Gold & Silver - Historical Vehicles To Protect Your Wealth w/ Jayant Bhandari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4Egi-bzlY&feature=youtu.be

Gold & Silver - Historical Vehicles To Protect Your Wealth w/ Jayant Bhandari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4Egi-bzlY&feature=youtu.be

Christie’s to Sell Historic Golconda Diamond

Christie’s New York auction will feature a 17.21-carat diamond given to Queen Charlotte of Great Britain by a regional ruler in India.

The pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamond, called Arcot II, was found in India’s Golconda region in the late 18th century. The stone, presented to the queen by the Nawab of Arcot, will go under the hammer at the Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence sale on June 19, the auction house said last week.

The stone is one of a number of Indian jewels from the Mughal period featured at the sale. The lots on offer span a period of more than 500 years.

“This landmark collection traces the history of Mughal jewels and objects to [the] present day, and represents the most significant collection of its type ever to come to auction,” said François Curiel, chairman of Christie’s Europe. “The collection begins in Mughal India, the most important dynasty that ruled the country, famous for its emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, jeweled weapons and objects that are bejeweled beyond belief.”

Christie’s will also offer the Mirror of Paradise, a 52.58-carat, D-color, internally flawless Golconda diamond, as well as carved Mughal emeralds ranging from approximately 10 carats to over 200 carats.

Other notable lots include the Imperial Spinel Necklace and sarpechs — traditional Indian turban ornaments. A diamond necklace originally from the collection of the Nizam of Hyderabad, featuring almost 200 carats of Golconda diamonds, will also be for sale.

The Mughal jewels are from the collection of the Al-Thani dynasty, the ruling family of Qatar. The auction house will preview the items between April 24 and June 18 in London, Shanghai, Geneva, Hong Kong and New York.

Image: The Arcot II diamond. (Christie’s)

Source: Diamonds.net

Christie’s to Sell Historic Golconda Diamond

Christie’s New York auction will feature a 17.21-carat diamond given to Queen Charlotte of Great Britain by a regional ruler in India.

The pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamond, called Arcot II, was found in India’s Golconda region in the late 18th century. The stone, presented to the queen by the Nawab of Arcot, will go under the hammer at the Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence sale on June 19, the auction house said last week.

The stone is one of a number of Indian jewels from the Mughal period featured at the sale. The lots on offer span a period of more than 500 years.

“This landmark collection traces the history of Mughal jewels and objects to [the] present day, and represents the most significant collection of its type ever to come to auction,” said François Curiel, chairman of Christie’s Europe. “The collection begins in Mughal India, the most important dynasty that ruled the country, famous for its emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, jeweled weapons and objects that are bejeweled beyond belief.”

Christie’s will also offer the Mirror of Paradise, a 52.58-carat, D-color, internally flawless Golconda diamond, as well as carved Mughal emeralds ranging from approximately 10 carats to over 200 carats.

Other notable lots include the Imperial Spinel Necklace and sarpechs — traditional Indian turban ornaments. A diamond necklace originally from the collection of the Nizam of Hyderabad, featuring almost 200 carats of Golconda diamonds, will also be for sale.

The Mughal jewels are from the collection of the Al-Thani dynasty, the ruling family of Qatar. The auction house will preview the items between April 24 and June 18 in London, Shanghai, Geneva, Hong Kong and New York.

Image: The Arcot II diamond. (Christie’s)

Source: Diamonds.net

Diamond Trading Goes Online as Lucara Takes on Industry Goliaths

The opaque diamond trade may be ripe for disruption.

Lucara Diamond, which recently found the second-largest diamond in history in Botswana, is taking on industry giants such as De Beers and Alrosa PJSC with an online platform to replace the current physical auctions.

The service allows Lucara to match buyers’ requirements, not only saving jewelers the trouble of traveling to Botswana but also ending the practice of buying stones by the bucket. They typically can only use some, and then have to sell the rest on the secondary market.

“For the first time ever, manufacturers buy only what they want, they don’t have to carry all this extra inventory,” Eira Thomas, Lucara’s chief executive officer, said in an interview in Stockholm. “The large integrated jewelry companies don’t want to be in the business of secondary trading. They’re just trying to source diamonds for their own products.”

In a series of trials, Vancouver, Canada-based Lucara claims that prices were 8 percent over Lucara’s traditional market price. It’s now trying to bring other independent producers on board, with the aim of moving at least a portion of the $18 billion annual diamond trade onto its site called Clara.

Whether Lucara will be able to attract major producers to use its system remains to be seen. De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond producer, is famous for its tight control over the diamond market and has relied on its own system of selling gems for decades.

“If we can get to $1.5 billion transacted through the platform, the cash flow we generate from Clara will be as important as the cash flow we generate from the mine,” Thomas said. “We’re taking baby steps right now, but each quarter we’ll report, we expect the volume to increase.”

Clara incorporates blockchain technology, which is seen as a promising avenue for an industry that has been plagued by ethical problems, including the trade in so-called “blood diamonds” used to finance armed conflicts. Lucara is far from the only miner who has seen the benefits of the digital ledger in guaranteeing the provenance of its product.

De Beers has launched Tracr, a platform aiming to increase the traceability of diamonds using blockchain. That pilot program was joined by Russia’s Alrosa, another giant in the business, in October last year.

Lucara’s Clara uses similar technology, but its main purpose is to match buyers and sellers. While it’s difficult to judge Clara in an early stage, Ola Sodermark, an equity analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux, sees potential in the initiative. The key is to get more producers to join the platform, he said.

“Lucara’s own volumes aren’t sufficient to make this fly,” he said. “The question is whether they’re too early with this technology, or if the market is ready for it.”

Lucara was founded by Thomas in 2007, together with Catherine McLeod Seltzer and current chairman Lukas H. Lundin, whose family oversees a commodities empire that includes stakes in oil, gold and solar power across the globe. The Lundin family holds an 18 percent stake in the company through the investment company Nemesia Sarl.

Source: DCLA

Diamond Trading Goes Online as Lucara Takes on Industry Goliaths

The opaque diamond trade may be ripe for disruption.

Lucara Diamond, which recently found the second-largest diamond in history in Botswana, is taking on industry giants such as De Beers and Alrosa PJSC with an online platform to replace the current physical auctions.

The service allows Lucara to match buyers’ requirements, not only saving jewelers the trouble of traveling to Botswana but also ending the practice of buying stones by the bucket. They typically can only use some, and then have to sell the rest on the secondary market.

“For the first time ever, manufacturers buy only what they want, they don’t have to carry all this extra inventory,” Eira Thomas, Lucara’s chief executive officer, said in an interview in Stockholm. “The large integrated jewelry companies don’t want to be in the business of secondary trading. They’re just trying to source diamonds for their own products.”

In a series of trials, Vancouver, Canada-based Lucara claims that prices were 8 percent over Lucara’s traditional market price. It’s now trying to bring other independent producers on board, with the aim of moving at least a portion of the $18 billion annual diamond trade onto its site called Clara.

Whether Lucara will be able to attract major producers to use its system remains to be seen. De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond producer, is famous for its tight control over the diamond market and has relied on its own system of selling gems for decades.

“If we can get to $1.5 billion transacted through the platform, the cash flow we generate from Clara will be as important as the cash flow we generate from the mine,” Thomas said. “We’re taking baby steps right now, but each quarter we’ll report, we expect the volume to increase.”

Clara incorporates blockchain technology, which is seen as a promising avenue for an industry that has been plagued by ethical problems, including the trade in so-called “blood diamonds” used to finance armed conflicts. Lucara is far from the only miner who has seen the benefits of the digital ledger in guaranteeing the provenance of its product.

De Beers has launched Tracr, a platform aiming to increase the traceability of diamonds using blockchain. That pilot program was joined by Russia’s Alrosa, another giant in the business, in October last year.

Lucara’s Clara uses similar technology, but its main purpose is to match buyers and sellers. While it’s difficult to judge Clara in an early stage, Ola Sodermark, an equity analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux, sees potential in the initiative. The key is to get more producers to join the platform, he said.

“Lucara’s own volumes aren’t sufficient to make this fly,” he said. “The question is whether they’re too early with this technology, or if the market is ready for it.”

Lucara was founded by Thomas in 2007, together with Catherine McLeod Seltzer and current chairman Lukas H. Lundin, whose family oversees a commodities empire that includes stakes in oil, gold and solar power across the globe. The Lundin family holds an 18 percent stake in the company through the investment company Nemesia Sarl.

Source: DCLA

China Bourse to Promote Lab-Grown Diamonds

The Guangzhou Diamond Exchange (GZDE) has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China’s major synthetics suppliers to develop and promote lab-grown diamonds in the country.

The parties signed the contract last week during a forum on the benefits of synthetic stones that took place during the 2019 China International, Gold Jewellery & Gem Fair in Shenzhen.

The partnership is an effort to provide consistent demand for lab-grown diamonds in China’s fluctuating market, GZDE, which is not a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, said Tuesday.

“The high-tech genes of lab-grown diamonds, the ability [for] stable supply, and its outstanding appearance, [which is the] same as natural diamonds, have opened a window for this new material,” said GZDE chairman Zhu Yongsheng. “In addition to the innovative application in jewelry through creative design, it could [create] cross-border development with other industries.”

The GZDE will promote lab-grown-diamond trading as a separate business, with synthetics dealers using a new GZDE logo that references them as a lab-grown seller, the exchange added.

Clarification, April 28, 2019: This story has been updated to clarify that the Guangzhou Diamond Exchange is not a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

Image: Lab-grown diamond exhibit at the forum. Guangzhou Diamond Exchange

Source: Diamonds.net

China Bourse to Promote Lab-Grown Diamonds

The Guangzhou Diamond Exchange (GZDE) has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China’s major synthetics suppliers to develop and promote lab-grown diamonds in the country.

The parties signed the contract last week during a forum on the benefits of synthetic stones that took place during the 2019 China International, Gold Jewellery & Gem Fair in Shenzhen.

The partnership is an effort to provide consistent demand for lab-grown diamonds in China’s fluctuating market, GZDE, which is not a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, said Tuesday.

“The high-tech genes of lab-grown diamonds, the ability [for] stable supply, and its outstanding appearance, [which is the] same as natural diamonds, have opened a window for this new material,” said GZDE chairman Zhu Yongsheng. “In addition to the innovative application in jewelry through creative design, it could [create] cross-border development with other industries.”

The GZDE will promote lab-grown-diamond trading as a separate business, with synthetics dealers using a new GZDE logo that references them as a lab-grown seller, the exchange added.

Clarification, April 28, 2019: This story has been updated to clarify that the Guangzhou Diamond Exchange is not a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

Image: Lab-grown diamond exhibit at the forum. Guangzhou Diamond Exchange

Source: Diamonds.net

Lucara Diamond Corp. Recovers Record 1,758 Carat Diamond from Karowe

A giant 1,758-carat diamond, the second-biggest ever discovered, has been found in Botswana. But unlike its rivals, it won’t fetch a record-breaking price.

Lucara Diamond Corp. said it unearthed the stone — roughly the size of a tennis ball — at its Karowe project in Botswana, a mine renowned for its huge gems including the previous holder of the No. 2 position. Still, the company said the diamond is a near gem of variable quality, meaning it won’t yield incredibly valuable polished diamonds on par with earlier finds.

Lucara’s Karowe mine is becoming famous for giant stones. In 2015, Lucara found the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, which at the time was the second-largest ever and eventually sold for $53 million. The mine has also yielded a 813-carat stone that fetched a record $63 million. Those two gems were both much more valuable Type-IIa stones.

Still, the latest find shows that Karowe’s plant can process and detect huge gems without breaking them, a consistent headache when trying to separate brittle stones from hundreds of tons of waste rock.

“Karowe has now produced two diamonds greater than 1,000 carats in just four years, affirming the coarse nature of the resource and the likelihood of recovering additional, large, high quality diamonds in the future,” Eira Thomas, Lucara’s chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Lucara, based in Vancouver, Canada, rose as much as 12 percent, the most in a year.

The biggest diamond ever discovered is the 3,106-carat Cullinan, found near Pretoria in South Africa in 1905. It was cut into several polished gems, the two largest of which — the Great Star of Africa and the Lesser Star of Africa — are set in the Crown Jewels of Britain.

Source: DCLA

Lucara Diamond Corp. Recovers Record 1,758 Carat Diamond from Karowe

A giant 1,758-carat diamond, the second-biggest ever discovered, has been found in Botswana. But unlike its rivals, it won’t fetch a record-breaking price.

Lucara Diamond Corp. said it unearthed the stone — roughly the size of a tennis ball — at its Karowe project in Botswana, a mine renowned for its huge gems including the previous holder of the No. 2 position. Still, the company said the diamond is a near gem of variable quality, meaning it won’t yield incredibly valuable polished diamonds on par with earlier finds.

Lucara’s Karowe mine is becoming famous for giant stones. In 2015, Lucara found the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, which at the time was the second-largest ever and eventually sold for $53 million. The mine has also yielded a 813-carat stone that fetched a record $63 million. Those two gems were both much more valuable Type-IIa stones.

Still, the latest find shows that Karowe’s plant can process and detect huge gems without breaking them, a consistent headache when trying to separate brittle stones from hundreds of tons of waste rock.

“Karowe has now produced two diamonds greater than 1,000 carats in just four years, affirming the coarse nature of the resource and the likelihood of recovering additional, large, high quality diamonds in the future,” Eira Thomas, Lucara’s chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Lucara, based in Vancouver, Canada, rose as much as 12 percent, the most in a year.

The biggest diamond ever discovered is the 3,106-carat Cullinan, found near Pretoria in South Africa in 1905. It was cut into several polished gems, the two largest of which — the Great Star of Africa and the Lesser Star of Africa — are set in the Crown Jewels of Britain.

Source: DCLA

ALROSA recovers “Zarya” a 119 carat gem quality stone

Alrosa revealed a 118.91 carat gem quality diamond that is recovered from its “International” mine, which is located close to the town of Mirny in the Sakha Republic of the Russian Federation.

The company said that stone, which was found on April 16, is the largest gem-quality diamond on found at the International pipe in the past two years. A similar, large gem-quality diamond, weighing 109.61 carats, was mined here in the summer of 2017.

The newly mined light yellow rough diamond has “salient edges, one of them with cleavage, and small inclusions in the central zone,” the firm said in a news release

“This crystal is unique as it has a large clean area despite the inclusions in the center – this makes it a gem-quality diamond. Well known hallmarks of the diamonds from the International kimberlite pipe are regular shapes and purity.

That is exactly the pipe that most often brings ALROSA regular shape octahedrons with smooth edges,” explained Evgeny Agureev, Member of the Management Board, Director of the United Selling Organization at ALROSA.

Source:  DCLA

ALROSA recovers “Zarya” a 119 carat gem quality stone

Alrosa revealed a 118.91 carat gem quality diamond that is recovered from its “International” mine, which is located close to the town of Mirny in the Sakha Republic of the Russian Federation.

The company said that stone, which was found on April 16, is the largest gem-quality diamond on found at the International pipe in the past two years. A similar, large gem-quality diamond, weighing 109.61 carats, was mined here in the summer of 2017.

The newly mined light yellow rough diamond has “salient edges, one of them with cleavage, and small inclusions in the central zone,” the firm said in a news release

“This crystal is unique as it has a large clean area despite the inclusions in the center – this makes it a gem-quality diamond. Well known hallmarks of the diamonds from the International kimberlite pipe are regular shapes and purity.

That is exactly the pipe that most often brings ALROSA regular shape octahedrons with smooth edges,” explained Evgeny Agureev, Member of the Management Board, Director of the United Selling Organization at ALROSA.

Source:  DCLA

Argyle diamond set to fetch millions

This rare sparkler may be worth millions but its discovery at Argyle in the Kimberley won’t be enough to stop the mine’s closure next year.

Mine operator Rio Tinto says the Argyle Octavia is one of the biggest gem quality white diamonds found at the mine over its 35 year history.

The 28.84 carat rock was recovered from the east Kimberley mine last month.

Argyle Diamonds general manager Andrew Wilson said the Argyle Octavia was unique in its size, shape and provenance and would take its place in history as one of a few special large white diamonds ever to be produced from the mine.

The stone will be sold by private tender at the world’s diamond capital, Antwerp in Belgium, later this year.
Collectors, jewellers and traders will be invited to place confidential bids, with the rough diamond going to the highest bidder.

The rock is expected to attract strong bidding given only about 20 similar stones have been recovered from Argyle and the mine’s imminent closure means it will be considered a legacy piece.

Its rare and beautiful octahedral shape is also likely to attract a strong premium compared to similar gems.
Alluvial diamond mining started at Argyle in 1983, moving to an open pit operation between 1985 and 2013, followed by an underground operation from 2013 using a block cave method of mining.

But there is no economic case for continuing mining at even deeper levels past 2020.

Rio will seek to redeploy the more than 450 staff and contractors at the mine to its other operations as the mine winds down.

Some staff will remain to help with the rehabilitation of the site, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollar over several decades.

Source: thewest

Argyle diamond set to fetch millions

This rare sparkler may be worth millions but its discovery at Argyle in the Kimberley won’t be enough to stop the mine’s closure next year.

Mine operator Rio Tinto says the Argyle Octavia is one of the biggest gem quality white diamonds found at the mine over its 35 year history.

The 28.84 carat rock was recovered from the east Kimberley mine last month.

Argyle Diamonds general manager Andrew Wilson said the Argyle Octavia was unique in its size, shape and provenance and would take its place in history as one of a few special large white diamonds ever to be produced from the mine.

The stone will be sold by private tender at the world’s diamond capital, Antwerp in Belgium, later this year.
Collectors, jewellers and traders will be invited to place confidential bids, with the rough diamond going to the highest bidder.

The rock is expected to attract strong bidding given only about 20 similar stones have been recovered from Argyle and the mine’s imminent closure means it will be considered a legacy piece.

Its rare and beautiful octahedral shape is also likely to attract a strong premium compared to similar gems.
Alluvial diamond mining started at Argyle in 1983, moving to an open pit operation between 1985 and 2013, followed by an underground operation from 2013 using a block cave method of mining.

But there is no economic case for continuing mining at even deeper levels past 2020.

Rio will seek to redeploy the more than 450 staff and contractors at the mine to its other operations as the mine winds down.

Some staff will remain to help with the rehabilitation of the site, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollar over several decades.

Source: thewest

Forevermark Appoints New CEO

De Beers jewelry subsidiary Forevermark has promoted chief operating officer Nancy Liu to CEO, as Stephen Lussier steps back.

She will take over the day-to-day running of the brand, allowing Lussier, who has been CEO since 2009, to increase his focus on shaping De Beers’ strategy at the consumer level, the company said last week. He will also continue in his position as Forevermark chairman, and will oversee its strategic role within the De Beers portfolio.

Liu joined Forevermark in 2008 as president of its Asia Pacific region. She was previously employed by L’Oréal, Louis Vuitton and the Boston Consulting Group.

“ Liu is an outstanding candidate to take over as CEO of Forevermark,” said Lussier. “As the brand sees rapid growth in Asia, Nancy’s exceptional expertise and knowledge of the region provides us with excellent continuity.”

De Beers appointed Liu to its executive committee in 2017.

Source: DCLA

Forevermark Appoints New CEO

De Beers jewelry subsidiary Forevermark has promoted chief operating officer Nancy Liu to CEO, as Stephen Lussier steps back.

She will take over the day-to-day running of the brand, allowing Lussier, who has been CEO since 2009, to increase his focus on shaping De Beers’ strategy at the consumer level, the company said last week. He will also continue in his position as Forevermark chairman, and will oversee its strategic role within the De Beers portfolio.

Liu joined Forevermark in 2008 as president of its Asia Pacific region. She was previously employed by L’Oréal, Louis Vuitton and the Boston Consulting Group.

“ Liu is an outstanding candidate to take over as CEO of Forevermark,” said Lussier. “As the brand sees rapid growth in Asia, Nancy’s exceptional expertise and knowledge of the region provides us with excellent continuity.”

De Beers appointed Liu to its executive committee in 2017.

Source: DCLA

Petra Diamonds on a roll after another major find at Cullinan

South Africa’s Petra Diamonds has found yet another big rock at its iconic Cullinan mine, the third coloured diamond over 100 carats since March that has been unearthed at the operation.

“It is the third Type II D colour gem quality diamond weighing more than 100 carats recovered at Cullinan since March”
The 209.9 carat, D colour, Type II gem quality diamond is also the fourth such stone discovered by Petra so far this financial year.

Source: DCLA

Petra Diamonds on a roll after another major find at Cullinan

South Africa’s Petra Diamonds has found yet another big rock at its iconic Cullinan mine, the third coloured diamond over 100 carats since March that has been unearthed at the operation.

“It is the third Type II D colour gem quality diamond weighing more than 100 carats recovered at Cullinan since March”
The 209.9 carat, D colour, Type II gem quality diamond is also the fourth such stone discovered by Petra so far this financial year.

Source: DCLA

Okavango Diamond Company finds and polishes a 20 carat unique fancy deep blue

The Okavango Diamond Company revealed a unique polished blue diamond weighing over 20 carats, the biggest blue diamond discovery ever made in Botswana.

GIA graded the 20.46 carat gem as a type IIb, Fancy Deep Blue, oval brilliant cut, VVS2.

The diamond was discovered at Botswana’s Orapa mine as a 41.11 carat rough stone. Its unique and vibrant blue color is the result of the inclusion of boron which between one to three billion years ago was present in the rocks of ancient oceans during violent diamond forming volcanic activity.

“From the first moment we saw the diamond, it was clear we had something very special. Everyone who has viewed the 20 carat polished diamond has marveled at its unique coloration which many see as unlike any blue stone they have seen before. It is incredibly unusual for a stone of this color and nature to have come from Botswana, a once in a lifetime find, which is about as rare as a star in the Milky Way,” says Marcus Ter Haar, MD of Okavango Diamond Company.

“It is little surprise blue diamonds are so sought after around the world as only a very small percentage of the world’s diamonds are classified as fancy color and, of those, only a select few can be classified as being Fancy Blue,” he added.

“At ODC we have access to 15 percent of Debswana’s run of mine production and feel extremely fortunate to be involved in such a singular find. Only a handful of similar blue stones have come to market during the last decade, of which the Okavango Blue rightfully takes its place as one of the most significant,” said Ter Haar.

The iconic Okavango Blue will be showcased over the coming months to promote Botswana as a leading global producer of natural ethical diamonds with an anticipated sale toward the end of the year.

Source:DCLA

Okavango Diamond Company finds and polishes a 20 carat unique fancy deep blue

The Okavango Diamond Company revealed a unique polished blue diamond weighing over 20 carats, the biggest blue diamond discovery ever made in Botswana.

GIA graded the 20.46 carat gem as a type IIb, Fancy Deep Blue, oval brilliant cut, VVS2.

The diamond was discovered at Botswana’s Orapa mine as a 41.11 carat rough stone. Its unique and vibrant blue color is the result of the inclusion of boron which between one to three billion years ago was present in the rocks of ancient oceans during violent diamond forming volcanic activity.

“From the first moment we saw the diamond, it was clear we had something very special. Everyone who has viewed the 20 carat polished diamond has marveled at its unique coloration which many see as unlike any blue stone they have seen before. It is incredibly unusual for a stone of this color and nature to have come from Botswana, a once in a lifetime find, which is about as rare as a star in the Milky Way,” says Marcus Ter Haar, MD of Okavango Diamond Company.

“It is little surprise blue diamonds are so sought after around the world as only a very small percentage of the world’s diamonds are classified as fancy color and, of those, only a select few can be classified as being Fancy Blue,” he added.

“At ODC we have access to 15 percent of Debswana’s run of mine production and feel extremely fortunate to be involved in such a singular find. Only a handful of similar blue stones have come to market during the last decade, of which the Okavango Blue rightfully takes its place as one of the most significant,” said Ter Haar.

The iconic Okavango Blue will be showcased over the coming months to promote Botswana as a leading global producer of natural ethical diamonds with an anticipated sale toward the end of the year.

Source:DCLA

Botswana unveils rare 20 carat blue diamond

Botswana’s state run Okavango Diamond Company unveiled on Wednesday what is believed to be the largest blue diamond ever discovered in the southern African country, which is one of the world’s top producers.

The 20.46 carat, oval-shape fancy precious rock has been named “The Okavango Blue” in honour of the Okavango Delta, the country’s wildlife rich world heritage site.

From all coloured diamonds, blue stones are the most unusual and so the miner says its find is one of the rarest in the world.

“It is incredibly unusual for a stone of this colour and nature to have come from Botswana a once in lifetime find, which is about as rare as a star in the Milky Way,” Okavango Diamond Company managing director Marcus ter Haar said in a statement.

“It sits in the very top bracket of all time historical blue diamond finds especially because only a very small percentage of the world’s diamonds are classified as fancy colour,” he noted, adding the company expects to sell the stone by the end of the year.

In 2016, a massive intense blue diamond, known as The Cullinan Dream, sold for $25.4 million at a Christie’s auction in New York, breaking all records and becoming the most expensive gem of its kind ever sold at auction.
Last year, a 6.16 carat blue diamond, secretly passed down through European royalty over three centuries, fetched $6.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva $1.4 million more than what experts expected it to be sold for.

Arguably, the most famous is the Hope Diamond, also known as Le Bijou du Roi “the King’s Jewel”, Le bleu de France “France’s Blue”, and the Tavernier Blue. The massive, 45.52 carat, deep blue diamond is now kept at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Botswana, which was overtaken by Russia as the world’s top diamond producing country in 2014, is grappling with aging mines, as well as power and water shortages.

Still, diamonds are the country’s main source of income and account for about 80% of its exports.

The nation is home to some of the world’s most prolific diamond mines, including Lucara Diamond’s Karowe operation, where the now famous Lesedi la Rona, the second-largest gem-quality diamond to ever be found, was unearthed in 2016.

Source: DCLA

Botswana unveils rare 20 carat blue diamond

Botswana’s state run Okavango Diamond Company unveiled on Wednesday what is believed to be the largest blue diamond ever discovered in the southern African country, which is one of the world’s top producers.

The 20.46 carat, oval-shape fancy precious rock has been named “The Okavango Blue” in honour of the Okavango Delta, the country’s wildlife rich world heritage site.

From all coloured diamonds, blue stones are the most unusual and so the miner says its find is one of the rarest in the world.

“It is incredibly unusual for a stone of this colour and nature to have come from Botswana a once in lifetime find, which is about as rare as a star in the Milky Way,” Okavango Diamond Company managing director Marcus ter Haar said in a statement.

“It sits in the very top bracket of all time historical blue diamond finds especially because only a very small percentage of the world’s diamonds are classified as fancy colour,” he noted, adding the company expects to sell the stone by the end of the year.

In 2016, a massive intense blue diamond, known as The Cullinan Dream, sold for $25.4 million at a Christie’s auction in New York, breaking all records and becoming the most expensive gem of its kind ever sold at auction.
Last year, a 6.16 carat blue diamond, secretly passed down through European royalty over three centuries, fetched $6.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva $1.4 million more than what experts expected it to be sold for.

Arguably, the most famous is the Hope Diamond, also known as Le Bijou du Roi “the King’s Jewel”, Le bleu de France “France’s Blue”, and the Tavernier Blue. The massive, 45.52 carat, deep blue diamond is now kept at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Botswana, which was overtaken by Russia as the world’s top diamond producing country in 2014, is grappling with aging mines, as well as power and water shortages.

Still, diamonds are the country’s main source of income and account for about 80% of its exports.

The nation is home to some of the world’s most prolific diamond mines, including Lucara Diamond’s Karowe operation, where the now famous Lesedi la Rona, the second-largest gem-quality diamond to ever be found, was unearthed in 2016.

Source: DCLA

Tiffany Is Training Africans to Cut Diamonds Sourced From Region

Tiffany & Co. has been expanding its workforce in sub Saharan Africa, a region of almost one billion people where the jewelry giant doesn’t have a single store.

More than a quarter of the New York based company’s 1,500 global diamond cutters and polishers are now based in Africa, Chief Executive Officer Alessandro Bogliolo said in an interview in Cape Town.

Tiffany has factories in Botswana and Mauritius with staff subject to “intensive training” over two years, he said, making it the only western luxury brand that doesn’t outsource production of its African stones.

Botswana is the world’s largest diamond producer after Russia, and is the only African country where Tiffany both buys and prepares its stones.

While it also sources diamonds from mines in South Africa, Namibia and Sierra Leone, it won’t do business in Zimbabwe and Angola because of the human-rights situation in those countries, Bogliolo said.

“If you buy from a world class brand, it’s because you trust that this brand has done all that is humanly possible to guarantee that the product is not only crafted to the highest standard, but also ethical and traceable in its manufacturing,’’ the CEO said.

Ethical Jewelry

The move to hire and train African polishers and cutters comes as Tiffany strives to be completely transparent about how its diamonds progress from deep underground to the engagement rings of wives to be.

That’s in line with a wider trend in consumer goods industries to tap into demand for products that younger shoppers see as ethical.

This year, the company started to share the origin of its diamonds with customers, an initiative Bogliolo believes will push the entire industry to follow suit.

Tiffany has been trying to recoup sales that have been hit by a slowdown of Chinese tourist spending in the U.S., including an expansion of the business in Beijing and Shanghai.

While Bogliolo said the jeweler has a lot of customers in Africa, they’re forced to leave the continent to make purchases as the retailer’s only outlets there are in Egypt.

However, the CEO said South Africa is an “interesting market” where the company might eventually open at least one store.

“There’s no doubt that we will have a more robust presence on this continent,” he said. “It’s just a matter of finding the right location and the critical mass in order to have a sustainable business.”
 
Tiffany shares have gained 32 percent this year, valuing the company at $12.9 billion.

Source: DCLA

Tiffany Is Training Africans to Cut Diamonds Sourced From Region

Tiffany & Co. has been expanding its workforce in sub Saharan Africa, a region of almost one billion people where the jewelry giant doesn’t have a single store.

More than a quarter of the New York based company’s 1,500 global diamond cutters and polishers are now based in Africa, Chief Executive Officer Alessandro Bogliolo said in an interview in Cape Town.

Tiffany has factories in Botswana and Mauritius with staff subject to “intensive training” over two years, he said, making it the only western luxury brand that doesn’t outsource production of its African stones.

Botswana is the world’s largest diamond producer after Russia, and is the only African country where Tiffany both buys and prepares its stones.

While it also sources diamonds from mines in South Africa, Namibia and Sierra Leone, it won’t do business in Zimbabwe and Angola because of the human-rights situation in those countries, Bogliolo said.

“If you buy from a world class brand, it’s because you trust that this brand has done all that is humanly possible to guarantee that the product is not only crafted to the highest standard, but also ethical and traceable in its manufacturing,’’ the CEO said.

Ethical Jewelry

The move to hire and train African polishers and cutters comes as Tiffany strives to be completely transparent about how its diamonds progress from deep underground to the engagement rings of wives to be.

That’s in line with a wider trend in consumer goods industries to tap into demand for products that younger shoppers see as ethical.

This year, the company started to share the origin of its diamonds with customers, an initiative Bogliolo believes will push the entire industry to follow suit.

Tiffany has been trying to recoup sales that have been hit by a slowdown of Chinese tourist spending in the U.S., including an expansion of the business in Beijing and Shanghai.

While Bogliolo said the jeweler has a lot of customers in Africa, they’re forced to leave the continent to make purchases as the retailer’s only outlets there are in Egypt.

However, the CEO said South Africa is an “interesting market” where the company might eventually open at least one store.

“There’s no doubt that we will have a more robust presence on this continent,” he said. “It’s just a matter of finding the right location and the critical mass in order to have a sustainable business.”
 
Tiffany shares have gained 32 percent this year, valuing the company at $12.9 billion.

Source: DCLA

$1 million plus perfume bottle

This record breaking perfume bottle is covered in 3,500 diamonds.

The new unisex fragrance made by Spirit of Dubai Par fums is also described as the world’s most expensive at a cost of $1.295 million.
The bottle w
as designed by Asghar Adam Ali Ibrahim, and sits in a wheeled pedestal.

It is also the tallest commercially available remote controlled fragrance spray bottle at 1.97 m.

Users can adjust the sprayer height and direction with a remote control.

Spirit of Dubai says SHUMUKH, which translates to ‘deserving the highest’, unites both jewellery and perfume to create a product that “tells the tale of Dubai through seven core design elements”.

After the certificate presentation on 12 March, the record-breaking bottle was displayed in The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue as part of its ART+ series.

Source: Guinness world records

$1 million plus perfume bottle

This record breaking perfume bottle is covered in 3,500 diamonds.

The new unisex fragrance made by Spirit of Dubai Par fums is also described as the world’s most expensive at a cost of $1.295 million.
The bottle w
as designed by Asghar Adam Ali Ibrahim, and sits in a wheeled pedestal.

It is also the tallest commercially available remote controlled fragrance spray bottle at 1.97 m.

Users can adjust the sprayer height and direction with a remote control.

Spirit of Dubai says SHUMUKH, which translates to ‘deserving the highest’, unites both jewellery and perfume to create a product that “tells the tale of Dubai through seven core design elements”.

After the certificate presentation on 12 March, the record-breaking bottle was displayed in The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue as part of its ART+ series.

Source: Guinness world records

Graff Unveils World’s Largest Square Emerald Cut Diamond At 302.37 Carats

Luxury jeweler, Graff, has unveiled its latest, and perhaps its greatest, big diamond creation, the “Graff Lesedi La Rona,” a 302.37-carat D-color, high-clarity stone that is being lauded as the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond.

The London-based company also says it is the “largest highest clarity, highest color diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).”

 Laurence Graff, the prestigious diamond dealer and founder of the eponymous international luxury jewelry brand known for its gem-centric high jewels, who has cut and polished the majority of the 20 largest diamonds discovered this century seemed humbled by his latest creation.
“My love affair with diamonds is life-long and crafting the Graff Lesedi La Rona has been an honor. This diamond, our diamond, is beyond words,” he said. “All our expertise, skill and accomplishment went into crafting this incredible diamond masterpiece, which is extraordinary in every way.

The Graff Lesedi La Rona is an exceptional diamond with an exceptional cut and exceptional proportions, earning its place in history as the largest and finest of its kind in the world.”


The gem’s D color grade (meaning colorless) is the highest end of the GIA color scale. It is rare for any diamond to achieve this, much less one of more than 300 carats. While Graff noted its high clarity, meaning that the diamond has few or no inclusions or blemishes, it did not reveal the GIA clarity grade.

It is the principal diamond cut and polished from the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona rough, which was purchased in 2017 by Laurence Graff. In addition to the main diamond, 66 “satellite” diamonds have been polished from the rough, ranging in size from under a carat to more than 26 carats.

Each diamond is inscribed with “Graff, Lesedi La Rona” and its unique GIA number, and is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity from Graff and the GIA. Graff began alerting its clients in November 2018 that they can purchase jewels with stones from the rough gem.











The 1,109-carat rough diamond, about the size of a tennis ball, has had a brief but storied existence. It was discovered by Lucara Diamond Corp., a Canadian diamond mining company, in November 2015, at its Karowe mine in Botswana. It is the largest gem-quality diamond discovered in more than 100 years and the second-largest in history. Its size is exceeded only by the legendary 3,016.75-carat Cullinan Diamond, mined in South Africa in 1905, which produced nine major diamonds that are part of the British Crown Jewels.

“There is a huge amount of good fortune involved in unearthing a rough diamond of this extraordinary beauty and importance,” Laurence Graff said. “We had an immense duty to cut the very, very best diamond imaginable from this rough.”
The gem was given

the name, Lesedi La Rona, which means “our light” in Botswana’s Tswana language.

Lucara Diamond Corp. originally tried to sell the Lesedi La Rona in a standalone public auction at Sotheby’s London on June, 2016. It was an unusual way to sell a rough diamond. Normally, rough diamonds are sold privately to diamond dealers who then cut and polished it into a finished gem.

It created controversy among these dealers. One of those who criticized the sale was Laurence Graff. It had an estimate of more than $70 million. However, it failed to meet its reserve price as bidding stalled at $61 million.

The Graff gemologists and master polishers spent 18 months analyzing, cutting and polishing the stone in order to reveal the 302.37-carat Graff Lesedi La Rona Donald Woodrow

In September 2017, Graff Diamonds announced that it had purchased the diamond for $53 million in a handshake deal between Graff and William Lamb, former president and CEO of Lucara. Once purchased, the diamond was moved to South Africa where Graff’s cutting and polishing processes are carried out.

Laurence Graff said he was confident the Lesedi La Rona would result in “sensational polished gems.” In May 2016, he purchased a 373-carat rough diamond that was believed to have come from the same rough stone. His experience with this gem gave him enough confidence to think he could predict what the Lesedi La Rona might produce.

Even with this experience the Lesedi La Rona presented a unique challenge for Graff’s gemologists. They had never analyzed a stone this large. In fact it was so large that it couldn’t be viewed with existing equipment. A scanner had to be custom built specifically for the Lesedi La Rona with new imaging software capable of probing its immense interior.

With the new equipment, the gemologists were able to explore deep within the diamond and map out the maze of imperfections. They used this information to plot which cuts would yield the largest and highest clarity diamonds possible.

At first, the technical analysis of the Lesedi La Rona concluded that a 300-carat diamond wasn’t possible. However, Laurence Graff said he was convinced that this exceptionally rare weight could be achieved and challenged his staff to accomplish this.

After months of analysis, the plan for cutting and polishing the diamond was so precise there was no room for error. It took hundreds of hours just to polish the table facet, the largest facet at the top of the diamond.

By the time the final finessing of the diamond’s facets had taken place, more than 18 months had elapsed.
”Cutting a diamond of this size is an art form, the ultimate art of sculpture,” Laurence Graff said. “It is the riskiest form of art because you can never add and you can never cover up a mistake, you can only take away. You have to be careful and you have to be perfect.”

The GIA identified the Lesedi La Rona rough as part of an elite group of “super deep” diamonds formed three times deeper than most other diamonds. Rare emissaries of geological information, Graff donated fragments of the Lesedi La Rona to the Smithsonian Institute to help advance diamond research.

Source: DCLA

Graff Unveils World’s Largest Square Emerald Cut Diamond At 302.37 Carats

Luxury jeweler, Graff, has unveiled its latest, and perhaps its greatest, big diamond creation, the “Graff Lesedi La Rona,” a 302.37-carat D-color, high-clarity stone that is being lauded as the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond.

The London-based company also says it is the “largest highest clarity, highest color diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).”

 Laurence Graff, the prestigious diamond dealer and founder of the eponymous international luxury jewelry brand known for its gem-centric high jewels, who has cut and polished the majority of the 20 largest diamonds discovered this century seemed humbled by his latest creation.
“My love affair with diamonds is life-long and crafting the Graff Lesedi La Rona has been an honor. This diamond, our diamond, is beyond words,” he said. “All our expertise, skill and accomplishment went into crafting this incredible diamond masterpiece, which is extraordinary in every way.

The Graff Lesedi La Rona is an exceptional diamond with an exceptional cut and exceptional proportions, earning its place in history as the largest and finest of its kind in the world.”


The gem’s D color grade (meaning colorless) is the highest end of the GIA color scale. It is rare for any diamond to achieve this, much less one of more than 300 carats. While Graff noted its high clarity, meaning that the diamond has few or no inclusions or blemishes, it did not reveal the GIA clarity grade.

It is the principal diamond cut and polished from the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona rough, which was purchased in 2017 by Laurence Graff. In addition to the main diamond, 66 “satellite” diamonds have been polished from the rough, ranging in size from under a carat to more than 26 carats.

Each diamond is inscribed with “Graff, Lesedi La Rona” and its unique GIA number, and is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity from Graff and the GIA. Graff began alerting its clients in November 2018 that they can purchase jewels with stones from the rough gem.











The 1,109-carat rough diamond, about the size of a tennis ball, has had a brief but storied existence. It was discovered by Lucara Diamond Corp., a Canadian diamond mining company, in November 2015, at its Karowe mine in Botswana. It is the largest gem-quality diamond discovered in more than 100 years and the second-largest in history. Its size is exceeded only by the legendary 3,016.75-carat Cullinan Diamond, mined in South Africa in 1905, which produced nine major diamonds that are part of the British Crown Jewels.

“There is a huge amount of good fortune involved in unearthing a rough diamond of this extraordinary beauty and importance,” Laurence Graff said. “We had an immense duty to cut the very, very best diamond imaginable from this rough.”
The gem was given

the name, Lesedi La Rona, which means “our light” in Botswana’s Tswana language.

Lucara Diamond Corp. originally tried to sell the Lesedi La Rona in a standalone public auction at Sotheby’s London on June, 2016. It was an unusual way to sell a rough diamond. Normally, rough diamonds are sold privately to diamond dealers who then cut and polished it into a finished gem.

It created controversy among these dealers. One of those who criticized the sale was Laurence Graff. It had an estimate of more than $70 million. However, it failed to meet its reserve price as bidding stalled at $61 million.

The Graff gemologists and master polishers spent 18 months analyzing, cutting and polishing the stone in order to reveal the 302.37-carat Graff Lesedi La Rona Donald Woodrow

In September 2017, Graff Diamonds announced that it had purchased the diamond for $53 million in a handshake deal between Graff and William Lamb, former president and CEO of Lucara. Once purchased, the diamond was moved to South Africa where Graff’s cutting and polishing processes are carried out.

Laurence Graff said he was confident the Lesedi La Rona would result in “sensational polished gems.” In May 2016, he purchased a 373-carat rough diamond that was believed to have come from the same rough stone. His experience with this gem gave him enough confidence to think he could predict what the Lesedi La Rona might produce.

Even with this experience the Lesedi La Rona presented a unique challenge for Graff’s gemologists. They had never analyzed a stone this large. In fact it was so large that it couldn’t be viewed with existing equipment. A scanner had to be custom built specifically for the Lesedi La Rona with new imaging software capable of probing its immense interior.

With the new equipment, the gemologists were able to explore deep within the diamond and map out the maze of imperfections. They used this information to plot which cuts would yield the largest and highest clarity diamonds possible.

At first, the technical analysis of the Lesedi La Rona concluded that a 300-carat diamond wasn’t possible. However, Laurence Graff said he was convinced that this exceptionally rare weight could be achieved and challenged his staff to accomplish this.

After months of analysis, the plan for cutting and polishing the diamond was so precise there was no room for error. It took hundreds of hours just to polish the table facet, the largest facet at the top of the diamond.

By the time the final finessing of the diamond’s facets had taken place, more than 18 months had elapsed.
”Cutting a diamond of this size is an art form, the ultimate art of sculpture,” Laurence Graff said. “It is the riskiest form of art because you can never add and you can never cover up a mistake, you can only take away. You have to be careful and you have to be perfect.”

The GIA identified the Lesedi La Rona rough as part of an elite group of “super deep” diamonds formed three times deeper than most other diamonds. Rare emissaries of geological information, Graff donated fragments of the Lesedi La Rona to the Smithsonian Institute to help advance diamond research.

Source: DCLA

Firestone finds another massive diamond at Lesotho mine

African focused Firestone Diamonds has dug up a 72 carat yellow, whole makeable diamond at its Liqhobong Mine in Lesotho, the second one over 70 carat it has found this year.

The stone, recovered over the weekend together with a 22 carat makeable white stone, followed by an 11 carat fancy light-pink diamond found at the asset.

“Makeable” diamonds are those whose shape allows to cut one large diamond from it. In contrast, “sawable” stones can be cut in half in order to create two smaller diamonds.

“The stone, recovered over the weekend together with a 22 carat makeable white one, followed by an 11 carat fancy light pink diamond found at the asset.”

The two diamonds, found within the northern lower grade part of the pit, will go on sale at Firestone’s next tender, which is scheduled to take place during May 2019.

Shares in the company were 7.3% higher at 2.2p following the news.

Last month, a white 70 carat diamond from also from the Liqhobong mine was auctioned for an undisclosed price, following a 46 carat precious rock, also from the same mine, which was sold for $1 million in December.

Diamond prices have been under pressure and miners are struggling across the board, especially those producing cheaper and smaller stones where there is too much supply. In December, some of Rio Tinto’s customers refused to buy cheaper diamonds, while De Beers has been forced to cut prices and offer concessions to buyers.

Firestone spent $185 million building Liqhobong, which started production in late 2016, and boasts over 11 million carats in reserve. The total open pit resource contains over 17 million carats to a depth of 393 metres.

Source:mining.com

Firestone finds another massive diamond at Lesotho mine

African focused Firestone Diamonds has dug up a 72 carat yellow, whole makeable diamond at its Liqhobong Mine in Lesotho, the second one over 70 carat it has found this year.

The stone, recovered over the weekend together with a 22 carat makeable white stone, followed by an 11 carat fancy light-pink diamond found at the asset.

“Makeable” diamonds are those whose shape allows to cut one large diamond from it. In contrast, “sawable” stones can be cut in half in order to create two smaller diamonds.

“The stone, recovered over the weekend together with a 22 carat makeable white one, followed by an 11 carat fancy light pink diamond found at the asset.”

The two diamonds, found within the northern lower grade part of the pit, will go on sale at Firestone’s next tender, which is scheduled to take place during May 2019.

Shares in the company were 7.3% higher at 2.2p following the news.

Last month, a white 70 carat diamond from also from the Liqhobong mine was auctioned for an undisclosed price, following a 46 carat precious rock, also from the same mine, which was sold for $1 million in December.

Diamond prices have been under pressure and miners are struggling across the board, especially those producing cheaper and smaller stones where there is too much supply. In December, some of Rio Tinto’s customers refused to buy cheaper diamonds, while De Beers has been forced to cut prices and offer concessions to buyers.

Firestone spent $185 million building Liqhobong, which started production in late 2016, and boasts over 11 million carats in reserve. The total open pit resource contains over 17 million carats to a depth of 393 metres.

Source:mining.com

De Beers Closes Diamond-Reselling Unit

De Beers is shutting its diamond-recycling division, as digital advancements in the sector have lessened the need for its services.

The International Institute of Diamond Valuation (IIDV) was set up in 2016 to repurchase and recycle diamond jewelry that consumers no longer wanted.

De Beers began the operation after noting the difficulty consumers faced in trying to sell their jewelry at a fair price.

The venture provided a means of emphasizing the enduring value of diamonds, De Beers said.

However, since IIDV launched, technology in the industry has improved, and online consumer-to-consumer selling platforms have become a more popular option, the company explained.

“Following a number of years gaining experience in the diamond-recycling sector, we have taken the decision to suspend the activities of the International Institute of Diamond Valuation,” David Johnson, De Beers’ senior manager for media and commercial communications, told Rapaport News Thursday.

While the project is no longer a viable option, it has provided De Beers with valuable insight into consumer behavior and the needs of its retail partners, Johnson explained.

“We know that consumer acceptance of the consumer-to-consumer market is growing and likely to be the future of this sector, and we will therefore continue to look for opportunities in this space,” he added.

Image: Diamond solitaire earrings. (De Beers)

Source: DCLA

De Beers Closes Diamond-Reselling Unit

De Beers is shutting its diamond-recycling division, as digital advancements in the sector have lessened the need for its services.

The International Institute of Diamond Valuation (IIDV) was set up in 2016 to repurchase and recycle diamond jewelry that consumers no longer wanted.

De Beers began the operation after noting the difficulty consumers faced in trying to sell their jewelry at a fair price.

The venture provided a means of emphasizing the enduring value of diamonds, De Beers said.

However, since IIDV launched, technology in the industry has improved, and online consumer-to-consumer selling platforms have become a more popular option, the company explained.

“Following a number of years gaining experience in the diamond-recycling sector, we have taken the decision to suspend the activities of the International Institute of Diamond Valuation,” David Johnson, De Beers’ senior manager for media and commercial communications, told Rapaport News Thursday.

While the project is no longer a viable option, it has provided De Beers with valuable insight into consumer behavior and the needs of its retail partners, Johnson explained.

“We know that consumer acceptance of the consumer-to-consumer market is growing and likely to be the future of this sector, and we will therefore continue to look for opportunities in this space,” he added.

Image: Diamond solitaire earrings. (De Beers)

Source: DCLA

Rare 25ct. Diamond to Lead Christie’s Geneva

A storied diamond connected to the Oppenheimer family will be among the top lots at next month’s Geneva auction at Christie’s, with a presale estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

The rectangular cut, 25.27 carat, D color Jonker V ring will go under the hammer at the Magnificent Jewels sale on May 15, the auction house said last week.

The stone was cut from a 726 carat rough South African farmer Johannes Jacobus Jonker discovered in 1934.

At the time, the Jonker was the fourth largest gem quality diamond ever unearthed.

A subsidiary belonging to Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, the founder of Anglo American and a former De Beers chairman, bought the polished stone. In 1935, Harry Winston purchased the diamond and set it in a ring. Later that year, it was displayed during the Silver Jubilee celebrations for King George V and Queen Mary.

Christie’s will also offer a heart shaped, fancy deep blue diamond ring, featuring two stones weighing 2.22 carats and 2 carats, valued at $3.5 million to $4.5 million. Separately, an old cushion-cut, 118.05 carat, fancy yellow diamond carries an estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

Other notable lots are a necklace comprising 110 natural pearls with a presale estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million, and a pear shaped, 75.61 carat emerald pendant necklace expected to fetch $2 million to $3 million.

In addition, the Geneva sale will feature an early 19th century emerald and diamond fringe necklace Henri d’Orléans, duke of Aumale, gave to his goddaughter, Princess Hélène of France, for her 1895 wedding to Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Italy.

Source: DCLA

Rare 25ct. Diamond to Lead Christie’s Geneva

A storied diamond connected to the Oppenheimer family will be among the top lots at next month’s Geneva auction at Christie’s, with a presale estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

The rectangular cut, 25.27 carat, D color Jonker V ring will go under the hammer at the Magnificent Jewels sale on May 15, the auction house said last week.

The stone was cut from a 726 carat rough South African farmer Johannes Jacobus Jonker discovered in 1934.

At the time, the Jonker was the fourth largest gem quality diamond ever unearthed.

A subsidiary belonging to Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, the founder of Anglo American and a former De Beers chairman, bought the polished stone. In 1935, Harry Winston purchased the diamond and set it in a ring. Later that year, it was displayed during the Silver Jubilee celebrations for King George V and Queen Mary.

Christie’s will also offer a heart shaped, fancy deep blue diamond ring, featuring two stones weighing 2.22 carats and 2 carats, valued at $3.5 million to $4.5 million. Separately, an old cushion-cut, 118.05 carat, fancy yellow diamond carries an estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

Other notable lots are a necklace comprising 110 natural pearls with a presale estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million, and a pear shaped, 75.61 carat emerald pendant necklace expected to fetch $2 million to $3 million.

In addition, the Geneva sale will feature an early 19th century emerald and diamond fringe necklace Henri d’Orléans, duke of Aumale, gave to his goddaughter, Princess Hélène of France, for her 1895 wedding to Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Italy.

Source: DCLA

Two Stone Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring Could Fetch $8 million At Christie’s New York Auction

A “twin stone” fancy vivid blue diamond ring of 3.06 and 2.61 carats with an estimate of $6 million to $8 million is the top lot of Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale.

The April 16 auction at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters will also feature three D colored diamonds of more than 15-carats, including a 16.69 carat marquise cut diamond ring Type IIa, and potentially internally flawless, from The Collection of Elizabeth Stafford with an estimate of $1.2 million to $1.8 million.

Colored diamonds will be represented with a 6.11 carat fancy pink diamond ring estimate $1.2 million to $1.5 million, fancy deep yellow diamond earrings of 7.55 and 7.51 carats estimate $700,000 to $1 million, a 37.65 carat fancy intense yellow diamond ring estimate $600,000 to $800,000 and a 35.06 carat fancy intense yellow diamond pendant of estimate $500,000 to $700,000.

Source: DCLA