Super-rich are investing in diamonds

Amid economic uncertainty, the super-rich are looking to ultra-rare precious gemstones as a ‘safe’ store for their wealth

Fine jewellery sales are seeming to weather the coronavirus crisis, thanks to lockdown proposals and demand for precious pieces to mark birthdays and anniversaries. Some jewellers report that people are spending more on gifts than usual, in lieu of ‘proper’ face-to-face celebrations.

And at the high end of the market, collectors are still investing in rare gemstones – sometimes seeing them as a safer store for their money than the volatile stock market or property.

Source: DCLA

Super-rich are investing in diamonds

Amid economic uncertainty, the super-rich are looking to ultra-rare precious gemstones as a ‘safe’ store for their wealth

Fine jewellery sales are seeming to weather the coronavirus crisis, thanks to lockdown proposals and demand for precious pieces to mark birthdays and anniversaries. Some jewellers report that people are spending more on gifts than usual, in lieu of ‘proper’ face-to-face celebrations.

And at the high end of the market, collectors are still investing in rare gemstones – sometimes seeing them as a safer store for their money than the volatile stock market or property.

Source: DCLA

Five GIA Labs Resume Operations

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has reopened laboratories in five locations following COVID-19 shutdowns.

The organization’s labs in Johannesburg and Tokyo recommenced limited operations on May 7, the GIA said Monday. Visitors to the Johannesburg lab must make an appointment, have a permit, and wear a mask. The Tokyo location will accept and return goods by delivery only.

On May 11, the GIA resumed operations at its locations in Antwerp and in Gaborone, Botswana. While Antwerp is receiving customers by appointment only, Gaborone is open with a limited capacity to comply with government mandates and allow for proper social distancing, the GIA noted. The lab in Carlsbad, California, reopened May 18, with submission of goods only accepted by shipment.

Labs in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Ramat Gan, Israel, are all open, and are operating with regular hours. Operations in Mumbai, Surat and New York remain closed.

“Our first priority is to protect the health and safety of all staff, clients and visitors,” said Tom Moses, the GIA’s executive vice president and chief research and laboratory officer. “As we work to meet our clients’ needs whenever and wherever possible, we are planning for the safe opening of all other GIA locations as soon as conditions and government authorities permit.”

Source: DCLA

Five GIA Labs Resume Operations

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has reopened laboratories in five locations following COVID-19 shutdowns.

The organization’s labs in Johannesburg and Tokyo recommenced limited operations on May 7, the GIA said Monday. Visitors to the Johannesburg lab must make an appointment, have a permit, and wear a mask. The Tokyo location will accept and return goods by delivery only.

On May 11, the GIA resumed operations at its locations in Antwerp and in Gaborone, Botswana. While Antwerp is receiving customers by appointment only, Gaborone is open with a limited capacity to comply with government mandates and allow for proper social distancing, the GIA noted. The lab in Carlsbad, California, reopened May 18, with submission of goods only accepted by shipment.

Labs in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Ramat Gan, Israel, are all open, and are operating with regular hours. Operations in Mumbai, Surat and New York remain closed.

“Our first priority is to protect the health and safety of all staff, clients and visitors,” said Tom Moses, the GIA’s executive vice president and chief research and laboratory officer. “As we work to meet our clients’ needs whenever and wherever possible, we are planning for the safe opening of all other GIA locations as soon as conditions and government authorities permit.”

Source: DCLA

Pink Prices set to Rise with Closure of Argyle

The price of super-rare pink diamonds is to set to rocket with the forthcoming closure of the Argyle mine in Western Australia, which has been responsible for 90 per cent of world supplies.

Owners Rio Tinto plan to cease production by the end of 2020, when economically-viable reserves will run out.
The value of pink diamonds sold at its annual tenders has been appreciating by an average of 10 per annually over the last couple of decades, outperforming all major equity markets. They are a magnet for collectors and investors.
That growth in value is likely to accelerate when Argyle closes, after 37 years in which it became known as the world’s largest supplier of natural colored diamonds – including white, champagne, cognac, blue and violet – as well and the rare and highly-coveted Argyle pinks and reds.
Last year Hong Kong-based Kunming Diamonds bought the Argyle Pink Everlastings Collection comprising smaller Argyle pink and red diamonds totaling 211 carats.

The company’s director Harsh Maheshwari told the South China Morning Post newspaper last week that the price of Argyle Pinks had been insulated even from COVID-19 because of their rarity and the closure of the mine.
Russian miner Alrosa aims to fill some of the gap left in the market but won’t match Argyle’s production.  

Source: DCLA

Pink Prices set to Rise with Closure of Argyle

The price of super-rare pink diamonds is to set to rocket with the forthcoming closure of the Argyle mine in Western Australia, which has been responsible for 90 per cent of world supplies.

Owners Rio Tinto plan to cease production by the end of 2020, when economically-viable reserves will run out.
The value of pink diamonds sold at its annual tenders has been appreciating by an average of 10 per annually over the last couple of decades, outperforming all major equity markets. They are a magnet for collectors and investors.
That growth in value is likely to accelerate when Argyle closes, after 37 years in which it became known as the world’s largest supplier of natural colored diamonds – including white, champagne, cognac, blue and violet – as well and the rare and highly-coveted Argyle pinks and reds.
Last year Hong Kong-based Kunming Diamonds bought the Argyle Pink Everlastings Collection comprising smaller Argyle pink and red diamonds totaling 211 carats.

The company’s director Harsh Maheshwari told the South China Morning Post newspaper last week that the price of Argyle Pinks had been insulated even from COVID-19 because of their rarity and the closure of the mine.
Russian miner Alrosa aims to fill some of the gap left in the market but won’t match Argyle’s production.  

Source: DCLA

Omega Ladies’ Speedmaster 38 Now Glitters In Gold With Diamonds

Omega’s cult-status Speedmaster is one of the world’s most famous sports watches, along with the iconic Rolex Daytona and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Every once in awhile, Omega invites women to enjoy the iconic Speedy with a 38 mm size, and now, for the first time, there is a full gold version of the 38, with diamond options.

There are 90 diamonds set into the outer bezel of the Omega Speedmaster 38 in 18k Sedna gold. OMEGA

The smaller size is still a sports watch. It retains the model’s familiar tri-compax dial, with small seconds at 9 o’clock and chronograph minutes and hours at 3 and 6 o’clock, but now the subdials are oval shaped. Omega also manages to preserve the signature tachymeter scale, despite setting the bezel with diamonds, by placing it on an aluminum half-bezel just inside the gem-set ring. For those who don’t want the 90-diamond bezel option, it’s also available without gems.

The Omega Speedmaster 38 in 18k yellow gold with 90 diamonds set into the outer bezel. OMEGA

There are two models, one in 18k Sedna gold, Omega’s proprietary red gold alloy with copper for the warm color and palladium for extra strength. The half-bezel on the red gold model is “cappuccino,” a color introduced on a similar 38 mm model two years ago in steel. The hands and arrowhead index markers are also gold, and the strap is beige. The second model is 18k yellow gold with a green half-bezel and green strap.

The caseback is engraved with the Speedmaster’s iconic Seahorse insignia. OMEGA

The movement is the same elite caliber used in larger Speedmaster and Seamaster models, the Co-Axial 3330, an automatic movement with a 54-hour power reserve. You can’t see it because the caseback is closed, but what you can see back there is an engraving of the Speedmaster’s iconic Seahorse, also called the Omega Hippocampus. In Greek mythology, the hippocampi were sea monsters with the heads of horses and the lower bodies of fish. 

Source: DCLA