Kate Moss launches her debut jewellery collection with Messika

 

Despite being the face of many a jewellery campaign over the years, you wouldn’t expect Kate Moss the ultimate poster child for 90s insouciance to care much about high jewellery.

Yet the British supermodel clearly does, as her new jewellery line shows us. It was made in collaboration with French haute joaillerie house Messika, whose casual, contemporary diamond designs have won over the likes of Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé and Rihanna. Moss was the face of Messika’s campaign last year, but this year she takes a much larger role as designer.

It was Moss, as well as Marilyn Monroe, whom founder Valérie Messika first pegged as her muses when she launched her jewellery label in 2005. Through her new collaboration with the fashion icon, things have come full circle.

The ‘Messika by Kate Moss’ line is inspired by pieces in Moss’ own jewellery box. The model’s taste for jewels is actually pretty eclectic, encompassing designs from different eras. In the mix are elaborate Victorian baubles, geometric Art Deco styles and even Indian jewellery, collected from Moss’ travels to India as a teenager.

These influences shine through in the new, 70 piece high jewellery collection, which include sets of earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, headpieces and nose jewellery. Some highlights include a tasseled sautoir, sunburst hoops, a three finger ring, and dangling earrings set with pear shaped malachite crystals, after all, are having a moment in jewellery.

These are all enhanced with Messika’s careful selection of diamonds, which are of the highest quality and certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Messika herself has an intimate understanding of the gems, being the daughter of French diamond dealer André Messika.

Yet none of that steers the Messika by Kate Moss collection away from the modern ethos at the heart of the jewellery brand. As luxuriously as they are crafted, the designs are meant to be effortlessly worn to everyday affairs, not tucked away preciously in a jewellery box. That design approach is shared with other diamond jewellery designers such as Hong Kong based Nicholas Lieou and British designer Monica Vinader, reflecting the tastes of women today.

The entire Messika by Kate Moss collection is slated to launch in November.

Source: DCLA

Kate Moss launches her debut jewellery collection with Messika

 

Despite being the face of many a jewellery campaign over the years, you wouldn’t expect Kate Moss the ultimate poster child for 90s insouciance to care much about high jewellery.

Yet the British supermodel clearly does, as her new jewellery line shows us. It was made in collaboration with French haute joaillerie house Messika, whose casual, contemporary diamond designs have won over the likes of Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé and Rihanna. Moss was the face of Messika’s campaign last year, but this year she takes a much larger role as designer.

It was Moss, as well as Marilyn Monroe, whom founder Valérie Messika first pegged as her muses when she launched her jewellery label in 2005. Through her new collaboration with the fashion icon, things have come full circle.

The ‘Messika by Kate Moss’ line is inspired by pieces in Moss’ own jewellery box. The model’s taste for jewels is actually pretty eclectic, encompassing designs from different eras. In the mix are elaborate Victorian baubles, geometric Art Deco styles and even Indian jewellery, collected from Moss’ travels to India as a teenager.

These influences shine through in the new, 70 piece high jewellery collection, which include sets of earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, headpieces and nose jewellery. Some highlights include a tasseled sautoir, sunburst hoops, a three finger ring, and dangling earrings set with pear shaped malachite crystals, after all, are having a moment in jewellery.

These are all enhanced with Messika’s careful selection of diamonds, which are of the highest quality and certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Messika herself has an intimate understanding of the gems, being the daughter of French diamond dealer André Messika.

Yet none of that steers the Messika by Kate Moss collection away from the modern ethos at the heart of the jewellery brand. As luxuriously as they are crafted, the designs are meant to be effortlessly worn to everyday affairs, not tucked away preciously in a jewellery box. That design approach is shared with other diamond jewellery designers such as Hong Kong based Nicholas Lieou and British designer Monica Vinader, reflecting the tastes of women today.

The entire Messika by Kate Moss collection is slated to launch in November.

Source: DCLA

IGI Grades Record Black Lab-Grown Diamond

 

The International Gemological Institute (IGI) recently graded a 116-carat, black synthetic diamond that ranks as the largest lab-grown diamond of its color.

The 115.65-carat, type IIb stone was produced by UK-based Meylor Global using High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT), and was accompanied by a second black lab-grown diamond weighing 109.58 carats, IGI said Wednesday.

“The innovative approach in physical chemistry of diamond growth, combined with sophisticated technological methods and advanced high-pressure equipment, allowed us to obtain record-breaking extra-large diamond single crystals, having in mind the idea of getting the biggest possible diamond plate,” said Meylor CEO Yuliya Kusher.

Meylor grew the diamonds as part of its “World’s Largest Black Diamonds Project,” which it began at the beginning of the year. However, it intends to try for a larger one in the future. The larger stone holds the Guinness World Record for its category, IGI reported.

“The significant milestone of [over 100 carats] in diamond size was achieved by our company in a very short time, and the next even more promising target of [over 200 carats] is right now under deep scientific investigation,” Kusher added.

Source: DCLA

IGI Grades Record Black Lab-Grown Diamond

 

The International Gemological Institute (IGI) recently graded a 116-carat, black synthetic diamond that ranks as the largest lab-grown diamond of its color.

The 115.65-carat, type IIb stone was produced by UK-based Meylor Global using High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT), and was accompanied by a second black lab-grown diamond weighing 109.58 carats, IGI said Wednesday.

“The innovative approach in physical chemistry of diamond growth, combined with sophisticated technological methods and advanced high-pressure equipment, allowed us to obtain record-breaking extra-large diamond single crystals, having in mind the idea of getting the biggest possible diamond plate,” said Meylor CEO Yuliya Kusher.

Meylor grew the diamonds as part of its “World’s Largest Black Diamonds Project,” which it began at the beginning of the year. However, it intends to try for a larger one in the future. The larger stone holds the Guinness World Record for its category, IGI reported.

“The significant milestone of [over 100 carats] in diamond size was achieved by our company in a very short time, and the next even more promising target of [over 200 carats] is right now under deep scientific investigation,” Kusher added.

Source: DCLA

Sotheby’s to Sell 119ct. Sapphire in Hong Kong

 

Sotheby’s will sell a 118.88-carat, royal-blue, unheated Burmese sapphire in Hong Kong next week, the largest of its kind the auction house has offered in 20 years.

The cushion-shaped stone, surrounded by pear-shaped diamonds weighing a total of 16.06 carats, will lead the October 7 Magnificent Jewels sale, Sotheby’s said Monday.

A pear-shaped, 4.84-carat, fancy-vivid-blue, internally flawless diamond ring is also set to go under the hammer. The piece, which also features two brilliant-cut diamonds, each weighing 1.10 carats, has a high estimate of $8.5 million.

Also up for auction are a pair of pendant earrings featuring brilliant-cut, fancy-intense-blue diamonds weighing 1.95 and 1.63 carats. Those stones suspend two pear-shaped, D-color, internally flawless, type IIa diamonds weighing 5.95 and 5.24-carats. The set has a presale value of up to $4.6 million.

In addition, Sotheby’s will feature a cushion-shaped, 6.41-carat, pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby ring surrounded by French-cut white diamonds. The jewel, which was designed and mounted by Hong Kong-based jeweler Forms, carries an upper estimate of $2.9 million. Meanwhile, a ring containing a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 18.68-carat, fancy-light-purplish-pink diamond is set to fetch up to $2.2 million at the Hong Kong sale.

“The jewelry market has proven to be highly resilient, with our clients in Asia eyeing the best quality jewels on offer,” said Wenhao Yu, Sotheby’s deputy chairman of jewelry for Asia.

Sotheby’s will showcase the pieces in Hong Kong from October 3 to 6 prior to the sale.

Source: DCLA

Sotheby’s to Sell 119ct. Sapphire in Hong Kong

 

Sotheby’s will sell a 118.88-carat, royal-blue, unheated Burmese sapphire in Hong Kong next week, the largest of its kind the auction house has offered in 20 years.

The cushion-shaped stone, surrounded by pear-shaped diamonds weighing a total of 16.06 carats, will lead the October 7 Magnificent Jewels sale, Sotheby’s said Monday.

A pear-shaped, 4.84-carat, fancy-vivid-blue, internally flawless diamond ring is also set to go under the hammer. The piece, which also features two brilliant-cut diamonds, each weighing 1.10 carats, has a high estimate of $8.5 million.

Also up for auction are a pair of pendant earrings featuring brilliant-cut, fancy-intense-blue diamonds weighing 1.95 and 1.63 carats. Those stones suspend two pear-shaped, D-color, internally flawless, type IIa diamonds weighing 5.95 and 5.24-carats. The set has a presale value of up to $4.6 million.

In addition, Sotheby’s will feature a cushion-shaped, 6.41-carat, pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby ring surrounded by French-cut white diamonds. The jewel, which was designed and mounted by Hong Kong-based jeweler Forms, carries an upper estimate of $2.9 million. Meanwhile, a ring containing a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 18.68-carat, fancy-light-purplish-pink diamond is set to fetch up to $2.2 million at the Hong Kong sale.

“The jewelry market has proven to be highly resilient, with our clients in Asia eyeing the best quality jewels on offer,” said Wenhao Yu, Sotheby’s deputy chairman of jewelry for Asia.

Sotheby’s will showcase the pieces in Hong Kong from October 3 to 6 prior to the sale.

Source: DCLA

India’s rich tussle for Argyle pink diamond because mines are not forever

 

India’s super rich are rushing to grab an Argyle pink diamond before the primary source of rarest pink diamonds in the world for the last four decades, Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine in Australia closes down operations by the end of the year.

Diamond traders said demand for Argyle pink diamonds has shot up by three times among high net worth Indians compared to last year.

“Argyle pink diamond is a true love for diamond connoisseurs across the globe,” said Darshit Hirani, owner of Mumbai-based P Hirani that only deals with coloured diamonds. “In India, there are business families and high net worth individuals from places like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad who are aware of the rarity of Argyle pink diamond and they are keen to own one. It is a collector’s item.

Investment-wise it has a lot of value too. Every year, the price of Argyle pink diamond has witnessed a double-digit growth. And once the availability dries up, prices will shoot up further,” he said.

The price of Argyle pink diamond starts at $15,000 a carat and can go up to $1 million depending upon the size and clarity.

Fugitive Indian diamond merchant Nirav Modi was one of the major buyers of Argyle pink diamonds that he had used in his jewellery brand.

For almost 40 years now, the Argyle diamond mine in Kimberley, Western Australia has been producing about 90% of the world’s most coveted pink diamonds.

The mine holds an invitation-only annual Argyle Pink Diamond Tender in which it showcases its best pink, red, and even blue stones from the preceding year.

Its closure is anticipated to disrupt the global diamond market, and the value of coloured diamonds will likely skyrocket as supply falls, traders said.

“Consumers are mostly well aware that this is a good product to purchase. Diamonds continue to enjoy their admiration as an investment,” said Milan Chokshi, who owns Moksh

Jewellery, a diamond jewellery brand that provides its customers information about the dwindling supply pipeline to repose their faith in diamonds. “When mounted in well designed and manufactured jewellery, it not only has investment value, but also artistic and emotional value,” he said.

Not only the Argyle diamonds, natural diamonds will get rarer as days go by as no new mines are coming up, traders said.

Source: DCLA