea how much fun we’d have crafting the dreidel. It was, without a doubt, one of the most amazing and fulfilling projects that our shop has ever done in the entire forty years of this company. And we’ve partnered with celebrities, commissioned royalty jewelry, and even helped drop bowling bowls and anvils on top of diamonds from high above the ground.
The Inspiration Behind the Dreidel Design
Before making the dreidel, we sifted through hundreds of dreidel designs. Many contemporary artists seemed to deviate from the “classic dreidel design,” prompting us to plan a more traditional design.
Our vision was to feature symmetrical and balanced lines, reminiscent of the Art Deco Era, as the predominant design element. The indented edges of the faces, sharp diagonal lines of the pavilion, and the straight top all echo the strong themes of the Art Deco Era. We drew significant inspiration from the Chrysler Building, an iconic Art Deco Building a few blocks from our showroom. As you can see in the pictures, our final design pays strong homage to this architectural gem.
The diamond-encrusted script of the Hebrew characters (Nun, Gimmel, Hey, and Shin) reflects the Hebrew “Ashuris” Characters found in the Torah Scroll. This font differs slightly from the characters typically used in modern Hebrew writing.
Notably, the bottom of the dreidel features a stunning 4.20-carat diamond set in a rounded bezel (as opposed to prongs).
Achieving the Guinness World Record Title
As of November 27th, 2019, our dreidel was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the most valuable dreidel in the world.
“It has been a very high honor receiving this title. It has been one of our greatest accomplishments,” says Afshin Shaddaie of Estate Diamond Jewelry. “Thank God, we went through a lot to make this possible and are so proud that it paid off in the end.”
Guinness World Records recognized the Dreidel project’s uniqueness and dispatched a film crew to capture and document its story. Working with the Guinness World Records team was a wonderful experience.
Guinness World Records’ involvement not only added notability to the project but also allowed us to share our passion for the dreidel with their massive global audience. Their commitment to showcasing our one-of-a-kind dreidel was inspiring.
The crew’s attention to detail and genuine interest in our creative journey made the filming enjoyable and insightful. We appreciate Guinness World Records’ invaluable contribution to immortalizing the making of our dreidel, and we look forward to sharing this extraordinary accomplishment with the world.
Click here to view the official record title on the Guinness World Records website.
The History of Chanukah
The story of Chanukah took place more than 2,200 years ago. Israel was under the dominion of the Syrian Greeks. During this period, the ruling powers sought to forcibly impose Greek culture and beliefs upon the People of Israel, discouraging mitzvah observance and belief in God.
In response, a fearless group of Jews, led by Yehudah (Judah) the Maccabee, rose against the Greeks and successfully expelled them from the Land of Israel. The Maccabees triumphed in battle and reclaimed the desecrated Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This sacred building, which had suffered so much damage, was fixed up and rededicated to the Service of God.
A pivotal moment in this story was when the Maccabees tried to find oil to light the daily Menorah. Despite searching, they couldn’t find more than a single jug of olive oil that had remained uncontaminated by the Greeks. In a miraculous turn of events, the meager one-day oil supply stayed lit for all eight days until the new oil was finally available. This miraculous event became a symbol of divine intervention and resilience, celebrated annually during the festival of Chanukah.
Click here to learn more about Chanukah and how to celebrate it.
What is a Dreidel?
A dreidel is a spinning top with four sides traditionally played by Jews on Chanukah. It dates back to when Israel was under the occupation of King Antiochus’s Greek army, and before their defeat by the Maccabees. During this oppressive period, the Greeks enacted laws that forbade the study of the Torah, compelling Jewish scholars and students to carry out their learning in hiding.
In response to these restrictions, Jewish children sought refuge in remote areas and forests to continue their Torah studies secretly. Legend has it that if a patrol of Greek soldiers happened upon them, the children would take out their dreidels and pretend to be playing a game, concealing their true activities. The dreidel, thus, became a clever and symbolic tool for preserving Jewish learning and traditions in the face of adversity.
The Rules:
The rules for playing Dreidel are simple. Each participant adds one token to the center pile. The first player spins the Dreidel, and the outcome, determined by the side facing up, dictates their next action.
- Nun – Nothing. You don’t add a unit or take anything from the pot.
- Gimmel – Winner. You get to take the whole pot!
- Hey – Half Winner. You get to take half of the pot. Leave the odd item there.
- Shin – Loser. You put another unit into the pot.
How to Celebrate Chanukah?
Chanukah is celebrated in many different ways. This upcoming year (2024), the first night of Chanukah will begin on the evening of Dec 25, 2024, while the eighth day will conclude before nightfall on Jan 2, 2025.
Here are some of the ways to celebrate Chanukah:
- Most Famous: Light the Menorah each night of Chanukah (and say the blessings). On the first night, you’ll light one candle. Each subsequent night, you’ll add one more candle. On the eighth night, you’ll be lighting all eight candles. Click here to learn how to light the Menorah.
- Play the Dreidel. Click here to learn the rules.
- Give gifts of money (gelt) to friends and family. Don’t forget to give 10% of that gift to charity.
- It is customary to eat food that is made with oil (like latkes and donuts)
- Join a Chanukah Party
Fun Trivia about Our Dreidel
Here are some additional noteworthy trivia about our record-breaking dreidel.
- Our journey to craft and hand-build this dreidel commenced in early August 2019 and reached completion after nearly four months of meticulous work.
- At its foundation, the dreidel boasts a remarkable 4.20-carat round brilliant-cut diamond, distinguished by its high quality and accompanied by a GIA certificate that says the diamond is a VS2 Clarity.
- Estate Diamond Jewelry intricately embedded two hundred and twenty-two round brilliant diamonds into the Hebrew letters adorning the faces of the dreidel.
- The dreidel stands 10.8cm above the ground. Its body is crafted from 18k yellow gold, while the letters are crafted from 18k white gold.
- We drew inspiration from the iconic Chrysler Building in New York, located just a few blocks away from the Estate Diamond Jewelry Showroom.
Contact Estate Diamond Jewelry
If you have any questions about our dreidel (or want more pictures), please contact us. You can also use this form for interviews and media-related questions.
