The Million Dollar Lip | Guinness World Record

Lips covered in 126 white diamonds over a black matte lipstick base, the world's most valuable lip art
126 diamonds, 22.92 carats, set by hand on the lips. Perth, 7 September 2018.
RosendorffDiamonds · Perth · Since 1963

Guinness World Records title holder

The Million Dollar Lip

The world's most valuable lip art was created at Rosendorff in Perth, using diamonds from our own vault.

A$757,975 Officially verified by Guinness World Records

The official record

Record title: Most valuable lip art
ValueA$757,975
Record holder: Rosendorff (Australia)
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Date achieved: 7 September 2018
EquivalentUS$540,858 · £418,106 · €467,361
126diamonds set on the lips
22.92cttotal diamond weight
2.5hrsto place every stone by hand
1police officer on guard throughout

The story

A world first on Hay Street Mall

On Friday 7 September 2018, Rosendorff opened its doors at Hay Street Mall and invited Perth to watch history being made. The goal was a new Guinness World Records title: the most valuable lip art ever created.

Guinness defines lip art as a recognisable image created on the lips with lipstick and lip colour, the kind seen on fashion shoots and runways. The attempt must be made by one artist on one model. Rosendorff supplied the diamonds, award-winning makeup artist Clare Mac supplied the artistry, and model Charlie Octavia sat perfectly still.

When the last stone was placed, the lips carried 126 diamonds weighing 22.92 carats in total, valued at A$757,975. Guinness World Records confirmed the title, and Rosendorff became the holder of a world record that still stands under our founder's name.

How the record was made

Seven steps, one afternoon

  1. Months of planning

    Research, design, trials, and liaising with Guinness World Records to ensure the attempt met every rule for the category.

  2. A black canvas

    Clare Mac painted the lips in a black matte lipstick, so every diamond would read bright and clear.

  3. Stones from the vault

    Rosendorff selected the diamonds, from small brilliants to three large centre stones, and laid them out in trays beside the chair.

  4. Placed one by one

    Each diamond was lifted with tweezers and fixed with false eyelash adhesive. The full design took around two and a half hours.

  5. Under guard

    With close to three-quarters of a million dollars in loose diamonds on show, a police officer stayed on site for the whole attempt.

  6. Verified

    The value was documented and submitted, and Guinness World Records confirmed the new title: most valuable lip art, A$757,975.

  7. Back to the vault

    Afterwards, Charlie was taken into the vault, where Craig Rosendorff removed every diamond from her lips himself.

Clare Mac applying diamonds to model Charlie Octavia's black painted lips at Rosendorff
Clare Mac at work on Charlie Octavia, with the running value on the board behind.
A diamond held in tweezers above a black tray
Every stone was placed by hand with jeweller's tweezers.
“Working with over $750,000 worth of real diamonds and setting the World Record for Most Valuable Lip Art is not only a year's highlight but a career one!”
Clare Mac, makeup artist
Record

Rosendorff Diamonds

Founded in Perth in 1963 and supplied the diamonds for the attempt.

Makeup artist

Clare Mac

Creative Makeup Artist of the Year, who designed and applied the lip art.

Model

Charlie Octavia

Wore 22.92 carats of diamonds on her lips for the record.

From the Rosendorff archive

September 2018

The campaign that brought Perth to the store: the original event artwork and the posts we shared in the days before the attempt.

2018 flyer: World Record Attempt, Million Dollar Lip, presented by Rosendorff Diamonds and Clare Mac, 7 September 2018 from 3:30pm, 677 Hay St Mall, Perth
Event artwork, 2018.
Rosendorff Facebook post from 4 September 2018 announcing the Million Dollar Lip attempt
Facebook, 4 September 2018.
Rosendorff Instagram post announcing the world record attempt
Instagram, the same week.

See the diamonds for yourself

The same vault. The same eye for a diamond.

Shop Rosendorff diamonds → Read the story at Guinness World Records →

Showroom: 92 Barrack Street, Perth WA 6000

Rosendorff Diamond Jewellers, Perth, since 1963 Record details and photography: Guinness World Records, 2018