Bay Area Designers Partner to Build a School in Sierra Leone

Jewelry Designers Ashley Morgan and Yael Designs Partner for a Cause with Leone Collection

Renowned fine jewelry designers Ashley Morgan and Yael Designs debut Leone Collection to benefit the war-ravished Sierra Leone.

Two renowned fine jewelry designers, Ashley Morgan and Yael Designs, are proud to debut the Fall 2011 Leone Collection to benefit the war-ravished Sierra Leone.

Designed by Ashley Morgan and manufactured by Yael Designs, the Leone Collection includes rings, earrings and necklaces featuring conflict-free custom cut black diamonds set in 18K recycled blackened gold and accented with white diamonds and Japanese seed pearls. Inspired by the royal image of Sierra Leone – or Lion Mountain – the collection refashions regal images of nature found on crowns and royal architecture throughout human history.

“We wanted to create a collection that brings regal beauty to the modern age and speaks to the universal values of our world’s many cultures,” said designer Ashley Morgan.

In their first ever collaboration, the two designers saw the chance to combine the fresh aesthetic of Ashley Morgan with the craftsmanship expertise of Yael Designs to create a unique jewelry collection that gives back to the impoverished people of Sierra Leone.

“As jewelry designers, we wanted to do our part to help rebuild Sierra Leone - a country that has been so negatively impacted by the diamond trade industry,” said Yael Designs’ CEO Yehouda Saketkhou.

Percentage of the profits from the Leone Collection will be donated to Schools for Salone, a Seattle-based nonprofit that helps build schools, train teachers and give scholarships in Sierra Leone. The donation from the Leone Collection will be used to help build a primary school in Lungi Village in the southern part of Sierra Leone.

“New schools infuse villages with pride and give the people of Sierra Leone renewed hope for a brighter future,” said Cindy Nofziger, Executive Director of Schools for Salone. “We’re excited to partner with Yael Designs and Ashley Morgan to help achieve our goal of building a school for the Lungi community.”

The price for Leone Collection starts at $1,200. The collection is available online at http://www.ashleymorganyael.com and in select stores. It will be featured at JCK Las Vegas.

About Ashley Morgan:
Ashley is a San Francisco-based jewelry designer who uses her ability to evoke emotion from jewelry to craft pieces of art that are as much individual style as they are the embodiment of endless possibilities.

As a young designer, Ashley challenges the status quo. Her love for rare and unusual stones is reflected in her objects d'art. Each piece she designs is one-of-a-kind and possesses a rarefied beauty. Ashley's inspiration stems from tradition, nature and culture rather than fleeting trends.

Ashley is an artist in the truest sense of the word and her designs are intended for individuals immersed in the art of living who yearn to capture and express their unique spirit and beauty.

Her unique look has caught the attention of the Hollywood, including Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Denise Richards among many others. Ashley’s jewelry has been featured in a wide variety of magazines and she was named one of Lucky Magazine’s “Designers to Watch.”

Photos and store locator can be found on http://www.ashleymorgandesigns.com.

About Yael Designs:
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in San Francisco, Yael Designs is an award-winning design center for cutting edge, elegant and expressive jewelry. Yael Designs has produced 12 diverse collections in fashion and bridal categories.

As an innovative jewelry company, Yael Designs stands not only for unique designs and excellent craftsmanship, but also for sustainability. Yael uses conflict-free diamonds and recycled gold in all its fine jewelry and supports social and environmental organizations like the Junior League of San Francisco, Oceana and Schools for Salone.

Yael Designs’ impeccable jewelry has won numerous AGTA Spectrum Awards and JCK Jewelers Choice Awards. Yael has been featured in numerous fashion and industry publications and on the red carpet.

Photos and store locator can be found on http://www.yaeldesigns.com.

About Schools for Salone:
Schools for Salone is a Seattle-based non-profit organization committed to helping Sierra Leone rebuild the many rural schools destroyed during the country's ten-year civil war. Since its inception in 2004, Schools for Salone has built 14 primary schools, one library and numerous water wells, changing the lives of thousands of children. In addition, Schools for Salone also provides funding to support professional development opportunities for teachers, provides student scholarships and educates US students and civic groups about Sierra Leone. To learn more go to http://www.SchoolsforSalone.org.

Jewelry Expert Michael O'Connor Gives Royal Wedding Forecast

Michael in a Jewelry Suite before the Golden Globes
Photo via: The Recessionista

With all eyes watching the Royal Couple...we turned to Celebrity Stylist and Jewelry Expert Michael O'Connor for a professional's glimpse into Kate and the choices that will go down in history.

In an exclusive quote to The Daily Jewel, O'Connor says...

“Kate loves fashion and has a tailored and sophisticated style. She won’t want to be seen as the “Fairy Tale Princess Bride”. I think her jewelry choices will be much more youthful and chic, but with some dramatic elements. She will most likely choose pieces set in platinum since it maximizes the brilliance of diamonds and colored gemstones, which is important as the world watches while she walks down that long aisle.”

Magnificent Jewels & Jadeite Auction Results are up!

While not every lot sold (this is a normal issue at Auction lately), most of the ones that did, sold for the top end of the Auction estimates.


Some for WAY! over the estimate!  Which lead me to ask if people in Hong Kong just loved to spend money?!   How will you ever realize that price if you have to sell the item down the road?


Top sellers were the:


Un-mounted Stones especially the Diamonds...don't you love this photo?  The value of this diamond is equated with that of a luxury sports car!


HIGHLY IMPORTANT UNMOUNTED BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMOND

An unmounted brilliant-cut diamond weighing 25.50 carats.

30,000,000—38,000,000 HKD

Lot Sold.  Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium:  39,860,000 HKD

Jadeite pieces especially the Jadeite Bangles...


AIR OF ICY LAVENDER JADEITE BANGLES
The circular bands of highly translucent soft lavender tone. icy lavendar jadeite

120,000—160,000 HKD  
Lot Sold.  Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium:  1,820,000 HKD

Rare stones did well - I was interested in the sold price of their Covergirl!  This "sugarloaf cab" Ruby ring!


 IMPORTANT RUBY AND DIAMOND RING, BULGARI
Centring on a sugar loaf cabochon ruby weighing 27.67 carats, flanked on each side by a shield-shaped diamond together weighing approximately 3.00 carats, mounted in platinum and 18 karat yellow gold, signed

12,000,000—20,000,000 HKD 

Lot Sold.  Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium:  17,460,000 HKD

...and any piece that showed a phenomena - Cat's Eye Stones went well - but how do you even put a value on a stone with this kind of clarity?


CAT'S-EYE CHRYSOBERYL AND DIAMOND RING
Centring on an oval cabochon cat's-eye chrysoberyl weighing 20.14 carats, to a stylised mount pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds extending to the shoulders, mounted in 18 karat yellow gold, photographed unmounted.
680,000—780,000 HKD 
Lot Sold.  Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium:  932,000 HKD






You can check the results for yourself at: 
http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotResultsDetailList.jsp?event_id=30602&sale_number=HK0359


There are two sessions - be sure to catch both!

AJALINE ANNOUNCES “JEWELERS FOR JAPAN”

Mikimoto

AJALINE ANNOUNCES “JEWELERS FOR JAPAN”

Fine Jewelry Auction to Benefit Relief Efforts in Japan

Ajaline.com, the first members-only flash-sales site devoted exclusively to fine jewelry and watches, brings together 20 luxury brands to support relief efforts in Japan with a unified “Jewelers of Japan” auction on Charity Buzz, live from Tuesday, April 5, 2011 through Tuesday, April 19, 2011.

"Jewelers for Japan is a reflection of the support of the many brands and individuals who, like myself, have experienced the extraordinary generosity of the Japanese people,” quotes Ajaline co-founder Jim Conte, who spent 17 years in Japan.  “Through this program we’re striving to give back to that kindness, and hope that we can make a difference in their lives during this time of sadness.”

Kimberly McDonald

The charitable auction offers a prestigious collection of 20 items, donated from leading fine jewelry houses H.Stern, Mikimoto, Kimberly McDonald, Jill Platner, Coomi, House of Waris, Buccellati, Paolo Costagli, Robert Lee Morris, Robin Rotenier, Lagos, Monica Rich Kosann, Charriol, Delatori, Gurhan, Yossi Harari, Sally Sohn, Emily & Ashley and Diamond in the Rough.  In addition to pledging a $1,000 gift certificate for auction, Ajaline will also be including a $100 gift certificate with each item auctioned.

“We are overwhelmed with the response of the jewelers who have pledged to participate in this important cause,” states Meeling Wong, co-founder of Ajaline.  “We hope that Jewelers of Japan will inspire others to do the same.”

Bids for each item will open at 25-30% of retail value, with proceeds from the auction going to support the ongoing efforts for relief in Japan.  

To pledge support, please visit: http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/jewelersforjapan

ABOUT AJALINE

Launched in February 2011, Ajaline is the first members‐only e‐commerce platform for limited‐time “flash” sales of the leading brands in fine jewelry and watches.  An authorized dealer for many of the most coveted designers in these categories, Ajaline offers its Members the opportunity to safely and securely acquire beautiful fine jewelry and watches at a savings of up to 70% off recommended retail prices.  For more information, follow Ajaline on Facebook and Twitter, at www.facebook.com/ajalinejewelry and @AjalineJewelry.

It Was A Miranda Lambert & Taylor Swift Kind Of Night!

This is a Daily Jewel (I'm feeling lazy) Mash Up!  The Press Release from the Academy of Country Music with some Fashion & Jewelry fun running throughout!  I'm not sure why - but most of the Jewelry reporters seem to forget this event.

Miranda Lambert was the big winner
last night in a white Lorena Sarbu Gown.
Personally I think it could have been more
supportive...if anyone knows who made her
bracelet...LOVE!

I LOVE the Country Music darlings - there was a day when lots of bling and big hair ruled the Country Red Carpet...those days are gone.  No more do the Arrivals resemble my High School Prom -  Country stars today have embraced the same designers that grace the Oscars...with that said...

Winners have been announced for the 46th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, from MGM GRAND in Las Vegas.

Fans named Taylor Swift Entertainer of the Year, the evening’s biggest honor. This is the first year that Taylor Swift has been named Entertainer of the Year. This year marked a record breaking year with nearly 600,000 fans casting their vote for Entertainer of the Year, making it the largest vote ever for this category. Swift is the eighth and youngest female to take the award in the 40 year history of this category;

Taylor Swift was Lemon Chiffon Goodness
in Elie Saab HauteCouture and Jewelry
from Neil Lane!  

Miranda Lambert won Female Vocalist of the Year and Brad Paisley won Male Vocalist of the Year.
This is Lambert’s second consecutive win as Female Vocalist of the Year and Paisley’s fifth consecutive
win as Male Vocalist of the Year. Lambert won four awards during tonight’s telecast, making her the
night’s top winner. Sugarland won Vocal Duo of the Year; Lady Antebellum won Vocal Group of the Year; the group’s second consecutive win in this category.

The Band Perry was honored as New Artist of the Year in tonight’s broadcast. Nearly 155,000 fans
casted their online and text votes for the New Artist of the Year category, making it the largest fan vote
for this category.

Carrie Underwood arrived
in Purple Jean Fares Couture
and Jewels from Sutra 

Following is the list of winners in the 14 categories voted on by the membership (excluding the Entertainer of the Year and New Artist categories, which were voted on by a combination of professional ACM members and fans):
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
> Taylor Swift
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
> Brad Paisley

Reese Witherspoon presented the Female Artist of the Year
Award with Robert Pattinson (in Prada) in a black lace cocktail dress
by Marchesa - perfectly accessorized with Garnet & Diamond
Earrings & Bracelet from Neil Lane Jewelry

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
> Miranda Lambert
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
> Sugarland
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
> Lady Antebellum
NEW SOLO VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Previously Announced)
> Eric Church
NEW VOCAL DUO or GROUP OF THE YEAR (Previously Announced)
> The Band Perry
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
> The Band Perry
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
> Need You Now - Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley

Julianne Hough presented in a soft tangerine
gown by Randi Rahm accented by gorgeous
gold jewels from Isharya - check out the full
gallery of Julianna at JustJared

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
> The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke
SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
> The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
Composers: Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin
Publishers: Built On Rock (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tomdouglasmusic (BMI)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)
> The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Trent Hardville  Director: Trey Fanjoy
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *
(Off Camera Award)
> As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson
 (Southern Ground/ Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic) Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall

For reference - this is a close up of the cuff that
Miranda Lambert wore in the Arrivals photos
I would love to know who the Designer is!

FAST FACTS ON THIS YEAR’S AWARDS:
>> This is Reba’s 13th year hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards and Blake Shelton’s first.
>> Brad Paisley is the only artist to win three or more consecutive honors in the Male Vocalist of the Year category; this is Paisley’s fifth consecutive win.
Miranda Lambert won four awards tonight in the categories of Female Vocalist of the Year, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year.
>> Lady Antebellum won three awards tonight in the categories of Album of the Year (both as artists and producers) and Vocal Group of the Year. This is the group’s first win in the Album of the Year category. The group previously won Vocal Group of the Year during the 2010 telecast.

RUMOR ALERT: But It's Huge and A Diamond!

While hanging out at the Tucson Gem Show one hears stories - about people - about companies - about GEMS...this is one of those stories.

I chose to print this story when I heard it again when I got home.   So - make of it what you will - if it is true, I would love to see this stone!  BTW - the info I received came complete with a photo of "the Diamond" sitting inconspicuously on what appears to be a black brief case.

Rumor has it that Paris Hilton is Engagement Ring shopping with her latest boyfriend Cy Waits and needs a stone that will blow former fiance, Paris Latsis' ring, out of the water!  You remember the Greek Shipping Magnate's 24 carat, $4.7 million ring (see photo).  Well - Happy 30th Birthday Paris - we have your Diamond!

This is the quote I was given:

"Is Paris Hilton going to get former Princess Diana’s engagement ring center stone??

Rumor circulating in the principal diamond trading centers is that the center stone of former Princess Diana’s “engagement ring-to be” will be offered soon at auction either at Christie’s or Sotheby’s. The engagement ring, which was produced by Harry Winston, had two heart shaped pink diamonds and a 30.8+ carat round brilliant center stone set in platinum. 

After her passing – the ring was taken apart and the 30.8+ carat center stone was re-cut by a well known diamond expert in NYC and ended up being a 30.72 carat, D color, flawless, triple Ex, type IIa, round brilliant Golconda stone that is certified by GIA. 

Diamond dealers and investors from NYC, Hong Kong, Israel, Las Vegas, and India have been contemplating the purchase.

We are wondering if Paris Hilton’s desire for a 25+ carat engagement ring diamond has been influenced by the rumors of the 30.72 carat soon to be auctioned.

We were informed that both Christie’s and Sotheby’s have been approached about including this famous stone in one of their auctions.

The principal diamond trading centers will be watching carefully as a matched pair of 35+ carat stones and a 25+ carat stone will come up to be auctioned off - in soon to be held auctions." 

 end quote

So forgive me my Gossip Column moment - but - seriously?  Paris Hilton - Princess Diana - AND a diamond over 30 carats?  Can you blame me?  REALLY? ;-p

USGS: Black Coral Skeletons Mainly Organic Matter

I found this Press Release from the USGS really interesting and a great addition to the debate about coral in jewelry...this stuff is amazing and can tell us so much about what has gone before us...

These 2- to 3-m-tall orange-colored, black coral trees
(Leiopathes cf. glabberima) growing near Viosca Knoll in the
Gulf of Mexico are among the oldest living organisms on Earth.

For the first time, scientists have been able to validate the age of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico.  They found the Gulf is home to 2,000 year-old deep-sea black corals, many of which are only a few feet tall. 

These slow-growing, long-living animals thrive in very deep waters—300 meters (984 feet) and deeper—yet scientists say they are sensitive to what is happening in the surface ocean as well as on the sea floor. 

“The fact that the animals live continuously for thousands of years amazes me,” said Dr. Nancy Prouty of the U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, who analyzed the coral samples that were collected by the USGS and colleagues as part of several ongoing deep-sea coral ecosystem studies between 2003 and 2009. “Despite living at 300 meters and deeper, these animals are sensitive to what is going on in the surface ocean because they are feeding on organic matter that rapidly sinks to the sea floor. Since longevity is a key factor for population maintenance, recovery from a disturbance to these ecosystems, natural or manmade, may take decades to centuries.” 

Reliably age dating the corals, as done in the recent study, is a critical step in using them as natural archives of environmental change. 

Like shallow-water coral reefs, deep-sea coral-reef ecosystems are among the most diverse and productive communities on Earth, providing shelter and feeding grounds for commercial and non-commercial fish species and their prey, as well as breeding and nursery areas. Activities that affect both the seafloor and the surface ocean, such as certain methods of petroleum exploration and commercial fishing, can impact these ecosystems. 

“We used a manned submersible, the Johnson-Sea-Link, to go to the sea floor and specifically collect certain samples using the sub's manipulator arms,” said Prouty. “Deep-sea black corals are a perfect example of ecosystems linked between the surface and the deep ocean. They can potentially record this link in their skeleton for hundreds to thousands of years.” 

The skeletons that these animals secrete continuously over hundreds to thousands of years offer an unprecedented window into past environmental conditions. Age dating used in combination with emerging technologies, such as sampling skeletal material with a laser to determine its chemical composition, enables scientists to reconstruct environmental conditions in time slices smaller than a decade over the last 1,000 to 2,000 years. 

Black corals grow in tree- or bush-like forms. Scientists confirmed that black corals are the slowest growing deep-sea corals. They grow 8 to 22 micrometers per year as compared to the shallow-water reef-building coral, typically found in tropical areas like Hawai‘i, which grows about 1 mm per year, or 65 times as fast as black coral. Human fingernails grow about 3 mm per year, or 200 times faster than black coral.

Because black corals get their food from sinking organic matter instead of from symbiotic algae, like their shallow-water counterparts, they need skeletons that are flexible but strong enough to withstand currents that transport food to the colonies. In addition to a constant flow of water bringing them food and oxygen, the corals require a stable substrate, such as volcanic or calcareous rock, or even a shipwreck or oil rig that can serve as a platform for the corals to settle on and build their skeletons. 

Black corals can capture and record in their skeletons the history of changing concentrations of carbon in surface waters and the atmosphere. Unlike the skeletons of most shallow-water corals, which consist of calcium carbonate, black coral skeletons are composed mainly of organic matter: successive layers of protein and chitin (a long molecule containing carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen) glued together by a cement layer. These skeletons are very similar to insect cuticles in that they are quite flexible and can thus bend in water currents. 

“The flexibility and shiny luster of black coral have made it a precious commodity in the coral jewelry trade and international trade is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,” noted Prouty. “In fact, black corals have been harvested for centuries to create charms; the scientific name of the order to which black corals belong, ‘Antipatharia,’ comes from Greek roots meaning ‘against suffering.’” 

Like trees, black corals exhibit radial growth, with the oldest skeletal material found in the center and successfully younger material building out toward the edge. Viewed in a horizontal cross section, the black coral’s growth bands resemble tree rings. 

USGS scientists and their colleagues, for example, are measuring trace metals and stable isotopes in the black coral skeleton that are related to nutrient supply in surface waters, which in turn may reflect the amount of runoff from nearby land surfaces. With a proper understanding of how these chemical constituents vary over time, scientists can reconstruct a record of environmental changes, such as changes in land-based sources of nutrients and natural variations in climate.

The recent study was part of the USGS Diversity, Systematics, and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems (DiSCOVRE) Expedition, in which USGS scientists are partnering with other federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as several academic institutions, to study deep-sea coral reefs. A full copy of the study can be found online in the Feb. 10, 2011, edition of “Marine Ecology Progress Series.” 

An upcoming DiSCOVRE expedition scheduled for summer 2011 will include mapping the sea floor and studying underwater canyons off the coasts of Maryland and Delaware. More information about the deep-sea cruises can be found on the USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center website.