A Charity Dinner in aid of the Velindre Cancer Centre’s Stepping Stones Appeal took place at the Surrey National Golf Club on Friday 3rd September 2010. The evening was hosted by Novello Noades and Sian Lloyd to raise fund for the charity’s lung cancer research programme called Stepping Stones Appeal. A golf tournament followed by dinner and entertainment took place as part of the fundraising.
For the evening auction, Diamond Rocks donated a 1 Carat Diamond Pendant set in 18K White Gold to raise funds. Anyone who would like to donate to this great cause can support Sian and Novello via www.justgiving.com/NovelloSian
The Surrey National Golf Club is part of the The Altonwood Golf Group www.altonwood-group.co.uk. ....
Last week, Angelina Jolie was on the red carpet in London, at the premier of her new film “Salt”.
Not surprisingly, she didn’t let anyone down on the style front as she looked stunning in her dress by leading UK designer, Amanda Wakeley.
The 35 year old Hollywood superstar Jolie wore a long, linear embellished dress in powder from the new seasons range.
As well as her amazing clothing designs, Amanda Wakeley has also designed a stunning range of jewellery which can be purchased exclusively at Diamond Rocks. The Amanda Wakeley Collection has a range of designer diamond rings, diamond necklaces and diamond earrings.
The range also includes stones such as amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, quartz and peridot.
Shown in the pictures are the Callisto Diamond Hoop Earrings which are Diamond Half Set Outside & Half Set Inside Hoops. They come with 1.31Cts of diamonds set in 18Ct White Gold. Also shown is the Black & White Diamond Wide Grainset Band Ring set in 18Ct White Gold. ....
Last year Gianfranco Quartaroli of Circuiti Gioielli presented the champion of the finale World Superbike race, SBK World Champion Ben Spies, with the gold and diamond Championship Ring 2009. This time Quartaroli has designed even more luxurious gold and diamond Championship Ring 2010 MX1 for the 2010 Motocross World Champion.
The new Motocross MX1 jewellery is inspired by the selfless passion, razor-sharp emotions and all that is associated with the World Motocross Championships. The fantastic 18K white gold ring weighs 35,70 g and is largely encrusted with white diamonds, the MX1 logo being in black diamonds. To make it a piece of signature sports jewellery the name of the winner and the year will be engraved on the sides of this ring.
The Championship Ring 2010 MX1 is estimated at £16.700 (about €20,000). ....
Just like contemplating a fine piece of painting or listening to an enchanting piece of music, finely crafted jewellery can often take your breath away. Now all active collectors and connoisseurs of fine jewellery should mark September 29th on their calendars, as Doyle New York’s auction of Important Estate Jewelry is going to take place that day.
Offering pieces from a variety of prominent estates and collections, the sale features jewellery spanning the Antique, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modern eras by some of the world’s most talented craftsmen, including Tiffany & Co, David Webb, Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier. The sale also present a number of objects de vertu, including cigarette cases, cufflinks, elegant compacts and watches by Cartier, Patek Philippe and Rolex.
The top lots of the sale include a platinum and diamond ring, featuring a rectangular step-cut diamond, approximately 16.74 carats (pre-sale estimate £78000 – £110000), and a pair of diamond-studded earrings, 14 carat white gold, set with two round diamonds around 10.03 carats (pre-sale estimate £18000 - £32000). Also to be offered in the sale are the exquisite David Webb gold, platinum and diamond bib necklace, from the estate of Florence P. Shientag (£13000 - £19500) and the platinum, diamond and ribbon necklace by Cartier, featuring a total of 450 diamonds (£13000 - £19500).
Doyle New York is one of the world’s biggest auctioneers and appraisers of fine art, jewellery, furniture and other specialty categories. With its headquarters in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Doyle offers about forty auctions each year. Doyle New York’s exhibition of Important Estate Jewelry will run from Sept. 25-28 ....
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will be opening the latest of its laboratories in Hong Kong on 1st September 2010.
The new lab will be a modern and state-of-the-art facility. It will provide for on-site services for both GIA Grading Reports and GIA Diamond Dossiers for diamonds weighing from 0.15 carats to 2.99 carats. The facility will also provide laser inscription and diamond sealing services.
Tom Moses, Senior Vice President of GIA Laboratory and Research, Tom Moses said “...we are pleased to be able to offer more services to the Asian market. This new location will make it possible for us to provide even quicker service to our clients.”
The new laboratory is situated in central Hong Kong, at Room 1411, New World Tower, 18 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.
The current GIA facility in Hong Kong, located in the Aon China Building on Queen’s Road Central is due to close permanently with the last day for the submittal and receipt of diamonds and gemstones being the 27th August 2010. ....
The world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation, Sotheby’s, holds regular luxury watch auctions in Geneva, London and New York, however, this autumn the world's most active collectors and connoisseurs of horology will come to Hong Kong to visit Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Autumn Sale 2010 on 6 October. The sale will offer a total of 300 lots estimated over 3.5 million GBP ($5.5 million USD). Presenting a an outstanding private collection of highly sophisticated timepieces by renowned independent watchmakers, as well as dazzling bejewelled watches in perfect condition, the Hong Kong Important Watches Autumn Sale 2010 is a real pinnacle of the past and future of watchmaking.
The star lot of the luxurious and stunning jewellery watches offered in the sale is the magnificent Piaget white gold and diamond-set oval bracelet watch. Featuring 83.89 carats of emerald-cut diamonds, all meticulously selected, hand-cut and positioned by Piaget’s master craftsmen, this dazzling timepiece is expected to fetch 320.000 GBP (500.000 USD). Some of the other highlights of the sale include a Patek Philippe platinum perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch ( the REF 5971P) with moon-phases and leap-year indication, encrusted with4.39 carats of baguette diamonds (148.000 GBP/230.000 USD), and a Cartier diamond-set jadeite, coral, onyx, mother-of-pearl and rock crystal mystery clock (116.000 GBP/180.000 USD).
The top lot of the mechanical wonders of the sale is a Greubel Forsey platinum tourbillon wristwatch. Featuring a new patented double tourbillon system, 72 hour power reserve and mother-of-pearl dial, Double Tourbillon 30º Vision No. 2 is the result of four years of combined effort ....
One the most successful golfers of all time, the world’s highest paid professional athlete, Tiger Woods, completes his divorce and then buys $30 million dollar bikini. Who do you think will be the lucky girl?
Tiger Woods officially dissolved his marriage with Elin Nordegren the other day in Panama City. “We are sad that our marriage is over, and we wish each other the very best for the future,’’ said the broken couple in a joint statement released by their lawyers.
OK, so right after the divorce Mr. Woods went to a private jewellery dealer in Jupiter Island and bought these absolutely stunning pieces of lingerie, designed by Susan Rosen, for the whopping $30 million! Susan Rosen has always been one of the best-kept secrets among New York fashion editors, Hollywood Stylists and PGA Golfers. Now the designer has won fame as the designer of history’s most expensive piece of clothing ever made!
Featuring 150 carats of flawless white diamonds set in platinum, the luxurious lingerie has already produced media waves from Japan to Jamaica. The bikini includes a 51 carat pear-shaped diamond, a 30 carat emerald cut, a pair of 15 carat round cut and a pair of 8 carat pear-shaped diamonds. All the stones are set in platinum.
So who of Tiger Woods’ mistresses will be the proud owner of the $30 Million Bikini? There is no telling, although a speculation exists that Tiger might have purchased it for Molly Slims, who is single now. And the bikini already fits her, does it not? ....
Jewellery designer Kimberly McDonald has created a limited edition bracelet in order to raise money to aid the National Wildlife Federation’s efforts to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf.
McDonald has always had a deep love and appreciation for nature and is committed to honouring this by creating jewellery using natural and organic materials.
Originally from North Carolina, McDonald, now based in New York has an avid celebrity following that include Sarah Jessica Parker and Brooke Shields.
In the hope that people will be inspired to take environmental issues more seriously and get involved she had created a one of a kind collection of just 50 bracelets featuring sea turtles.
Each Sea Turtle Macramé Bracelet is created from reclaimed diamonds, a diamond briolette, 18 carat recycled gold and hand woven silk macramé. This limited edition diamond bracelet will retail for $2,000 - $2,500 in the hope of raising $100,000.
All the proceeds will be donated to NWF to support the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the Gulf. ....
One of the world’s most famous auction house, Christie’s, is going to hold an auction of the largest private collection of jewellery parures in Dubai at Jumeirah Tower Hotel on October 27th 2010. The word “parure” refers to a set of various items of matching jewellery, traditionally consisting of a pair of earrings, bracelet, ring and necklace. Known as the Christie’s ‘Jewels and Watches: The Dubai Sale’, the auction will showcase 41 examples of parures all signed by Chatila, Jahan and Mouawad. All the suites of jewellery to be auctioned include a total of 2,180 carats of rubies, 1,970 carats of emeralds, 1,630 carats of sapphires and 6,460 carats of diamonds, Christie’s announced.
International Director of Christie’s Jewellery department, David Warren, had this to say: “This is a significant opportunity for anyone who is passionate about jewellery. From Ancient Egypt through to 1950s Hollywood glamour and beyond, the parure provides the ultimate jewellery gift. Whether you wear a single ring or you wear the whole suite, a parure provides flexibility, variety and extravagance to last a lifetime.”
Each of the 41 parures will come with a genuine certificate from its creator. No reservations can be allowed on the lots, and pre-sale estimates range from $40,000 (£25,517) to $450,000 (£287,002).
Back in 2006, Christie’s showcased the Gulf pearl parure, by Harry Winston in Dubai, which fetched a record price of $4.1 million later on in a sale in Geneva. ....
We all know that most women love handbags and diamond jewellery ... so why not bring the two together?
Japanese jewellery house, Ginza Tanaka, designed one of the world’s most expensive handbags that can also be worn in parts as jewellery.
Worth more than £1m this platinum handbag has been encrusted with 2,182 diamonds totalling a remarkable 208 carats.
The strap itself is can be detached and worn as a diamond necklace or bracelet. There is also an 8 carat pear shaped diamond on the front of the bag which can be removed and worn as a brooch.
After so many fashion weeks traditionally held in different countries round the year, it is now India’s turn to hold its first jewellery week – the India International Jewellery Week (IIJW) – which launched on Sunday (August 15th) and will last until tomorrow (August 19th). The event is being organised by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC) and supported by the ministry of commerce and industry. 'This is not only India's first but the world's first jewellery event on such a mass scale organised by a proper body and not an individual,' said Vasant Mehta, the chairman of GJEPC. The bling show is coming to its end now and will be concluding tomorrow on 19th August.
The five-day Indian extravaganza has seen collections of 30 designers including Farah Khan Ali, Varun D. Jani, Bina Goenka and Rhea Nasta. Some well-known jewellery brands like Mirari, Gitanjali, Amrapali, Tanishq and Ganjam are also participating in it. "This is a fabulous platform for jewellery designers to come together and showcase their talent. The fashion industry has their events but this is the first time that the jewellery industry will witness something like this," said designer Farah Khan Ali.
To give you an idea of the magnitude of the event here are some other facts. Nearly 1,600 stalls are showcasing the works of 776 exhibitors. Buyers from Japan, Russia, Britain, Italy, Morocco, China, Malaysia, Libya, Iran, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are finding pieces of their choice at the event, celebrating the passion for luxury items. The IIJW is also showcasing the talents of upcoming designers from the National Institute of Design and the National Institute of Fas ....
This diamond weighs 137.02 carats and is one of the largest D-color Flawless diamonds in the world. In March 1978 the Premier Mine in South Africa, the mine that produced the 3106-carat Cullinan Diamond, discovered another remarkable diamond weighing 353.9 carats.
For reasons of security, the news of the finding of the diamond was not released for two months. After it had been disclosed, the press quickly began speculating about possible destinations for the diamond. Prince Rainier of Monaco was obliged to deny reports that he was planning to buy it as a wedding present for his daughter, Princess Caroline, who was getting married around the time of the diamonds discovery. The Johannesburg firm Mouw Diamond Cutting Works purchased it, naming it after Mrs. Rose Mouw.
The cutting was carried out in South Africa and produced three gems which became known as members of the Premier Rose family. The largest, which has retained the name Premier Rose, is a pear shape diamond weighing 137.02 carats. It was submitted to the Gemological Institute of America for certification where it received a D-color and Flawless clarity grade. It took 385 hours to cut, which due to the size of the finished stone. At the time it was then the largest stone of this quality to have been certified by the GIA. The weight of the Premier Rose makes it the fifth largest pear-shaped diamond in the world: the Star of Africa diamond being the first at 530.20 carats, the Millennium Star diamond being the second at 203.04 carats. The William Goldberg Diamond Corporation of New York handled the sale of the gems. The Premier Rose was sold in 1979 to an anonymous buyer for about $10,000,000; the sale of the two smaller diamonds foll ....
Jackie Kennedy, the fashionable First Lady of the Sixties, was known not only for her sunglasses and Chanel wool suits, but also for her large jewellery collection, including pieces given to her by President John F. Kennedy. Jackie O’s classic style was so popular, that years later she still remains a style icon.
Now to celebrate all that is cool and iconic from the period of 1940-1960, British auction house, Bonhams will be auctioning off an iconic three-strand pearl necklace that belonged to the former First Lady, on August 15th in London, as part of their "Pioneers of Popular Culture" sale. The necklace is expected to fetch anything between £25,000 and £35,000. Secured by an emerald and diamond sterling silver clasp, the signature jewellery piece comes with its Sotheby’s presentation box, original lot tag, and images of Jackie wearing it.
Jackie Kennedy was rarely seen without a pearl necklace, and it is rumoured now that the three-strand necklace with an emerald and diamond clasp is actually a set of faux pearls that Jackie wore regularly as she was known to misplace her jewels from time to time. The actual worth of the pearls if they are fake is just a few hundred dollars.
Other iconic pieces up for sale at the auction include the piano, played by The Beatles and Pink Floyd at Abbey Road Studios and an electric Solidbody Stratocaster guitar by Fender worth £25000- £35000. ....
Probably, as long as you can remember Snoopy has been a much loved comic character. Now he has reached an important milestone as he turns 60 this year. Can you possibly imagine playing with the popular public mind for 60 years and still going strong? So to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the classic cartoon character the fine jewellery brand from Hong Kong, TSL, has made a 207-carat Diamond Snoopy statuette. If only Charles M. Schulz, Snoopy’s creator, knew that his fictional character would not only survive but flourish over sixty years!
Also known as “The Ever-Shining Star” the Diamond Snoopy is 5.5 inch tall, featuring 207 carats of gems, with a total of 9,917 diamonds, 783 black diamonds, and 415 rubies that have all undergone a meticulous selection process (to ensure matching colour, clarity, cut, and size) as well as a strict stone setting procedure to ensure optimal symmetry and shine. TSL’s skilled jewellery designers took eight months to complete the sparkling statuette.
The Diamond Snoopy has been touring around China, carrying a price tag of HK 2.8 million (approx. $425,000 USD). ....
The ringleader of the gang behind the £40 Million robbery of Bond Street jeweller Graff has been sentenced to 23 years in jail. His three accomplices have been given 16-year terms.
The 25 year old posed as a genuine customer, wearing a smart suit and walked past security at the Mayfair store on August 6 last year.
He then pulled out a gun and forced staff to hand over 43 pieces of jewellery, including diamond rings, diamond necklaces and watches, worth a total of £40 Million. ....
French auction house, Kohn, sold antique and modern jewellery to both investors and collectors in Cannes, France last week. The results have not yet been released although pre-estimate figures were available. Amongst the main features were two classic pieces of jewellery from the 19th and mid-20th centuries.
Firstly, from the 1960’s was a stunning pair of diamond studded and white gold earrings. The main diamonds on the diamond earrings weigh 8.38 Carats and 8.34 Carats respectively. The total weight of the diamonds is 20.7 grams. The pre-sale estimate for the earrings was £100K - £125K.
Dated from circa 1860 was a diamond necklace set in gold, silver and diamonds. This historic pieces was sure to attract much attention from investors and collectors and investors due to its age and because it is so unique. It weighs a massive 86.2 grams and has a pre-sale estimate of £30K – £33K.
In total, the French auction was presenting 158 lots of jewellery. ....
Billionaire Donald Trump proposed to Melania Knauss with a stunning 12 carat flawless diamond engagement ring.
Knauss’ ring was bought from the world famous House of Graff and is reportedly worth $2 million. The ring itself is a classic emerald cut diamond set in platinum and features tapered diamond baguettes on either side.
Trump and Knauss got engaged in 2004 and were married in a church by the sea in Palm Beach, Florida followed by a lavish reception in January 2005.
Lawrence Graff was born and raised in London and began his career at an early age with an apprenticeship in Hatton Garden. By the age of 24 had two jewellery shops of his own in London and soon built up one the largest jewellery manufacturing businesses in UK.
Known as ‘The King of Diamonds,’ Graff has dealt with some of the most treasured diamonds in the world including, The Emperor Maximillian, The Windsor Diamonds, The Hope of Africa and The Wittelsbach-Graff diamond to name but a few.
His client list includes Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers and many celebrities. ....
“Time is money”, nothing explains that better than this 201-Carat Chopard watch-bracelet and yes that’s 201-carat of diamonds. The watch has three heart-shaped diamonds, one is pink and weighs 15 carats, one is blue and weighs 12 carats and one is colorless and weighs 11 carats. They are set in a bracelet encrusted with clusters of colorless pear-shaped diamonds arranged in flower motifs, with a yellow diamond standing up from the center of each. Total carat weight of the colorless and yellow diamonds is 163 carats, while the total carat weight of the watch is 201 carats. The watch has a spring-loaded mechanism which, when pressed, allows the three heart shapes to mechanically open up, much the way the petals of a flower will in the sunshine. The watch face, pavé-set with small round yellow diamonds, is exposed from underneath the heart-shaped diamonds. The watch is worth $25 million.
The specifications for a few of the diamonds are:
- 1 heart-shaped diamond, natural Fancy Pink, Internally Flawless, 15.37 carats.
- 1 heart-shaped diamond, natural Fancy Blue, VS2, 12.79 carats.
- 1 heart-shaped diamond, D color, Flawless, 11.36 carats.
- 3 pear-shaped diamonds, natural Fancy Intense Yellow, 8.45 carats total.
- 26 pear-shaped diamonds, natural Fancy Intense Yellow, 17.07 carats total.
- 48 round diamonds, natural Fancy Yellow, 8.81 carats total.
- 260 pear-shaped diamonds, all D color, Flawless, 60.94 carats total.
- 91 round diamonds, D color, Flawless, 10.29 carats total.
- 443 FC diamonds, natural Fancy Intense Yellow, 4.95 carats total. ....
Have you ever thought diamonds can go incredibly well together with denims? Indeed, these are quite a rare fashion combo. Moving away from the traditional style, the India’s 135-year-old diamond jewellers C. Krishniah Chetty and Sons (CKC and Sons) have launched an exquisite jewellery collection - “Denim Diamonds’, crafted specially for this season.
The new line of diamond jewellery was showcased by the Pantaloon Femina Miss India 2010 pageant winners - Manasvi Mamgai, Nicole Faria and Neha Hinge - at Jayanagar High Street Experiential Jewellery Showroom in Bangalore.
Speaking on the occasion, managing director of CKC, C Vinod Hayagriv, said, “We have created this line of jewellery mainly for the denim lovers of the modern generation and this is the first step of this kind that we have taken to cater to the changing fashion trends. Walking out of the traditional ancient style, we have catered to the youth this time. This diamond collection can be put on during any occasions. We wanted the most beautiful faces in India to showcase this wonderfully designed collection. Hence, we brought these three well-known beautiful ladies to display the new line.”
The price tags of the collection pieces range from Rs 7500 to Rs 3, 00,000 ($160 to $63000 USD). Presenting a break from the tradition, the “Denim Diamonds’ jewellery is a rich mix of gold, gemstones, diamonds and various metals.
The gorgeous Miss India World 2010 Manasvi Mamgai said that the brand has really unique diamond pieces with a fresh and trendy look. “The brand I am doing here is like that which has really unique pieces. You know sometimes diamond jewellery gets a little boring. It is really fresh, the app ....
The gorgeous Bipasha Basu, has launched an ad-campaign of Gili, one of India’s most popular diamond brands. Gitanjali Group, the country’s largest diamond and jewellery manufacturer and retailer, strongly feels that Bipasha epitomizes what Gili stands for. The chic and exotic actress, with curves that can kill, will add her alluring personality to its products, as well as lend a refreshing look to the whole brand.
Tagged as ‘Beautifully You’, the new ad campaign has moved from the functional aspects towards the emotional aspects of a woman expressing her latent desires where she discovers herself as a traveller, diva, wanderer, bride and a girl next door. Since today's "woman wants to have her own self-identity apart from playing different roles of a daughter, wife, homemaker, mother and a professional”, the new campaign addresses the woman of today.
Commenting about the new Gili Jewellery campaign, Bipasha had this to say: “Gili symbolizes the modern Indian woman, who is independent but still close to her cultural roots. As I am one of them, I can totally identify with them. It can go along with the emotions of a woman. This is beautifully presented in this new ad campaign.”
Known for her taste of style and fashion, Bipasha Basu, the sultriest siren of Bollywood, has confessed that all the jewellery she wears is gifted from her boyfriend, John Abraham, an Indian actor who stars in Bollywood films.
“All the jewellery comes to me from John. He is my diamond supplier,” Bipasha told reporters during an interview. Answering a question about the engagement ring she’d like to receive, the Bengali beauty said: Well the engagement ring comes from the other side. You have to as ....
So many men try to find the perfect engagement ring for their fiancé to be. Will she like a princess cut? Or what about emerald cut? Do you want baguettes on the side? What grade of colour should it be? Or what diamond clarity should I get?
However, Luke Jerram decided to propose with an unusual ring that has no diamonds in different cuts or colours but something more treasured. With the help of a local jeweller he created an interactive engagement ring. Jerram designed a ring that is able to stream pictures of the couple.
Small images are stored in the ring and in dark surroundings with only a small LED light or candlelight the pictures can be projected through a transparent stone. The ring itself is a minute projector and the translucent stone cleverly magnifies the miniature slides. The chosen images have been wedged inside a small slot on the ring and can be changed at anytime.
While mere mortals were waiting in line to purchase iPad 3G, Liverpool-based luxury designer Stuart Hughes once again set his mind to dazzle the whole world by designing the world’s most expensive ultimate iPad. Along with his wife Katherine, the designer makes his living by adding gold, platinum and gemstones to the newest high-tech products to hit the market. This time his creation upstages its gold counterpart, designed by Katherine, in both looks and price. Christened the Solid Platinum iPad Supreme Edition, this platinum gadget with a price tag of £299,995 ($434,930) is the world’s most expensive iPad.
The world’s first solid platinum iPad features a total amount of 173 individually set IF diamonds (85.5 carats), encrusted on the masterly crafted solid platinum rear section which weighs in at a whopping 2,700 grams. Polished to perfection to bring out its most beautiful reflective appearance, this luxury iPad is a sumptuous marriage of top of the industry technology and peerless craftsmanship of the modern master.
As far as the technology is concerned, these luxury iPads come in Wi-Fi & 3G, 64GB edition. The Solid Platinum iPad Supreme Edition is restricted to only 5 units to be produced.
Indeed, when money is no object, the objects available are endless. Are you spoilt enough to be one of the lucky five to afford the world’s first platinum and diamond iPad? ....
In a private ceremony filled with celebrity guest surrounded by natural beauty of lakes and mountains, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski tied the knot.
British actress Blunt, 27, married Krasinski, 30, in Lake Como, Italy earlier this month. It is believed that the couple were staying at George Clooney’s estate nearby. Guests included Clooney and his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, Meryl Streep and David Schwimmer.
Blunt, best known for her performance in ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’ got engaged to Krasinski, star of the US version of ‘The Office,’ in August last year when he proposed to her with a $100,000 Edwardian diamond engagement ring. The centre stone is a 3 carat diamond surrounded by other smaller diamonds in a swirly design set in platinum.
Although the wedding was a close guarded secret, the couple couldn’t hide their smiles as they walked hand in hand at Los Angeles Airport after arriving back from the wedding. ....
The most expensive wedding dress in the world has been created by dressmaker Renee Strauss and Jeweller Martin Katz.
Together, they have designed and dress studded with a magnificent 150 Carats of diamonds which are intricately laced right through the dress. The only bard of the outfit that does not have diamonds is the veil which has some rhinestones instead.
The dress is valued at a whopping $12 million which will stretch anyone to think twice about the honeymoon! ....
The world's fourth oldest auction house, Sotheby’s, is going to auction off signature jewellery that Britain’s King Edward VIII gave his American wife Wallis Simpson – the woman for whom he renounced the U.K. throne. The 20 pieces, including some renowned examples illustrating both the exquisite taste of the famous couple and memorable key events in their relationship, are expected to fetch up to 3 million pounds ($4.6 million USD) at the Sotheby’s auction in November this 2010.
The Windsors were enthusiastic jewellery collectors. During their courtship in the UK and married life in France, the couple commissioned a great number of pieces from Cartier and other makers, and designed a number of them by themselves.
Chairman of Sothebys Jewellery in Europe and the Middle East, David Bennett, told the media, "It is an extraordinary honour to bring once again to sale these jewels worn by a woman who was a leader of fashion and the epitome of elegance and sophistication for her generation and beyond. The offering comprises not only incomparable examples of the genius of Cartier in collaboration with the Windsors, but also pieces whose inscriptions tell the story of perhaps the greatest love story of the 20th century, the romance that led Edward VIII to abdicate the throne of Great Britain".
Among the pieces on sale are diamond bracelet, with its nine begemmed Latin crosses, a heart-shaped, ruby and diamond brooch, initialled ‘W.E’, an onyx and diamond panther bracelet and a flamingo-shaped brooch, studded with multicoloured jewels.
An 18-carat gold and jewelled cigarette case, decorated with a map of Europe with red lines denoting three of their favourite trips, and ....
Janet Massimino of Utah was travelling back travelling back home from Pittsburgh when she realised her 25th wedding anniversary ring was missing.
Massimino, 59, was waiting to board her flight when she had taken her ring off to apply hand lotion and had also decided to make a business call. When she heard the boarding call she immediately got up and the ring fell out of her lap onto the concourse.
It was only during the flight that she realised her $25,000 diamond ring was lost. Massimino thought it may have come off whilst she was drying her hands with a paper towel in the toilet. After a disappointing search on the plane she began to panic, however, upon landing Delta Airlines staff connected her with Pittsburgh International Airport’s lost and found department.
Her 2 carat baguettes diamond ring was found by John Beatty, an airport custodian who had handed it in. Massimino’s ring was just being locked away securely when her call was put through and to her relief it has been returned back to her safely.
An Airport spokesman said that generally most items which are not claimed within a month are donated to charity and that 99% of people would have just walked away with the ring and not handed it in.
To date it is the most expensive item to have been handed in at Pittsburgh Airport and returned to its rightful owner. ....
Renowned jewellery designer Nail Lane and Kay Jewelers announced on June 19th the launch of the Nail Lane Bridal collection, which is comprised of 36 vintage-inspired engagement and wedding rings. All the rings are designed by Neil Lane, and hand-crafted, assembled and finished by skilled craftsmen. The diamonds for the Nail Lane Bridal collection were hand-selected by Kay.
Nail Lane has been one of the world’s top jewellery designers for more than 20 years. He’s earned the respect and devotion of his clientele, and his jewellery brand is a red-carpet regular at film premieres and award shows, worn by Hollywood celebrities, many of whom have turned to Lane for bridal designs. This year, Neil has become one of the first high-end designers to partner with a major retailer in order to launch a bridal collection.
"I was influenced by over 20 years of design for some of Hollywood's legendary stars to create a collection with Kay Jewelers that is authentic, glamorous and romantic," said Lane.
The Neil Lane Bridal Collection clearly reflects Neil’s passion for period jewels and his devotion to the old world craftsmanship. The designs break up into four themes: Timeless, Energy, Essence and Harmony, each of the designs featuring period influences with historical references to architecture and art in general.
CEO of Kay Jewelers, Mark Light, had this to say, "We are thrilled to launch the new Neil Lane Bridal collection at Kay Jewelers. Partnering with Neil Lane, we have created a one-of-a-kind bridal collection for our Kay customers, that reflects Neil's immense talent for intricate design and passion for style and glamour." Thankfully, the pieces in the Neil Lane Bri ....
Created by Johnathon Arndt, this stunning diamond tiara was a gift from Mike Fisher to his beautiful bride Carrie Underwood for their wedding day.
This one of a kind Victorian inspired tiara features over 40 carats of diamonds shaped into flowers and vines set in 18 carat white gold. Kept as a carefully guarded secret by both Fisher and Arndt, it was truly a surprise worth waiting for.
Designer Arndt had also designed the couple’s wedding bands, Fisher’s band features concealed carats and Underwood’s is a ring bejewelled with white princess and round cut flawless diamonds.
No doubt Underwood’s tiara will become a family heirloom destined to be worn by future generations. ....
For the second year running Shaun Leane has won UK Jewellery Designer of the Year. The lavish awards were held in the Great Room at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane last week.
Leane has designed for A-list celebs such as Sarah Jessica Parker and his catwalk collaborations with Marc Jacobs, Givenchy and the late Alexander McQueen have brought him international recognition.
This year Leane launched three new collections – Blackthorn and Hawthorn both of which have been inspired by the English countryside and Serpent inspired by the scales of exotic snakes.
Leane fought off tough competition from other designers like Alex Monroe and Bobby White to win for the second consecutive year. Jenni Middleton, Editor-in-chief of Retail Jeweller, Britain’s number one trade magazine, announced to more than 600 retailers, designers and marketers that Leane had got better and more accomplished and his standards had become higher.
Leane recently unveiled his largest diamond piece ‘White Light’ which is an intricately crafted 40.68 carat diamond brooch set with more than 2,477 exceptionally rare Forevermark diamonds.
Sotheby’s auction house described his work has as ‘antiques of the future.’ ....
The Briolette of India is a colorless diamond weighing 90.38 carats discovered in India. It is a briolette cut, and D-colored. The Briolette of India the oldest diamond on record in the world. The diamond was in the possession of a many historical figures and disappeared from records for long periods of time, sometimes even for several centuries, before resurfacing again.
The diamond was first brought to England by Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen consort of King Louis VII of France. After her marriage to the King of France ended, Eleanor married Henry II of England, to whom she had eight children with including Richard I of England who is said to have inherited the diamond. It is said that King Richard I carried the diamond with him when he took part in the third crusade.
The diamond's history was not recorded for three hundred years after it passed from Richard I's possession. It is rumored that the diamond came into possession of Henry II of France in the late 16th century. It is said that he presented the stone to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. After Henry II's death, his wife Catherine de Medicis, forced Diane de Poitiers to surrender the jewels that had been given to her. It is said that these jewels may have included the briolette of India.
For almost four hundred years the diamond's history remains unknown. It reappeared again in 1950, when it was bought from an Indian Maharajah by the famous jeweller, Harry Winston.
Winston sold the diamond in New York and bought it back again after her death of the customer ten years later. The diamond is currently believed to be in the possession of a European family. ....
Novero, the company, specializing in creating luxury communication accessories, has launched a new line of contemporary Bluetooth earpieces, designed to marry technology and fashion. Its new Victoria line is a collection of exquisite communication pieces, designed to be worn as a necklace.
Well-known for delivering Bluetooth solutions to such luxury clients as Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and Jaguar, Novero employs people from the jewellery and fashion industry, including gold craftsmen. That’s why their Victoria collection looks like jewellery rather than technology. Indeed, the pieces hardly resemble a Bluetooth headset at all, until you notice that a piece of necklace can be detached and placed in one ear when in use.
The line includes 3 precious Bluetooth models: the Victoria Lapis set with sterling silver, the Victoria Perl with pearls and gold, and the Victoria Stripes made out of contemporary black silicone with stripes in brushed gold. All these extravagant pieces of ‘high-tech jewellery’ can be paired up with mobile handsets that support Bluetooth technology. The Victoria collection will go on sale this summer at select retailers in Europe, Asia and North America.
Custom orders are also available with the most interesting part of the Victoria line – the La Premiere Collection. Being a set of custom-made necklaces fashioned from precious metals and rare gemstones, it must be ordered directly from Novero. The La Premiere Collection necklaces vary in price, but all are valued at more than $120,000 each. Since the necklaces are handmade and some materials like Tahiti black pearls are quite rare, the company estimates eight weeks between ordering and delivery. ....
Yet another ring is to be returned to ABC. Jillian Harris the star of ‘The Bachelorette’ season five has been asked to return her $60,000 diamond engagement ring back to the network.
Harris had been together with Ed Swiderski for 13 months after she had chosen him to be her future husband on ABCs spin off show ‘The Bachelorette.’ However, after recently announcing her split with Swiderski she is being forced to return the diamond ring back to ABC network.
Like Vienna Girardi, winner of last season’s ‘The Bachelor,’ the network bosses claim that the diamond ring is contractually their property. The couple are allowed to keep the ring only if they have been together for at least two consecutive years during which time marriage is not compulsory.
The beautiful ring has 2.05 carat pear shaped diamond as the centre stone surrounded by six baguette cut diamonds which is worth $60,000 and is now claimed to be the property of ABC network. ....
If you happened to be in London between May and June you couldn’t help spotting the elephants that had descended onto our wonderful capital. They were all part of a public art exhibition with the UK’s top artists, celebrities and designers, called The Elephant Parade 2010. With 1.4 metre high fibreglass elephants spread all over the city, it was the biggest public art exhibition ever to come to London, intended to raise money for the critically endangered Asian elephant.
Of all the elephants exhibited there was one that prominently stood out from the rest. Named The Pearly Prince, it had been designed by SHO Fine Jewellery in partnership with Swarovski to produce one of the most glamorous and eye-catching elephants of the parade. Encrusted with amazing 11,000 Swarovski pearls and 13,000 crystals, the Pearly Prince took staggering 480 hours to create. With one side covered in Swarovski pearls and the other side depicting a pearl and crystal encrusted skeleton, the magnificent elephant symbolizes what may be the fate of the Asian elephants if action is not taken to protect them.
After being on display at Coutts Bank on the Strand, the SHO Jewellery Pearly Prince elephant has been auctioned off for the Asian elephant conservation charity, raising £18,000. Now the Swarovski-embellished elephant is going to take pride of place in the lobby of an undisclosed hotel.
Apart from the auction elephant, SHO created a number of Swarovski elephant friendship bracelets, which raised over £20,000 in total. All this money is going towards helping the World Land Trust’s continuing efforts to protect elephant corridors in India. ....
A mystery woman believed to be either American or Canadian, caused panic in the city last week when she had checked out of her hotel only to have left behind £500,000 of jewellery.
The woman described as being in her mid-30s, had been staying at the Westbury Mayfair Hotel in Bond Street. She had checked into the hotel for 3 days and was staying in a £2,500 a night suite. She spent a substantial amount of time and money in the hotel’s Polo Bar and was wined and dined by a male friend.
As soon as the woman checked out she hailed a cab destined for central London without having left any contact details or home address overseas.
The jewellery was discovered two hours later when a chambermaid was carrying out routine checks and came across hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery in a chest of drawers. Among the items were two diamond encrusted rings, a diamond necklace and matching earrings and an expensive designer watch.
The jewels were kept in a night safe while the staff mounted an unsuccessful citywide search for the woman with only her full name and where she was headed to go on. Some staff were sent to search local shops and others travelled to Heathrow airport.
It all ended happily when the distraught woman contacted the hotel a few days later in the hope that her Jewels had been kept there safely. She had only realised she had lost her precious jewellery worth £500,000, once she had boarded her plane. ....
The government of India has demanded that the "cursed" Koh i Noor diamond be returned to the country. Ever since the East India Company forces in India defeated the Maharaja of Punjab in 1849, the stunning diamond has been in British possession. The Indian government now want it returned with other treasures taken throughout the colonial rule. The Maharaja was forced to hand the famous diamond to Queen Victoria as a tribute following the Treaty of Lahore. It was previously owned by many Mughal Emperors and Maharajas before being taken by the British.
The diamond is now part of the British Crown Jewels. It weighs an impressive at 105 Carats and at one point it was the largest diamond in the world. There is a legend about the diamond which says that "He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God or Woman can wear it with impunity." This started a notion of a “curse” and therefore it has always only been worn by female royalty.
India is now pursuing the return of the diamond. There have been many years of unsuccessful lobbying but there is now a campaign backed by the United Nations which calls for the return of historic treasures to several countries, including Mexico, Greece, Turkey and Egypt. However, a Telegraph report quotes the British High Commission in New Delhi which said that the government rejects India's claim and that the diamond had been "legitimately acquired." Its ownership is "non-negotiable." ....
Collecting 1:18 scale model cars must be a fun hobby. Such toy cars are just big enough to offer lots of detail, yet small enough not to take up a massive amount of shelf place. And they are usually quite cheap, so any model car collector can afford to buy a model of the world’s most expensive automobile – the Bugatti Veyron. Well, this toy Bugatti Veyron is not so affordable as it might first appear.
What you actually see here is a solid gold, diamond-encrusted 1:18 scale (e.i. 18 times smaller than the real thing) of the Bugatti Veyron. Almost everything visible is made out of 24 carat platinum and gold, while some other bits are 7.2 carat diamonds, hiding in the front grille and elsewhere, which makes this toy car’s value amount to $2.9 million USD (two times more expensive than the real thing). If this alone isn’t enough to impress you, note that these toys are just like most conventional 1:18 scale model cars, featuring opening doors, hood, trunk and working steering.
The masterminds behind this hardly affordable toy are Liverpool-based designer, Stuart Hughes, and Swiss luxury model car maker, Robert Gulpen. The so-called Bugatti Veyron Diamond Limited Edition will, not surprisingly, have a limited run of only 3 units, costing two million pounds each.
Are you collecting model cars? Would you like this to be a modest addition to your collection? ....
The hard-core Apple fans have waited patiently for the launch of the iPhone 4, which was an instant hit once pre-orders began. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more eye-catching that would make you stand out from the rest, then Stuart Hughes must have come up with something specially for you. The jeweller, known for bringing the luxury and jewellery to various electronic products, has announced the launch of the iPhone 4 Diamond edition.
Featuring diamond-covered edges and the Apple logo engraved in it, the new white iPhone4 represents the class of luxury. No internal changes have been made for this model, it uses the same OS and the static 32 GB memory. However, the diamond-studded iPhone is unlocked to be compatible with the various mobile carriers around the world, and of course its price is a little bit higher - $20 000 USD. So if this seems to be up your alley, act fast as only 50 of these white hot, special iPhone 4s are going to be made.
Last year Stuart Hughes presented the world with a 3.2 Million dollars iPhone 3GS Supreme, which is the world’s most expensive phone. The iPhone 3GS Supreme was manufactured with 271 grams of 22ct solid gold, and the front bezel housing 136 flawless diamonds. ....
Designed by Jacob & Co, Mariah Carey’s diamond engagement ring was given to her by her current husband Nick Cannon.
Cannon who is 11 years younger than Carey presented her with a 17 carat emerald cut diamond ring. The centre diamond has half moon diamonds on each side and is surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds.
This striking diamond ring cost $2.5m and was the creation of New York’s finest jewellery designers Jacob Arabo.
Arabo’s passion for jewellery began early when he migrated to the US from Russia at the age of 16. After completing a jewellery design course he soon began creating unique pieces in New York’s famous Diamond District for a number of private clients and jewellers. He began his own company; Jacob & Co in 1986 has since won awards for his distinctive creations.
His celebrity client list has increased over the years and includes, Justin Timberlake, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, David & Victoria Beckham, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez to name only a few. ....
Actress Zoe Saldana is officially engaged to long time boyfriend Keith Britton.
Until recently no one knew that Saldana, 32, was even dating anyone as she has made sure her personal life was kept out of the press. It had just been reported that she had been dating Britton, 33, for 10 years and only a few days later she announced her engagement.
Saldana who starred in James Cameron’s epic motion picture, Avatar, will marry Britton who is also a fellow actor as well as CEO of My Fashion Database.
No wedding plans have been revealed but the actress is said to be thrilled to be tying the knot after 10 years of romance. ....
After winning the hit US TV show ‘The Bachelor’ only a few months ago, the honeymoon is well and truly over for Vienna Girardi.
Millions tuned in to watch the finale of ABCs popular reality dating series where the Bachelor himself, Jake Pavelka, proposed to Girardi who had won his heart over 24 other contestants.
However, the couple split recently and now Girardi is being forced to hand over her diamond engagement ring that was given to her by Pavelka. It has been reported that the show’s producers Warner Bros/Horizon want the 2.72 carat diamond and platinum engagement ring back.
The stunning diamond ring designed by Neil Lane is worth $50,000, a spokesperson for Warner Bros said that Pavelka would not pocket the ring but it would be returned to the producers where it would go back into production.
Girardi was spotted still wearing the ring only last week at an LA salon. ....
Antique jewellery has its own special charm. First, it connects you to the past, evoking romance and passion and times long ago. It also brings a sense of unique style to whatever you wear, drawing admiring glances and appreciative comments from everyone around you. And antique jewellery has special meaning to collectors for its one-of-a-kind quality and design.
Add to your own collection or start a new tradition with a piece of fine second-hand jewellery from our vast collection. At Diamond Rocks, you'll find fine antique rings and necklaces, antique gold jewellery, antique silver jewellery, and so much more. Much of our collection is hand picked here in the United Kingdom, known for its especially high-quality antique jewellery.
Please select from our fine assortment, either for yourself or as a special gift. ....
The signature event of the Couture jewellery show, the Couture Design Awards took place in front of a live audience of more than 450 members of the Couture community, including retailers, exhibiting designers, and press, at Las Vegas' Encore hotel.
Couture designers usually go behind the scenes to accessorize celebrities for red-carpet events and awards shows. But this time (June 5), the Couture community drew back the curtain to celebrate those behind-the-scenes design stars at an awards event all their own: the Couture Design Awards 2010.
The annual event exists to recognize the world's most visionary designers, uncover new and emerging talent, and promote the appreciation of jewellery and timepiece design worldwide.
In this year’s competition over 100 entries were received. After spending the first few days of the Couture 2010 show scrutinizing the display cases filled with the world’s finest jewellery and timepieces submitted to the competition, Couture retailers and exhibitors placed their votes for their favourite pieces in 10 categories, while jewellery editors selected their own designer favourite in the "Editor's Choice" category - Arman Sarkisyan, who took first place in the silver category as well. His creation, the earrings in 22-karat gold and oxidized sterling silver feature lapis, diamonds and black diamonds
Couture retailers were not forgotten either. Owner of Reinhold Jewellers in San Juan (Puerto Rico), Marie Helene Morrow, won the "Couture Human Spirit Award" for her leadership and commitment in the Couture community and the jewellery industry as a whole, and for her selfless philanthropic efforts as well.
The founder of The House of Borgezie, Christopher Michael Shellis, has created the Eternal Diamond stilettos that cost $155,000 per pair. With sky-high heels and a red sole, these bespoke shoes could easily be mistaken for a pair of Christian Louboutins. Yet, being the world’s first stilettos made entirely from gold and diamonds, the splendid shoes make most luxury brands look high street.
Each pair of the Eternal Diamond stilettos is painstakingly handcrafted from solid gold and generously encrusted with 2,200 brilliant cut diamonds, totalling 30 carats, by the highly professional team of goldsmiths and stone setters at bespoke jeweller’s, the House of Borgezie.
The creation has taken over three years of rigorous and really obsessive development by Shellis. “To bring the Eternal Diamond Stiletto to life, I quite literally had to reinvent the fundamental principle of classical stiletto construction. The result is not so much a shoe, but rather a fine piece of jewellery that can be miraculously yet practically worn as the ultimate feminine adornment,” he said.
Pursuing the quintessential statement of sartorial perfection, Shellis had to submit five new patents. Indeed, the culmination of a life dedicated to jewellery design by Shellis, the Eternal Diamond Stiletto is perfect for red carpet events, summer balls, society weddings or yachting parties.
Retailing from £100,000, the Eternal Diamond Stiletto comes with a 1,000 year guarantee, to represent a genuine fashion investment that lasts a lifetime.
At its official website the company compares the stilettos to other world’s famous masterpieces: “Every once in a while, through pure determination a ....
The diamond was discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1990. As a rough stone it was 777 carats (155.4 g). It was purchased by De Beers. It is the sixth largest diamond of gem quality ever discovered.
The discovery of the diamond set off a gold-rush type of influx of diggers hoping to find a similar stone. It took the Steinmetz Group three years to cut the Millennium Star. First of all it was split in Belgium, then polished in South Africa and subsequently finished in New York. Over one hundred plastic models of the stone were made to design and plan for the optimum cut for beauty and weight. A special room had to be constructed and special tools created for the operation.
In the end the diamond was shaped into a classic pear weighing 203.04 carats, a D flawless diamond with 54 facets and excellent cut proportions. The cutters received the ultimate compliment when former De Beers Chairman, the late Harry Oppenheimer, undoubtedly a leader of the diamond industry and who had probably handled more important diamonds in his 70 year career than any other person in the world, described the Millennium Star as "the most beautiful diamond I have ever seen." . It is the second largest faceted D-Flawless diamond in the world, the 273.15 carat Centenary Diamond is the first.
De Beers and the Steinmetz Group unveiled the world's rarest and arguably the most valuable set of diamonds ever put together to mark the year 2000 at an exhibition at the Millennium dome. Stressing that 'millennia come and go, but diamonds are forever.' On November 7 2000 the police foiled an audacious plot to steal the jewels; it would have been the largest jewellery robbery in history. Som ....
The world's most expensive suit is encrusted with 500 diamonds and comes with a free holiday.
Liverpool based designer Stuart Hughes has turned some of the most simple objects into stunning jewelled creations. His latest is a bespoke suite made with silk, cashmere wool and almost 500 diamonds.
This is the first time that the 39 year old designer has worked with clothing and has spent 600 hours creating this luxurious dark grey suit.
Each of the diamonds is a 0.5 carat with VS2 quality and colour G which he has embodied throughout the suit totaling 240 carats of diamonds.
So far a buyer in France has purchased one of the three suits made which retail at £599,999 and come with two weeks all expenses paid trip to St Lucia.
Hughes will also donate 10 per cent of the sales to the Haiti relief fund. ....
The worlds biggest gold coin has sold for $4M (£2.6m) at an auction in Vienna on Friday. The Maple Leaf coin, one of only five coins made by the Royal Canadian Mint, was purchased in a written bid from a Madrid-based gold trading company.
It was from the estate of an Austrian investment firm which had gone bankrupt. The firm had bought the coin in 2007, joining an exclusive club of owners including Queen Elizabeth II, two unknown investors in Dubai and one who is so reclusive even his or her residence is unknown.
The record breaking coin measures 53cm (21in) in diameter, 3cm thick and weighs 100kg (200lb). Its purity is 99.999 percent, the purest gold in the market. The gold coin was sold for more than its face $1M value because of the high price of gold in todays market ....
Rio Tinto’s rare Pink Diamond Tiara, featuring 178 Argyle pink diamonds, made a sparkling debut at the Masterpieces London Fair, a unique showcase of some of the world’s most desirable luxury items.
Designed by British jeweller Asprey, the unique argyle pink diamond tiara is going to be on display from June 24-29 at the Masterpieces London Fair, along with other rare diamond jewellery from Rio Tinto's Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia.
Masterpiece London is an innovative fair offering the ultimate in elegance, luxury and quality. It is a new event designed to present the world’s leading dealers who will showcase hundreds of millions of pounds worth of fine art, antiques, vintage wine, jewellery, classic cars and contemporary collectors’ items, many of which will be purchased by museums and private collections.
Apart from the one-of-a-kind diamond tiara, Asprey is showcasing a 50 carat yellow diamond, named the Golden Sun, and magnificent heart-shaped 2.61 carat ring.
"The Argyle Pink Diamond Tiara is a reflection of the importance of exclusive design and quality craftsmanship when transforming these rare and precious diamonds into important pieces of jewellery," said Argyle Pink Diamonds Business Manager Josephine Archer.
Authorised partner of Argyle pink diamonds, John Glajz, said: “The Argyle Pink Diamond Tiara combines the mystique and romance of a bygone era with the design of a contemporary treasure," said. "This is truly a unique piece that showcases beautifully the colours, sizes and shapes of rare pink diamonds from the Argyle mine.”
Almost all the world’s pink diamonds are produced at Rio Tinto’s diamond mine in remo ....
Jewellery that once belonged to Anne Hathaway, star of ‘Devil Wears Prada,’ is to be auctioned off.
In 2008 Hathaway surrendered 12 items of jewellery given to her by her then boyfriend, Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri, when he was investigated for fraud.
Hathaway, who is now dating Adam Shulman, spoke of her shock when ex-boyfriend Follieri was arrested. She had been dating him for four years when he was taken into custody on charges of money laundering and federal wire fraud. After pleading guilty to all charges he was jailed in October 2008 for four and a half years.
The 27 year old actress will see a number of her items go to auction which include – a five strand pearl necklace, a silver Rolex worth $5,000, a pair of silver and diamond earrings and a gold Rolex watch valued at $25,000.
The last-minute boost from the auction house’s "New York Jewels" sale on June 15th raised a total of $15,226,275 for Christie’s, an international auction house, with sell-through rates accounting for 84 % by lot and 82 % by value. The sale marked the end of the spring jewellery season for Christie’s US, which reached a grand total of $56 million in sales, according to Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewellery for Christie's Americas.
The top-selling lot of the spring season at Christie’s was a 27.03-carat, a cushion-cut, D colour, VVS1, type IIA diamond, with a presale estimate of $2.5 through $3.5 million. The gemstone ultimately fetched $3,554,500, or $131,500 per carat, from a private Asian buyer. The other two standouts were a 10.1-carat, square-cut fancy orangey-pink diamond (sold for $2,322,500) and a 12.50-carat, pear-shaped diamond ring (sold for $1,482,500). All the three diamonds were sold above their presale estimates.
Rahul Kadakia has also this to say: “As a sign of the resurgence of the market, a cushion-cut D VVS1 diamond of 27 carats achieved $131,500 per carat in this sale, versus $130,000 per carat for a 30-carat D colour Flawless diamond sold in New York at this time last year. This represents a 45% per-carat increase in the value of top diamonds in just 12 months time. A fitting close to the spring Jewellery season at Christie’s U.S., which achieved a grand total of $56 million in sales.” ....
