Busy, Happy Buyers and Sellers ay IDE's U.S. and International Diamond Week

US & International Diamond Week: 

Industry leaders praise IDE's branding efforts

"There are 401 buyers on the floor!" This announcement came through the public announcement system at noontime on the third day of the U.S. and International Diamond Week in Israel, throughout the four buildings of the Israel Diamond Exchange  (IDE) complex in Ramat Gan.  Traffic on the IDE trading floor was very dense and every table  sellers and buyers were hard at work.   

"It is a fantastic event, and I usually refrain from speaking in superlatives," IDE president Shmuel Schnitzer said. "There is a great mood on the trading floor, and this represents the optimism we generally feel in the diamond and jewelry business worldwide. We have hundreds of buyers on the floor who have arrived from all corners from the world, and this is very encouraging. The U.S. and International Diamond Week in Israel is a most important effort to brand our exchange in particular and the Israeli diamond industry and trade at large," he added.

Roberto Coin, the renowned Italian jewelry designer, manufacturer and retailer, said he was impressed with the IDE's effort to brand Israeli's diamond trade. At the conclusion of the Diamond Week's first day, he gave the event's participants a fascinating talk on branding. He summarized his address in a taped interview which is featured below.

Reuven Kaufman, president of the Diamond Dealers Club of New York emphasized - also in a taped interview - the importance of the close cooperation between the IDE and the DDC. "Our bourses and the respective memberships complement each other and together create great business opportunities that are win-win scenarios and add significant value, to the members of both our exchanges. The format of the U.S. and International Diamond Week in Israel is proving itself once again to be very beneficial for the international diamond business," Kaufman said.   

Sotheby's New York - Important Jewels To Be Auctioned September 24th

Important Jewels Auction at Sotheby’s New York

24 SEPTEMBER 2013

Triple Band Cuff Bracelet Suzanne Belperron
Platinum, Palladium and Diamond
Worn by Elisabeth Lewyt on her wedding day
Estimate $40 - 60,000

NEW YORK, 26 August 2013 – Sotheby’s first jewelry auction of the autumn auction season will be held in New York on 24 September 2013, with a public exhibition beginning 20 September in Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries.

Gary Schuler, Director of Sotheby’s Jewelry department in New York, said: “The strength of our September sale lies in the remarkable breadth of property that is fresh-to-the-market, emerging from both estates and private collections. We are delighted to offer jewels from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt, featuring custom-designed and period pieces by French jewelers such as Schlumberger, Suzanne Belperron and René Boivin. We also have pieces from the family of philanthropist George Rothman, whose collection is led by a beautiful 19.51 carat emerald-cut diamond ring from Harry Winston. This diamond – one of several important white diamonds on offer by private sellers this September – is the caliber of stone that is sure to generate early excitement in the global jewelry market this auction season.”

18K Blackened Gold, Colored Diamond,
Diamond, Citrine and Ruby Dog Brooch,
René Boivin   Estimate $70/90,000

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Following Sotheby’s spring sales of important Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt, the September auction will offer a selection of jewels from the collection by French designers including Van Cleef & Arpels, Schlumberger and Suzanne Belperron. The group also showcases the abstracted naturalistic designs of René Boivin, highlighted by a fully articulated Labrador Retriever brooch that is both charming and sophisticated.

Platinum and Diamond Ring, Harry Winston
19.51 carats, E color, VVS2 clarity, improvable, type IIa
Estimate $1.2/1.8 million

Jewels from the family of George Rothman, the successful real estate developer and philanthropist who created the Rothman Foundation, feature pieces signed by Bulgari, David Webb and Van Cleef & Arpels. The top lot of the collection is the Winston diamond ring, set with a beautifully-shaped, emerald-cut diamond of nearly 20 carats.

Property of a Lady, Texas
Platinum and Diamond Ring
9.77 carats, D color, Internally Flawless, type IIa
Estimate $800,000/1.2 million

IMPORTANT DIAMONDS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in eight different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view

Property from a New York Estate

_________________________

Platinum and Diamond Ring
15.10 carats, D color, VVS2 clarity, potentially Internally Flawless, type IIa
Estimate $1.25/1.75 million
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all auctions live online and place bids in real-time from anywhere in the world. Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby’s Diamonds and Sotheby’s Wine. Sotheby’s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID).

#SilentSpotlight - On the Designers of Andreoli Fine Jewelry #JWLV

Welcome to Silent Spotlight!  Most of these will be designers that I met at the recent Jewelry Week Las Vegas.
Complete contact info will be given at the beginning of each post..

Shining the Silent Spotlight on:
Andreoli Fine Jewelry
Web: http://www.andreoliusa.com
Blog: http://andreoliusa.tumblr.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AndreoliJewelry
Twitter:        @andreoliusa
Instagram:  @andreolifinejewelry

Andreoli Emeralds in Las Vegas from their Instagram 

Titanium Collection

Forevermark Announces 'The Center of My Universe' Television Plan

This Christmas holiday season, Forevermark, the diamond brand from the De Beers Group, will bring a powerful commercial to national television. Forevermark previously announced plans to develop a commercial centered on its new ''The Center of My Universe™''concept, made available to all Forevermark retail partners.

Now Forevermark will be running the commercial on a brand level through a national television plan. Through network and cable channels, the commercial will reach affluent men and women during premium programming from mid-November until Christmas. The commercial will also be featured in a variety of high-impact digital video placements, including Full Episode Players and top network websites.

In addition, The Center of My Universe from Forevermark brand campaign will include national newspapers, magazines, other online advertising outlets, social media support, website features, in-store materials, and public relations. Announced at JCK Vegas, Forevermark will launch The Center of My Universe during the fourth quarter.  The product concept provides a twist on a classic design that has been trending upward over the past several years: the halo setting.

The Center Of My Universe will create a unique emotional focus, meaning and relevance around this design motif that is anchored in the strength and brilliance of one central Forevermark diamond. The Center of My Universe concept celebrates her - the unique, beautiful woman he loves who is the central force in his life, holding together and keeping in motion the many different aspects of the universe they share.  She is his everything – the center of his universe.

Forevermark officially launched in the U.S. consumer marketplace in Fall 2011 with support from Forevermark Diamantaire partners including Dali Diamond Company/A. Link, Diarough/Emby International-Uni Design, Eurostar Diamonds International, HRA-Crossworks, Julius Klein Group/Ritani, Leo Schachter Diamonds, Pluczenik Diamond Company, Premier Gem, Rosy Blue, Trau Bros, and Venus Jewel, and Forevermark Manufacturers A. Jaffe, H.J. Namdar, Memoire, Rahaminov Diamond, SES Creations and VJ Designs. Forevermark is available in a variety of independent jewelers nationwide.

Source: Press Release - Forevermark

Auction Jewel: Skinner Fine Jewelry Auction Grosses $2.8M

Skinner Fine Jewelry Auction Grosses $2.8M

Cartier Art Deco pendant claims top bid

BOSTON, Mass. – Skinner, Inc. today announced strong results for its recent Fine Jewelry sale held Tuesday, June 12^th. The highly successful sale grossed $2.8 million including buyer’s premium, surpassing the pre-auction estimate high. Colored stones, Art Deco pieces, diamonds, and natural pearls were especially strong performers.

Art Deco & Diamonds

Both period pieces and diamonds produced exceptional results as highlighted by the auction’s top seller, an exquisite Art Deco diamond pendant necklace by Cartier. The necklace brought $325,000 and features a pear-shaped diamond, weighing 7.93 cts., accompanied by a GIA certificate, stating that the diamond is F color, VS1 clarity.

Other Art Deco pieces that brought excellent results include a Tiffany & Co. cushion-cut diamond ring weighing 3.92 cts. which sold for $142,200, and a platinum star sapphire and diamond ring that brought $15,405. A unique set of five Art Deco platinum and gem-set acrostic stacking rings set with a square-cut diamond, cabochon emerald, cabochon amethyst and fancy cut ruby also performed well, bringing in $22,515.

Colored Stones

Top-quality colored stones realized extraordinary prices. An outstanding example was an antique Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring, set with a cabochon sapphire weighing 9.92 cts., accompanied by an AGL report and a Gubelin report stating Kashmir origin, with no evidence of heat treatment. This exquisite gem sold for an impressive $189,600, surpassing its presale estimate high of $50,000.

Other top-performing colored stones include a bezel-set sapphire and diamond ring that sold for $36,735 and an emerald and diamond brooch that brought $22,515.

Natural Pearls

Natural pearl necklaces have been in great demand recently. The June 12^th sale featured a five-strand natural pearl necklace with an emerald and diamond clasp that auctioned for $77,025 and a double strand natural pearl necklace that brought $56,880.

Skinner, Inc. will hold its next Fine Jewelry auction on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 in its Boston gallery.  For information on consignment, please contact the Skinner Fine Jewelry department at (617) 874-4305 or jewelry@skinnerinc.com.

 

About Skinner

Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business. Skinner’s appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Works of Art, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, 20^th Century Design, Fine Ceramics, Fine Silver, Fine Jewelry, Couture, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Wines, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Discovery and Science, Technology & Clocks.  Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.

Birthstone Jewel: Diamonds - Stories From Lesotho...

Contrary to the hype - Diamonds are anything but rare!  With so many mining regions around the world it is an unfortunate reality that sometimes a mining region is graded by the sum of it parts...and the Lesotho region of South Africa has some REALLY impressive parts!

The Lesotho Promise:  


Think about it - 603 carat single stone - yet the Lesotho Promise was only the 15th largest diamond ever discovered.  


SAFDICO studied the rough and the decision was made to cut it into 26 D color Flawless Gems ranging from 55 points to 75 carats.


The stones were then entrusted to the Design house of Graff Diamonds who designed a single piece of jewelry which incorporated all of the stones!


See how this important stone became a jewel in the Lesotho Promise Movie:
http://www.safdico.com/News-and-Media/The-Lesotho-Promise-Movie


The Graff Vivid Yellow:

190 mesmerizing carats of brilliant yellow - originally named the Dream Diamond.

Says Laurence Graff of the moment he saw the raw lump of rock crystal in Kimberley, South Africa, “It was an intense golden yellow and one of the rarest yellow diamonds I had ever seen.  I knew the polished stone within would be more than exceptional”.

For over nine months Nino Bianco worked this stone - the results speak for themselves...a 109.09 carat cushion cut diamond - BRILLIANT!!!

The Star of Lesotho:

Just days before the ceremony that marked the opening of the Letseng Mine in the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho, a spectacular white diamond weighing 123 carat was unearthed.  Tendered in Antwerp and acquired by Safdico, the manufacturing arm of Graff, the stone was studied and cut in Antwerp with the consultancy of Diamcad, to obtain a truly superb Heart Shaped diamond weighing 53.11 carat.

The Rose:
10.77 carats in the rough - the Rose was sourced from the Premier Mine in South Africa. Cut and polished at the SAFDICO factory in New York by master-cutter Antonio Bianco.




Dec. 2, 2009 (Bloomberg) --
A ring with a pink diamond the size of a chickpea sold last night for a record HK$83.5 million ($10.8 million) at a Hong Kong auction of art, gems and antiques that was fuelled by Chinese buying.

The price paid for the stone was the highest paid for any pink diamond, but more important, the highest per carat for any diamond, regardless of size or color.

The finished internally flawless, 5.00 carats fancy vivid pink diamond is without doubt one of the rarest and most splendid diamonds the world has ever known.

Safdico has set unsurpassed standards of innovation, craftsmanship and professionalism throughout the diamond industry. We have a worldwide distribution network, employing over 250 people and specialising in top-end, extraordinary diamonds.

Safdico's key individuals, Laurence Graff, Brian Gutkin and Johnny Kneller evince a combined knowledge, experience and level of professionalism that is unique. Between them, they have integrated all aspects of the diamond business into one, highly efficient company with offices and factories around the world.

Thousands of carats of rough diamonds are cut and polished monthly in South Africa, Antwerp, New York and Botswana. They are subsequently offered to a discerning public around the world.

Royal Wedding Alert! Prince William Engaged!

Well it has finally happened...

"The woman the British tabloids oh-so-respectfully dubbed "Waity Katie" will be made to wait no more.

Prince William has formally announced his engagement to Kate Middleton, pleasing monarchists, the prime minister (from the sounds of it) and fans of cupid the world over." via E!online

Prince William gave Kate his late mother’s platinum engagement ring that features an 18 carat oval blue sapphire surrounded by 14 smaller white diamonds from Garrard.

According to jewelry expert Michael O’Connor, “Since this ring was originally set in platinum, the highest quality metal, it looks as beautiful today as it did years ago, and as it will for generations."

Platinum has a deep history with British royals. At the coronation of George VI in 1936, his wife Queen Elizabeth (the late Queen Mother) was crowned with an elegant platinum crown holding the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond. Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, who exchanged platinum wedding bands with King Edward VIII, declared platinum the one and only choice for evening wear.

For more information on platinum jewelry, visit www.preciousplatinum.com

Now & Next: Pomerantz Joins Diamond World

Asia ’s oldest Jewelry & Gem Publisher, International Journal House has partnered with Howard M. Pomerantz, Roving Ambassador for the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB). Mr. Pomerantz will be writing "Technology and You" a feature column on the latest technological trends and developments in the diamond industry for their international magazine Diamond World.

The “NOW and NEXT” column intends to discuss trends in technology NOW and what should be considered for your business. “NOW and NEXT “ will endeavor to lead you to innovative technology that will help you set your own technology goals.

Speaking about the association, Diamond World’s editor Mr. Alok Kala said, “Competing in the International diamond trade makes it imperative for the Indian diamond fraternity to be aware of the latest technological advancements in the industry worldwide. Diamond World magazine has always endeavoured to make its readers up-to-date in their knowledge about the industry. At this moment, we are honoured to be associated with such an eminent person as Mr. Pomerantz and his articles would be of immense value to our readers.”

Howard Pomerantz says, “Since 1974, I have been associated with the Jewellery industry in India . My association with Diamond World magazine as a columnist will bring me closer to the Indian diamond fraternity.”

About Howard Pomerantz:

Born and raised in a retail diamond business family, Pomerantz holds a Presidential/Key Executive Masters Degree in International Marketing from Pepperdines’ prestigious Graduate School of Business. His fortes lies in international business dynamics as it relates to market change strategies. As past Executive Director of Gemological Institute of America Instruments (GIA), he designed and patented the digital GIA Gemmological Microscope. Pomerantz is known as the “Brand Father” of the GIA Facetware™.

Currently Mr. Pomerantz is president of Premier Diamond Technologies, advisors to multinational corporations on “Change Strategies”. He is also involved in numerous industry associations or has held board positions including the Manufacturing Jewellers and Suppliers of America (MJSA), the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and the Jewellers 24kt Club in Southern California . In 2006, Avi Paz bestowed an honorary title, “Ambassador to the United States ” from the Israel Diamond Exchange. Previously, he has given lectures on the new GIA Cut grade to the Indian diamond cutting fraternity.

The "Spanish Inquisition Necklace"

The Spanish Inquisition Necklace
Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals Collection at the
National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution

Earliest Cut Gemstones?

There are a multitude of legends surrounding this necklace...indicating that it was worn by the lovely ladies of Spanish and French royalty. In the early 20th century, it was purchased by the Maharajah of Indore, whose son eventually sold the necklace in to Harry Winston. Winston dubbed it the “Spanish Inquisition Necklace”, for reasons known only to him, and the name stuck.

Many of the gemstones in this stunning necklace date back to the 17th century, when Spanish conquistadors shipped large quantities of emeralds from South America to Europe and Asia. Unfortunately very little is known about the provenance of this spectacular double row of diamonds and emeralds ending in the chandelier like drape of unique ”football-shaped” diamonds and emeralds.

The large diamond and emerald gems were probably cut in India in the 1600s. Stringing the gems was an extremely delicate procedure that entailed drilling small holes in the large emeralds and the 16 largest diamonds. It is believed that the large diamonds and Columbian emeralds were most likely cut in India in the 17th century, making them one of the earliest examples of cut gemstones in the Smithsonian's Collection.


Characteristics of the Spanish Inquisition Necklace

The lower-half of the necklace which is double-stranded consists of two concentric semi-circles, made up of smaller diamonds interspersed with pairs of large barrel-shaped diamonds and emeralds, placed symmetrically on the strands. There are eight pairs of larger diamonds and four pairs larger emeralds on these strands. A chandelier-shaped pendant made up of five large emeralds is placed centrally on the double strand, with the largest emerald in the necklace centrally placed on the lower strand.

The upper-half of the necklace is single-stranded made up of smaller diamonds only. At the two points on the necklace where the upper-half and lower-half meet, two large emeralds have been placed. Altogether, there are 15 large emeralds, 16 large diamonds, and around 120 smaller diamonds in the necklace.
The largest emerald in the necklace is an old Indian-cut, 45-carat, barrel-shaped emerald placed centrally in the necklace. According to the Smithsonian, "The rich velveteen color and exceptional clarity place the large emerald among the world's very finest quality emeralds. The shape closely approximates the form of the original elongated hexagonal crystal, suggesting that the crystal faces were simply rounded off to yield the largest possible gem."

Ownership Timeline

Designed for a Maharajah - the first known owner of the necklace was Tukoji Rao III of Indore

1926 - Yashvantrao II, the son of Tukoji Rao III, ascended the throne of Indore after the abdication of his father, and inherited the crown jewels

1947 - Yashvantrao II sold diamond and emerald necklace to Harry Winston

1947 – Katherine Hepburn wears the necklace when she attended the 19th Annual Oscars at the Shrine Civic Auditorium

1955 - Harry Winston sold the "Spanish Inquisition Necklace" to Mrs. Cora Hubbard Williams of Pittsburgh

1972 - Cora Hubbard Williams bequeathed the necklace to the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution

Currently - the "Spanish Inquisition Necklace" is displayed in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals of the NMNH of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC