If you’re born in April, you are lucky enough to have diamond as your birthstone. In fact, the gifting of birthstone jewelry is considered to provide those who wear them special protection and good luck. However, diamonds have always been the symbol of perfection and immortality and so are viewed as being even more special than other birthstones. Being born in April may be lucky, but being born in the modern society is even luckier if you want a wide range of diamond choices and styles for your birthstone jewelry. Continue reading »

In an effort to create a world-famous diamond brand, Russian diamond company Alrosa is seeking out business partnerships with leading diamond market players. The Russian company hopes to strike deals with everyone from auction houses to diamond merchants.

Sotheby’s First on List

When an established name like Sotheby’s agrees to auction your diamonds, it is sure to increase your credibility and name recognition. The elite auction house has not only agreed to market the diamonds, but will also actively promote the Alrosa brand to its clients. Previously, exposure of Alrosa diamonds was limited to specific clients or the Alrosa auction house itself, which is not as well-known as Sotheby’s. An agreement between the Russian diamond giant and Sotheby’s is the first step for Alrosa to gain international recognition, and a steady way to market their diamonds outside of Russia.  In return, Sotheby’s gets to auction off premium Russian diamonds from their new partners, some of which will weigh over 40 carats. The deal is already sealed and a test sale at a Sotheby auction has already taken place and succeeded. The relationship is expected to generate sales in the hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars (USD) on the premium diamond market.

Other Players Next

Tiffany’s is another key diamond player that Alrosa has sought to partner with. An agreement, which has already been signed between the two, means that Tiffany will purchase at least 60 million USD of Russian diamonds from Alrosa every year. By partnering with companies that already have a worldwide customer base and strong name recognition, Alrosa can pretty much ride their partners’ coattails to a better brand name as well. Alrosa will continue to look for opportunities to create a stronger brand name while also increasing sales  across the board. Expect to see more of Alrosa diamonds at the auction houses and at diamond retailers in the years to come.

[Photo Credit: FancyDiamonds]

Engagement settings are getting their newest upgrade, and by “new” we mean “recycled with a twist”. The newest designs of 2013 are rife with the great appeal of vintage designs and a hint of modern style. Instead of just lacy and ornately decorated, new designs add a little modernity to induce that racy flair. Add a splash of bold color, from black diamonds or colored center stones and you’ve got the new vintage modern ring.

Loopy Looks That Dazzle

If you want the strand of diamonds look, you’ll love this year’s eternity rings and fanciful loops. Some loops are twisted together and others criss-cross, but almost all have diamonds studded within a portion of the band. These bands don’t feature just any diamonds, many are set with black diamonds that lace and race around the ring  and add a sparkle of dark drama for people who want something that is both vintage and daring.

Ribbons and Things

While the modern look is the newest trend, designers can’t seem to resist tying those loops into ribbons. If you want a real vintage look, look for a ring with a ribbon design to instantly evoke a feel of yesteryear. If ribbons seem over the top, just opt for multiple bands that feature diamonds and different metals. The possibilities are limitless when you incorporate string designs.

Bold Accents and Incomplete Loops

A modern take on a classic generally inspires a design that is a little less ornate with just a hint of vintage. Polishing the loops and ribbons to a high gleam can give them a more futuristic look, and using black diamonds along a ribbon or loop will pull the design into this century. Some loops will not only be enhanced by bold strokes, but can also be split apart to hold a diamond in the gap. With these design elements in mind, it’s easy to bring a little bit of vintage into your bold, modern look.

As society redefines the nature of relationships, one piece of jewelry has gotten more popular over time: the promise ring. Unlike an engagement ring, a promise ring can symbolize a wide range of commitments and connections. Promise rings are used as “pre-engagement” rings when a couple wants to show they are committed their relationship, though that may not mean marriage. Who better to model the nouveau relationship jewelry than Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger?  She is sporting a promise ring to show her committed live-in relationship with her boyfriend, David Krause, even though she admits they are not engaged.

Promises, Promises

If it’s not an impending wedding you’re promising, than what are you celebrating? Promise rings can be given for a variety of reasons, and both men and women can wear them. They can represent a personal promise to stay chaste until marriage, show a step before engagement like living with someone or signify a special love partnership that does not lead to marriage. Promise rings can also show friendship instead of love, or keep someone accountable for their actions, like a vow to quit drinking or smoking. Of course they can be a placeholder for a future engagement ring if a couple just wants to celebrate a relationship of love, but neither want to officially get engaged yet.

Unique as a Snowflake

A promise ring is usually not as extravagant as an engagement ring, but is usually uniquely beautiful. For a ring that will signify a major milestone or promise to someone or some cause, you may want to utilize the myriad of non-traditional designs out there to create your unique piece. With few customs to dictate what a promise ring should or should not look like, it is left to your imagination to choose how to symbolize your promise. A religious symbol is appropriate for faith-based promises, whereas a friendship could be symbolized by the birthstone of each person. Regardless of how you choose to embellish your ring, the ring is but the physical acknowledgment of the deeper promise that it represents.

Lapidarists (gemstone experts) are continually improving cuts and coming up with new ones, but sometimes the older cuts are the best. This year’s spring and summer jewelry trends are showing a resurgence of cabochons and rose cuts from imperfect stones. While not these cuts are not flawless, they can add glamour and differentiate a piece of jewelry by adding a unique flare. Continue reading »

Why have one diamond when you can have lots? Layered jewelry is warming up this spring; from multiple strands of diamond necklaces to eye-popping layered engagement rings. Jewelry designers who sniffed this trend out early are creating single pieces that create a unique look when they are stacked and layered on top of one another. Continue reading »

A huge diamond weighing 101.73 carats recently showed up on the auction block at Christie’s. The stone sold for an icy $20 million and now holds the record for the world’s largest colorless diamond to be sold. This stone is not the first humongous diamond to make auction history, and it certainly won’t be the last one either. Many diamonds that have graced the auction house block have also fed the public’s fascination with diamonds; some were heralded for their color or cut, and yet others were revered for their flawlessness or the story that went with them. Some of these history making stones we know well, and in there are sure to be more stones whose stories have not yet been written.

Famous Cut Diamonds

There are many famous diamonds, but some diamonds are made famous by their unique cuts. These stones are often cut from other famous diamonds. The 101.73 carat wonder we spoke of earlier was actually cut from a 236 carat rough diamond found in Botswana. It was fashioned into a beautiful pear-cut diamond about the size of a large strawberry. It’s the latest in a long line of diamonds made famous by their cuts, here are a few other diamonds whose unique cuts made history:

The Taj Mahal Diamond is a heart-shaped diamond has one of the most romantic stories of any stone in history. It was a gift from Mhugal Emperor Shah Jahangir to his favorite wife four years before she died. His wife, Nur Jahan, inspired him to build the Taj Mahal as a memorial to their love. That diamond sold for $8.8 million, and is one of the most romantic diamonds in history.

Cullinan I, aka the Star of Africa I, weighs in at 530 carats and held the title of the largest cut diamond from it’s cutting until 1987. The stone from which all the Cullinan stones were cut yielded 9 large diamonds and over 100 smaller stones. The rough Cullinan stone weighed in at an astounding 3,106 carats before it was cut into various other parts. The Cullinan II is another huge stone which was cut from the original rough Cullinan, and weighs a lofty 317 carats. The Cullinan diamonds (I, II, and III) are now part of Britain’s crown jewels collection.

The Koh-i-Noor is an oval-cut diamond which is also part of the British crown jewels, and has a very long history. Mogul emperors and Indian Rajahs coveted the stone; they smuggled it away and fought over the stone until the British finally got a hold of it. It is believed that the stone may have even graced the Peacock throne at one time. The stone was originally 1986 carats, but has been cut down multiple times to become the 105.60 diamond we know today.

The Winner Is:

The honor of the largest cut diamond, by carat weight, goes to the Golden Jubilee Diamond, which rings in at 545.67 carats. The stone has a fire rose cushion cut and is colored a unique yellow-brown. It was a given to the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his coronation. The Golden Jubilee holds a remarkable place amongst the Thai crown jewels and is kept at the Royal Thai palace.  Christie’s has sold many large diamonds, but nothing has equaled the size of the Golden Jubilee. The great Thai jewel  is five times larger than the 101.73 carat diamond that recently sold for $20 million.

These are just a few of the most famous jewels in history. If you want to learn about even more famous diamonds, check out our article about the most famous diamonds ever.

The ring is as much of an institution as marriage is itself. Symbolizing, amongst other things, unending love and devotion to each other, the wedding ring has also become a declaration of style and a sort of status symbol. Just because the ring is a tradition, however, does not mean that the ring has to be traditional. If you’ve had a not-so-traditional engagement, and maybe even a not-so-traditional wedding, than a non-traditional wedding band might be right up your alley. Bordering on various levels of eccentrics, there are many alternative wedding bands that might suit your lifestyle.

Tattoos are forever

If you’re not scared of a little pain and are looking for a more romantic route, then a tattoo wedding band may be the alternative look for you. After it’s done, wearing a tattoo is more comfortable than wearing an actual ring; plus a tattoo can be custom-designed to include phrases, symbols, or even your beloved’s name. This is certainly an adventurous route, and also a very permanent one since tattoos are forever. Removing a tattoo is definitely not as easy as taking off a ring, so the tattoo route is certainly not for the faint of heart.

Pierced Through the Heart

You’ve already been hit by Cupid’s arrow, so why not celebrate your vows with something equally piercing. A pierced wedding band is unique and a little less permanent then a tattoo. Like a traditional ring, you get a metal band with a piercing. if you choose, you can even have a diamond or other precious stone set in the ring. The pierced route certainly symbolizes devotion as well as ring. You never have to worry about losing something that doesn’t just slip off, though you will certainly have to remove it for cleaning.

Embossed Rings

Tattoos and piercings are painful, but portraying your love in a unique way doesn’t have to include discomfort. Some of the most recent styles of wedding bands include a protrusion on the inside of the band that will imprint on the wearer’s finger over time. The embossing could be anything from your honey’s initials to your wedding date; whatever you decide, an embossing is much less painful (and less permanent) then a tattoo or a piercing.

Wedding bands are not a new concept. They have been around in some form or another for centuries; for example the Egyptians and Romans both used them. Wearing a ring doesn’t just show that you’re taken, but also that you and your beloved share something special; whether you have a traditional band or not does not matter.

Not long ago, we wrote about Tiffany’s trademark infringement case against Costco for engagement rings sold at Costco’s warehouse club. Although Costco is clearly in the wrong in this case, Tiffany may yet end up getting the short end of the stick. A popular and successful brand name can sometimes be devalued into a generic description of a type of product. When this happens, the brand name loses it’s unique qualities and the power of brand association. This is not something new; take Xerox as an example. Xerox was so dominate in the copying machine sector that its brand became synonymous with making copies. When their brand was disseminated into common speech, it was no longer a defensible trademark. Tiffany is now facing a counterclaim from Costco; who claim that the Tiffany brand has become devalued.

Authentic Tiffany?

Costco claims that the generic term for the setting they sold is “Tiffany.” A Tiffany setting, according to Costco, is one in which there are multiple prongs that reach upwards to hold a single diamond or gemstone. They further claim that the rings themselves were never sold as being Tiffany brand rings, but only that the setting was of the “Tiffany” style. Costco’s argument lies on the premise that the “Tiffany” setting has become a ubiquitous term, and that the usage of the term is so common that Tiffany has lost the right to enforce their trademark.

You Must Fight For Your Right

The case could have important repercussions for the diamond industry. It’s not just company brand names, like Tiffany, that need to be defended. There are many trademarked brand name perfect cuts, like Hearts on Fire, that may also be vulnerable to dilution. Costco’s counterclaim states that they have used the term “Tiffany setting” for years and that they are only just now being sued over it. This plays into Costco’s favor as the longer a trademark is used without an infringement claim, the stronger the implication that the term is no longer salvageable as a true trademark. While no company can stop the general populous from adopting a brand name as a descriptive term, strong efforts should be made to prevent competitors from diluting their brand. Those in the diamond industry who wish to retain their trademark rights should pursue all infringements of their trademarks to the maximum extent of the law, and do so with all haste.  Those who wait may find themselves in a losing battle to defend a diluted trademark.

A jewelry store called Bernie Robbins has reportedly cut and sold a gigantic 30 carat diamond. Unlike many other huge rocks, this one was not intended as an engagement ring; you don’t have to be getting married to get a huge diamond, after all. Gigantic stones, by themselves or set into jewelry, are always available to those with copious cash; whether weddings bell are ringing or not. Big rocks can make big impressions on any and all special occasions, if you can afford the price tag. Continue reading »