‘Inspired By James Bond?:’ US Jewellery Store Owner Embeds 2-Carat Diamond Worth Rs 17 Crore Into Eyes

After losing his right eye due to a severe infection, a jewellery store owner from the United States has caught the attention of social media users after he chose to make his prosthetic eye truly unique.

Slater Jones, a jewellery store owner from Alabama, has fitted his artificial eye with a two-carat diamond worth £1.5, according to a report by The Sun.

By collaborating with prosthetic eye specialist John Lim, he designed an artificial eye that reflects his profession as a jeweller. The two-carat diamond catches and reflects light brilliantly. It makes an eye-catching statement wherever he goes.

“I lost my eye, but it brought new light into my life,” Jones was quoted as saying by Oddity Central.

John Lim, who has crafted close to 10,000 prosthetic eyes during his career, described this as his most precious work yet. The entire creation spanned six weeks, involving meticulous moulding and design to securely set the diamond within the iris without compromising safety or appearance, according to a Vice report.

“I’ve made prosthetic eyes for babies as young as six weeks old and patients over 100. But this is the most valuable in terms of materials,” Lim was quoted as saying by the Vice.

Jones began losing sight in his right eye at 17, after contracting a toxoplasmosis infection, according to The Sun. This parasitic infection is usually harmless but can lead to severe complications for some individuals. Possible issues stemming from toxoplasmosis include damage to the eyes, heart, lungs, or brain.

Jones underwent multiple operations in a bid to preserve his sight. Once it became clear that saving his vision was impossible, he chose to have a gemstone embedded in his eye.

When Jones revealed his diamond-adorned prosthetic eye on social media, it instantly captured widespread attention, glowing almost as brilliantly as the gem itself. Responses ranged from awe to concern, with many questioning the safety of carrying such a valuable item so visibly.

“Doesn’t sound like a fun thing to have when you get mugged,” one user commented on TikTok.

“That’s insane. Looks so good,” said another.

Unbothered by the potential risks, Jones insists that the diamond doesn’t cause him any anxiety.

“It’s a part of me. If I’m going to live with something artificial, I want it to be beautiful,” he told local media, the Vice report added.

Jones’ unique eye quickly went viral, with media dubbing it the priciest prosthetic eye in existence. Jones hopes his experience encourages others to reconsider recovery as a blend of healing, light-heartedness and individual expression.