Stefano Canturi

World's Rarest Barbie Fetches a Record Price for a Good Cause

Filed under: Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

You may remember our listing of the World's Rarest Barbie by Stefano Canturi, which was up for auction at Christie's to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Not surprisingly, this auction set a record for Barbie herself, fetching a whopping $302,500.00.

This doll, which exudes Canturi's signature cubist design, wears over three carats of white diamonds and a necklace bearing a one-carat Fancy Vivid Pink emerald-cut diamond from the Australian Argyle mine -- a magnificent stone the lucky buyer could easily reset, if he or she dares disassemble Canturi's creation.

Christie's New York hosted the auction on October 20th, and the extravagant Barbie was bid on by buyers both in the room and over the phone. The doll was won by a private collector in Asia, and 100% of the proceeds went straight to BCRF.

This price beats the previous Barbie record, set by Christie's South Kensington in 2006: $17,091.00 for the 1965 Barbie in "Midnight Red."

Tags: Argyle mine, auction, Barbie, pink diamond, Stefano Canturi

The World's Rarest Barbie by Stefano Canturi

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

This Friday night for Fashion's Night Out, Canturi Jewels will unveil the "World's Rarest Barbie."

This Barbie was meticulously designed, from her hair and makeup to her frame, dress and shoes, by Stefano Canturi himself. She wears tiny, fabulously expensive jewelry reminiscent of Canturi's beloved Cubism collection of lace worked carre and baguette cut diamond jewelry. Her pieces include over three carats of white diamonds, a signature Canturi necklace with a glittering, one carat, emerald cut pink diamond -- a stone almost as rare as this one-of-a-kind Barbie -- and an iconic right-hand diamond ring.

"I wanted the jewelry design to pay homage to Barbie's modern yet timeless style, this is why I applied my Cubism design concept to her look; it is perfect for her," says Canturi of his collaboration with Mattel.

Barbie by Stefano Canturi will be auctioned at Christie's prestigious "Magnificent Jewels" sale in New York on October 20th, with 100 percent of the profits donated by Stefano Canturi to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Prior to that, she'll be touring the world, with showings in London, Geneva, Shanghai and Las Vegas.

From the dress to the bling and the shoes, not to mention the travel plans, we have never wanted to be Barbie so badly. Below, have a look at Stefano's actual inspiration collage -- a rare peek into the the creative process of this brilliant jewelry designer!
Stefano Canturi Barbie Inspiration Collage

Stefano Canturi Barbie Inspiration Collage

Tags: Barbie, Canturi, Christies, Fashions Night Out, FNO, Mattel, Stefano Canturi

Stefano Canturi's New York City Salon

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

What's black and white and fabulous all over? The jewelry of Stefano Canturi. Canturi, who has designed for Cartier and other brands displays an almost machine-like geometry in his bold black and white designs using diamonds and black sapphires. His latest collections embrace cubism using square-cut and baguette diamonds to create pieces that seem both classic Art Deco and very modern. The architectural quality of the pieces seems a natural fit for New York City which is where Canturi has opened his fifth salon worldwide. Canturi, an Australian designer, created jewelry for Nicole Kidman in both the Moulin Rouge and Australia films and has the all-powerful Oprah Winfrey as a customer. He previously opened his first U.S. shop in Las Vegas and also has three stores in Australia.

Gallery: Canturi NYC