Elizabeth Taylor has died at age 79

Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor has died at age 79. (1932-2011), Taylor had been hospitalized in February for congestive heart failure, a condition she learned she had in 2004. A two time Oscar winner (for "Butterfield 8" in 1960 and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1966), Taylor was also known for her eight high profile marriages and her love for jewels.

“You can’t cry on a diamond’s shoulder,
and diamonds won’t keep you warm at night.
 But they’re sure fun when the sun shines” 

For Dame Elizabeth Taylor, her love affair with jewelry started early on. “My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was her engagement ring. I was hooked!” Since then Dame Elizabeth has acquired one of the greatest private collections of jewelry in the world, with pieces by such leading jewelers as Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, Gerard, JAR, Ruser, Schlumberger, Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, and David Webb.

For François Curiel of Christie’s, who appraised Elizabeth’s legendary collection, it was an experience like none other. “I shall never forget the trays and trays of jewelry that were presented to us… At first, it was the sheer volume that struck me, but gradually as I examined each piece, I was impressed by the quality and variety in the collection. And quality was the common denominator for every piece, regardless of stone or size.” Curiel was also impressed by Elizabeth’s vast knowledge of the provenance and design of each piece in her collection, one that started off quite small.

Elizabeth acquired some of the world’s most important pieces of jewelry during her two marriages to Richard Burton. Like Todd, Burton would, according to Elizabeth “use any excuse” to surprise her with a piece of jewelry. “I never discussed jewelry with Richard,” recalled Elizabeth. “It was given spontaneously.” Together they acquired pieces from the Grand Duchess Vladimir Suite, the Krupp Diamond, La Peregrina Pearl, the Taylor-Burton diamond, etc. It was not uncommon for the jet set couple to be visited by the world’s most famous jewelers while at the airport waiting for their next flight. And Richard, ever the history buff, loved acquiring pieces that were not only beautiful, but historically important.

Since they began their affair on the movie set of “Cleopatra” in January, 1962,Richard Burton delighted in giving bride Elizabeth Taylor extravagant jewels.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond

One of the most famous pieces Burton gave Taylor is the pear-shaped, 69.42 carat Taylor-Burton Diamond. Fifth husband Richard Burton bought the diamond from Cartier in 1969 after a Sotheby’s auction, paying over $1 million for it. Burton agreed to allow the jeweler to display the jewel for a limited period in New York and Chicago, beginning on November 1. Crowds of more than 6,000 a day circled the store’s Fifth Avenue shop in New York to “gawk at a diamond as big as the Ritz.” 

Meanwhile, Taylor had Cartier remount the stone as a pendant suspended from a V-shaped necklace of graduated pear-shaped diamonds, mounted in platinum. Elizabeth admitted that even for her the Cartier Diamond – now called the Taylor-Burton Diamond – was too big to wear as a ring. 

The Taylor-Burton Diamond hangs from a diamond necklace created by Cartier.

Elizabeth is no stranger to heavy rings. She wears the Krupp Diamond on her left hand almost every day and has worn it in most if not all of her films and TV appearances since Richard Burton acquired the Krupp, a 33.19 carat Asscher cut diamond, in 1968 from Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York at the cost of $385,000. The Krupp diamond is regarded as one of the most flawless diamonds in the world. According to Elizabeth, “the Krupp was my prize for beating Richard at ping-pong!” It was previously owned by Vera Krupp, who acquired it from Harry Winston jewelers. The Krupp’s had supplied the Nazi’s with arms during the war, so, according to Elizabeth: “When it came up for auction in the late 1960s, I thought how perfect it would be if a nice Jewish girl like me were to own it.” Burton won the ring in a bidding war that included Harry Winston. Since then the ring has rarely left Elizabeth’s finger.

The Krupp Diamond, Liz Taylor's everyday ring

Taylor was considered one of the greatest actress of all time and will always be remembered as a brave and relentless advocate in the fight against aids. Taylor will be remembered as a Hollywood icon and an incredible human being. (1932-2011)

Christie's Auctioning Big Colored Diamonds

Christie’s New York announced March 22 its Magnificent Jewels sale on April 12 will now feature additional fancy colored diamonds in shades of pink, blue, and yellow.

The sale will feature:

 

3.25 carat Fancy Vivid blue diamond, estimated $2–3 million

 

50.29 carat Fancy Vivid yellow diamond by Carvin French, estimated $2–3 million

6.61 carat Fancy Intense pink diamond set, with a rectangular-cut fancy intense pink diamond, flanked on either side by a baguette-cut diamond, mounted in platinum 

(Photos courtesy of Christie's)

Christie’s had previously announced the sale of a Fancy Vivid purple-pink diamond of 10.09 carats estimated at $12-15 million.

“Demand for large colored diamonds from connoisseurs and investors continues to reach new heights, and we look forward to starting the spring season with this exceptional group of top colored diamonds, curated with the specific desires of today's collectors in mind,” said Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry at Christie's New York, in a statement.

Article Courtesy of JCK

World’s Most Expensive Poker Chip Set

18 Carat Gold And Diamond Poker Chip Set Costs Over $7 Million

The world’s most expensive poker chip set has been launched by Geoffrey Parker in London.

The bespoke game and gift maker has created a custom made poker chip set in an alligator skin case with 18 carat white gold locks and frame, four platinum-plated decks and 384 poker chips made of 18 carat white gold inlaid with stingray skin shagreen.

The edge of the chips are set with black diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds – 22,364 gems in total measuring 1,012 carats.

The cost of the set is $7.3 million and potential customers will have a six to nine month wait for the set to be completed and delivered.

Article courtesy of cardplayer.com

Lindsay Lohan Necklace Up For Auction

The necklace that has caused Linday Lohan so much grief is making headlines again. This time for a good reason. Kind of.

Lindsay is facing a felony grand theft charge and possible prison sentence if she is found guilty of having stolent the gold and diamond decklace, worth $2,500, from Venice Beach boutique Kamofie & Company.

Now, shop owners have decided to find the necklace a new home courtesy of a charity auction. 
"We have decided to sell the diamond necklace through auction, and give the proceeds to charity. We invite the public to make suggestions as to the most appropriate charity to receive the benefit of the sale's proceeds."

But that will have to wait until this whole matter of grand theft is cleared up since the necklace is currently beinig cared for by the Los Angeles County District Attorney as evidence in the case against Lohan.

The news of the charity auction comes just days after the actress threatened to sue the store bosses for allegedly striking a $40,000  deal to release CCTV tapes which show Lohan trying the necklace on.

The Crown Jewels Koh-I-Noor Diamond

It has been said that whoever owned the Koh-I-Noor ruled the world, a suitable statement for this, the most famous of all diamonds.

105 carat in its most recent cut

Legend has suggested that the stone may date from before the time of Christ; theory indicates the possibility of its appearance in the early years of the 1300s.

The Kōh-i Nūr which means "Mountain of Light" in Persian, is a 105 carat (21.6 g) diamond (in its most recent cut) that was once the largest known diamond in the world (the size of a hen's egg).

The Kōh-i Nūr originated in India along with its double, the Darya-i-noor (the "Sea of Light"). It has belonged to various Hindu, Mughal, Persian, Afghan, Sikhand British rulers who fought bitterly over it at various points in history and seized it as a spoil of war time and time again. It was finally seized by the East India Company and became part of the British Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877. 

The curse of the Koh-i-Noor

It is believed that the Koh-i-Noor carries with it a curse and only when in the possession of a woman will the curse not work. All the men who owned it have either lost their throne or had other misfortunes befall them. Queen Victoria is the only reigning monarch to have worn the gem. According to the legend, if the monarch is a male, the stone is passed to his spouse. 

The possibility of a curse pertaining to ownership of the diamond dates back to a Hindu text relating to the first authenticated appearance of the diamond in 1306: "He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity." 

The Great Exhibition - Crystal Palace

The British public were given a chance to see the Koh-i-Noor when the Great Exhibition was staged in Hyde Park, London in 1851. 

Crystal Palace - the Great Exhibition

Disappointment in the appearance of the stone was not uncommon. In 1852, in Amsterdam  under the personal supervision of Victoria's consort, Prince Albert, and the technical direction of James Tennant, the diamond was cut from 186 1/16 carats (37.21 g) to its current 105.602 carats (21.61 g) to increase its brilliance. Albert consulted widely, took enormous pains, and spent some £8,000 on the operation, which reduced the weight of the stone by a huge 42 percent—but nevertheless Albert was dissatisfied with the result. 
The stone then was mounted in a brooch which Queen Victoria often wore. It was kept at Windsor Castle rather than with the rest of the crown jewels at the Tower of London. 

left - Queen Mary's Crown, Right - Queen Elizabeth

After Queen Victoria's death it was set in Queen Alexandra's brand-new diamond crown, with which she was crowned at the coronation of her husband, King Edward VII. Queen Alexandra was the first Queen Consort to use the diamond in her crown, followed by Queen Mary and then Queen Elizabeth. 

Present ownership claims of the Koh-i-noor 

India has claimed the diamond and have said that that the Kohinoor was taken away illegally and it should be given back to India. When Elizabeth II made a state visit to India marking the 50th anniversary of Independence in 1997, many Indians in India and Britain including several Indian MPs demanded the return of the diamond. In a July 2010 interview, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, stated that the gem could not be returned to India as the move would set an unworkable precedent: "If you say yes to one you suddenly find the British Museum would be empty."


Pakistan has also officially claimed it and applied pressure to Britain to give it to Pakistan. 


The gem remains the property of the British Crown and is kept in HM Tower of London. It is a popular attraction.

Queen Alexandra's Diamond Crown

Jewels found from the 2008 luxury jewelry Harry Winston's heist

Investigators in Paris have found jewels valued at $25 million (EUR 18 million) hidden in suburban rain sewer -- part of the spectacular 2008 heist from luxury jeweler Harry Winston's Paris boutique.


Nineteen rings and three sets of earrings -- one pair valued at $19.5 million-- were dug up from a drain at a house in the working class Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, police said, confirming a report on Europe-1 radio.


The jewels were hidden in a plastic container set in a cement mold inside the sewer, police said. The house belonged to one of the nine people charged in the heist.


The bold Harry Winston robbery on December 5, 2008, netted the thieves, some dressed as women and wearing wigs, gems and bejeweled watches worth up to $118.1 million, police said. More recently, police have set the figure at $85 million.

The Harry Winston boutique is on a street off Paris' famed Champs-Elysees Avenue dotted with fashion houses and fashionable cafes. The robbery, carried out while Christmas shoppers strolled outside, was among the most audacious in France in recent memory.
Some stolen rings, necklaces and watches were recovered when police rounded up 25 people in a June 2009 sweep and eventually charged nine of them.
Among those charged was the heist's suspected mastermind, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in a drug trafficking case. Police found stolen jewelry and $1.1 million at this house.


A guard at the Harry Winston boutique put police on the trail of the suspects. When investigators learned that an Israeli was expected in Paris to buy some of the stolen jewels, police moved in to make the arrests.


Courtesy of AP.

Gloria Swanson's RingAuctioned by Christie's

Photo courtesy of Christie's

Christie’s Paris Jewels Department will auction a rectangular-cut 5.1 ct. diamond ring that once belonged to Sunset Boulevard star Gloria Swanson May 23.

Swanson was the highest paid actress in Hollywood by the 1920s; she reportedly made and spent more than $8 million in the decade. Swanson was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Sadie Thompson in 1928.

Swanson was known also as a big jewelry fan: Her annual jewelry budget was said to be $500,000.

Article Courtesy of JCK online

Why Everyone Wants Kate Middleton’s Ring

Ever since Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton on November 16th, 2010 with his late mother Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, replicas of the bauble have been selling faster than they can be made.

Same was true 30 years ago with the original ring. Replica royal rings inspired by the solitaire sapphire surrounded by diamonds have been selling out everywhere and at every price — from high-end diamond manufacturers for thousands of dollars to channels such as QVC for only $29.

The Real Deal $500,000

Au-Co Mai, president of Emitations Jewelry, a company that specializes in trendy fashion jewelry, said that she already carried a Diana-inspired ring and when Prince William announced his engagement, sales skyrocketed.  “Traffic on the site doubled that day and the ring was sold out. We had orders coming in from over 50 countries — people are shipping them to friends all over the world. Everyone wants one.”

QVC knock-off $54.60

But it was not that long ago that some jewelers in the U.S. were scrambling to replicate a pink diamond ring from loosely defined Hollywood royalty. Jamie Lossie, a buyer for Atlanta-based  jewelers, recalled that when Ben Affleck proposed to Jennifer Lopez back in 2002 with a Harry Winston pink diamond, interest in rare gemstones spiked across the board. “[Celebrity engagements] definitely brings awareness, to both the designer and to pink diamonds. Even if someone comes in and does not actually buy a replica of the ring, they will ask questions about it. It gives retailers an opportunity to educate customers as well.”

But let’s face it — the opportunity presented from high profile engagements don’t happen every day.
What exactly does flash in the mind of consumers following celeb-inspired jewelry headlines, whether it be Jessica Simpson’s unique ruby engagement ring or Beyonce’s 5-carat rock?

Dr. Erik Gregory, a psychoanalyst and executive director of the Media Psychology Research Center in Boston, explained: “Throughout history, people have emulated what celebs have done. It’s called para-social interaction. When we copy them — and Oprah is a good example — we feel like they have some special insight, or greater taste or opportunity than we have and we feel like we are connecting.”

Gregory said that especially in today’s celebrity-oriented culture, it’s so important to feel this bond with Hollywood or Buckingham Palace. “If you buy a ring that Kate Middleton has, you feel in some psychological sense that you are connected to her, even if there really isn’t any psychological connection.

Why do we put celeb names on clothing? If we wear Jessica Simpson’s line, we feel like we are taking on a sense of importance.”

The answer might be programed. Dr. Stuart Fischoff, senior editor of the Journal of Media Psychology and emeritus professor of media psychology at California State University at Los Angeles, cites the reason in our biology. “It’s built in our DNA to be attracted to alpha male and females. Celebrities and royalty are our cultural alphas. It also feeds the fantasy of romance and it’s just the escape from reality that Americans seek so much. It’s why Walt Disney was so successful.”

It is not only U.S. consumers who are clamouring for Kate Middleton’s engagement ring — or blue dress. Experts say this phenomenon to buy copies is certainly widespread and not just limited to any culture or income level.

“My guess is that people up and down the affluence scale are buying the ring, since affluent shoppers buy both faux/costume jewelry as well as real.  The Diana engagement ring is a classic and with repros priced from $1,000 to $39-or so at QVC, people have their pick of quality levels.  A beautiful ring is a beautiful ring, faux or real,” said Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing.

Mai, whose company carried a wide inventory of celeb-inspired jewelry, said that sales for blue sapphires will definitely be on the rise leading up to the royal wedding in April, and its all due to an inner need to make an emotional investment.

“People already know that this is an aspirational business, you want to create a product that you want people to engage in emotionally. I choose to do this because I think it’s fascinating,” Mai said.

Dr. Gregory concluded that our celeb-obsessed culture is not a cause for concern though. “Human beings are social creatures, we are always looking for cues in our surroundings as to what other people are doing.

“When you try to become something you are not, that’s when it becomes a bad thing, but if you are doing it to boost some happiness, then it’s perfectly healthy,” he said.

Story courtesy of Rapaport

A 10.09 Carat Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink Diamond Estimated at $12 to $15 Million.

Another unusual diamond is set to capture global attention with its color, size and price. Christie's will auction a 10.09 cushion cut fancy vivid purplish-pink diamond at the April 12 Magnificent Jewels sale in New York. The auction house has estimated the diamond at $12-15 million.

In the recent past, fancy color and large diamonds broke a string of price records. Four pink diamonds have fetched more than $1 million p/c at Christie's auctions, among them a vivid pink, 5-carat cushion-cut diamond that sold for more than $2.1 million p/c at Christie's Hong Kong in December 2009. 

Photo courtesy of Christie's

“Collector demand for large colored diamonds has never been stronger, especially where pink diamonds of this size and quality are concerned,” said Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry at Christie's New York.

“At Christie’s New York this past December, jewelry collectors competed for a 6.89 carat Fancy Vivid purplish-pink diamond, which ultimately sold for $6.9 million or $1 million per carat. This larger stone, with its richer, deeper hue of pink and electrifying purple tone is positioned to become one of this season’s top-selling diamonds,” Kadakia added.

The auction house did not disclose who the seller is, though it is believed to be a diamond company.

Article courtesy of Idex online news

March - Gem of the month - Aquamarine

Properties & Qualities

Transparent light blue to sea-green in color - the more intense the color of the gemstone, the more its value. A member of the Beryl family with Emeralds and Morganite. Legend says that aquamarine comes from the treasure chests of mermaid's - and because of this became the lucky stone for sailors. 

The word aquamarine comes from the latin words for water (aqua) and sea (mare). Found in India, Brazil, Madagascar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Aquamarine Gemstone Meanings - Emotional, Spiritual, etc.

• Aquamarine protects against gossip. 
• Aquamarine helps pick up your spirits. 
• Aquamarine is a good meditation gemstone - most powerful when used in this way, because it brings greater peace and serenity - for deep meditations. 
• Aquamarine is said to have protective powers for those at sea. 
• Aquamarine helps you get in touch with with your spiritual being. 
• Aquamarine is said to give insight and foresight. 
• Aquamarine gives the wearer feelings of friendship, harmony and trust. 
• Aquamarine is used in very advanced meditation to help see the truth. 
• Aquamarine is meant to help quicken the intellect. 
• Aquamarine is believed to help couples to sort out differences. 
• Aquamarine is often used as a good luck gemstone. 

Aquamarine Gemstone Meanings - Healing, Medical, Physical, etc.

• Aquamarine is used in very advanced meditation to help 
• see the truth. 
• Aquamarine helps with nerve pain. 
• Aquamarine helps with teeth and toothache. 
• Aquamarine is said to cure insomnia. 
• Aquamarine helps with seasickness. 
• Aquamarine is associated with the thymus gland. 
• Aquamarine helps reduce fluid retention. 
• Aquamarine is meant to help with laziness. 
• Aquamarine is said to help aid digestion 
• Aquamarine was used by the Romans for disease of the stomach, and believed could cure liver and throat troubles. 
• Aquamarine is said to help reduce dependence on drugs.

TanzaniteOne Recovers 12,100-carat Stone

Mining company TanzaniteOne reported that it had recovered the third-largest high quality gemstone ever mined in the 10 year operating history of its tanzanite project. The 12,100 carat (2.42 kg) rough tanzanite stone was discovered recently at the company's flagship tanzanite project in the Simanjiro district of Tanzania. The exceptional stone was recovered from Main Shaft, located in the center of the company's licence at a vertical depth of just over 450m. The stone was mined from a newly intersected fold structure, with initial indications suggesting an exceptionally high potential grade and quality yield profile from the structure.

Could possibly be the third-largest gem in the world 

Initial examinations have indicated that it is the third largest tanzanite gemstone recovered by TanzaniteOne and thought to be the third largest tanzanite stone ever found worldwide. The gemstone will now undergo analysis, including colour and clarity grading. The stone is expected to contain a significant ‘A’ grade component under the tanzanite classification system. It will most likely be divided into smaller but still exceptionally sized pieces to be cut and polished at the company's own state of the art, in-house cutting facility which was commissioned in December 2010 at the TanzaniteOne mine site.


Bernard Olivier, TanzaniteOne’s chief executive, said: “This is an extremely exciting discovery for TanzaniteOne and is further evidence of the continued quality of gemstone that is to be found at depth in this unique part of Africa and indeed the world. Whilst we await the results of expert analysis on this significant discovery, we will continue to realise the potential of our mine, which produced a total of US$15.8 million in sales for 2010.”


Our thanks to Stockopedia News

On the Trail of a Diamond

For more than a half-century, one of the world's most celebrated diamonds, the fabled Wittelsbach blue, was not on view. It was once set in the Order of the Golden Fleece ornament, shown here.

 

A grayish blue diamond taken to Europe in the 17th century from India, it was given in 1664 to the Infanta Margarita Teresa by her father, the king of Spain, eventually becoming a fixture of both the Austrian and Bavarian crown jewels.

Ludwig I (Louis I) of Bavaria standing beside the Bavarian Crown mounted with the original Wittelsbach diamond.

In December 2008, the Wittelsbach blue suddenly turned up at auction, centerpiece of Christie's London sale of important gems.

The buyer was Laurence Graff, the billionaire diamond dealer, who made a series of startling decisions about the stone. First, he had it recut, reducing it from 35.52 to just over 31 carats, to eliminate the chips and "bruises" inevitable in a stone of its age but also to improve its clarity, brilliance and grade.

Mr. Graff with his wife, Anne-Marie

Then he renamed it the Wittelsbach-Graff and struck an agreement with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington to display it.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/01/06/fashion/20100107-DIAMOND-slideshow_index.html?ref=diamonds