Vasana Ratanasunya on her mission to make diamonds everyday jewellery

When Vasana Ratanasunya first set her mind on making VVS & Co. Bangkok a go-to name for every lady looking to enrich their life with a piece of diamond jewellery, she knew she had to take the path less trodden by others in the market in order to achieve her goal.

“There are lot of myths and mindsets when it comes to wearing, and even buying a piece of diamond jewellery,” she said during a dinner meeting with Prestige. “The most important issue, however, is that we measure the value of diamonds by the number of times we can wear them, so the easiest items to sell are some simple piece of earrings or bracelets because people think they can wear them as often as they could. That’s the mindset I want to change.”

A graduate in fashion, Vasana understands the rule of mix-and-match and proportion better than anyone. After her love for fashion has matured into a passion for precious stones that are forever, Vasana brings her own sense of style into bringing diamonds into everyday wardrobe. Her tricks? Go big when you dress down, go moderate when you dress for work, and go big for your evening.

“The problem with women who buy only small items thinking they can wear them often is that, you end up not having a good big piece to wear when you have to attend events like a gala dinner that requires an evening dress. That’s why I always tell people to go for a full matching set of diamond jewelleries instead of buying small pieces here and there. You have this big set for an evening occasion but for everyday, you can just wear a bracelet with your office look, or a pair of chandelier earrings with a t-shirt and denim on a day-out with friends. It’s just about mix-and-match!”

“Most importantly, you invest in this one set and it will become something you can pass on to your children. It has an emotional value that cannot be measured by money.”

Another ground-breaking approach Vasana has brought into the industry is her savviness in social media commerce. With the Covid-19 bringing a slow-down to international export — which previously contributed to the majority of sales for VVS & Co. — Vasana broke out of the crisis using online channels — most notably an Instagram live session which has received huge interests from fans and earned the brand a lot of new customers.

“I would say we are lucky in a way that the name VVS has been in the industry for a long time. People have known about us for decades and they trust our quality. It’s not easy to sell something as expensive as diamonds online. People need to really trust you to buy something this precious from you and we have our history to thank.”

Source: DCLA

Vasana Ratanasunya on her mission to make diamonds everyday jewellery

When Vasana Ratanasunya first set her mind on making VVS & Co. Bangkok a go-to name for every lady looking to enrich their life with a piece of diamond jewellery, she knew she had to take the path less trodden by others in the market in order to achieve her goal.

“There are lot of myths and mindsets when it comes to wearing, and even buying a piece of diamond jewellery,” she said during a dinner meeting with Prestige. “The most important issue, however, is that we measure the value of diamonds by the number of times we can wear them, so the easiest items to sell are some simple piece of earrings or bracelets because people think they can wear them as often as they could. That’s the mindset I want to change.”

A graduate in fashion, Vasana understands the rule of mix-and-match and proportion better than anyone. After her love for fashion has matured into a passion for precious stones that are forever, Vasana brings her own sense of style into bringing diamonds into everyday wardrobe. Her tricks? Go big when you dress down, go moderate when you dress for work, and go big for your evening.

“The problem with women who buy only small items thinking they can wear them often is that, you end up not having a good big piece to wear when you have to attend events like a gala dinner that requires an evening dress. That’s why I always tell people to go for a full matching set of diamond jewelleries instead of buying small pieces here and there. You have this big set for an evening occasion but for everyday, you can just wear a bracelet with your office look, or a pair of chandelier earrings with a t-shirt and denim on a day-out with friends. It’s just about mix-and-match!”

“Most importantly, you invest in this one set and it will become something you can pass on to your children. It has an emotional value that cannot be measured by money.”

Another ground-breaking approach Vasana has brought into the industry is her savviness in social media commerce. With the Covid-19 bringing a slow-down to international export — which previously contributed to the majority of sales for VVS & Co. — Vasana broke out of the crisis using online channels — most notably an Instagram live session which has received huge interests from fans and earned the brand a lot of new customers.

“I would say we are lucky in a way that the name VVS has been in the industry for a long time. People have known about us for decades and they trust our quality. It’s not easy to sell something as expensive as diamonds online. People need to really trust you to buy something this precious from you and we have our history to thank.”

Source: DCLA

Diamonds Are A Watch’s Best Friend

New models in Harry Winston’s Ocean Biretrograde collection reaffirm the brand’s status as one of the world’s most important purveyors of diamonds. Before the Swatch Group acquired Harry Winston in 2013, it was owned by Dominion Diamond company, the joint venture partner in Canada’s first diamond mine, Ekati, which entitled the company to first pick of run-of-mine gems.

Previous to that, it was owned by the Winston family. It was founded by Harry Winston, whose nickname, “the King of Diamonds,” resulted from his having acquired and sold some of the world’s top diamonds: the 726-carat Jonker; the 94.80-carat Star of the East (which he later sold to the Duchess of Windsor); and the storied 45.52-carat fancy blue Hope Diamond.

The Swatch Group has been careful to honor the legacy of Harry Winston, setting most ladies’ models, and some men’s, with diamonds new pieces in the Ocean Biretrograde Automatic 36mm collection and the more petite Emerald collection.

The Emerald collection is named after the shape of founder Harry Winston’s favorite diamond cut, the emerald. New 18k yellow and white gold models are ideal cocktail watches, at 18mm wide. They come with either a flexible Milanese woven bracelet or a classic satin double tour strap.

And now for the finale of the 2020 lineup: the Precious Cluster, set using Mr. Winston’s signature clustering technique with over seven carats of pear and trillion-cut diamonds, and the Winston Cluster, the high jewelry version with brilliant, marquise, and pear-cut diamonds totaling over 25 carats. The Cluster is a perfect response to the line, “Talk To Me Harry Winston!” from the 1953 song “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.”

Source: DCLA

Diamonds Are A Watch’s Best Friend

New models in Harry Winston’s Ocean Biretrograde collection reaffirm the brand’s status as one of the world’s most important purveyors of diamonds. Before the Swatch Group acquired Harry Winston in 2013, it was owned by Dominion Diamond company, the joint venture partner in Canada’s first diamond mine, Ekati, which entitled the company to first pick of run-of-mine gems.

Previous to that, it was owned by the Winston family. It was founded by Harry Winston, whose nickname, “the King of Diamonds,” resulted from his having acquired and sold some of the world’s top diamonds: the 726-carat Jonker; the 94.80-carat Star of the East (which he later sold to the Duchess of Windsor); and the storied 45.52-carat fancy blue Hope Diamond.

The Swatch Group has been careful to honor the legacy of Harry Winston, setting most ladies’ models, and some men’s, with diamonds new pieces in the Ocean Biretrograde Automatic 36mm collection and the more petite Emerald collection.

The Emerald collection is named after the shape of founder Harry Winston’s favorite diamond cut, the emerald. New 18k yellow and white gold models are ideal cocktail watches, at 18mm wide. They come with either a flexible Milanese woven bracelet or a classic satin double tour strap.

And now for the finale of the 2020 lineup: the Precious Cluster, set using Mr. Winston’s signature clustering technique with over seven carats of pear and trillion-cut diamonds, and the Winston Cluster, the high jewelry version with brilliant, marquise, and pear-cut diamonds totaling over 25 carats. The Cluster is a perfect response to the line, “Talk To Me Harry Winston!” from the 1953 song “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.”

Source: DCLA

“Botswana Should Not Produce or Sell Synthetic Diamonds”

According to the official, synthetics will “compromise” the value of Botswana’s natural diamonds

Lucara Diamonds

Mmetla Masire, permanent secretary at Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals, said in a Parliamentary Accounts Committee quoted by Rough & Polished that Botswana cannot engage in production and sale of synthetic diamonds as this will compromise “the value of our diamonds”. Credit: Debswana

De Beers mining

Masire said that “Botswana will send a confusing message to its customers should it decide to produce and sale synthetic diamonds”. He added that the Debswana Diamond Company (the joint venture between the government of Botswana and diamond miner De Beers) is searching for other markets other than the US to sell its diamonds, including in China. Credit: De Beers

Masire “refused to provide an update on the ongoing negotiations between Gaborone and De Beers as disclosure of any information pertaining to the negotiations will potentially influence the outcome”. Botswana and De Beers’ huge 10-year diamond sale agreement is expected to expire by the end of 2020. Botswana accounts for more than two-thirds of De Beers’ diamond production.

Source: DCLA

“Botswana Should Not Produce or Sell Synthetic Diamonds”

According to the official, synthetics will “compromise” the value of Botswana’s natural diamonds

Lucara Diamonds

Mmetla Masire, permanent secretary at Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals, said in a Parliamentary Accounts Committee quoted by Rough & Polished that Botswana cannot engage in production and sale of synthetic diamonds as this will compromise “the value of our diamonds”. Credit: Debswana

De Beers mining

Masire said that “Botswana will send a confusing message to its customers should it decide to produce and sale synthetic diamonds”. He added that the Debswana Diamond Company (the joint venture between the government of Botswana and diamond miner De Beers) is searching for other markets other than the US to sell its diamonds, including in China. Credit: De Beers

Masire “refused to provide an update on the ongoing negotiations between Gaborone and De Beers as disclosure of any information pertaining to the negotiations will potentially influence the outcome”. Botswana and De Beers’ huge 10-year diamond sale agreement is expected to expire by the end of 2020. Botswana accounts for more than two-thirds of De Beers’ diamond production.

Source: DCLA

GIA Embraces Automated Clarity Grading

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has teamed up with IBM Research to develop an automated system for grading the clarity of a diamond.

The artificial intelligence (AI) technology uses data from tens of millions of diamonds GIA laboratories have examined in the past, applying the institute’s existing grading standards. It’s already in limited use at the GIA’s New York and Carlsbad laboratories, the institute said Monday.

Grading laboratories have increasingly invested in AI in recent years, as it promises more accurate and consistent results. Sarine Technologies unveiled its automated color and clarity grading equipment in 2016, while the GIA has been working with IBM on the joint project for around two years.

“IBM’s AI technology, combined with GIA’s expertise, extensive data and gemological-research capabilities, enables us to deliver advancements in consistency, accuracy and speed unlike any other organization,” said Tom Moses, the GIA’s executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer.

The program will initially include the most popular diamond sizes. The GIA aims to expand it to other sizes, shapes and qualities in the future. The GIA and IBM are planning other collaborations combining gemological evaluation with AI.

Source: DCLA