Monday, November 18, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Catch Up With Platinum Guild International's New Online Activities
Reaching the Millennial Consumer;
Platinum Guild International Kicks off Fourth Quarter with New Online Activities
Ending the year on a high note and paving the way for a fruitful 2014, Platinum Guild International has kicked off the fourth quarter with a variety of exciting activities geared towards the millennial consumer. Through its consumer media programs, PGI USA is working in collaboration with retailers, manufacturers and designers to promote platinum design and the unique qualities of the metal to this audience where they are spending the most time: online. Research shows that millennial consumers gather information online before purchasing in store so, in addition to platinum design, the programs also offer the consumer the education he/she should be armed with when making a bridal jewelry purchase.
A new online platinum ad campaign called “The Platinum Difference” will appear on The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Refinery29 and Colin Cowie Weddings . The campaign explains this “difference,” the enduring nature of platinum jewelry, by drawing the connection to life’s unfading moments, for example the “experience” of an adventure as opposed to a mere photograph. The banner campaign will also feature an expandable unit, which expands within the website the user is on. This will encourage and allow the consumer to take a deeper dive into the qualities of platinum, as well as explore a gallery featuring multiple platinum pieces, and view video. The new campaign will hit sites in November.
As a leg of its partnership with PGI USA, the Colin Cowie Weddings website has recently launched its gallery of Colin Cowie’s Platinum Jewelry Must Haves. The gallery features platinum rings and jewelry that are timeless not only in style but in nature. Crafted in naturally white platinum, the pieces are everlasting. Visit the gallery here and stay on the lookout for more platinum posts.
In addition to continued programs with key bridal websites, PGI USA has also kicked off a partnership with the largest independent fashion and lifestyle website in the United States Refinery29. Refinery29 is a new territory for PGI-USA whose online programs typically live within the bridal space, but as a go-to resource for all things fashion, jewelry and lifestyle, Refinery29 is a relevant outlet to showcase platinum jewelry in both the fashion and bridal realms. As part of this program, Refinery29 is curating platinum jewelry online lookbooks based on jewelry trends that they have identified. The latest trend is platinum engagement bands, a theme for those looking for something a little different than the traditional engagement ring. Check it out here:
“This year, we have continued to increase the exposure of platinum in the online space,” says PGI USA President Huw Daniel. “The millennial consumer is tech-savvy and is gathering more information online before going to a store to make a purchase. We are gearing our programs to find the consumer in their own space and are thrilled to work with a diverse group of partners who allow us to do so in interesting, creative and informative ways. We look forward to continuing this momentum in 2014.”
Platinum is naturally white and, unlike other white metals, will never change color or fade so it is the perfect choice for jewelry that symbolizes a lasting relationship. See more facts about platinum, platinum jewelry designs, retailer locations and much more on www.preciousplatinum.com. The website has recently been revamped to provide for a more user-friendly experience with an easy-to-navigate design gallery and accessible information and tools.
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About Platinum Guild International (PGI):
Platinum Guild International is dedicated to promoting platinum and its pure, rare and eternal qualities to the consumer and the jewelry trade.PGI has offices in the US, China, Japan, India and London, providing information, assistance and education on all aspects of platinum jewelry. For more information please visit
PGI- USA’s Pinterest page: www.pinterest.com/
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Fifth Edition of the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair - January 26 to 28, 2014
For three days in January, ADTF takes over the diamond district
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The fifth edition of the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair (ADTF) will be held from January 26 to 28, 2014. For three days, the Antwerp diamond district's main thoroughfare, the Hoveniersstraat, will be red carpeted. The three trading halls of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse, the Diamond Club of Antwerp and the world's only rough diamond bourse, the Antwerp Diamond Kring, will be converted into three fashionable exhibition halls housing 80 of Antwerp's finest diamond firms as exhibitors. Exclusive, diamond-buying jewellery retailers and manufacturers are scheduled to visit from Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Hong Kong and China, the USA and South America.
Jacky Korn, a member of the ADTF Organizing Committee said the decision to add the Kring's impressive trading hall to the ADTF's exhibition venues enabled the number of exhibitors to grow to 80. "With 80 booked exhibitors and a waiting list of companies, we needed more space and the Kring provided the logical solution. We are currently in the process of redesigning the floor plans in order to improve the flow of traffic and enhance both the exhibitors' and buyers' experience". "This will be the largest and most exciting ADTF ever held," Korn added.
Committee member Nele Bouchier, who is Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communications of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) said that with the expansion of the fair to the Kring, the entire diamond district would fall under the spell of the ADTF," Bouchier noted. "Visiting buyers will be fully exposed to the character and charm of the district and understand even better what a unique opportunity they are given by being invited to this annual prestigious event," she stated.
The ADTF's buyers' registration will take place on the ground floor of the Kring building at Hoveniersstraat 2, with the exhibition halls located at both ends of the street.
The Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair is powered by the AWDC.
All photos taken at the previous fair can be viewed on the Facebook page of the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair.
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#Call4Entry - Ganoksin's Fourth Annual International Online Jewelry Exhibition
Ganoksin is pleased to announce its
Fourth Annual International Online Jewelry Exhibition.
This year's theme will be
"Changing Hues: Color Embraced by Metalsmiths Around the World."
The exhibition is open to all metalsmiths, professional and amateur,
advanced and beginner, around the world.
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| (Image: Testing Japanese Patina Solutions from the book Japanese Patinas) |
The exhibition is seeking works whose primary theme is color, whether that be using colored materials, exploring creating colored surfaces, or encasing the object in color. Works should be about COLOR - not color as an accent or focal point, but with color embraced as their primary visual focus. Works where color is not the primary visual element will be rejected.
As this is an online exhibition the work will only be seen via the photographs metalsmiths submit. It is therefore vital that these be in focus, on a neutral background (preferably not textured), and do an excellent job allowing the viewer to really see the piece and the workmanship involved.
Any photographs not meeting exhibition standards will not be used, and the submitting metalsmith will be asked to re-submit the entry with a higher quality of photograph. Works will be juried by the curator and director.
Any photographs not meeting exhibition standards will not be used, and the submitting metalsmith will be asked to re-submit the entry with a higher quality of photograph. Works will be juried by the curator and director.
The exhibition will be curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina, USA. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world's largest internet jewelry site.
Entries will be accepted from now until February 15, 2014
Details and entry information is available at
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/changinghues
Please contact Beth Wicker at http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/contact with any questions.
Any photographs not meeting exhibition standards will not be used, and the submitting metalsmith will be asked to re-submit the entry with a higher quality of photograph. Works will be juried by the curator and director.
The exhibition will be curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina, USA. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world's largest internet jewelry site.
Entries will be accepted from now until February 15, 2014
Details and entry information is available at
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/changinghues
Please contact Beth Wicker at http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/contact with any questions.
World Auction Records Set By Sotheby's Geneva
History is Made in Geneva
SOTHEBY'S ACHIEVES HIGHEST JEWELRY SALE TOTAL IN HISTORY
The Magnificent Jewels Sale Totals
$199,512,930 (CHF 183,054,500)
The Pink Star renamed 'THE PINK DREAM'
sets A WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A DIAMOND OR JEWEL
AT $83,187,381 (CHF 76,325,000)
The 59.60-carat Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid, Pink Diamond
was bought by famous New York-based diamond cutter Isaac Wolf
who renamed it "The Pink Dream" after the sale
Among Other Auction Records Set Today:
World Auction Record for a Jewel by Van Cleef & Arpels,
A Pair of Colourless Diamonds,
Sapphire Jewels, a Burmese and a Kashmir Sapphire
& A Record Price Per Carat for a Sapphire
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| David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby's Jewellery Division in Europe and the Middle East and Chairman of Sotheby's Switzerland auctioneering the record-breaking Pink Star |
This week, Sotheby's Geneva made history when it sold The Pink Star - a 59.60-carat oval cut pink diamond - for $83,187,381 (CHF 76,325,000), a world auction record for a diamond and any gemstone or jewel. This land mark price eclipsed the previous record at $46.2 million established three years ago by Sotheby's Geneva for the magnificent 'Graff Pink' - the 24.78 carat fancy intense pink diamond.
Today's historic sale of Magnificent Jewels achieved $199,512,930 (CHF 183,054,500), the highest jewellery sale total in history (est. $121,635,591-165,432,534/ CHF 111,601,500- 151,785,500).
Commenting on tonight's results, David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby's Jewellery Division in Europe and the Middle East and Chairman of Sotheby's Switzerland, said: "The Pink Star is a true masterpiece of nature. Its immense importance was reflected tonight in the strength of the bidding and we are thrilled that the record price it achieved earned it a place in history. Today's record sale is a further testimony to the strength and depth of the diamond and jewellery market. " Four bidders competed for the Pink Star which is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid pink diamond that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has ever graded. The diamond was bought after nearly five minutes by by the famous diamond cutter Isaac Wolf who has renamed it 'The Pink Dream' after the sale. The diamond - lot 372 in the sale - received the highest colour and clarity grades from the GIA for pink diamonds, it has also been found to be part of the rare subgroup comprising less than 2 % of all gem diamonds - known as Type IIa: stones in this group are chemically the purest of all diamond crystals and often have extraordinary optical transparency. Mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999, the 132.5 carat rough diamond was painstakingly cut and polished over a period of two years and transformed into this stunning gemstone. This was the first time the diamond was presented at auction, with an estimate of $60 million. The landmark price achieved established a world auction record for a diamond (including for a pink diamond and any coloured diamond) and for any jewel.
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| The "Walska Briolette Diamond" Brooch |
Among the iconic jewels with important provenance presented was The "Walska Briolette Diamond" Brooch. Created by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1971, this masterpiece of design showcases the historic "Walska Briolette Diamond'', a fancy vivid yellow diamond weighing 96.62 carats. On this night it achieved $10,555,778 - an auction record for a jewel by Van Cleef & Arpels (lot 373, est. in excess of $8 million), Once in the collection of opera singer and jewellery connoisseur, Ganna Walska (1887-1984), the briolette was subsequently mounted as a brooch and most recently exhibited at Van Cleef and Arpels retrospectives both at the Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York, in 2011, and at the Palais Royal, Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, in 2012-13.
Important Diamonds Also included in this rich offering of white diamonds of D colour - the finest colour grading for white diamonds. Among them was a pair of magnificent earrings set with brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 23.77 and 23.78 carats respectively, which surpassed the pre-sale high estimate to sell for $9,213,009 - a record for a pair of colourless diamonds. Both diamonds were cut from the same 161 carat rough and form a perfectly matched pair (lot 354, est. CHF 6,600,000-7 ,500,000/ $7,250,000- 8,250,000).
Blue diamonds featured strongly. A magnificent rectangular mixed-cut fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 5.04 carats and mounted as a ring rose above estimate and achieved $6,649,541 (lot 349, est. CH F 5,100,000-5,700,000/ $5,600,000-6,300,000), while a 5.51 carat pear shaped fancy intense blue diamond ring realized $5,428,842 (lot 330, est. CHF 4,220,000-5 ,000,000/ $4,650,000-5 ,450,000).
A further highlight of this section was an outstanding 20.80 carat marquise-shaped fancy vivid yellow diamond of exceptional hue, mounted as a ring which achieved $5,184,702, again well above its pre-sale high estimate (l ot 357, est. CH F 1,600 000- 2,500,000/ $1,750,000-2,750,000).
Impressive Gemstones
A group of impressive gemstones, led by a magnificent Burmese "Royal Blue" sapphire weighing 114.74 carats which almost quadrupled its pre-sale low estimate and sold for $7,137,821 - a world auction record for a Burmese sapphire (lot 355, est. CH F 1,650,000- 2,600,000/ $1,800,000-2,800,000). According to the SSE F, "a natural sapphire from Burma of this size and quality is very rare and exceptional and thus can be considered a true treasure of nature ".
Another fine example of Kashmir sapphire was found in a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 21.42 carats, mounted as a ring and coming from the Estate of a European Royal Princess. The gemstone achieved$3,231,583), again four times its pre-sale estimate (lot 332, est. CHF 680,000- 910,000/ $750,000-1,000,000) .
Burmese sapphires were also sought after, with a pair of very fine sapphire and diamond ear clips, each set with a Burmese sugarloaf cabochon weighing 32.47 and 36.80 carats respectively surpassed the pre-sale estimate and sold for $816,343 (lot 322, est. CHF 455,000-725,000/ $500,000-800 ,000).
A cushion-shaped cabochon ruby weighing 31.30 carats and mounted as a ring by Cartier generated alot of attention. It almost tripled the pre-sale low estimate, selling for $1,077,921 (lot 314, est. 365,000-545,000/ $400,000-600,000)
Natural pearls - the rising stars of all gemstones - achieved strong prices. An extremely fine and highly important natural pearl necklace realized $5,672,982, almost four times its pre-sale estimate (lot 356, est. CH F 1,320,000-2,250,000/ $1,450,000- 2,450,000) . It was designed as a graduated row of fifty-two pearls measuring from approximately 7.95 to 12.50mm with a length of approximately 525 mm.
Another fine example of Kashmir sapphire was found in a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 21.42 carats, mounted as a ring and coming from the Estate of a European Royal Princess. The gemstone achieved$3,231,583), again four times its pre-sale estimate (lot 332, est. CHF 680,000- 910,000/ $750,000-1,000,000) .
Burmese sapphires were also sought after, with a pair of very fine sapphire and diamond ear clips, each set with a Burmese sugarloaf cabochon weighing 32.47 and 36.80 carats respectively surpassed the pre-sale estimate and sold for $816,343 (lot 322, est. CHF 455,000-725,000/ $500,000-800 ,000).
A cushion-shaped cabochon ruby weighing 31.30 carats and mounted as a ring by Cartier generated alot of attention. It almost tripled the pre-sale low estimate, selling for $1,077,921 (lot 314, est. 365,000-545,000/ $400,000-600,000)
Natural pearls - the rising stars of all gemstones - achieved strong prices. An extremely fine and highly important natural pearl necklace realized $5,672,982, almost four times its pre-sale estimate (lot 356, est. CH F 1,320,000-2,250,000/ $1,450,000- 2,450,000) . It was designed as a graduated row of fifty-two pearls measuring from approximately 7.95 to 12.50mm with a length of approximately 525 mm.
Jewels with Important Provenance
The sale was further distinguished with jewels from the Estate of the late Gunter Sachs (1932-2011), including a gem-set and diamond parure "Tutti Frutti" by Cartier which achieved $607,080 (lot 337, est. CH F 230,000-365,000/ $250,000- 400,000). A superb Art Deco bracelet from the 1930s, centering on a marquise-shaped diamond weighing 9.38 carats, which can also be worn as a choker realized $1,051,763, four times its pre-sale low estimate (lot 338, est. CHF 230,000-365,000/ $250,000-400,000).
The auction also featured a magnificent jewel that once belonged to Lily Pons (1898-1976), the celebrated international opera singer. Th is emerald and diamond necklace made by Van Cleef & Arpels circa 1948 almost doubled the pre-sale expectation and sold for $450,133 (lot 336, est. CH F 230,000- 320,000/ $250,000-350,000).
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 8 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris, and Geneva and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view 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, 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).
For More News From Sotheby’s:Visit: www.sothebys.com/en/inside/services/press/news/news.htmlFollow: www.twitter.com/sothebys
Join: www.facebook.com/sothebys & www.weibo.com/sothebyshongkong
Watch: www.youtube.com/sothebys
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).
For More News From Sotheby’s:Visit: www.sothebys.com/en/inside/services/press/news/news.htmlFollow: www.twitter.com/sothebys
Join: www.facebook.com/sothebys & www.weibo.com/sothebyshongkong
Watch: www.youtube.com/sothebys
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Fall 2013 Gems & Gemology looks at the Cheapside Hoard
Gems & Gemology Offers Behind-the-Scenes Look
at the Cheapside Hoard Jewelry Collection
Fall 2013 issue reviews latest gemological research
The Fall 2013 issue of Gems & Gemology is
now available.
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The Fall 2013 issue of GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) industry-leading peer-reviewed quarterly journal Gems & Gemology (G&G) journeys to the Museum of London’s astonishing new Cheapside Hoard exhibit of centuries-old jewelry; discusses “digits,” a naturally occurring pattern resembling fingers that is most often found in Ethiopian opal; unveils a useful clue indicating corundum heat treatment; reports on agates from Morocco; and much more. The issue is now available in print, and online with exclusive video content.
G&G’s cover story offers a remarkable preview of the Cheapside Hoard, an unrivaled collection of nearly 500 gems and jewelry pieces believed to have been buried in the seventeenth century that lay undisturbed in London until 1912. Museum of London Director Sharon Ament and Senior Curator Hazel Forsyth discuss the remarkable history and gemological significance of the collection, which is being exhibited for the first time since the Hoard’s discovery.
| The Fall 2013 issue of Gems & Gemology journeys to the Museum of London’s astonishing new Cheapside Hoard exhibit of early jewelry. Courtesy of the Museum of London; photo by Robert Weldon/GIA. |
Among the pieces chronicled are a gold locket featuring an image of Elizabeth I, a delicately carved cameo inspired by the Aesop fable “The Dog and His Reflection,” and an enameled gold ring set with a table-cut diamond, an evolutionary cut developed in the mid-fifteenth century. The exhibit is now on display through April 27, 2014.
Next is an examination of finger-like digit patterns mostly found in gem-quality Ethiopian opal. In another feature article, John Koivula, GIA’s chief research gemologist, documents a useful visual clue that indicates possible heat treatment of corundum, resulting from the conversion of limonitic residues to hematite in surface-reaching inclusions. The issue also includes a report on the chemical and mineralogical analysis of solid inclusions in Moroccan agate.
The Fall 2013 issue introduces a new G&G article category, the field report, which chronicles GIA expeditions to gem-producing areas and details future lines of research and publication. This issue recounts the July 2013 journey of Duncan Pay, G&G’s editor-in-chief, and a GIA research team to three sources of Oregon sunstone.
Since the first issue of Gems & Gemology was published in 1934, it has been recognized as one of the leading academic journals in its field. In 2013, G&G was made available in its entirety online. Today, the award-winning quarterly journal is available both as a print subscription and at no cost on GIA’s website.
Additional details about G&G, full articles, more in-depth coverage, hundreds of additional photos, and exclusive video footage are available on GIA’s website at http://www.gia.edu/gia-news-
About GIA
An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.
Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. Visit www.gia.edu.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Danhov Announces Their Fine Jewelry Collection
Danhov Announces Their Fine Jewelry Collection
Abbraccio fine jewelry debuts on Theia Couture runway
during fall 2014 Bridal Showcase
Making its’ debut on the runway today at the 2014 New York Bridal Showcase, Danhov proudly introduces Abbraccio Fine Jewelry. This new collection of fine jewelry is a natural extension of the unique and handmade Abbraccio collection of engagement rings from the award-winning luxury designer.
Like the Abbraccio collection of engagement rings, the fine jewelry is handmade in the USA and will be available in white, yellow or rose 14k and 18k gold, and platinum. The collection will feature earrings, pendants and bracelets. All pieces will have hand-set pave diamonds and center stones of diamonds or colored gemstones, such as ruby, sapphire, amethyst, blue topaz and green tourmaline.
These pieces will be available November 2013 as finished pieces, but also can be custom-made in any combination of metal and gemstone – perfect for a diamond stud update. Retail of finished pieces will range in price from $2,800 to $33,000.
Danhov is an award-winning, luxury designer of unique and handcrafted engagement rings, wedding bands and fine jewelry. Founded in 1984 by Khajag “Jack” Hovsepian, Danhov is known in the luxury jewelry category for its innovative design philosophy. Each ring created by Danhov is either handmade or hand-assembled by the most skilled jewelers at its Los Angeles, California-based offices. This further exemplifies the precision and individuality for which Danhov is known. To experience the collections of Danhov, visit http://www.danhov.com/
Meaning “to embrace”, the Abbraccio collection is distinguishable by the flowing movement created by the swirls embracing the center stone – symbolizing true love’s perfect embrace.
Like the Abbraccio collection of engagement rings, the fine jewelry is handmade in the USA and will be available in white, yellow or rose 14k and 18k gold, and platinum. The collection will feature earrings, pendants and bracelets. All pieces will have hand-set pave diamonds and center stones of diamonds or colored gemstones, such as ruby, sapphire, amethyst, blue topaz and green tourmaline.
These pieces will be available November 2013 as finished pieces, but also can be custom-made in any combination of metal and gemstone – perfect for a diamond stud update. Retail of finished pieces will range in price from $2,800 to $33,000.
The Abbraccio collection of fine jewelry is the perfect complement to any wedding gown, and ideal for daily wear. In addition, the assortment of colored gemstones makes an ideal gift to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or as a treasured bridesmaid gift. For any occasion, a piece from the Abbraccio fine jewelry collection is a handmade heirloom-in-the-making.
Danhov is an award-winning, luxury designer of unique and handcrafted engagement rings, wedding bands and fine jewelry. Founded in 1984 by Khajag “Jack” Hovsepian, Danhov is known in the luxury jewelry category for its innovative design philosophy. Each ring created by Danhov is either handmade or hand-assembled by the most skilled jewelers at its Los Angeles, California-based offices. This further exemplifies the precision and individuality for which Danhov is known. To experience the collections of Danhov, visit http://www.danhov.com/
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