A huge gem stone which could become the largest polished round diamond in history has been discovered.
It is one thing to buy jewelry because you like it, but a whole different matter when you want to make a statement – a fashion statement, that is. Recognizing that consumer tastes shift on a whim, jewelry designers are constantly developing new lines of fashion jewelry and keeping a pulse on shopping trends to bring to you diamond jewelry which is stylish, unique, and so very satisfying.
We`ve been following these trends for many years and have noticed that customers are always looking for the newest, brightest, biggest, and most beautiful diamonds. Just what are the current trends? Read on and we`ll explore what is hot today!
Multiple Diamonds, Not Just One – Diamond solitaire engagement rings remain popular, but lots of buyers are choosing three-stone rings featuring a large center stone flanked by a pair of smaller diamonds. And, oftentimes these stones are quite big – no minimalist look here because its show time when sporting three-stone rings.
One Carat Will Just Not Do – Diamonds under one carat will always be popular, but larger stones containing three carats or more are gaining with couples who want to flash some bling. Five carat diamond solitaires were never very common, but a growing number of customers want the biggest stone that they can get.
White Diamonds Are Beautiful, But Colored Diamonds Are Awesome – White diamonds remain the most favorite diamond color sold, but fancy colored diamonds are prized for their scarcity. Pink is very trendy, but so are other rare colors including green, blue, orange, purple, and black. The rarer the diamond`s color, the more that these stones will cost. However, yellow isn`t a color that diamond buyers want as it is considered undesirable, therefore not something to be prized.
Some Settings Never Change – More than two thirds of all diamond engagement ring metals are yellow gold, but there is interest in white gold and platinum. Platinum is by far the priciest, but it is prized by those who like to flash around their big stones and expensive bling.
Fashionistas – Not content with buying store brand diamond jewelry, consumers continue to flock to leading designers to see what they have to offer. Danhov, Leon Popov, and M. Geller are some of the top names in fashion jewelry today, offering a wide range of beautiful rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and more. Today`s savvy consumers are just as likely to buy their jewelry by the name as they are by its style and price.
Of course, buying any type of jewelry is a personal decision one based largely on your tastes and flair for drama. Consumer tastes may be changing, but savvy jewelers serve all types of shoppers from the traditional buyer to the celebrity diva.
Inasmuch as jewelry trends come and go, silver jewelry remains popular across all economic and fashion spectra. That elegant pair of glimmering sterling silver drop earrings once prized by your late grandmother looks great today whether you wear them casually or put them on for a formal occasion.
Of course, not everyone is fond of estate jewelry, preferring to buy jewelry that is new and exciting, especially something designed by one of today`s contemporary artisans. It is these same designers who are seeing a mini boom in business today as shoppers discover the value of owning quality sterling silver and at prices much lower than gold. Tight economy or not, if your creations are especially attractive, you`ll catch the attention of savvy buyers.
Selecting A Designer Artisan
Hot Diamonds is one such designing team producing some of the most sought after sterling silver pieces of our time. Don`t let the name fool you, Hot Diamonds does feature at least one small brilliant cut diamond in every piece, but the accent is just as much on the metal as it is on the precious gemstones. You can find earrings, bangles, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, and rings featuring contoured shapes and fluid lines with a contemporary twist.
Each Hot Diamonds piece is part of a wider style line with such names as “just add love” or “back to nature” and “moonstruck” among others to captivate the imagination of buyers. For instance, the “just add love” line features modern and whimsical hearts and stars, an inviting style prized by young adult buyers. The “after hours” line represents the designers` evening wear collection, just perfect for a night out on the town for varying levels of formality.
Understanding Sterling Silver
Why should you choose sterling silver? Well, if you research the properties of silver you`d quickly realize how soft silver is by itself. Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% silver with the remaining 7.5% copper or some other metal. That is why you`ll find silver flatware pieces, even jewelry, well over a century old in excellent condition: durable sterling silver is one metal that can stand the test of time.
If you were to choose earrings made of virtually pure silver, you`d risk having them break in short order. Always buy jewelry with an eye to have it last to ensure that your investment is worthwhile and can retain its look.
Shopping For Sterling Silver Jewelry
A big trend for sterling silver fans is to visit estate sales to see what jewelry buys can be had. If you`re a fan of antiques, you`ll find the best buys at these types of sales, particularly those managed directly by the family. When an auctioneer or estate planner is brought in, prices are often marked up to cover their costs much as an antique retailer would have to charge more to cover her overhead.
For new sterling silver, your options are quite broad from flea markets to mall jewelry stores to online merchants. At flea markets you risk dealing with someone who may not be able to vouch that the earrings or pendant you want to purchase are, in fact, sterling silver. With a mall jewelry store, the merchant can attest to what they`re selling, while offering a guarantee. If shopping online, make sure that you deal with a reputable jeweler; you could save a lot of money if you find the right retailer as internet stores typically have a much lower overhead and savings are passed on to you in the form of lower prices.
Regardless of where you purchase your sterling silver, you`re buying classical jewelry with a strong, contemporary appeal. Whether choosing antique or contemporary sterling silver earrings, pendants, bangles, rings, necklaces, or bracelets you can reap the satisfaction of finding and wearing one of the finest of all metals.
If you`re planning to propose marriage over the coming weeks or if you are a woman who expects your man to ask for your hand in marriage, then you`ll need to have a diamond engagement ring with you in order to set the right mood. Not just any diamond engagement ring, mind you, but the one that you`ll be pleased to present and something she`ll be thrilled to wear.
Shopping For The Perfect Diamond Engagement Ring
So, where do you shop for a diamond engagement ring? Traditional jewelry stores have faithfully served customers for generations, but they no longer dominate. Instead, customers are turning to the internet to find retailers who can offer high quality diamonds at reduced prices. With the economy being tight right now, these types of savings are all the more attractive.
When shopping via the internet for an engagement ring, consider the following before purchasing from any company:
Deal Direct – Lots of storefronts have popped up over the years, many are selling the same quality rings as those found at your mall jewelry store. However, some of these retailers are selling their products as a third party, meaning they`re acting as middlemen. That translates into a price mark up, adding to the cost of your engagement ring. Where possible, deal direct or through the retailer`s affiliate sites.
Rate Rings – When shopping for a diamond engagement ring, you might be overwhelmed by the many choices out there. To narrow down your selection, create a rating system of what is important to you in an diamond ring:
1. Price – What is your budget for the ring? Paying the equivalent of at least two weeks of you salary is a good measuring tool.
2. Band – What type of metal will you be choosing? White gold, yellow gold and platinum are the most common choices with platinum costing the most.
3. Setting – Will you be choosing a diamond solitaire, a ring with sidestones, or some other arrangement?
4. Miscellaneous – The shape of the stone and the number of prongs to hold the diamond in place are also to be considered. Finally, don`t forget to find out what her ring size is before you place your order.
Shop Secure – Though the internet has been proven to be a secure way to shop, you can ensure that your buying experience is a good one by patronizing a website that offers a secure checkout. This means that one of two things must be present: when checking out, the company`s web address adds an “s” to the http portion of the web address (for example, https://www.jamesallen.com) or a tiny closed padlock will appear at the bottom of your web browser. If neither is present, then you could be vulnerable to having your personal information stolen.
Miscellaneous Musings – Of course, you`ll want to make sure that your retailer offers a guarantee, preferably one where you can return the ring, if needed. Further, what sort of shipping arrangements do they have? Will you be charged taxes on your diamond engagement ring? And, can the company be reached via a toll free number? You want to have the ability to speak with a representative too, someone who knows rings and can help you out.
You`re Ready To Propose!
Once the engagement ring has arrived and you`ve inspected it, then it is time for you to propose marriage. For tips on how to propose, please read our articles “Summer Marriage Proposals – Setting the Right Mood!“ and “How to Propose Marriage This Christmas” for those details.
A store in
"Everybody knows guys like guns and girls like diamonds so I figured I would mesh the two together this year. I've had wives sending in their husbands," Zinn said in an interview with WEAU news.
According to Zinn, a $400 pair of diamond earrings earned the customer any gun in the store worth under $300. A more expensive pair of diamond earrings earned the customer an even bigger gun.
The special diamond earrings offer ran through Valentine’s Day.
MINTEK,
MINTEK will be working in conjunction with the South Africa Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR) on the project. Ashok Damarupurshad, Strategist at SADPMR, further clarified the goal of geochemical fingerprinting for individual diamonds. “If proven to be successful, diamond fingerprinting would help to reduce theft and illegal mining and help prevent ‘conflict diamonds’ from entering legitimate trade, which is the objective of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.”
The study will focus on both the physical and chemical properties of diamonds. Mintek is aiming for a comprehensive database of South African diamonds within 3 years.
A new, 2,000-square-foot gallery opening today at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History sparkles and glitters with fancy jewelry, both modern and antique, and a kaleidoscope of gemstones. Wertz Gallery is named in honor of Ronald W. Wertz, longtime president of the Hillman Foundation. The creation of Wertz Gallery is part of the year–long expansion and renovation of Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems, which first opened in 1980, and which presents and exhibits minerals in the manner of sculpture, showing them for their beauty as well as their physical properties and industrial uses.
This 1930s Mauboussin bracelet was once owned by actress Mae West.The original Hillman Hall did display gems and jewelry but often on a temporary basis. The expanded Wertz Gallery gives the collection its own space and many new gems and pieces of jewelry that have never been on exhibit will be on display. Approximately 500 gems, crystals, jewelry and other pieces of gem art will be on display in the permanent collection of Wertz Gallery. In addition, Wertz Gallery will also host special temporary and traveling exhibits from collectors around the world.
"Luxe Life: Masterpieces of American Jewelry" -- which has been to many museums and is on display through early January -- features extravagant pieces of jewelry, ranging in age from mid-19th-century to modern.
Both exhibits, which feature pieces donated from private collectors, will dazzle museum visitors with their pure beauty, says Marc Wilson, head of the section of minerals.
"They are going to see top-quality jewelry and gemstones displayed in a beautiful setting, and learn how to evaluate them," Wilson says.
Debra Wilson, collections assistant, agrees.
"We want to make it attractive enough and glittery enough so that everybody's going to like it, whether they like jewelry or not," says Wilson, who is married to Marc Wilson.
"Gems and Jewelry" includes a wall with glass cases that demonstrate how to determine a gem's worth according to the four C's: carats, which is weight; color and its intensity; clarity; and cut, for which there is an exact, scientific formula.
Probably the most popular part of "Gems and Jewelry" is the large case full of each month's birthstones, Debra Wilson says.
"Everyone loves birthstones," she says. "One thing we try to do in this exhibit is show the range of colors in birthstones."
People might be surprised to know that sapphire, for instance, is not just the deep blue for which the September birthstone is most known: The stone comes in every color except red. If the same stone type, called corundum, is transparent and red, it's called a ruby, July's birthstone. Pearls, June's birthstones, don't come only from oysters; they also come from conch and melo shells. Garnets, January's birthstone, aren't always maroon or blood-red; they come in several shades, including green.
"Gems and Jewelry" has a few very old pieces, including an intricately carved, full-bodied diamond necklace. The ornate piece dates to the 17th century.
On Christmas night Jesse had fallen off the roof and I found him unconcious. I was freaking out. His neck was crooked to the side and looked as if it was broken and he wasn't responding to me talking to him and I couldn't see if he was breathing. I put my ear up to his heart and it was beating so I proceeded to shake him a little bit and call his name. Finally he came to, he was unconcious for about an hour needless to say I spent Christmas night in the emergency room until 2am. The next day, 12.26.08 we decided to have family and friends over for a party and I was so tired from being in the emergency room and having to wake up every 2 hours to wake Jesse up to make sure he would wake up. I fell asleep with all of the company over then Jesse's dad came over and told me that I wanted to wake up and get my shoes on. Then suddenly all of Jesse's brothers disappeared into the back room so I knew something must have been going on. Finally Jesse came out and was acting nervous now that I look back on it and said that he wasn't meaning to get injured and wanted it to be perfect but he said that he knows that we've been through a lot in our lives and had a lot of ups and downs but as long as we are together he knows that we will be okay. And he asked if I'd marry him which of course I said yes.
A new website caters to people who want to sell their engagement rings – after their relationship has gone sour.
IdonowIdont.com is a unique action site that connects the brokenhearted with those who are looking buy engagement rings (and other jewelry) on the cheap. Users sell their engagement rings via online auction.
Founder Josh Opperman started the site after his fianc? of three months dumped him. When she moved out, she took all her stuff – except for the engagement ring.
Opperman tried to sell the ring back to the original jeweler, but the jeweler presented him with a “staggeringly low” offer. That’s when Opperman decided to start the site, which he co-founded with his sister Mara.
IdonowIdont.com is not just any other auction site. After a purchase is made, the engagement ring (or other jewelry item) is inspected by a GIA-trained gemologist. Once the gemologist confirms that the item is indeed as-described by the seller, the funds are transferred from the buyer’s account.
The most interesting feature of IdonowIdont.com is the small box on every item page entitled “This Item’s Story.” A seller offering a $9,000 engagement ring writes about his failed relationship and why his girlfriend left him; another engagement-ring seller writes a note to all the other recently-dumped males, telling them “don’t worry, life moves on.”
And it did, at least for Opperman. He’s now happily married.
The Wittelsbach diamond, a rare blue diamond which passed through generations of royalty, sold for $24.3 million at a Christie’s auction in
The Wittelsbach diamond was purchased by King Philip IV of
Although the infanta died young – at 21 – the diamond remained in the family with her husband, Leopold I of
The diamond remained with Bavarian royalty over the next few centuries. It turned up in 1931, when it was offered for auction. There are conflicting reports as to what occurred to the diamond after that – some say it fell into private hands – and the diamond resurfaced again in 1962, when a private jewelry recognized its significance.
A Diamond Trading Company event being held at the landmark Taj Mahal Palace was interrupted by a terrorist attack that targeted several buildings. The DTC was holding a reception at the hotel when the violence began.
Two of Mumbai’s most popular hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi, were taken under siege by gunmen. Additionally, terrorists stormed the Jewish Chabad house, a movie theater, a busy train station, and even a police station. At least 100 people have been killed, and at least 200 wounded in what is being categorized as a terrorist attack.
All financial markets and the Diamond Exchange were closed because of their proximity to the violence, which was first believed to be a gang war (Rapaport News). Now, it is believed that the attacks are targeting tourists, particularly those with British and American passports, and hostages have been taken. Because of this, no names of the captives have been released. It has been reported by various sources that the attackers are Muslim militants armed with automatic rifles and grenades.
The trade market has been down lately, which is, ordinarily, not a good thing. But because of this, there were not a lot of foreign diamond traders in the city, and, therefore, fewer targets for the terrorists. Had it been as busy as it normally is this time of year, more lives could have been lost.
The financial markets and Diamond Exchange will stay closed, pending the outcome of this terrorist attack.
Top designer Dior has unveiled a sleek new cell phone set with 641 diamonds and 34 black sapphire crystals.
The phone, called Dior Phone Diamonds (Glorious Black), is the latest entry in the designer phone market. In recent years, Chanel, Prada, Dolce & Gabanna, and Armani have all released luxury phones.
The Dior Phone Diamonds is a flip phone, and its exterior is designed to look like a hand-brushed stainless steel case. The phone is set with hundreds of diamonds – even the hinges are diamond-encrusted – and has a total diamond weight of 3.251 carats.
All the jewels come with a hefty price tag: the phone costs a whopping $28,000. (For the less fortunate, there’s a Swarovski crystal version that starts from $8,000.)
The Dior Phone Diamonds (Glorious Black) is available exclusively in Dior stores.
In a new memoir, Irene Weisberg Zisblatt writes about how hidden diamonds gave her the courage to survive the Holocaust.
In her book, "The Fifth Diamond: The Story of Irene Weisberg Zisblatt," which she co-wrote with friend Gail Ann Webb, Zisblatt tells of how her mother sewed four diamonds into her skirt just before she was shipped off to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
Zisblatt and her five siblings were born in
At a recent appearance at
“The diamonds survived because, to me, they were the strength, the hope, the courage, and my mother, so they had to survive,” Zisblatt said. For fifteen months, Zisblatt held onto the diamonds – by continuously swallowing them and retrieving them.
“For every time that I was hungry, beaten or was tortured with experiments, I was hitting back by keeping my mother’s diamonds,” Zisblatt said.
Zisblatt went on to survive three hellish years in the camps. In 1945 she managed to escape. Zisblatt eventually made her way to
Zisblatt placed the diamonds in a vault. It wasn’t until years later, at her husband’s prodding, that she had the diamonds set into a pendant in the shape of a tear drop. Zisblatt doesn’t wear the diamond pendant frequently – only when she speaks to younger generations about the Holocaust.
Zisblatt currently resides in the greater
Swiss watch maker Hublot teamed up with setting workshop Bunter SA to create an unprecedented timepiece--and a million-dollar price tag to go with it. The watch, called the Hublot Black Caviar Bang, is made completely of white gold and black diamonds, but not one hint of gold is visible.
The setting of the watch is completely invisible, with only the black and deepest tones of the diamonds showing. In a media release, Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver said: “When each element is crafted individually and in coherence with the one right next to it, this is invisible from the outside but creates a vibration of harmony which is visible and gives rise to emotion in those who perceive it”. The watch is, indeed, a perfect finale for Hublot’s Big Bang line and all its derivatives.
The watch case is set with 322 black diamond baguettes. The watch’s dial is set with 179 more, plus 13 on the crown and 30 more on the clasp. While the weight of the diamonds on the watch is 34.4 carats, the case itself, made of white gold and 30 black diamonds, only comes in at 3.5 carats.
The Black Caviar Bang watch joins a million-dollar watch club that includes the limited edition Corum “Golden Bridge”, Patek Philippe’s “Sky Moon Tourbillon”, a Jacob & Co. diamond-studded timepiece, and Robert Wan’s pearl-set watch. Although the Black Caviar Bang is part of the Big Bang line, it is a one-of-a-kind piece that joins the art of jewelry-making with the art of watch-making.
Armed robbers, dressed in Hassidic clothing (black hats, black clothing), stole $4 million worth of diamonds and jewelry from a
The two diamond robbers wore fake beards, black hats, and black coats. They made it past the security guard using fake IDs, and traveled up to the fifth floor of the building to the offices of Dialite, a company that imports diamonds.
At gunpoint, the robbers forced employee Atul Shah to empty the safe of its diamonds and jewels. They used duct tape to tie up Shah and another employee.
The stolen merchandise – valued at $4 million – included diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rings, pendants, and more.
The diamond heist is reminiscent of a scene from Guy Ritchie’s 2001 film “Snatch” in which Brad Pitt and Benecio Del Toro dressed as Hassidic Jews in order to steal millions of dollars in diamonds.
Lloyd’s of London insurance company is currently investigating the case.
A rare 5-carat blood-red diamond will be on display at the National History Museum of Los Angeles County. The diamond is one of just three blood-hued red diamonds known to exist.
The Kazanjian Red diamond was discovered in
After the war, American soldiers found the diamond. Over time, the diamond passed through several owners, including Sir Ernest Oppenheimer. It was recently purchased by Los-Angeles based Kazanjian Bros. Inc.
This is the first time the diamond has been exhibited in the
Although President George W. Bush has not been very popular with foreign countries, that doesn’t stop world leaders from showering him and his administration with extravagant—and odd—gifts. This year, Bush received a $150 bronze platypus paperweight from an Australian official, a $570 brush-cutter from the Swedish Prime Minister, and, from the Prime Minister of Singapore, the President was given $450 worth of exercise equipment, including a “uSurf Wave Action Exerciser” and an “iGallop Core and Abs Exerciser”. Is Singapore trying to tell him something?
Condoleezza Rice was the one who got the best gifts she can’t keep this year. Jordan’s King Abdullah gave her an emerald and diamond necklace with matching earrings, bracelet and ring worth over $147,000. They also gave her another earrings-and-necklace set with a jewelry box, worth only about $4,630. The Saudi Arabian King Abdullah presented Rice with a ruby and diamond necklace with matching earrings, bracelet and ring worth $165,000 a few months later. Evidently, the Saudi leader also gave Rice a $170,000 flower petal necklace in 2005, but it was not disclosed until this month.
Laura Bush was also showered with gifts by the Saudi Arabian monarch, who gave her an $85,000 sapphire and diamond jewelry set, and a painting worth over $10,000. The wife of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave Mrs. Bush two hand-embroidered pillows with an American flag motif and the images and names of the Bush’s two dogs, Barney and Mrs. Beazley, on them. She included a $700 Limoges box with the two Presidential dogs painted on it, and a stuffed Scotty toy. The Dalai Lama sent along an assortment of dried fruit and nuts worth over $6.
The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, received two machine guns, one mounted--and one not--from his Colombian and Russian counterparts. Defense Secretary Robert Gates received an Arab knife from a Bahraini official and a dagger valued at $345 from the Jordanian King.
A diamond sits on a certificate
guaranteeing the stone is
conflict-free at Eric Olson
Fine Jewelry in Lafayette.
It used to be that the biggest worries surrounding engagement rings were how many carats three months' salary could buy, and whether the rings should be crafted from white gold or platinum, with princess or pear-shaped stones.
"People now are taking an appropriate pause," says former Boulder journalist Greg Campbell, author of the 2002 exposé, "Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Deadly Path of the World's Most Precious Stones." [more...]
In honor of the tenth anniversary of SpongeBob Squarepants, Simmons Jewelry Company has launched a new jewelry and watch line that features the famous cartoon character set in diamonds. The diamond jewelry line is collaboration between Simmons Jewelry Co., Nickelodeon, and Viacom Consumer Products.
The jewelry collection features a $75,000 SpongeBob pendant set in diamonds. The pendant has a whopping 12 carats total weight in diamonds – which includes white diamonds as well as (SpongeBob trademark colors) color-enhanced yellow diamonds, red diamonds, and blue diamonds. All our set in 18 karat yellow and white gold. The diamond pendant’s design is a close up of Sponge Bob’s smiling face.
The diamond-studded pendant will make its debut display in
“We are always looking for innovative ideas to develop fine jewelry, and the Nickelodeon partnership to license SpongeBob is the perfect addition the Simmons Jewelry Co. family,” said music mogul Russell Simmons, co-owner of Simmons Jewelry Co, in a media release. Simmons Jewelry Co. is also the creator of the Hello Kitty fine jewelry line.
The SpongeBob collection will be available at retail locations in fall 2009. Retail prices will range from $150 to $75,000.
Fashion-forward First Lady Michelle Obama wore an impressive array of diamond jewelry throughout the inaugural festivities. For the "We Are One" concert on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, she complemented her Narcisco Rodriguez outfit with a pair of dangling diamond earrings. The $17,000 diamond earrings are the creation of diamond jewelry designer Loree Rodkin, who also supplied the First Lady with her election night diamond jewelry.
For the inauguration ceremony itself, Mrs. Obama wore a gold-hued dress by Cuban-born designer Isabel Toledo. The First Lady accessorized the outfit with a diamond brooch and a pair of elegant diamond studs.
Later in the evening, Barack and Michelle Obama attended the glamorous inauguration balls. At the Neighborhood Ball, the Obamas shared their first dance as President and First Lady as Beyonce sang the Etta James song “At Last.” The First Lady, who looked stunning in an ivory silk chiffon gown (by Taiwanese designer Jason Wu) was decked out in diamond jewelry: a diamond ring, diamond bangles and diamond drop earrings. All the pieces were designed by Loree Rodkin.
Mrs. Obama was first introduced to the diamond jewelry brand through
"It's a privilege to be a part of history. Today the country has new hope," stated Loree Rodkin. "The First Lady is a symbol of hope, courage and great style. I am honored that she has chosen my jewelry. Words cannot describe the emotions I feel that Michelle Obama has allowed me to be a part of this glorious moment."
Oct 22-28: Increased pressure from the EU and United States won’t take the shine off Myanmar gems, traders said last week, claiming the unsurpassed quality of the country’s precious stones would continue to lure buyers. Kyaw Thu and Htin Kyaw look into the forces driving sales ahead of another massive gem and jade emporium next month.
A woman inspects ruby rings at the Myanmar VES jewellery shop in Mayangone township, Yangon, on October 17. Pic: Aung Tun Win
THE state-run Myanma Gems Enterprise is expecting a good turnout and strong sales at its mid-year emporium next month despite moves to block Myanmar’s gem and jade trade to Europe and the United States, an MGE official said last week.
Private sector traders in Yangon also said Myanmar’s international gem and jade trade would remain healthy even with new sanctions imposed by the European Union last week, pointing out that the bulk of exports go directly to Asian markets rather than the West.
“We have a lot of clients from China, (South) Korea, Japan and Singapore, as well as some from Europe and the US. French merchants are the top buyer among Westerners while Japanese are biggest buyers from Asia,” said Daw Chaw Su Win, sales executive for Myanmar VES Joint Venture Co., Ltd, formed by the MGE and Thailand’s VES Group in 1992.
“In our experience, they can’t stop themselves from buying top-quality Myanmar gems because they can earn hefty profits trading them compared to what they can get with gems from other countries,” she said. [more...]
The Pittsburgh Steelers have beaten out the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, earning them coveted Super Bowl Rings. This is sixth Super Bowl Title for the Steelers, the most for any team in the history of the National Football League (NFL).
The NFL covers the cost of each diamond ring – up to $4,000 per ring for up to 90 rings. The winning team creates the design for each diamond ring. The Super Bowl rings usually include yellow or white gold and are studded with diamonds. Some include the team’s name or logo, the Super Bowl number, the score of the game, or the player’s name and/or jersey number. Often the teams chooses a diamond ring design that exceeds $4,000 and the team’s management absorbs the remainder of the costs.
When the Steelers won their last Super Bowl – Super Bowl XL -- the diamond ring featured five large diamonds shaped like the Lombardi Trophy. The design isn’t unveiled until months after the Super Bowl, and it often takes a year for team members to receive the diamond ring.
Silver jewelry designer Margaux Lange crafts silver rings, necklaces, and brooches from sterling silver and Barbie parts. She calls her work the “Plastic Body Series” and sells it online (via etsy.com) and in galleries. Her silver jewelry features items like the “purple smile ring” – in which Barbie’s lips and nose are set inside a ring -- and the “Feelin’ Blue Earrings” which feature a single blue Barbie eye in each drop earring.
Barbie, the famous
In a recent interview for the New York Time’s Magazine, Lange talks about the process of creating her Barbie silver jewelry. She has a large Barbie collection, but most of the dollars are in pieces, arranged according to body part.
“The face is sort of soft rubber, so I can literally carve out, say, her eyes, her mouth,” Lange told the magazine.
Lange’s silver jewelry has been featured in numerous galleries, as well as in several books, magazines, and television.
At a press conference in
Cerrone loaned Williams the multi-million diamond necklace. But the 27-year old was a little hesitant to wear the diamond necklace.
“I told the jeweler that I would wear it at the press conference because I didn’t have the cash to be losing a three and a half million [Australian] dollar necklace,” said Williams.
When Williams sported the diamond necklace at the press conference after her first round win over Australian Samantha Stosur, she set off a frenzy of flashbulbs. The diamond necklace reportedly contains 427 diamonds.
This isn’t the first time Williams has shown off diamonds: she caused controversy at the 2004 US Open when one of her US $40,000 diamond earrings fell onto the asphalt during a match.
Bernard Madoff, the
Prosecutors reported the mailed packages of diamonds in court papers released on Wednesday. They’re calling for Madoff to be jailed immediately.
Last month, Madoff was arrested and charged with an investment scam that defrauded clients of an estimated $50 billion.
Madoff apparently mailed five packages that contained diamonds and other valuable jewelry: two went to his brother, and the others went to his children. According to the Financial Times, the list of valuables contained “diamond Cartier and Tiffany watches, a diamond bracelet, four diamond brooches, a jade necklace, a gold watch and other assorted jewellery… One package contained about 13 watches, one diamond necklace, an emerald ring and two sets of cufflinks and could exceed $1 million.”
In a comment about the packages with diamonds, Ira Sorkin, Madoff’s lawyer, said that the transfers were innocent mistakes by Madoff and his wife, and that most of the items had been returned. Sorkin emphasized that Madoff was not a flight risk, that he was under 24-hour security, and that Madoff and his wife had surrendered their passports.
Prosecutors have claimed that the packages containing diamonds were in violation of the court order which prevented Madoff from concealing/disposing of his assets.
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Terri Hurley, owner of Bo’s Jewelry and Pawn Shop in Sikeston, said she’s been showing lots of wedding sets and engagement bands this month.
“It’s a time of year people tend to upgrade (their jewelry) as well as get engaged, and diamonds are a neat Christmas gift,” Hurley said.[more...]
From Beyonce’s diamond necklace to Jennifer Lopez’s earrings, diamonds and diamond jewelry ruled the red carpet at the 66th Golden Globe Awards.
Eve Mendes showed up in a Navajo-inspired turquoise necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. Van Cleef & Arpels also supplied barely-there diamond studs for January Jones, who looked stunning in an electric-blue one-shoulder gown by Versace.
But the star of the evening was Lorraine Schwartz, who supplied much of the evening’s dazzling jewelry, including a pair of long green earrings for Amy Adams and a fringed diamond necklace for Beyonce. Schwartz also provided an outsized bejeweled diamond necklace for Christina Applegate, who looked stunning in her golden strapless Roberto Cavalli gown.
Other stars chose to go the more tasteful route: Kate Winslet wore 10-carat Chopard earrings, while Anne Hathaway’s diamond and sapphire earrings gave her a chic, retro look. Freida Pinto wore dangling gold and diamond statement earrings, which complemented her mustard-colored frock.
Topping the worst-dressed list? Jennifer Lopez’s open-neck dress and Glenn Close’s alien-like pantsuit.
Upscale diamond jeweler Bulgari has designed a new, inexpensive ring to celebrate its 125th anniversary this year. The Rome-based jeweler’s latest piece—a silver ring that costs only $290—will donate $60 for each ring sold to the Save the Children’s “Rewrite the Future” campaign.
This limited-edition piece is engraved with both the name “Bulgari” and the name of the charity, “Save the Children”. This silver ring is an homage to the company’s founder, Sotirio Bulgari, who began as a silversmith. The ring will be available as of February 9th, and will be sold throughout the year. A waiting list has already been started.
In addition to donating a portion of the proceeds from this ring, Bulgari will auction off 23 unique pieces of jewelry and watches this year in its effort to raise 10 million euros (about $13 million) for Save the Children.
This year’s official jewelry sponsor of the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants will be Diamond Nexus Labs, the world leader in lab-created precious gems. This is part of NBC Universal’s new “Green is Universal” initiative. So this year, the winners will be crowned not with diamonds developed over millions of years within the earth’s crust, but, instead, with diamonds generated in much less time in a laboratory. According to Gary LaCourt, CEO of Diamond Nexus Labs, “We are honored to be creating these prestigious crowns and we stand with and congratulate the Miss Universe Organization and NBC in their bold venture in creating a greener world.”
Diamond Nexus Labs is the creator of the world’s most technologically-advanced man-made gemstones. They are synthesized in labs using only environmentally-friendly processes, making the labs inherently conflict-free. The stones they make are nearly-perfect matches to the finest D-color, internally flawless diamonds, but cost far less than natural diamonds. The company also synthesizes cultured rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. They are hoping this helps to reduce the effects that natural diamond mining has on the environment. Diamond Nexus Labs focuses on the idea that all diamond mining involves some level of human suffering and [more...]
