Diamond Stars Archives
Tribute To A Diamond Legend
William (Bill) Goldberg.
In whose factory I had the good fortune of working in for over 10 years. His Passion for Diamonds, his Enthusiasm, and above all being a 'Mentsch'.
Read more about a great Man who we, in the industry called "Mr. Diamond" here in the GIA Newsletter.
William Goldberg Family Honors His Legacy with Major Gift to GIA
May His Memory be a Blessing.
Diamond Stars come to New York
Much was made about "Mr. Congeniality" (RJ) blowing up at a TV photog.
New Yawkers don't care, "JUST WIN BABY!"
Diamond Industry Saddened by Loss of a True Gentelman
Jeffrey Comment, CEO Helzberg Diamonds
The diamond industry mourns the loss of one of its "diamond stars", Jefferey W. Comment, Chairman and CEO of Helzberg Diamonds.
Jeffery, a noted philanthropist and well respected member in the diamond trade died unexpectedly on Oct. 30. He was 60.
Comment is credited with helping to expand the Helzberg Diamonds retail chain from 72 to 265 locations throughout the United States during his 16 years with the company. His focus was on (diamond) brand protection - a topic he recently lectured on for GIA students at the institute's world headquarters and Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad.
"Jeff Comment was a true gentelman, intelligent, articulate and giving as a leader, and as a human being," said GIA President William E. Boyajian.
Comment was active in many charitable causes, including the United Way
here is a link to a recent tribute to Mr. Comment from their website:
Comment is survived by his wife of 34 years, Martha, and his two children, Kristen and Ryan.
Diamond In The Rough.
Above: 'What time is it, Herm?'
"Clock Management" is a four-letter word to this "Star" of New York.
The most amazing thing about Herm's chronic inability to manage the clock in the last two minutes of a game is that after several clock management fiascos last season, "Coach" went out and hired himself a
"Clock Management Coach" whose only responsibility during the game is to manage the time clock and keep count of the number of time outs still available to the team. His name is Dick Curl and his title is "Director of Special Projects". You can't make this stuff up, folks.
You think Bill Belicheck knew what he was getting out of when he quit as Jets Coach four years ago after a tenure of one day.
Could these perennial Jet disasters be the Curse of the Babe? Did the Babe ever play Football?
If you did your job like this, would you still have one?
Famous Diamonds: One Of A Kind.
Famous Diamonds
For all Diamond Lovers!!
To see some of rarest and most famous fancy diamonds under one roof, Click Here for Bling Bling!
Diamonds Going and Coming
Delgado: Florida Bound.
Mientkiewicz: Say "Shea"
Mientkiewicz brings his World Series ball to Shea Stadium.
We can live vicariously, can't we?
Diamonds in the Right Places: Surprise her for Valentine's Day.
Tyra Banks models this Diamond Bra, created by Mouwad.
Bra is made of a 70 carat Pear shape in the Center with 2900 diamonds in 10 Karat Gold. I wonder what are the straps made of, Titanium?
Valerie Crenshaw thinks this is a great fashion idea but needs advice on what to wear with it.
Platinum Star: Mark Morrell-Magic Man
Mark Morrell is known in our trade and among consumers as a superb craftsman in finely crafted Platinum jewelry. His unique and innovative designs, attention to detail, and meticulous craftsmanship are unique and in high demand.
His website is here: Mark Morrell
"You got to know when to Hold 'em, & when to Fold 'em.
It's time to say goodbye, Allan.
"Bent on Wounded Knee"
Diamond On The Move
"Cork" is a four-letter word
Diamond Star: Anna Christy, Metropolitan Opera Star
Judah and I were privleged to have the beautiful and talented Opera Star,Anna Christy and her fiancee ( scientist and physician) recently visit with us in our Diamond showroom.
We wish her every success.
Anna Christy
Anna and her Mom with Placido Domingo
A Diamond For Valentine's Day In New York City
A heartsick Millionaire has a generous Valentines Day gift prepared for New Yorkers in honor of his late wife. Read about it here.
Denver Jewelers Ready For All-Star Hoops Weekend.
Jewelers in Denver, Colorado, plan their own show during the 2005 NBA All-Star Game scheduled for February 20. Hyde Park jewelers in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center will debut the Tourbillon timepiece diamond watch for $190,000 in rose gold -- $245,000 for platinum.
Oster Jewelers on Steele Street has hooped-up its inventory for the weekend as well with an Audemars Piguet trunk show. Oster will feature an oval ring with yellow, blue, and pink diamonds, and a selection of white and yellow diamonds commanding prices tags in the hundreds-of-thousands of dollars.
Play Ball!
Spring is in the air and "The Boys Of Summer" are back!
Do you remember hearing Ernie Bank's call out:
"We've got sunshine, fresh grass, so let's play TWO!"
De Beers; The Monster of The Diamond Industry
Love em' or (in most cases...) hate em', there is no denying that De Beers is the biggest name in the diamond industry and is solely responsible for the majority of the worlds diamond mining and output.
In the past couple of years De Beers has been at the forefront of a concerted marketing effort for diamonds and jewelry. They are responsible for the creation of the 3 stone diamond ring concept which has become known as the De Beers diamond ring. They are also responsible for the marketing of the "Diamond Right Hand Ring".
It is almost impossible today to travel in any city or read any magazine without stumbling across a De Beers diamond and jewelry ad that looks something like this:
De Beers isn't just about diamond manufacturing anymore; but has pushed the envelope for the "branding" and marketing of diamonds and jewelry products as a means of survival and continuity in the diamond industry. Their "Supplier of Choice Program" is a reflection of this philosophy.
Much of the diamond marketing is done over their website at www.adiamondisforever.com.
More recently De Beers has announced that they will be opening a chain of diamond and jewelry stores, bringing diamonds and jewelry directly to the end consumer.
Diamond Star: Audrey Hepburn
A 44-year-old movie character with a soft spot for a well-known jewelry store has been voted cinema's most stylish character of all time, reports Yahoo News.
Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's, topped the list of best-dressed movie characters in a poll of 4,000 people, conducted by the BBC's What to Wear magazine.
"Breakfast At Tiffany's"
Based Truman Capote's novel, the classic, romantic 1961 movie helped bring attention to the Tiffany & Co. building on Fifth Avenue, thanks in part to the character's admiration for the luxury jeweler's stylish atmosphere.
Second place went to Uma Thurman's Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction and Cameron Diaz's Natalie Cook in Charlie's Angels.
Eduard Gubelin
Leading gemologist and authority on inclusions in gemstones Eduard J. Gübelin died March 15, one day short of his 92nd birthday.
Gübelin was born to a watchmaking family in 1913, and joined his father's business at an early age. He became involved with gemology after his father started a gemological laboratory in Lucerne.
An authority on inclusions in gemstones who was ell-known for his research, Gübelin authored many publications including Internal World of Gemstones: Documents from Space and Time, a work that showed how gemologists could determine the source of stones based on their inclusions.
"While his death saddened me greatly, no one who knew him can feel anything but joy," said Richard R. Hughes, of the American Gem Testing Laboratory, in a statement. "Eduard Gübelin was the father of modern gemology. We are all his children."
The History of the World Famous Cullinan Diamond.
Beautiful loose diamonds and diamond engagement rings have captivated people for centuries! One of the most famous loose diamonds is the Cullinan Diamond.
Willem Prinsloo, owner of the Elandsfontein farm in South Africa, discouraged prospectors from exploring on his property. He was, in fact, famous for discouraging prospectors. After Prinsloo’s death, Thomas Cullinan, a Johannesburg building contractor, purchased the farm. He bought it for 52,000 British pounds and registered the Premier (Transvaal) Diamond Mining Company Limited on December 1, 1902; mining on the farm began immediately thereafter. The Premier Mine was one of South Africa’s most productive, employing more than 2,000 people by the end of 1904.
The Discovery
As the sun was beginning to set on Thursday afternoon, January 26, 1905, Superintendent Captain Frederick Wells was making his daily inspection. A crystal caught light on the shaft wall; it was only nine meters from the surface. Thinking the miners were playing a joke, Wells took it for a piece of broken glass and pried it out with a pocketknife. The crystal weighed 1.5 pounds, was 37/8 inches long, 21/4 inches wide and 25/8 inches high. Wells was sure it was worthless…well, almost sure. So he sent it to be analyzed. It turned out that the uncut stone was a perfectly clear and colorless diamond weighing 3,106 carats and was twice the size of any other diamond ever found. There is talk that the stone was originally much larger; experts surmise that since one side of the crystal was smooth the stone was cleaved by natural forces. Named for Cullinan, the diamond was sold to the Transvaal Government for 150,000 pounds and Wells received 3,500 pounds as a reward.
The Cullinan In The Rough: 3106 carats.
The Cullinan In Pieces.
The Prime Minister of Transvaal, Louis Botha, suggested that the diamond be presented as a gift to King Edward VII. Due to lingering rancor after the Boer War, the gift did not sit well with Parliament, which only voted 42 to 19 in favor of its acceptance. After much debate and at Winston Churchill’s urging, the king accepted The Cullinan. In gratitude, Churchill was presented with a replica of the diamond; he enthusiastically displayed it to friends, sometimes exhibiting it on a silver platter. The Cullinan was presented to the king on November 9, 1907, for his 66th birthday.
Cutting
How The Cullinan was to be cut was of primary importance because the stone’s greatest value was in the number of stones that could be produced. The firm I.J. Asscher and Company of Amsterdam was chosen for the task. For three months, Joseph Asscher February 10, 1908, at 2:45 pm, Asscher prepared himself for the greatest responsibility of his professional career — cleaving The Cullinan. Placing the cleaving blade at the prearranged point, he gave it a blow with his hammer. Snap…the blade broke. The stone was unharmed; it had not even moved. Another blade was quickly procured and Asscher struck the stone again. This time it split perfectly, just as he had hoped. Amidst cheers, shouts and pats on the back for a job well done, Asscher fainted.
Now there were two stones, weighing 1,977.50 and 1,040 carats, respectively. Additional cleaving produced nine major stones, 96 brilliants and 9.50 carats of unpolished pieces. The total weight was 1,063 carats; there was a 65 percent cutting loss. King Edward VII was given the two principal stones and he purchased an additional stone, the sixth Cullinan “chip” for Queen Alexandra, which weighed 11.50 carats. The rest of the diamonds were retained by the Asschers as compensation.
The pear shape, a 530.20-carat diamond commonly known as Cullinan I, but also known as the Star of Africa, now resides in the Tower of London and is set in the British royal scepter. Cullinan II is a massive 317.40-carat cushion-shaped diamond that sits in the center front in the band of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. These jewels were specifically used for the coronation of King George V on June 22, 1911.
Cullinan "Star Of Africa" 530.20 Carats!
The stones that were in the possession of the Asschers were eventually purchased from them and presented to Queen Mary on June 28, 1910. In 1910 Queen Mary set Cullinan III and Cullinan IV, known as the Lesser Stars of Africa, into a brooch. Cullinan III, a 94.40-carat pear drop, hangs from Cullinan IV, a cushion-cut diamond weighing 63.60 carats. Always impressively arrayed, Queen Mary would also hang the Cullinan I as a pendant from the Koh-i-Noor brooch.
Cullinan III and IV.
As for some of the other Cullinan diamonds, Queen Mary had the Cullinan V, an 18.80-carat triangular-pear shape mounted in a platinum brooch with the silhouette of the design echoing the shape of the stone. The brooch was part of a very large stomacher that includes the legendary Cambridge emeralds, which the Queen received in 1910; each element of the stomacher can come apart and be worn as a separate brooch. Queen Elizabeth II frequently wears the Cullinan V brooch.
The Cullinan VII is an 8.80-carat marquise diamond, which Queen Mary added as a pendant to the 6.80-carat oval cushion Cullinan VIII brooch; this brooch was created at the same time as the Cullinan V. A photograph from 1919 shows Queen Mary wearing a platinum diamond pendant and chain that incorporates some of the 96 smaller Cullinan stones. Although she inherited the necklace in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II has never been known to wear it in public; the queen says, “It gets in the soup.” The Cullinan IX is a 4.39-carat pear, which was placed in an engraved ring presented to Queen Mary. It now belongs to Queen Elizabeth II.
Cullinan VII and VIII.
The Cullinan II Diamond. The two tiny platinum loops on the edges allow the stone to be worn as a brooch, alone or with the Cullinan I
attached. However, it usually resides in the front of the Imperial State Crown.
Diamonds Power New Bionic Eye: The Sightless Will See.
A bionic eye that allows blind people to see has now got a protective coat of diamond that should significantly improve its performance.
The silicon chip retinal implant is being developed by Second Sight, a company based in Sylmar, California, along with a consortium of university researchers. The device needs a hermetic case to prevent it from reacting with fluids in the eye.
Retinal implants coated with Diamonds could give sight back to people blinded by disease.
Researchers have developed an ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) film that is guaranteed to be safe, long-lasting, electrically insulating and extremely tough. The coating can also be applied at low temperatures that do not melt the chip's microscopic circuits.
The UNCD film is the first coating to meet all the necessary criteria for the implant, says Xingcheng Xiao, a materials reseach scientist who developed the film.
The tiny diamond grains that make up the film are about 5 millionths of a millimetre across. They grow from a mixture of methane, argon and hydrogen passing over the surface of the five-millimetre-square chip at about 400 °C. Xiao and his colleagues have already tested the implants in rabbits' eyes, and saw no adverse reaction after six months. He will present the results on 1 April at the Materials Research Society meeting in San Francisco, California.
The full article is here:
Diamond Stars are Back. Play Ball!
"The Boys of Summer" are back.
To quote Ernie Banks: "We got sunshine, fresh air, and green grass; so let's play two!!
Diamond Engagement Proposals May Require a Pre-Nup-Nup!
Hey guys! Wanna get engaged? Wanna make sure she says YES!!
Before you speak to her Pop and get down on bended knee, you may want to get it in Writing.
That's because a jilted lover wants back the engagement ring that he gave his fiancée? William Christopher Thompson filed in Santa Fe County court (New Mexico) to do just that. Thompson served his bride-to-be, Rodina Lucero, a chocolate cake with the ring embedded.
Lucero accepted at first, which according to court papers was the second time, but the following day she broke-off the engagement and refused to return the 18-karat gold 1.5 carat Marquise diamond ring.
Thompson's attorney, Ernest L. Padilla, wrote that Lucero accepted the engagement ring under false pretenses in an effort to defraud Thompson of the ring. Padilla argues that the ring was a conditional gift and in order to keep the ring Lucero must marry first.
Thompson is asking the court to award him the return of the ring or ask Lucero for the ring's fair market value.
He's from Mars; she's from Venus. Or is it the other way around?
Henry Grossbard
Master diamond cutter Henry Grossbard, innovator of the Radiant Cut, died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Hoboken, New Jersey, on April 23 around 10:30 p.m.
The 79-year-old Grossbard was strolling with his family dog in the suburb of New York City at the time of the accident. Hoboken police Sergeant Costello told Rapaport News that there were a couple of eye witnesses, but the agency continues to seek more information. Grossbard was struck at 3rd Street and Sinatra Drive by what is believed to be a late-model Honda Odyssey. The mini-van is light color, perhaps silver or light green, and is likely to have front-end damage and perhaps a broken windshield Costello said.
"Whoever did this and left the scene, the fact that it is a mini-van leads us to believe" the automobile is used for transporting children to school or general household shopping chores, Costello said. Anyone with information should contact the Hoboken police detective bureau at 201.420.2110.
Grossbard was known worldwide for the Radiant Cut, and he received worldwide patents for the Radiant Cut design in 1977, among the first patents ever granted for a diamond cut.
Diamond Named After Nobel Prize Winner.
A 77.62 –carat diamond has been named after Mikhail Sholokhov, a well known Soviet writer and Nobel Prize winner. The announcement was made at the Russian Literature Awards Ceremony in Moscow on July 1, reported the Soviet TASS news agency.
The Sholokhov diamond has been added to Russia’s collection of over 400 Yakutian diamonds named after famed writers, scientists, historical events and finders of diamond deposits. Other large diamonds in Russia have been named after, Marshal Zhukov (79.7 carats), Sergei Prokofyv (79.6 carats), Mikhail Bulgakov (64.2 carats), Arkady Gaidar (50.4 carats) and Yevgeny Leonov (73.9 carats). One of the world’s largest diamonds is named after writer and poet Alexander Pushkin (320.6 carats).
Sholokhov lived from 1905-1984. In 1922 he became a journalist and published a number of short stories in newspapers. He made his literary debut in 1926 with a volume of stories called Donskie rasskazy (Tales from the Don), 1926, about the Cossacks of his native region. In 1926, he began writing Tikhi Don (And Quiet Flows the Don) which became the most read work in Soviet fiction. In 1939, he became a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and later vice president of the Association of Soviet Writers.
War of The Worlds Returns Tonight!
Well, folks; the All-Star Game is over and we start the second-half of the Baseball Season with the Yankees and Bosox meeting in an important 4 game series up at Fenway Pahk beginning tonight.
I Love You!
Yup, "Play Ball" will declared by the Home Plate Ump and the opposing players will also be exchanging some other choice 4-letter words!
Fasten your seatbelts. This should be Fun!
Rare Australian Cognac Diamond Extends Hand Of Friendship!
Australia's "Daily Telegraph" newspaper reports this morning that Janette Howard, wife of the Austalian Prime Minister has kept a low profile since arriving in Washington with husband Prime Minister John Howard, but a $20,000 diamond drew her into the public spotlight today.
The glittering 2.09 carat, cognac-coloured diamond was presented to Washington's famous Smithsonian Museum by Mrs Howard on behalf of Sydney jeweller Nicola Cerrone and Rio Tinto's Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia.
The museum has an extensive collection of gemstones from around the world, but the Argyle diamond is its first from Australia.
Wearing a borrowed gold Cerrone broach featuring champagne and cognac diamonds on her pale lemon suit jacket, Mrs Howard was slightly reluctant to hand over the Argyle diamond to the Smithsonian during a function at the Australian Embassy in Washington.
"It's mine, it's mine," she laughed.
Mrs Howard said the diamond's beauty was typical of Argyle diamonds, which were internationally renowned for their brilliance and colour.
"It is not at all surprising that these diamonds should be found in the Kimberley region in the northwest of Australia," she said.
"The spectacular natural beauty spot in this ancient and remote area and its awesome, gorgeous and pristine beaches is a worthy match to the stunning and fine beauty of the Argyle diamond and reflects very much the colours that you see in the Australian landscape in that area."
Mrs Howard said the donation of the Argyle diamond to the Smithsonian highlighted the friendship and mutual respect between Australia and the US.
"Political and economic bonds between our countries are of great importance, but it is clear to me when I visit that we owe much of the strength of these bonds to the cultural links and the friendships between everyday Australians and Americans," she said.
Smithsonian's undersecretary for science David Evans assured Mrs Howard the Argyle diamond would be happy among the museum's gem collection.
"Many millions of people will have an opportunity to see it in the Natural History Museum, five or six million people a year typically and almost all of them visit the national gem collection," he said.
"So I think it will be a special opportunity for people to see the connection between our two countries while focusing on something bright and glittering that makes almost everyone smile."
JFC Is A Diamond Star!
National Jeweler reports that Jewelers for Children (JFC) has committed $4.15 million in donations to its four charity partners and other organizations that benefit children.
The four partners, which JFC calls its Legacy Charities,are: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and National CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Association. Each of the four was pledged a $975,000 donation by JFC's board of directors at the group's annual Facets of Hope fundraising dinner in Las Vegas in June.
Additionally, the board donated $150,000 to Make-A-Wish Foundation International to fund the group's program in India and $100,000 to the Jeffrey W. Comment Memorial Endowment Fund, which provides to additional youth charities and was named for the late Helzberg Diamonds' CEO and JFC board member.
JFC receives support from jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturers, retail jewelry stores, individual members of the trade and consumers. Over the years, JFC has raised more than $18 million for young victims of illness, abuse, and neglect through various vehicles, including the Facets of Hope dinner, sales of JFC holiday cards, in-store collections, Hero for Hope membership, charity golf tournaments and raffles.
Shine On!
Hey Raffy!
You used the wrong finger!
Golconda Diamonds: What Are They?
The Golconda diamond mines are located in south central India in what today is the state of Hyderabad. This region was the first known source for rough diamonds from approxiamtely the 4th century B.C. until 1730 when diamonds were discovered in Brazil.
The defining characteristics of Golconda diamonds and what sets them apart and in a class by themselves are their incredible transparency, "whiteness", and purity.
Both the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the world reknowned Gubelin Gem Lab characterize diamonds displaying the finest white color and transparency as type IIa, signifying that they are free from nitogen and are therefore chemically pure and colorless. The term "Golconda" has come to define diamonds of the finest white color and transparency.
Some descriptive terms used to define Golconda diamonds have been; "whiter than white", "like a clear river stream", and brighter than bright".
Golconda diamonds are very, very rare in today's market and if you do come across one it will usually be at a Christie's or Sotheby's auction.
Bring LOTS OF CASH!
Diamond Breaks!
Nasty collison between Met outfielders Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron chasing fly ball in San Diego.
Cameron suffered broken nose and cheekbone fractures.
Get well, Mike.
Want Imelda Marcos' Diamonds? Step Over Here, Bud!
The Phillipine Daily Inquirer today reports that the Phillipine government is ready to auction off the diamond jewelry once owned by Phillipine First Lady, Imelda Marcos.
The Philipine government expects to recover around $10 million from the sale. It said the collection included a yellow gold 30.71-carat diamond-studded bracelet with a central marquise cut diamond crafted by Bulgari. When appraised by Sotheby's in 1990, it was reportedly valued conservatively at from $800,000 to $1.2 million.
The jewelry, now being held in escrow in a Phillipine Central Bank vault, has been independently appraised and found to be genuine.The Phillipine government is finalizing the conditions and details of the auction, including the venue and date of the auction,with the expectation that the auction and sales will be consummated by the end of 2005.
Gem and Diamond Appraisers have described the jewelry pieces as "works of art" because of their exquisite designs, breathtaking size, and the superb quality of the gems.
Now in her early 70s, Imelda Marcos faces several graft cases before local Phillipine courts. The cases are linked to her stint as housing minister and governor of Metro Manila.
The Phillipine government has recovered Marcos-linked assets in the Philippines amounting to P50 billion and $683 million from Swiss bank accounts.
But, hey guys!! What about her SHOES!!?? Probably worth more than the diamonds and gems!
Black Diamond With A Curse.
In what is being called the world's largest exhibit of diamonds underway at the London Natural History Museum, a new diamond joined the display on September 21.
The Black Orlov or The Eye of Brahma, joined the Diamonds show begun at the museum July 8. A 65-year old curse is associated with the Black Orlov and lore tells that the jewel was responsible for deaths of two Russia princesses after it was removed from a Hindu shrine in southern India.
A monk removed the original rough 195-carat diamond from the eye of the Idol of Brahma at a shrine near Pondicherry, India. This act forever cursed all future owners of the precious stone by bringing a violent death.
In 1947 princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov and princess Leonila Galitsine-Bariatinsky (both former owners of the Black Orlov) leapt to their deaths in apparent suicides. Fifteen years earlier, J.W. Paris, the diamond dealer who imported the stone to the United States, had jumped to his death from one of New York's tallest buildings shortly after concluding the sale of the jewel.
In an attempt to break the curse, the diamond was re-cut into three separate gemstones and has since been owned by a succession of private owners, all of whom seem to have escaped the curse. The 67.5-carat Black Orlov is set in a 108-diamond brooch suspended from a 124-diamond necklace.
Black diamonds are incredibly rare. Only one in 10,000 diamonds mined are colored. Most colored diamonds get their color from chemical impurities or defects in the stone itself. Black diamonds are different: Their color comes from the presence of tiny mineral inclusions.
Recent studies have shown that these inclusions are predominantly the iron oxide minerals magnetite and haematite along with native iron itself. When these iron-rich inclusions occur in a high enough proportion they can even make diamonds magnetic.
Dancing Diamonds for Imelda! The Saga Continues!
Diamondvues has been following the story of the Phillipine Government trying to recoup the money they claim Imelda Marcos stole from them by litigating to seize her diamond jewelry.
In this continuing saga, todays Phillipine Inquirer reports that the Phillipine gov't is confident that the world's fascination with her mystique will fetch a price running into the millions of dollars, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) says it is also now considering auctioning off former First Lady Imelda Marcos gowns and famous shoe collection along with her jewelry.
PCGG Commissioner Ricardo Abcede said he will discuss this possibility with three international auction houses he had earlier invited to bid for three collections of jewelry seized from the Marcoses after the 1986 People Power revolt that ended Ferdinand Marcos 20-year rule.
In an interview with the Inquirer yesterday, Abcede said that, like the jewelry, Imeldas gowns and shoes were nonperforming assets that should have been sold a long time ago.
Abcede said he expects that the jewelry alone, earlier estimated to be worth around $10 million, would fetch as much as $150 million, or about P8.4 billion, in an international auction.
Fascination with Imelda
Abcede believes that the worldwide publicity that the jewelry has received, plus the fascination with Imelda, the total price could be 15 times what has been previously estimated. This has happened several times with auction houses, Abcede said. He recalled that a rocking chair once owned by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy fetched a price 15 times its original estimated value.
Its a celebrity auction, meaning the price will be dictated not by the item itself but by its association with the celebrity, Abcede said.
He did not say how much the gowns and shoes would fetch or who would be interested in them.
Displaying Imeldas gowns and shoes as done in the past is no longer feasible because people lose interest after around three months, according to Abcede. He added that, like the jewelry, they could be put to better use by being sold, with the proceeds going to the governments land reform program.
3,000 pairs of shoes!
At the time of the Marcoses ouster, the former first lady was reported to have around 3,000 pairs of shoes, including many designed by such world-famous names as Ferragamo, Givenchy, Chanel, and Christian Dior, all size eight-and-a-half.
She had admitted owning only 1,060 pairs, saying they were mostly given to her as presents by Filipino shoe manufacturers in Marikina. Nonetheless, this massive shoe collection has gained her international notoriety.
Her gowns, mostly ternos, were designed by top Filipino designers like Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Valera and Joe Salazar, and international designers Valentino and Jean Paul Gaultier (in the 70s before he became famous).
The PCGG has been negotiating for some time now with three major international auction houses, namely, Sothebys, Christies, and Bonhams, for the right to sell the Marcos jewelry.
While the auction was planned initially to be held abroad, the PCGG is now considering holding it in the Philippines in hopes it would attract tourists and funnel taxes from the sale directly into the national coffers instead of going to some foreign government. Abcede said March would be a good time to hold the auction in Manila because it would fit in with an international jewelry fair in Hongkong.
Mrs. Marcos is seeking a court injunction to stop the sale, claiming she is the rightful owner of the jewelry, but nothing has come out of this thus far.
The jewelry consists of three lots: the Malacanang collection consisting of around 300 items left behind in Malacanang when the Marcoses fled; the Honolulu collection of around 400 items confiscated by U.S. Customs in Hawaii when the Marcos landed there in 1986; and the so-called Roumeliotes collection, supposedly the most expensive, confiscated at the Manila airport in 1986 from Greek national Demetriou Roumeliotes, said to be a friend of the Mrs. Marcos.
Abcede said keeping the jewelry on display as some quarters want goes against the mandate of the PCGG and would require a congressional amendment of the law creating it.
I have one question, friends: Abcede heads the Commission on Good Government; isn't that an oxymoron? Talk about non-performing ass-ets!
Salesclerk, This Bud's For You!!
The most annoying thing a salesperson can tell a customer is, "It's not my department," according to research by retail industry consulting firm MOHR Access.
Among those surveyed, 28.9 percent of consumers selected "It's not my department" as the most annoying statement. The second most irksome statement uttered by salespeople was "If it's not on the rack, we don't have it," chosen by 24.9 percent of survey participants.
Other annoying salesperson responses included "That's the policy," selected by 10.2 percent of those surveyed; "I'm on break," chosen by 9.95 percent of those surveyed; "Ask that person over there," picked by 8 percent of survey takers; "I'm new here," selected by 6.2 percent of those surveyed; "You'll have to wait your turn," chosen by 5.3 percent of survey takers; and "The computer's down," picked by 2.7 percent of survey takers.
The results come from interviews of 230 customers in shopping malls on both U.S. coasts.
Be alot easier if ya just put a sign on your forehead, "GONE FISHING"!
It's Good To Have a Diamond Connection!
A diamond encrusted tiara worth $317,000 was stolen from a Hankyu Department Store showcase in Japan, reports today's Mainichi Daily News on October 10.
The tiara had been on display in a locked showcase on the first floor of the Osaka store, according to police. While many customers were at the store, there were no witnesses to the robbery. Security guards were not present at the scene of the robbery and the showcase was located where it could not be identified by security cameras.
The display was part of an English product promotion and the tiara was one of 30 jewelry items from a major British company.
So, the showcase was located out of view of the security cameras???!!!
How convenient!
Camilla and Her Diamond Tiara
The Duchess of Cornwall arrived at Buckingham Palace last night wearing her first royal tiara.
The diamond head piece, loaned to her by the Queen, was the tiara previously worn by Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar to celebrate the coronation of King George V.
It was last worn in 1947 by the Queen Mother for an official visit to South Africa.
The circle of brilliant-cut diamonds mounted in gold and set in platinum was made by Garrards in 1911 and Queen Mary wore it in Delhi to mark the start of King George V's reign as King and Emperor of India.
It was lent to the Queen Mother for her visit to South Africa and remained with her but she is not believed to have worn it subsequently.
The tiara previously included five of the Cambridge cabochon emeralds and also was occasionally worn with two diamonds from the Cullinan stone. But the emeralds were removed by Queen Mary and made into another tiara now owned by the Queen - the diamonds were kept separately as a brooch.
Looks like he should be wearing the Tiara, don't you think? Cheers, Mate!
Gemology As A Career? Ask Jared.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) selected its outstanding graduate for 2006. The award recipient, Jared Ross, was inspired by the industry while working for a family jeweler in Nebraska at the age of 17. Ross said he knew that earning a jewelry education was essential to reaching his goal of one day running his own operation.
When Ross was 23 years old when he earned GIA's Jewelry Business Management diploma while working full-time, and he excelled in the GIA School of Business with an A average, according to GIA's statement.
The annual award is presented by the Distance Education Training Council (DETC,) and is given to one exceptional GIA Distance Education student who has achieved extraordinary standards of academic and personal excellence. DETC is the national accrediting commission, which sets standards for and accredits GIA's Distance Education courses and programs.
"We chose Jared as this year's outstanding graduate not only because of his excellent academic record and strong work ethic, but also because of his remarkable passion for the industry," said Brook Ellis, GIA vice president of education.
Ross currently works for Tiffany & Co., at the luxury retailer's boutique located at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. He said, "It's not a job, or a career, but a dream come true." Ross says he takes pride in sharing the passion of buying jewelry with his customers.
"When I work with an engagement client, I not only want him to have a passion for the woman that he is about to marry, but I want him to have a passion for that diamond that he is about to buy," Ross, who is a newlywed, said. "Having a great education is the backbone to getting that done."
Ross is in the process of completing GIA's Graduate Gemologist diploma program through Distance Education.
Mind-Body Expert Chopra to Address GIA.
National Jeweler reports today that mind-body medicine pioneer Deepak Chopra will present "Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life" at a special luncheon during the Gemological Institute of America's (GIA) 4th International Symposium in San Diego Aug. 27-29, 2006.
Recognized for his philosophy on expanding traditional Western medicine with natural healing traditions, Chopra will discuss the concepts as told in his latest best seller, The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life. A book signing will be held immediately after the lunchtime presentation on Aug. 29.
"Deepak is a highly regarded leader in the areas of modern health philosophies, and he will add a great motivational and inspirational flavor to Symposium," said Kathryn Kimmel, GIA vice president of marketing and public relations and co-chair of the event, at which U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is scheduled to be the lead keynote speaker.
Time magazine named Chopra one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century, dubbing him "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine." He has authored 42 books and issued more than 100 audio, video, and CD-ROM titles totaling over 20 million copies sold in 35 different languages worldwide.
Chopra served as chief of staff for Boston Regional Medical Center and led an endocrinology practice before launching the Chopra Center for Well Being in California in 1995. Through the center, he created a medical system based on the belief that perfect health is more than just the absence of disease, but rather the integration of body, mind, and spirit.
Just what we need, some more touchy-feely bulls--t. What a waste of money. For me, gimmee a Bud-Lite!
Check Out These Diamonds!!
The Boys Of Summer Are Back!
Diamonds, Gems, and Designer Jewels At The Oscars 2006!
Don't know how many of you guys watched the Oscars last night, but if you are a diamond and jewelry enthusiast like me you must have been blinded more by the stunning (and gaudy :)) diamonds and jewelry hanging from the Holywood stars than from the stars themselves!
I mean, you literally had millions of dollars worth of borrowed inventory from all of the major jewelry designers and manufacturers on display last night.
I couldn't help but wonder whether these items were all insured or if Tiffany, Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels all sent over special "chaperones" to keep a close eye on these magnificent baubles!
Read the full coverage article by the Associated Press below to see who was wearing what.....
Continue reading "Diamonds, Gems, and Designer Jewels At The Oscars 2006!" »
Custom Designed Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring!
Hiya Folks!
Here is a beautiful custom made princess cut diamond engagement ring that we just built for one of our customers!
The center diamond is our Exclusive, Branded SuperbCert 1.32 carat, F color, ..........now hold on to your seats...I1 clarity (yes you heard right) Princess Cut Diamond.
Because of this diamonds incredible brilliance, the inclusions are masked and it is virtually impossible to detect with your unaided eye!!
The diamond engagement ring is completely hand crafted of solid 18kt. gold and features exceptional detailing, matching side trillion diamonds, and round brilliants pave set in the band!
We also placed a custom basket on the ring with special V tips (chevron tips) to protect the four corners of the princess cut diamond.
A masterpiece that picture don't quite do justice to.
Enjoy!
Tiffany To Open Two New Diamond & Jewelry Stores In China.
Luxury retailer Tiffany & Co., plans to open two new stores in China during 2006. One store will open at Beijing's Oriental Plaza, and a second store at Shanghai's Plaza 66. Beijing is scheduled to open in May, and Shanghai could open towards the end of the year, the company reports.
"The Oriental Plaza in Beijing and Plaza 66 in Shanghai are ideal environments for a Tiffany store," said Darren Chen, group vice president at Tiffany & Co. "These convenient locations expand our presence both in Beijing and Shanghai, cities of growing importance as global business centers and as destinations for both domestic and overseas tourists."
Once the new stores open, Tiffany will have a total of two stores in each of those prominent cities. Tiffany currently has a boutique in Beijing's Peninsula Palace Hotel, which opened in 2001, and a boutique in the City Plaza shopping complex in Shanghai, which opened in 2004.
How do say "Bling-Bling" in Chinese?
"Bring-Bring"!
Heidi Klum Promotes Jewelry Line
Supermodel Heidi Klum displays a piece from the Heidi Klum Collection for Mouawad, Heidi’s lucky charm based on the clover shape, during a press preview at Theodore at The Grove in Los Angeles,California March 1, 2006. The jewelry line ranges from sterling silver accessories to high-end 18-karat gold and diamond statement pieces.
Heidi
I'd bet our Signature SuperbCert Diamonds would really look good on her!
Stolen Diamond Slippers Returned!
Three Toronto photo lab workers will share a $25,000 reward for helping recover a pair of slippers stolen from the Bata Shoe Museum.
Stolen Diamond Slippers
These rare, jewel-encrusted slippers, once worn by an Indian prince, were stolen from the Bata Shoe Museum on Jan. 22.
The jeweled slippers, worth $160,000, were stolen from the Toronto museum in late January in a daylight robbery.
A gold toe ring, set with diamonds and rubies and valued at $11,000 and a gold anklet, set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds and valued at $45,000, also were taken.
The theft led museum founder Sonja Bata to offer a $25,000 reward for return of the items.
Tom Hamilton, the owner of the photo shop, was packaging some photos when he spotted a picture of one of the slippers.
When a man returned to pick up the photos, Hamilton and his staff diverted his attention enough to secretly snap his picture and call police.
A gold toe ring set with diamonds and rubies and a gold anklet set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds also disappeared.
During their investigation of the robbery, Toronto police released photos of "persons of interest" in the case, without saying where they got the photos.
That led to a break in the case. A man was arrested on March 3.
Filip Djukic, 35, was charged with possession of property obtained by crime.
The slippers, once worn by the Nizam Sikandar Jah of Hyderabad, and the other two items were recovered in a Toronto church after an anonymous call to a museum employee.
Diamond Cleaning: Use Efferdent and Smile!
Saw this humorous posting today on Bridal Blog
Here's her story:
I keep meaning to stop in at a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned, but my mother-in-law to be (MILTB) told me this ridiculous slash terrifying story where she swears a friend of a friend of her cousin Phyllis did just such a thing and had her ring replaced with a fake. I realize that the chances of this story being true are infinitesimal, but I’ve yet to stop in and have it done, so clearly there is a tiny part of me that truly believes Phyllis’s friend’s friend. My MILTB went on to say that the BEST and ONLY means one should be using to clean a ring like mine is Efferdent—as in denture cleaner Efferdent.
So, today I did it. I walked into Duane Reade with purpose and conviction, found a box of denture cleaner and bought it. I was so excited to come home and try it out, I could barely contain myself. I heated up some water in a small teacup, dropped in the efferdent tablet, plopped in my ring and stood there watching the water fizzing for five long minutes. Even my dog looked up at me as if to say “you’ve officially crossed the line.”
When I couldn’t handle the suspense for one second longer, I fished my ring out of the icky blue solution, rinsed it off and Bing. Bam. Boom. Seriously, WOW. I may have been temporarily blinded. Dammit all if my ring didn’t look just as sparkly and shiny as the day I got it.
Now I just wonder if an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner can have the same cleaning results for dentures?
Smile!
Diamond Hunting: You Can Do It.
Want to prospect for your own diamonds? Pamela Selbert tells you how to do it!
Finding Your Diamond In The Rough: Here's How!
Plumbers AND Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend!
The Washington Post reports this morning that not only Diamonds but also Plumbers just may be a girl's best friend.
Say what? Well, sometimes plumbers just know. And after 24 years turning wrenches on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University, plumber Ronnie Bledsoe had one of those hunches about where a missing engagement ring might turn up.
Not just any old engagement ring, either, he was told, but a $20,000 rock that got sucked down an automatic-flushing toilet weeks ago.
The loss devastated Debbie Squiccimarri, a New Jersey high school teacher who was visiting the Emmitsburg campus Feb. 20 with her 17-year-old daughter, her sister and her niece when the ring vanished down a toilet in the Cogan Student Union Building.
"Everybody thought the big deal was how much it cost," said Squiccimarri, 43, who first slipped on the two-carat diamond ring after her fiance popped the question on Christmas night. But its real value was closer to the heart than the pocketbook: "I didn't feel engaged anymore after flushing it."
Bledsoe tore apart the toilet that day; Squiccimarri visited the campus's sewage treatment plant before heading home to Ramsey, N.J. Bledsoe even tore apart more pipes over spring break. No luck. Friends, especially ones with plumbing know-how, told Squiccimarri to kiss the ring goodbye.
But maybe, just maybe, Bledsoe figured, if the ring traveled the maze of underground plumbing to an L-shaped juncture under the fourth manhole from the building, where a new six-inch pipe opened, and spilled onto an 18-inch horizontal ledge before dropping down another eight-inch pipe drain . . .
The hunch paid off. On March 20, Bledsoe lifted the manhole cover, spied something bright in an inch of water and fished out the ring with needle-nose pliers.
Yesterday, ring and betrothed were formally reunited. Not a man of many words, Bledsoe said in a telephone interview yesterday: "I was really happy about it because I remembered how down she was the day she lost it." Squiccimarri said she gave Bledsoe a reward but did not want to publicize the amount.
Squiccimarri was visiting the campus on a frigid weekend when she blew her nose and lost the ring.
"I heard it go in. As soon as I moved to the bowl, it flushed -- and they're so loud, those flushes, it was like a freaky feeling when it went," she said. "I just screamed, 'Oh, my God! My ring!' "
She made a tearful call to her fiance, Frank Eufemia, 46, a former professional baseball player who teaches at the same high school.
"Is your arm caught in the toilet?" he asked her. "Because if it's not, stop crying." Later, he even joked: "Well, that was a short engagement."
Bledsoe, 70, of Gettysburg, Pa., said that about half a dozen rings have vanished on campus over the years, usually down sink drains. He estimated that Squiccimarri's ring traveled at least 250 yards from the toilet to the odd twist under the manhole.
"This is just one of those things plumbers understand," he said.
How does that song go? "Finding Love In all the right places"
David Yurman Jewelry: Evolution of a Jewelry Designer.
The Orlando Sentinel has an interesting feature on David Yurman today.
David Yurman jewelry is like your favorite blue jeans -- only much more expensive. The jewelry is "comfortable," says Yurman, 63, who recently visited his new boutique, which rubs shoulders with Cartier and Tiffany in Orlando's Mall at Millenia.
The jewelry is also versatile, he says. "You can wear it anywhere, day to evening." Just like blue jeans.
It wasn't always that way with jewelry. Before the 1980s, when Yurman's now-iconic cable bracelets became the most coveted, and copied, arm candy in the United States, there were two kinds of jewelry: Costume for everyday wear, and fine jewelry for special occasions.
The relaxed elegance of Yurman's designs bridged the divide. The jewelry is classic but with a modern twist that gives it go-anywhere elan.
Fashioned from gold and silver, many pieces also feature coral and turquoise, a sparkling array of gemstones and Yurman's current favorite, South Seas pearls. Signature motifs include a squared "cushion" shape, a hook-and-eye closure and the widely recognized twisting "cable" pattern.
The designs are "a combination of art, fine jewelry and fashion," says Yurman, who wears several of his creations: A ring, a bracelet and a square-faced watch.
Dressed all in black, his thick white hair swept straight back, his chin fashionably stubbled, he looks every inch the artist from Tribeca, the New York neighborhood where he and his artist wife, Sylvia, live and work.
Before designing jewelry, Yurman was a sculptor, hanging out with prominent Beat artists of the 1960s; writer Norman Mailer, painter Franz Kline, sculptor Ron Boise.
"I did these funny little silver angels," he says.
It was one of those angels, fashioned into a belt buckle, that sparked his career as a jewelry designer.
The buckle was a gift to Sybil, his girlfriend at the time. She wore it to an art opening, where it caught the eye of the gallery owner. He asked if it was for sale. Yurman said no, but Sybil said yes -- and within weeks they found themselves in the jewelry business.
Ever since, they've had good-luck angels perched on their shoulders. Their collections are in more than 450 stores around the world, and David Yurman is one of the best-known luxury brands on the planet.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Barbra Streisand wear the jewelry; Steven Spielberg and Kevin Spacey the watches; hip-hop moguls Jay-Z and Damon Dash the men's designs. Their ad campaigns have featured models Amber Valetta and Kate Moss, and the company's newest "face" is Naomi Watts -- who recently flashed Yurman earrings of rose quartz and diamonds at the Oscars.
Orlando real estate agent Virginia Morales, 49, collects Yurman bracelets. "I wear three, four at a time," she says. "My husband always knows what to give me for my birthday, anything David Yurman."
Since founding their company in 1980, the Yurmans have worked as a team.
"I have the vision; I design the collections," explains Yurman. "My wife does the styling and merchandising."
Their son, Evan, is part of their ever-expanding creative team. And let's not forget the lawyers.
The couple's designs, which range from about $300 for a simple bracelet to more than $7,000 for a multistrand couture necklace, are among the most copied in the world. Yurman is not flattered by imitators and spends $1 million a year protecting his brand.
"Copying is stealing," he says. People who wear copies are deceptive. "And that's not cool."
Worse, he says, they are supporting counterfeiters who may pay no taxes, have ties to illegal operations or use child labor.
As his company grows, Yurman finds himself more in the role of executive than artist.
"It's less like playing an instrument, more like being the leader of the band," he says. "I'm about ready to do more art work."
But that is not likely to happen anytime soon. First, he plans to introduce a line of Yurman eyewear and a Yurman fragrance, followed by Yurman handbags and luggage.
No wonder he believes in angels.
Loose Baguette Diamond: What Is It & What To Look For.
A straight baguette is a relatively small, elongated diamond that usually is rectangular in shape. The cut is characterized by square corners with rows of step-cut or steplike facets parallel to the table. Baguettes do not conform to the Federal Trade Commission's" 17 -facet" requirement for diamonds.
Straight Baguette.
The name of the cut must proceed the word diamond. Baguettes today are most often employed as side stones, although they also can be the main shape in full-band rings or fashion rings. When used as side stones they serve to camouflage the shoulders of the center stone, masking it £rom the girdle to the culet. Baguettes can also be lined up to produce a continuous flow of diamonds on a ring, bracelet, brooch (i.e. circlet) or necklace.
Baguettes are usually channel-set, but sometimes prong set. Less-expensive baguettes are often channel-set into bracelets. Measured in millimeters more often than weight because their size must be precise for their function, typical sizes for today's side baguettes are from 1.5 mm to 3 mm in length. For larger, more important pieces, designers and retailers may order straight baguettes of 2.7 mm to 4.7 mm, for example.
The word "baguette" is a French word for a long, narrow loaf of bread. This shape, beginning in costume jewelry, is a fashion outgrowth of the 1920s to mid-1930s. During that time, interest in functionalism in architecture and the Bauhaus movement influenced the applied arts and dominated contemporary design. In the Art Deco period, many stones were cut in strict, geometrical shapes, typified by the calibre technique or elongated baguette. In contemporary times, jewelry houses like Bulgari have sustained their use and passion for the baguette. Nicola Bulgari once exclaimed, "We flirt with the baguette." The yield for a baguette from the diamond rough is 38 to 42 percent.
Baguettes are extraordinarily clear. If baguettes are to be used as side stones or as other matched pairs, they must be of similar quality, color and clarity to one another, and to the stone they are enhancing. The step-cut appearance is unforgiving and does not allow for little imperfections in the diamonds. Stay with VS clarity and higher. SI clarity must be examined to insure that the imperfection(s) are not eye-visible. A small chip is much more obvious on a baguette than on a heavily faceted diamond.
Chameleon Diamond: What Is It?
In Nature, Chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are large lizards that belong to one of the best known lizard families. They are famous for their ability to change their colour, and also because of their elongated tongue and their eyes which can be moved independently of each other. Their eyes are the most unique among the reptiles. Among other things they can rotate and focus separately to observe two different objects simultaneously.
Chameleon
Some Chameleon species are able to change their body colour, which has made them one of the most famous lizard families. Contrary to popular belief, this change of colour is not only an adaptation to the surroundings but also an expression of the physical and physiological condition of the lizard. The skin colour is changed under influence of mood, light and temperature. The skin colour also plays an important part in communication and rivalry fights.
There is also such a phenomenon as a Chameleon Diamond. Certain natural green diamonds react to heat or dark storage by temporarily changing color, often becoming bright yellow. This color change is short-lived as the diamond soon reverts to its stable color. Most specimens observed in gem laboratories show even color distribution, aiding in the dramatic transformation, and both color changes are documented on laboratory reports. Faceted chameleon diamonds of 2 carats or more occasionally appear on the market; the more sizable stones offer the maximum opportunity to see color change.
A color-change diamond is such a rare and curious gem that very little has been written on the subject. The first documented report on chameleon diamonds appeared in 1943, according to the GIA Diamond Dictionary. Peter Kaplan, of the Peter K. Kaplan Inc., was astonished to witness a diamond change color on the very hot polishing wheel. The peculiar diamond was later graded light yellow green. It sold, but the baffled customer promptly returned it for a refund when the yellow-green diamond changed to dark green after storage in a jewel box.
Phenomenon Not Well Understood.
An article in GIA's Award Winning Journal, Gems & Gemology, Spring 2005, acknowledged that “...the mechanism behind chameleon coloration is not yet well understood. Nevertheless, chameleons are among the few green diamonds that can be conclusively identified as natural color, since their behavior cannot be created or enhanced in a laboratory.”
Fine-quality phenomenal diamonds often carry certificates verifying their natural characteristics. One such report by Gübelin Gem Lab, Lucerne, Switzerland, added, “Chameleon diamonds are one of the great mysteries of the diamond world. It is still not known why these diamonds change from deep green to yellow when heated or left in darkness . . . these qualities make ‘chameleons’ among the most fascinating of colored diamonds.”
A rare subset of natural fancy color diamonds, chameleons are so named for their repeatable color-change property. Prolonged dark storage, or photochroism, changes a “Classic” chameleon from its typically stable color of grayish-yellow-green to a temporary or unstable color of greenish-orangish-yellow. A few hours of dark storage might be all that is needed to bring on a color change. Also, heating a Classic chameleon, termed thermochromism, likewise results in a prominent temporary color change. At about 150º C, the induced color should be evident within a few seconds. The term “Reverse” chameleon refers to phenomenal diamonds that change from yellow in stable conditions to green after subjection to dark storage. Heating does not produce a color change in Reverse chameleons. With both groups, the change is infinitely repeatable.
Rarer still are some “maverick” color-change diamonds that have been found in Australia that exhibit this phenomenon with their own unique pair of colors. Australia’s Argyle diamond mine, famous for its fancy color diamonds, occasionally produces hydrogen-rich diamonds that also exhibit a “chameleonlike” color-change behavior. The stones are distinguished by either a blue-violet-gray color or a gray-olive color. They are thought to owe their phenomenon to high hydrogen content, but this has yet to be proven.
Identification of Chameleon Diamonds is by heating and observation. Be careful with this because heating an enhanced diamond, however, might lead to an unwanted permanent modification of color. If you suspect that the green diamond might just be an enhanced stone, the recommended course of action would be to send it to a laboratory for testing. In a laboratory, the spectroscope reading, coupled with an ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaction, will positively separate a chameleon from another type of green diamond.
Rarity.
Because of their rarity Chamelon Diamonds are not well understood by the Public or by Jewelers. Chrisities, or example, auctions a color-change diamonds in Hong Kong, because, according to Daphne Lingon, senior vice president, jewelry department, the Asian market is well-informed about phenomenal gems,which are avidly collected. During Christie’s Magnificent Jewellery & Jadeite Jewellery Hong Kong auction in May 2001, a platinum ring featuring a 4.41-carat “superb fancy dark-gray-yellowish-green chameleon diamond” went on sale and brought a sale price of $240,000.
Online jeweler Ariel Friedman of IceStore Inc., Beverly Hills, California, speculates that a combination of phosphorescence and fluorescent properties contribute to the chameleon effect in these special diamonds. Friedman estimates that he sells between five and ten chameleons a year, attributing that success to his customers, who only buy high-end goods. Recently, one of his best phenomenal diamonds went to a well-known actor who desired a one-of-a-kind gem. Friedman’s clientele understands fancy color diamonds and that “with chameleons, they own something clearly unique among the fancy colors.” A 2.95-carat, round brilliant chameleon is offered on his website for $63,720.
From Israel Comes The Divine Diamond
National Jeweler reports of the design of a special diamond shape that takes a page from a fiction bestseller to hopefully drive sales. This is the focus of Israeli diamond designer Shlomo Cohen, credited with developing the Princess Cut in 1982.
Now, taking the idea of the "Golden Ratio" or "Divine Proportion" popularized by author Dan Brown's phenomenally successful novel, The Da Vinci Code, Cohen has released "The Vinci Diamond," a 62-facet "pentacle" cut incorporating the Divine Proportion's precise ratios.
h its table. In the end, he met this challenge: Three pentacle shapes, conforming to the exact dimensions of the Divine Proportion, are visible.
"The completion of my work at the same time as The Da Vinci Code has enjoyed such amazing international success is a happy coincidence," Cohen said. "And, the fact a major Hollywood movie by the same name will soon be released is an added bonus."
The cut has been patented in Japan, Israel, Belgium and the United States.
Fad or a diamond design that will withstand the test of time? We have blogged on this topic previously here:
New Diamond Shapes: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?
Watts & Schrieber Engaged?
Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber have reportedly become the latest celebrity couple heading for the wedding chapel after the King Kong star accepted her actor beau's marriage proposal.
The couple has been spotted shopping for engagement rings in Los Angeles.
An insider at top store Antiquarius tells America's In Touch magazine the couple were shopping for $400,000 rings earlier this month.
Death Of A Diamond Salesman.
One Of A Kind Jeweler In Kansas.
A dying breed. You can truly say this guy is a "Last Of The Mohicans".
Diamonds Have Magical Powers!?
So says Will and Grace' star Debra Messing.
The actress is convinced the jewels have special powers because her hands tremble whenever she touches them.
She told America's InStyle magazine: "When I put diamonds in my hands they start to shake."
Messing first 'learned' that diamonds are magical from a friend.
She added: "One of my girlfriends says there is actually magic in them, and the wearer gets influenced by them. I believe her." The actress loves vintage jewellery stores. Her wedding ring is a 1916 diamond eternity band.
WOW!
Jacob The Jeweler Named Year's Trendsetter.
Celebrity jeweler Jacob Arabo, the founder and CEO of Jacob & Co., has been named the jewelry trendsetter for 2006 by Modern Bride magazine.
According to a media release from Jacob & Co., Arabo (aka "Jacob the Jeweler") has been recognized by the publication as having "shaped, influenced, re-imagined and in general, elevated the world of weddings to a whole new level."
In particular, it said he's known for transforming bridal with his use of bright colors and modern-shaped diamond solitaires. Jacob & Co. was the sole fine diamond jewelry designer to be recognized among a group of 25 design trendsetters such as Kate Spade, Monique Lhuillier and Stuart Weitzman.
Arabo said his designs are inspired by the lifestyles of his famous clients, who include David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, Bono, Jessica Alba, Madonna, Sir Elton John, Naomi Campbell, Sean Combs and Derek Jeter.
Tribute to Bill Goldberg: Mr. Diamond!
Father's Day (June 18, 2006.) will be a very special day for those of us in the Diamond Industry here in New York.
New York City will honor the legendary Bill Goldberg by renaming East 48th Street, between Fifth and Madison avenues, as William Goldberg Way. The street renaming ceremony will take place at noon on June 18.
"He was the face of our industry for so long, a father to so many more than just us," said Goldberg's daughter Eve, who is also the vice president of sales and marketing of the William Goldberg Diamond Corporation.
"My father was the most incredible teacher," she said, "I know my father would be very proud."
Undoubtedly William Goldberg would also be proud of how his family continues to carry on his vision. "My father taught us the importance of integrity, honesty and how essential it was to love what we do," said Goldberg's son Saul, who is the president of the firm. "His passion and charisma was infectious. This memorial to my father is such a tribute to his life."
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is expected to join the Goldberg family for the dedication ceremony. The sign will sit just below the building of William Goldberg's corporate offices where Goldberg worked to build his company into a prestigious diamond house.
William Goldberg served as the president of the New York Diamond Dealers Club from 1978-1984, and he is given much credit for supporting women in the diamond industry, opening up the Dealers Club to the media, and making 47th Street a safer and cleaner business area. He was also known for his philanthropic efforts raising funds for the United Jewish Appeal, the Gesher Foundation, Yeshiva University, and the American Society of Yad Vashem.
Known for his love of beautiful stones, William Goldberg founded his own company in 1973 after he split off from Goldberg & Weiss. The company continues with the next generation -- run by his wife Lili and children, and son-in-law Barry Berg. His daughter Deborah also worked by his side for more than 20 years.
"Bill had the greatest ability to make an impression on someone," said Berg, "even if he met them for a short period of time." Berg is vice president of William Goldberg. "He always had something interesting to say, and it always made an impact."
The William Goldberg brand is synonymous with the most renowned gemstones in history, including the extraordinary Premier Rose, the 137 carat 'D' flawless pear shaped diamond, the 89 carat Guinea Star, and the 5.11 carat Red Shield, the largest red diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America.
I had the privilege of polishing and cutting in Bill Goldberg's factory for ten years. A truly incredible Man. May his Memory be a Blessing.
Fly Me To The Moon. I See BIG DIAMONDS!
Outer space is full of diamonds. Big Icy white Bling-Bling! Just stretch out your hand and grab a fistful!
Book your space flight now.
The story is here: Diamonds In Outer Space!
Meet The Youngest Woman To Have A D Flawless Diamond
Here she is:
The story is here:
Tiffany Comes To Wall Street
Tiffany is going to where the money is.
The company plans to open a store inside a historic building at 37 Wall St. in fall 2007. The store will serve as the building's only retailer, occupying about 7,600 square feet on the ground floor and mezzanine, Tiffany announced Tuesday.
Skyline Developers has restored the original façade of the building, a 25-store Beaux Arts-style structure designed between 1906 and 1907 by architect Francis Kimball for the Trust Company of America. The building, one of Manhattan's first skyscrapers, remains
one of the oldest high-rises on Wall Street and will be home to 373 luxury apartments beginning this fall.
Tiffany's first store opened on lower Broadway in 1837, before moving to a larger site uptown.
The new store will carry an array of Tiffany's merchandise including diamond engagement rings; Tiffany's Celebration rings; designs by Frank Gehry, Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and Jean Schlumberger; as well as watches, gifts and accessories.
Memorial Service for Jewelry Designer Steven Kretchmer
A funeral service for jewelry designer Steven Kretchmer has been scheduled to take place 11 a.m. Sunday at the Lasher Funeral Chapel on 100 Tinker St. in Woodstock, N.Y.
Kretchmer, known for perfecting the art of tension-set jewelry, died in a motorcycle crash Saturday afternoon. He was 52.
A New York City memorial service is being planned for July 29, and a Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Scholarship in metallurgy is being created in Kretchmer's name.
Kretchmer, a Palenville, N.Y. resident, began making jewelry in 1969. In 1976, he received a bachelor of fine arts degree in jewelry and metalsmithing from RISD.
He then traveled to Milan, Italy, where he worked as a goldsmith, learning from master craftsmen. While in Italy, he met his future wife and business partner, Alma, and his stepdaughter, Claudia.
Special Jewelry Tribute to 9/11.
As a tribute to the citizens of New York City and the 100th Anniversary of JA New York, Indian designer Nayna Mehta has built a special monument as a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Mehta, a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America, designed and created a statue of the Twin Towers, set in 18-karat gold. The endeavor took 25 weeks, 38 artists, designers and technicians. The iconic structure is created of 14,080 diamonds and over 3 kilograms of gold. It will be on display at the JA New York Summer Show this July 30-Aug. 2 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.
Business and Religion Can Mix: L.A. Diamond Dealers Find Place To Worship.
Rapaport News reports on The Boys of Summer thinking ahead to the Winter and while winter may seem as far off as the end of Los Angeles' current July heat wave; nonetheless, diamantaire Avraham Nektalov knows that when sundown comes early from November through February across Los Angeles' diamond district, business demand and heavy commuter traffic make it difficult for Jewish diamond dealers to attend services in outlying areas.
Nektalov, owner of Custom Carats LLC, decided to setup a branch of Shaarei Rachamim (a Pico Robertson area synagogue) in the heart of Los Angeles at his 12th floor, 550 Pershing Square, office.
The 32-year-old Nektalov is known to his associates as a problem solver and they describe him as one of the sharpest dressers in the diamond district. Less than one year ago he named his conference room as the Downtown Shaarei Rachamim. Jewish men of Sephardic heritage (a term used to group together descendants from Spain, the Middle East and Iran) began to trickle in to the high-rise diamond district house of worship.
Some attendees donned black velvet skullcaps, others exhibited their colorful central Asian tradition of wearing an elaborately embroidered cap. The daily prayers are led by different fellows -- each chanting in their own unique accents of Russian, Hebrew, French, English, or a rarer tongue, Bukharian, but all were united in the universal Jerusalemite tune.
On any given weekday since its opening, when services are completed, coffee and tea are available to those who have some time to spare. Jewish diamond salesmen visiting from Europe or Israel find a home-away-from-home at Downtown Shaarei Rachamim too.
During the 2006 Passover holiday, when Jews refrain from eating leavened products (using matzo instead of bread plus a multitude of other products that are deemed kosher for Passover,) Nektalov hosted a bevy of Chassidic salesmen. Nektalov’s wife Leora made sure the showroom and synagogue's pantry was stocked with food for the duration of the holiday.
Nektalov was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in the former United Soviet Socialist Republic. His forebears date back to Bukhara and the Jews of Babylonia, who are specifically known for their charitable and hospitable nature. He was raised in New York and arrived in Los Angeles in 1996 with his bride.
Ten years ago, Nektalov only had a window booth, which he said extended a bit to the sidewalk. He placed a table along side the street and between selling stones, he gave out prayer books while blasting Jewish music for all to enjoy.
It is a personal mission he said to bring the vibrancy of Jewish life and the love of Torah to those who sought it in the diamond and jewelry district. Jewish pioneers arrived 150-years-ago downtown in what was then the Wild West and established homes, businesses, and conducted their religious life in Los Angeles. Those first settlers’ families dispersed across a sprawling landscape. Downtown Shaarei Rachamim’s opening marks the renaissance of Jewish observance in the same locale where it began a century and a half ago.
Following orthodox halacha (law,) a small section of the synagogue is cordoned-off with a brown, lace curtain room divider for the women’s section. On the official opening day of Downtown Shaarei Rachamim on Labor Day weekend 2005, more than a dozen females of all ages participated in the services and also helped in the serving and preparation of the breakfast.
Mathieu Attar, a diamond dealer of French-Moroccan d