Germany diamond robbery: thieves who cleaned 1 billion euros of diamonds

 

A year ago, three people caused the theft of € 1 billion diamonds in Germany. One of these diamonds was encrusted in a 16th century sword. Police raided apartments in Berlin in the morning and arrested three suspects suspected of theft at the Green Vault Museum last year. Police searched 18 apartments, garages and vehicles and seized digital data, clothing and tools.

Arrest in different parts of the country
It was an operation of such magnitude that 1,638 officers were involved, which hampered traffic. Three people from Germany have been arrested and will be brought before a judge. Force said the arrests were made in different parts of the country. However, little information has been given on this subject. Security camera footage showed two people breaking into the museum and entering a window grill.

Includes many diamonds
One of the stolen items was a sword that contained 9 large diamonds and 770 small diamonds. At the same time, the 49-carat Dresden white diamonds were worn on the shoulder. These are among the most valuable gems that were included in the collection of the former ruler August the Strong. Police say thieves may have turned off alarm systems by cutting off the power.

Difficult to assess
Museum director Marion Ackerman said last year that the material used in the jewelry was not very valuable, but overall it was worth more. He said that these gems are a treasure trove of art and culture and that it is difficult to assess them. Another director of the museum, Dirk Syndrum, said that these decorations were in some way equivalent to World Heritage. In addition to diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds were also among the stolen sets, he said.

Source: DCLA

Germany diamond robbery: thieves who cleaned 1 billion euros of diamonds

 

A year ago, three people caused the theft of € 1 billion diamonds in Germany. One of these diamonds was encrusted in a 16th century sword. Police raided apartments in Berlin in the morning and arrested three suspects suspected of theft at the Green Vault Museum last year. Police searched 18 apartments, garages and vehicles and seized digital data, clothing and tools.

Arrest in different parts of the country
It was an operation of such magnitude that 1,638 officers were involved, which hampered traffic. Three people from Germany have been arrested and will be brought before a judge. Force said the arrests were made in different parts of the country. However, little information has been given on this subject. Security camera footage showed two people breaking into the museum and entering a window grill.

Includes many diamonds
One of the stolen items was a sword that contained 9 large diamonds and 770 small diamonds. At the same time, the 49-carat Dresden white diamonds were worn on the shoulder. These are among the most valuable gems that were included in the collection of the former ruler August the Strong. Police say thieves may have turned off alarm systems by cutting off the power.

Difficult to assess
Museum director Marion Ackerman said last year that the material used in the jewelry was not very valuable, but overall it was worth more. He said that these gems are a treasure trove of art and culture and that it is difficult to assess them. Another director of the museum, Dirk Syndrum, said that these decorations were in some way equivalent to World Heritage. In addition to diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds were also among the stolen sets, he said.

Source: DCLA

Rare Rough Blue Diamonds

 

Recovered from the famous Cullinan Mine in South Africa, these blue diamonds are among the world’s most expensive

Five blue diamonds have been recovered from Petra Diamonds’ famous Cullinan mine in South Africa.

They are among the world’s most expensive diamonds, and were formed deep within the Earth about 400 miles below the surface, which is four times as deep as white diamonds. The element boron, which is what gives the stones their blue colour, combines with carbon and crystallises under extreme pressure and heat.

The sales tender for the five Type IIb blue diamonds will close later this month, on November 24, following viewings in Antwerp, Hong Kong and New York. They weigh 25.75, 21.25, 17.57, 11.42 and 9.61 carats, respectively.

Type II diamonds contain no detectable nitrogen in their chemical structure, which means they boast exceptional transparency.

Blue diamonds are so rare that most people, even in the jewellery industry, never have a chance to see one. It’s incredibly unusual that these five diamonds were all recovered within the space of one week’s production in September.

Their birthplace, the Cullinan mine, is one of the most important sources of blue diamonds. It’s also the origin of the 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond, which was cut to form the 530 carat Great Star of Africa and the 317 carat Second Star of Africa, which are set into the British Crown Jewels.

It’s the first time that five rough blue diamonds have been offered for sale at the same time. In 2013, a 25.5 carat blue diamond was sold by Petra Diamonds for over US$16.9 million.

Source: DCLA

Rare Rough Blue Diamonds

 

Recovered from the famous Cullinan Mine in South Africa, these blue diamonds are among the world’s most expensive

Five blue diamonds have been recovered from Petra Diamonds’ famous Cullinan mine in South Africa.

They are among the world’s most expensive diamonds, and were formed deep within the Earth about 400 miles below the surface, which is four times as deep as white diamonds. The element boron, which is what gives the stones their blue colour, combines with carbon and crystallises under extreme pressure and heat.

The sales tender for the five Type IIb blue diamonds will close later this month, on November 24, following viewings in Antwerp, Hong Kong and New York. They weigh 25.75, 21.25, 17.57, 11.42 and 9.61 carats, respectively.

Type II diamonds contain no detectable nitrogen in their chemical structure, which means they boast exceptional transparency.

Blue diamonds are so rare that most people, even in the jewellery industry, never have a chance to see one. It’s incredibly unusual that these five diamonds were all recovered within the space of one week’s production in September.

Their birthplace, the Cullinan mine, is one of the most important sources of blue diamonds. It’s also the origin of the 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond, which was cut to form the 530 carat Great Star of Africa and the 317 carat Second Star of Africa, which are set into the British Crown Jewels.

It’s the first time that five rough blue diamonds have been offered for sale at the same time. In 2013, a 25.5 carat blue diamond was sold by Petra Diamonds for over US$16.9 million.

Source: DCLA

Pink Diamond Ring Beats Estimate at Bonhams

 

A fancy pink diamond ring by Meister was the top seller at the Bonhams London Jewels sale, garnering $1.1 million USD.

The piece, with a step-cut 3.62 carat center stone and designed in 1968 by Meister, exceeded its high estimate of $989,417 USD at the November 12 auction, Bonhams said last week. 

A diamond brooch from the collection of Dame Joan Collins, designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, fetched $161,892 USD, more than six times its high valuation. It was part of a collection of the actress’s jewels that saw 100% of items find buyers, with the final sales total three times higher than the auctioneer had estimated. A portion of the proceeds from Collins’s jewelry will be donated to the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, of which she is a patron.

Other notable items at the auction included a sapphire and diamond ring, which fetched $189,865 USD against a high estimate of $131,851 USD, and a three-stone diamond ring, which brought in $132,179 USD, nearly doubling its estimate.

In total, the auction achieved $5 million USD, with Bonhams selling 75% of items on offer.

“Despite the auction taking place behind closed doors, the bidding remained spirited and the results demonstrate that high quality pieces with extraordinary provenance continue to captivate buyers around the world,” said Jean Ghika, global head of jewelry for Bonhams.

Source: DCLA

Pink Diamond Ring Beats Estimate at Bonhams

 

A fancy pink diamond ring by Meister was the top seller at the Bonhams London Jewels sale, garnering $1.1 million USD.

The piece, with a step-cut 3.62 carat center stone and designed in 1968 by Meister, exceeded its high estimate of $989,417 USD at the November 12 auction, Bonhams said last week. 

A diamond brooch from the collection of Dame Joan Collins, designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, fetched $161,892 USD, more than six times its high valuation. It was part of a collection of the actress’s jewels that saw 100% of items find buyers, with the final sales total three times higher than the auctioneer had estimated. A portion of the proceeds from Collins’s jewelry will be donated to the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, of which she is a patron.

Other notable items at the auction included a sapphire and diamond ring, which fetched $189,865 USD against a high estimate of $131,851 USD, and a three-stone diamond ring, which brought in $132,179 USD, nearly doubling its estimate.

In total, the auction achieved $5 million USD, with Bonhams selling 75% of items on offer.

“Despite the auction taking place behind closed doors, the bidding remained spirited and the results demonstrate that high quality pieces with extraordinary provenance continue to captivate buyers around the world,” said Jean Ghika, global head of jewelry for Bonhams.

Source: DCLA

$27M Pink Diamond Sets Record at Sotheby’s

 

Alrosa’s Spirit of the Rose has achieved the highest price for any purple-pink diamond, selling to an anonymous bidder for nearly $27 million at Sotheby’s Geneva.

The oval modified brilliant-cut, 14.83-carat, fancy-vivid-purple-pink, internally flawless, type II stone, named for the famous Russian ballet, sold for $26.6 million, beating its low estimate of $23 million. The diamond, which fetched $1.8 million per carat, led the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels live auction Wednesday, which garnered $52.2 million in total, Sotheby’s said.

The purchase comes on the heels of the recent closure of Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine in Australia, which produced more than 90% of the world’s pink diamonds. Prices for stones of that color are likely to soar in the coming years, experts have noted.

“The Spirit of the Rose caught the imagination of everyone who had the chance to see it,” said Benoit Repellin, head of the Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction. “With its size, beautiful color, perfect cut and oval shape, it is a wonder of nature, steeped in Russia’s century-long diamond tradition and cultural heritage. It fully deserves the price achieved tonight, which is also testament to the growing appreciation and awareness of the great scarcity of pink diamonds around the world.”

Sotheby’s also saw strong prices for white diamonds at the auction, with 10 out of 11 stones on offer selling above their estimates. A cushion-shaped, 18.03-carat, D-color, flawless, type IIa diamond fetched $1.9 million against a high estimate of $1.1 million, while a pear-shaped, 102.41-carat, light-brown diamond of VVS2 clarity brought in $1.3 million, exceeding its high valuation.

Noble jewels were in demand as well, Sotheby’s said, led by a Colombian emerald and diamond parure from the collection of the first Marquis de Guirior, viceroy of New Granada and viceroy of Peru. That piece also surpassed its high estimate, fetching $1.1 million.

Source: DCLA