Bulgari's Roman Inspired Barocko Collection

 

Named after the extravagant Baroque period of Rembrandt and Johann Sebastian Bach, Bulgari has created a jewellery collection designed to wow

As a jeweller, Bulgari designs baubles that never fail to elicit gasps of awe and delight. With Barocko, the Italian luxury maison’s latest high jewellery collection, Bulgari has remained faithful to its tradition of fanciful, colourful and extravagant pieces guaranteed to make the paparazzi on the red carpet go wild.

Creative director Lucia Silvestri was inspired by the Baroque architecture of Rome and, with her team, scoured the world for the gemstones that would help realise her vision of an era defined by exuberance, grandeur and excess.

While the Barocko collection consists of every type of jewellery, the necklaces brilliantly highlight the Baroque era’s dramatic flair and the intricate work Silvestri and her team have undertaken to translate them. Here are the neck adornments poised to steal the spotlight at the next social events:

Cabochon Exhuberance

ROMAN LANDMARK: HORTI FARENESIANI

The magnificent gardens of Horti Farnesiani on Palatino Hill inspire this one-of-a-kind necklace consisting of two tanzanites from New York, rubellites and emeralds from Jaipur and aquamarines acquired in Hong Kong. 

Lady Arabesque

FEATURED GEMSTONES: SRI LANKAN SAPPHIRES

Set with pink and violet sapphires from Sri Lanka, Paraida tourmalines and emeralds, the Lady Arabesque is a fascinating coming together of multiple shapes and volumes in a harmonious spectacle. 

Rosso Caravaggio

FEATURED GEMSTONE: MOZAMBIQUE RUBY

A breathtaking 10-carat cushion-shaped ruby sourced from Mozambique shows off, in spectacular fashion, this diamond necklace that took 1,500 hours to complete.

Sapphire Lace Necklace

FEATURED GEMSTONES: DIAMONDS & SAPPHIRES

An interpretation of Baroque lace fabric but draped in diamonds and blue sapphires, this necklace evokes a sensual lightness with its sinuous texture.

Wings of Rome

ROMAN LANDMARK: ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

The wings of Archangel Michael statue at Castel Sant’Angelo were the basis of this bewitching platinum necklace set with diamonds of three different cuts—marquise, round and drop. The diamonds are also set at three levels to create that exquisite sense of depth.

Peacock

FEATURED GEMSTONES: TANZANITES, AQUAMARINES, CHRYSOPRASES & EMERALDS

One of the most dramatic creations in the Barocko collection is the Peacock, aptly named for its kaleidoscope of coloured gems namely tanzanites, aquamarines, chrysoprases and emeralds that evoke the colourful vibrant nature of its namesake bird.

Source: DCLA

Bulgari's Roman Inspired Barocko Collection

 

Named after the extravagant Baroque period of Rembrandt and Johann Sebastian Bach, Bulgari has created a jewellery collection designed to wow

As a jeweller, Bulgari designs baubles that never fail to elicit gasps of awe and delight. With Barocko, the Italian luxury maison’s latest high jewellery collection, Bulgari has remained faithful to its tradition of fanciful, colourful and extravagant pieces guaranteed to make the paparazzi on the red carpet go wild.

Creative director Lucia Silvestri was inspired by the Baroque architecture of Rome and, with her team, scoured the world for the gemstones that would help realise her vision of an era defined by exuberance, grandeur and excess.

While the Barocko collection consists of every type of jewellery, the necklaces brilliantly highlight the Baroque era’s dramatic flair and the intricate work Silvestri and her team have undertaken to translate them. Here are the neck adornments poised to steal the spotlight at the next social events:

Cabochon Exhuberance

ROMAN LANDMARK: HORTI FARENESIANI

The magnificent gardens of Horti Farnesiani on Palatino Hill inspire this one-of-a-kind necklace consisting of two tanzanites from New York, rubellites and emeralds from Jaipur and aquamarines acquired in Hong Kong. 

Lady Arabesque

FEATURED GEMSTONES: SRI LANKAN SAPPHIRES

Set with pink and violet sapphires from Sri Lanka, Paraida tourmalines and emeralds, the Lady Arabesque is a fascinating coming together of multiple shapes and volumes in a harmonious spectacle. 

Rosso Caravaggio

FEATURED GEMSTONE: MOZAMBIQUE RUBY

A breathtaking 10-carat cushion-shaped ruby sourced from Mozambique shows off, in spectacular fashion, this diamond necklace that took 1,500 hours to complete.

Sapphire Lace Necklace

FEATURED GEMSTONES: DIAMONDS & SAPPHIRES

An interpretation of Baroque lace fabric but draped in diamonds and blue sapphires, this necklace evokes a sensual lightness with its sinuous texture.

Wings of Rome

ROMAN LANDMARK: ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

The wings of Archangel Michael statue at Castel Sant’Angelo were the basis of this bewitching platinum necklace set with diamonds of three different cuts—marquise, round and drop. The diamonds are also set at three levels to create that exquisite sense of depth.

Peacock

FEATURED GEMSTONES: TANZANITES, AQUAMARINES, CHRYSOPRASES & EMERALDS

One of the most dramatic creations in the Barocko collection is the Peacock, aptly named for its kaleidoscope of coloured gems namely tanzanites, aquamarines, chrysoprases and emeralds that evoke the colourful vibrant nature of its namesake bird.

Source: DCLA

102 Carat D Flawless Diamond Fetches $15.6 Million

 

A 102.39 carat D color flawless oval diamond was sold in a single lot auction for more than $15.6 million. The sale by Sotheby’s Hong Kong was the first time a diamond of more than 100 carats was sold in a combined online and live auction and such an important diamond was offered without reserve.

The diamond was purchased by a private Japanese collector who requested anonymity, Sotheby’s said in a statement. The person named the gem, “Maiko Star” after his second daughter. The same collector bought the 88.22 carat “Manami Star” at Sotheby’s in April 2019.

The sale of the Type IIa diamond the purest and rarest kind of mined diamond resulted in the highest price achieved for a diamond sold online and earned the most bids for a world class diamond. In addition, it was only the eighth diamond of more than 100 carats ever sold at auction. The auction house describes the diamond as “perfect,” not only because of its top color and clarity grades, but also for its “excellent polish and symmetry.”

However, the total price fell far short of what similar diamonds sold for at auction.

102.39-carat D-color flawless oval diamond

Source: DCLA

102 Carat D Flawless Diamond Fetches $15.6 Million

 

A 102.39 carat D color flawless oval diamond was sold in a single lot auction for more than $15.6 million. The sale by Sotheby’s Hong Kong was the first time a diamond of more than 100 carats was sold in a combined online and live auction and such an important diamond was offered without reserve.

The diamond was purchased by a private Japanese collector who requested anonymity, Sotheby’s said in a statement. The person named the gem, “Maiko Star” after his second daughter. The same collector bought the 88.22 carat “Manami Star” at Sotheby’s in April 2019.

The sale of the Type IIa diamond the purest and rarest kind of mined diamond resulted in the highest price achieved for a diamond sold online and earned the most bids for a world class diamond. In addition, it was only the eighth diamond of more than 100 carats ever sold at auction. The auction house describes the diamond as “perfect,” not only because of its top color and clarity grades, but also for its “excellent polish and symmetry.”

However, the total price fell far short of what similar diamonds sold for at auction.

102.39-carat D-color flawless oval diamond

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

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