The most recent addition to the world’s extremely rare precious stones is the Cora Sun Drop which was discovered last year i.e. 2010 in South Africa. In fact, the diamond was considered to be so rare that many experts believed that it cannot be valued. However, the diamond that has made many women swoon and many men envious is now all set to be put on auction and is expected to pull in a whopping 10 million pounds. Continue reading »
Who would have though that white diamonds would become passé so rapidly. The newest trend has surely shifted into high speed for colored diamonds, to be more specific – think pink.
Diamonds come in a large variety of colors, virtually every color of the rainbow, even steel gray. Diamonds with intense colors are dramatically more valuable, but out of all colored diamonds, the red ones are the most rare. Generally pink diamonds are from the Argyle mine in the far north of Western Australia with the mine producing about 90% of the worlds supply. Those are so rare most people will never see one. These gems are around 20 times more expensive than the traditional white sibling. Pink Diamonds are also mined in India, Brazil and Africa, but those are not as intense in color.
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High profile personalities have always been in the forefront when it comes to setting trends rolling or establishing a certain style as something eternal. This can be seen by the way fashion aficionados take to new innovative fashion concepts and looks being sported by movie stars, music legends and even sports personalities. Under this context, it is only logical that eternal personalities such as the princess brides of Europe have been creating popular trends with their choice of engagement rings. In fact, for a long time now, engagement rings worn by princess brides have sparked off a mad rush for similar rings. Let’s take a look back at the engagement rings that were worn by some of the more famous princess brides.
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Prince William has recently settled down and has asked his girlfriend, Kate Middleton, for her hand in marriage. William has been dating Kate for some time and popped the question to her using his mother’s beautiful and timeless sapphire solitaire engagement ring. A 12-carat sapphire is the center stone for this ring and is surrounded by 14 stunning diamonds, making it one of the most unique rings types used for a proposal. The setting is made form 18-carat white gold and the style has been copped by many after Diana showed it for the first time. For the most part, diamond solitaires are used for this occasion, but Prince William found it necessary to use his beloved mother’s ring for just such a monumental occasion such as this marriage will become in the near future.
Princess Diana originally picked sapphire as the showcase stone in commemoration of her mother’s ring, so Prince William is simply passing on this tradition with the passing of the ring to Kate. This symbolic gesture surely shows that Prince William is indeed serious about the engagement and the ramifications to the royal family. Rumors had floated around that Diana originally picked the sapphire ring because it was the biggest of her choices, but that was rebuffed by Leslie Field, the leading expert on jewelry worn by royalty. She simply loved the design and knew she wanted it to have a sapphire center stone. The ring was originally owned by Prince Harry after his mother’s death, but was given to Prince William at his request. Prince William had chosen a beautiful Cartier Tank Francaise watch when both children selected particular mementos to remind them of their mother. The ring is now valued at £250,000, but had an original price of £28,500 when originally purchased for Princess Diana.
Blue diamonds are one of the rarest colors of diamonds available on the retail market. Smaller specimens can demand thousands of dollars per carat and often are bought by serious collectors and those seeking gemstones that are out of the ordinary. These blue diamonds are sound investments as they are not only rare, but are highly sought by many around the world. These diamonds seem to increase in value exponentially just like other colored diamonds. Red, yellow, and black diamonds are often more expensive than their clear counterparts. The bigger the stone, the more likely you will read about it in the newspaper as with a recent amazing ring that contains two beautiful diamonds. One is a fancy vivid blue diamond of 10.95 carats, known as the Bulgari Blue Diamond. The other stone is almost as large at 9.87 carats. It is an amazing design done in the 1970s and originally bought for $1 million in 1972. Continue reading »
After repeated calls from different sections of the masses, the UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, has stated that the Koh-I-Noor will not leave its perch in the UK. The stern statement was made by the British Prime Minister Cameron during his trip to India to fructify multiple political and economical pacts. He was asked about the fate of one of the most coveted diamonds of the world by a leading new channel in India known as NDTV. As per Cameron, the Koh-I-Noor diamond cannot be returned to India as it would set a dangerous precedent for the UK. According to him, if he sends back the Koh-I-Noor to the Indian people then the museums of Britain would be emptied as other items of value would also have to be returned.
Jewelry and diamonds are very popular amongst many different types of men and women from many different backgrounds. The styles that are popular are seen on celebrities and can often cost more than your average person can afford. There has been a trend where replicas and other similar lower cost designs have become even more popular than the costly originals they mimic. Although in many ways, replicas get flak for being mere rip-offs, they do allow many people to look fashionable and very hip for a fraction of the price. While replicas are available for many of the higher-end fashion designs, it is often one-of-a-kind items that deserve the replica treatment as it would be impossible to own certain pieces of jewelry that are considered historic.
QVC is a great place to get the latest jewelry designs on sale for much less than you would pay at a retailer at a mall or at a brick and mortar jewelry store. They can bring the latest designs right into your home and they have flexible payment options as well as an inventory that rivals anyone in the business. They have recently teamed up with the Smithsonian to offer consumers replicas of some of the most famous jewelry pieces that are housed in their museums. These replicas will allow you to own the Hope Diamond as well as the famed Marie Antoinette’s earrings. All of the replica pieces will be made with genuine gemstones and will mimic their famous counterparts in all of the possible details.
QVC will allow its viewers to own a part of history with this collection, keeping the interest and intrigue squarely focused on the originals. How amazing would it be to own a 75-carat replica emerald just like the one found on the belt buckle worn by a Turkish sultan? Well, you can among other designs, so sit back, relax and consider the possibilities.
Who is going to land the pear-shaped, fancy blue, diamond on auction at Sotheby’s this month? Blue diamonds are favorites with diamond collectors, and this diamond also is in a setting that rivals any celebrity diamond rings in the potential nuptial news of the jet set crowd. One can just imagine the people who are going to attend this auction. It’s not just diamond merchants, but potentially anyone rich enough to buy the bauble to present it to someone in a very special marriage proposal.
What’s it worth?
This diamond has a unique pedigree in that it was part of the DeBeer’s Millennium collection. That collection only had 12 gems in all in it, and it took several decades to assemble. It is 5.16 carats in weight and an exceptional fancy vivid blue in color. The shape, a coveted pear-shape diamond, is in demand for engagement rings right now, too. Sotheby’s is estimating the ring might go easily for 4.6 to 5.8 million dollars. In comparison, a prior cushion-cut diamond, of the same vivid blue, sold for 9.48 million dollars at Sotheby’s in Geneva in May 2009.
Where the Auction Is Being Held
Sotheby’s is holding the auction in Hong Kong, China. China is emerging as a major player in the diamond market, amongst other worldwide commodities. Many buyers in China looking for investments prize diamonds as part of their portfolios. Also, China’s economy has not been hurt as much by the current recession, putting them in a better position to buy than other countries. The auction will be held at the Sotheby’s jewels and jadeite spring sale, 2010, on April 7th.
Public Fascination with Fancy-Colored Diamonds
Ever since Jennifer Lopez received a pink diamond ring from Ben Affleck, fancy-colored diamonds have been very, very, hot! Pink has romantic overtones, but blues are highly prized and very rare. They are rarest gems, in fact, due to the fact that the color is only apparent due to tiny traces of boron when the diamond forms. To get a natural, fancy-blue, diamond is really a catch! Where will news about this diamond turn up next, on the cover of celebrity magazines announcing an engagement?
A rough diamond weighing 478 carats has been discovered recently at Lesotho’s Leseng mine. It is within the top twenty largest rough diamonds ever found and could set a record as being the largest polished rough diamond, when all is said and done. As a matter of historical record, it won’t be the largest polished and cut diamond, as a different gem already holds that record. However, it’s still a very sizable find that is worthy of the record books.
Other Record Holders
The largest polished and cut diamond record is still with the Koh-I-Noor, a stone that is part of the royal crown jewels of Britain. The Cullinan is known for being the largest rough diamond ever found, weighing in at 3,106 total carats. It was later polished and cut down to 530 carats and named the Great Star of Africa.
How Much Is the New Find Worth?
No one really knows until it is polished and cut. Depending on the quality of the stone and the final weight, it might sell within the tens of millions. Should cutting it fail to produce the gem expected, it could sell for less, however, it will probably be an extraordinarily expensive stone, regardless. Experts believe the stone has exception color and clarity, making this a find of a lifetime, even after it is cut. The hope is that it will yield 150 carats after the final cut and polishing.
A Gem for Someone Special
Obviously a gemstone that big isn’t going into jewelry. Although the diamond company has not decided exactly what it will do with the stone, the consensus appears to be that it will be sold to a private collector. It’s unlikely anyone will want to use this lovely find for rough diamond jewelry. Hopefully, after it is cut, it will be available for public display, at a museum, but more than likely the buyer will take it and put it away for future posterity.
Diamonds have long been associated with romance and the good life. It’s no surprise that films that deal with both subjects have often centered around diamonds, or at least had a prominent place in the script for the precious gems. From the most sweeping, epic romances to rollicking comedies, diamonds have long been a plot device. Continue reading »