diamonds

The $39,000 Diamond Bathtub

This latest bling-encrusted product gives new meaning to the term "bathing in riches". Artist Lori Gardner spent three years creating The Diamond Bathtub, shown at right.

Comprised of 44,928 imported pink crystals (and one real diamond), the 19th century-style claw foot bathtub is currently on sale for $39,000 at Fleur de Lys in Costa Mesa, California.

Naturally, the tub also has a charity tie-in. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research or the charity of your choice.

Don't care for pink? You can also custom-order your own version by contacting lori AT thediamondbathtub DOT com.

Kudos to BornRich for the tip.

Tags: bathtub, bling, costa mesa, diamond bathtub, diamonds, lori gardner

Damien Hirst Draws Fire for $50 Million Diamond and Platinum Baby Skull

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Art world provocateur Damien Hirst's latest work, an authentic baby's skull covered in platinum and diamonds, is causing controversy in the UK. The sculpture (above), entitled For Heaven's Sake, is a follow-up to the Brit artist's astounding $100 million diamond covered skull which he debuted in 2007. The new work is based on an infant's skull believed to be that of a newborn less than two weeks old from a 19th-century pathology collection that Hirst has acquired, the London Telegraph reports. Cast in platinum and set with more than 8,000 white and pink diamonds by royal jewelers Bentley & Skinner, the skull will be exhibited later this month at the Gagosian Gallery's new space in Hong Kong and will be shown in London later this year.

The gallery has not named a price for the new work but we expect it to fetch at least $50 million if not more. The work has angered parenting groups who claim that it is offensive to those who have suffered the bereavement of a child, the newspaper reports, raising the specter of protests. That of course is only likely to increase its value. "When you look at a skull, you think it represents the end, but when you see the end so beautiful, it gives you hope," Hirst commented regarding his earlier skull work. "Diamonds are about perfection and clarity and wealth and sex and death and immortality. They are a symbol of everything that's eternal, but then they have a dark side as well."

Tags: art, Bentley Skinner, Damien Hirst, diamond, diamonds, Gagosian Gallery, gemstones, jewelry, platinum, skull, UK

Omega Aqua Terra Jewellery Co-Axial Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Omega Aqua Terra Jewellery Co-Axial Watch

Omega's push to be on the top continues as the brand focuses on classier and classier pieces for both men and women. Omega watches for women in 2010 and 2011 are going to focus more and more on mechanical movements - and less on quartz. This timepieces is a 38.5mm wide woman-sized version of the popular Seamaster Aqua Terra watch in a diamond studded dress. Each of these "Aqua Terra Jewellery (why on bloody earth are there so many ways to spell "jewelry?) watches has 52 full-cut diamonds on the bezel, along with 12 more diamonds on the the hour markers. This decorated face goes well with the functional and timeless look of the case and bracelet design.

Omega will offer the Aqua Terra Jewellery in both 18 red gold (rare for women's watches) and steel variants - with metal or alligator bracelets. Inside the watch is an Omega calibre 8500 co-axial automatic movement that has been Chronometer certified. As many might say, this is a watch strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: aqua terra, diamonds, jewellery, omega, watch

Custom Tiret Watch For Usher, With Usher

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Hip-hop musical artist Usher commissioned a special one of a kind watch from New York based jeweler and watch maker Tiret. The Usher watch has an oblong oval shaped case (in an undisclosed material that is likely gold) with a diamond designed portrait of Usher on the dial. Containing two Swiss ETA chronograph quartz movements, the watch technically can tell the time in two places. Given the lack of indicators the chronograph mechanisms are more or less worthless, but the point of this pieces is giving Usher the ability to look at himself as though he were made up of diamonds. How many people really get that privilege?

Using all natural stones, the watch has almost 10 carats of diamonds on it and 1106 stones all over the watch. Look at the size of the diamonds on the bezel! Diamonds include white as well as naturally yellow diamonds. Tiret says that the watch was recently featured in a diamond exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London - where other high-end diamond decorated watches were displayed. While not mechanically complex, the special Tired watch for Usher is an interesting look into the life of Usher, and at the types of products that Tiret makes. According to them, the brand only makes custom timepieces and jewelry at this time. Usher is said to have paid $250,000 for the bespoke timepiece.

Usher, a known owner of several watches, does not claim to be a serious watch enthusiast. He prefers the showiness of timepieces as well as the jewelry component. Actually, given many of the watches that Usher has, this Tiret is of the most showy. Usher seems to prefer more classic mechanical timepieces with a masculine edge to them. The box that Tired supplied the Usher watch in doubles as a humidor for 78 cigars and also has a motif of Usher's face on it.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Custom Tiret Watch For Usher, With Usher

Tags: bespoke, custom, diamonds, new york, tiret, usher, watch, wears

Scrushy Jewels Raise Nearly $1.5 Million For Defrauded Shareholders

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Ruth Madoff's diamond ring sold last month for $550,000 and this month it's Leslie Scrushy who has lost her ring. Scrushy is the spouse of former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, who was found liable in civil court for an accounting fraud and ordered to pay $3.2 billion. Past sales of his cars, yachts and other belongings have raised money to help satisfy that debt. Mrs. Scrushy's jewelry raised nearly $1.5 million at auction on Thursday at Sotheby's with proceeds going to former HealthSouth shareholders.

Levy's Fine Jewelry has been handling the collection and contracted with Sotheby's to auction the nine best pieces including this 20-carat diamond ring valued at up to $700,000 which sold for $752,500. The sale also featured a platinum and diamond bracelet with a total of nearly 49 carats in diamonds valued at $150,000 to $200,000 which sold for $176,500. The sale was held to quiet allegations that Mrs. Scrushy had attempted to hide some of her husband's assets.

Tags: diamonds, HealthSouth Corp, jewelry, linda scrushy, ricahrd scrushy

Purple-Pink Diamond Sells For $1 Million A Carat

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Lately it seems the world can't get enough of pink diamonds. We've seen a variety of records for pink diamond set recently, from the $46-million pink diamond sold at Sotheby's recently to Laurence Graff to the "the perfect pink" sold for over $23 million to anonymous buyer at Christie's Hong Kong over the weekend. The latest is a modified rectangular-cut fancy vivid purple-pink diamond of 6.89 carats which was sold for $6.91 million at Christie's New York Jewels auction on December 7. The cut-cornered modified rectangular-cut fancy vivid purple-pink diamond is set in a ring with a pavé-set pink diamond surround, gallery and hoop, mounted in 18k rose gold. The anonymous buyer paid about $1 million per carat. National Jeweler reports that the auction total of $22.1 million, brought Christie's New York jewelry sales total to $131 million for the year, the highest total ever for the U.S. jewelry auction market.

Tags: christies, diamond, diamonds, pink diamond

$44 Million Yacht Tops Robb Report's 'Ultimate Gifts'

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Holiday Guides, Wealth

It seems that Robb Report, the glossy chronicle of the filthy rich, has come back down to Earth a bit after last year's offering of the world's most expensive Christmas present, a matching custom private jet and megayacht set costing $500 million. Each year the profligate publication features an Ultimate Gift Guide, a seasonal offering of over-the-top exclusives. This year's sybaritic selections top out at a measly $44 million, which gets the recipient Aquos Yachts' 164-ft. expedition superyacht Star Fish to be delivered in 2012 and a luxurious three-week, 10-person charter trip aboard her sister ship, the 148-ft. Big Fish, while you're waiting. Among the other big ticket items for the price-is-no-object set:

Tags: Bahamas, Bugatti, Bugatti Veyron, diamonds, fighter jet, gifts, Holiday 2010, magazines, Parmigiani, private jet, Robb Report, safari, submersible, supercar, superyacht, theme park, wealth, yacht

Continue reading “$44 Million Yacht Tops Robb Report's 'Ultimate Gifts'”

Perfect Pink Diamond Sets Hong Kong Record

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

It's not a world-record setter like the $46-million pink diamond sold at Sotheby's recently but a stone called "the perfect pink" sold for over $23 million to an anonymous buyer at Christie's Hong Kong over the weekend. The 14.23 ct. rectangular-cut fancy intense pink diamond is the most expensive jewel ever sold in Asia. The sale was a record-setter overall, bringing in $78.9 million, highest ever for a jewelry auction in Asia and the largest ever at Christie's worldwide. The pink diamond is flanked by a pair of rectangular D-flawless diamonds weighing 1.73 and 1.67 carats and mounted in 18k rose and white gold. The center stone is graded fancy intense pink, natural colour, VVS2 clarity, with excellent symmetry. It is a type IIa diamond, diamonds which are chemically very pure and are famed for their clean, jaw-dropping sparkle.

Tags: Christies, diamond, diamonds, hong kong, pink diamond

Lalique Diamond and Emerald Serpent Necklace

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Lalique has reached back into its archives this season to create a blockbuster necklace for the ultimate holiday gift. The one-of-a-kind serpent necklace, is based on an original René Lalique design dating back to 1898. It's a testament to the enduring power of the serpent in jewelry design. It has been seen since early Roman and Egyptian jewelry and continues to be popular today (Angelina Jolie for example recently designed serpent-themed jewelry). This incredible piece required more than 700 hours of work and is comprised of 17.90 carats (812 diamonds and emeralds set in white gold). The classics never go out of style but they don't come cheap. This beauty costs $280,000.

Tags: diamonds, emeralds, jewelery, jewelry, lalique, rene lalique, snake necklace

Black & Gold Jewels Shine Bright for the Holidays

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Black and gold is a striking combination. The contrasting colors and subtle golden shimmer produce a rocker's edge aesthetic with a dash of sexiness. The color palette allows for versatility and complements a wide array of outfits from casual to formal.

With the onslaught of upcoming holiday dinners and parties, it's the perfect time to showcase some of our favorite black and gold jewels that will complement your holiday attire.

First up is a gorgeous angular dark wooden ring ($2070) by Fern Freeman. This impressive statement ring has a large base and is adorned with a golden sun shaped overlay underneath rhodium silver and a sparkling pave diamond dome. Freeman's ring would be a head turning and dramatic finish to casual chic and formal outfits.

Browse below for additional jewels that will help you shine bright for the holidays. Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

Gallery: Black & Gold Jewels Shine Bright for the Holidays

Gurham Gold and Diamond Multi-Oval Tuft Long Necklace

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Tags: anthropologie, black, bracelet, diamonds, earrings, elva fields, fern freeman, gold, Gurham, holiday, Jamie Wolf, jewelry, Kenneth Jay Lane, Lee Angel, necklace, Pippa Small, rings, Tito Pedrini, wood

The Smithsonian's Hope Diamond Gets a Makeover

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Harry Winston's historic donation of the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution, the world-renowned international jeweler has designed a new "Embracing Hope" setting for the legendary gem. The incredible necklace featuring the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond officially debuted today in Washington, D.C.

This is the first new setting for the fabled deep blue gem since it was given to the museum by Harry Winston himself in November 1958 to help found the National Gem Collection. Harry Winston, a premier diamond jeweler and luxury timepiece retailer, is the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Winner for Best Jewelry Line.

Designed and handcrafted in the Harry Winston design studio and jewelry workshop in New York, the temporary "Embracing Hope" setting suspends the Hope Diamond in a sculptural ribbon of 340 baguette diamonds set into platinum. Eight master jewelers devoted more than 1,000 hours to creating the exquisite new setting, which was selected from three different Winston designs by popular vote in an online poll in 2009.

Gallery: The Hope Diamond's New Setting by Harry Winston

Tags: awards-main, blue diamond, diamond, diamonds, harry winston, luxist-awards, Smithsonian

Continue reading “The Smithsonian's Hope Diamond Gets a Makeover”

Two Canadian Diamond Companies In Receivership

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Canadian diamond and diamond jewelry wholesalers Polar Ice Diamonds and Polar Bear Diamonds, part of Arslanian Cutting Works, have entered receivership. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice lists a variety of creditors including several diamond companies. The court documents debts totaling over $40 million. The court-appointed receiver, RSM Richter, has stated that it's not clear if the assets of these two companies will be enough to fully repay the creditors.

Polar Bear Diamonds hail from the first diamond mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada, where they are also cut and polished in Yellowknife. The diamonds also have a tiny polar bear engraved on the girdle. Polar Ice Diamonds are also mined, cut and polished in Canada.

Gallery: Polar Bear Diamonds Ad Campaign

Tags: canadian diamonds, diamonds, polar bear diamonds, polar ice diamonds

Colorful Jewels by Mallary Marks

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Who says you have to succumb to darker hues in your wardrobe just because the fall season is here? If you're missing the warmth of sunshine against your skin, impromptu water gun battles and eating ice cream in the park like I am, perhaps wearing some candy colored jewels by Mallary Marks will brighten up your mood – and your attire.

With over 10 years of jewelry making under her belt, Mallary Marks continues to design well crafted pieces that playfully experiment with color and shape all the while maintaining a timeless sense of style and broad appeal. Overall her work includes pieces that are adventurous in her choice of color and stone selection against a subdued and understated backdrop of commonly used design patterns.The result? Marks' jewelry will last a lifetime and could easily be passed from one generation to the next.

Featured, is a stunning pair of dangling earrings ($2054). Made with pistachio green chrysophrase and tobacco brown zircon stones, what is initially an uncommon color combination becomes an unexpected dose of elegance offering a polished look for any occasion.

Browse through the gallery below for additional vibrantly colored jewels by Mallary Marks.

Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

Gallery: Colorful Jewels by Mallary Marks

Double Stone Earrings with Paraiba and Peridot

Peacock Tail Earrings with Mandarin Garnet and Red Sapphire

Green Sapphire and Pale Pink Opal Drop Earrings

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Tags: amethyst, bracelet, carnelian, citrine, diamonds, earrings, garnet, gold, hessonite, jade, lapis, mallary marks, necklace, sapphire, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise

Pink Diamond Sells for $46 million, Setting a World Auction Record

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

Sotheby's sells 24.78 carat pink diamond for $46 million, setting a world record

Sotheby's Geneva set a world auction record for any diamond and any jewel today when it sold an exceptionally rare and magnificent Fancy Intense Pink Emerald-cut Diamond. Weighing in at 24.78 Carats, the ring sold for for $46,158,674, well above the pre-sale estimate of $27 million to $38 million.

Four bidders competed for the gem, which is considered to be one of the most important and beautiful stones ever to come up for auction. The stone came to the market from a private collection, and has not appeared on the open market since it was purchased some 60 years ago from Mr. Harry Winston (who's namesake company won the Luxist Awards' Readers Choice Award for best jewelry line).

The diamond was bought by Patti Wong, Sotheby's Chairman in Asia, bidding on behalf of Laurence Graff, the British billionaire jeweler to the stars (and a Luxist Awards nominee for best jewelry line). Shortly after the sale, Laurence Graff named the diamond "The Graff Pink" and made the following statement: "It is the most fabulous diamond I've seen in the history of my career and I'm delighted to have bought it."

Tags: 24.78+carat+pink+diamond, 24.78caratpinkdiamond, 46+million+pink+diamond, 46millionpinkdiamond, auction, awards-main, diamonds, Harry Winston, jewelry, laurence graff, luxist-awards, pink diamond, pink+diamond+46+million, pink+diamond+auction, pinkdiamond46million, pinkdiamondauction, sothebys, world-record

Continue reading “Pink Diamond Sells for $46 million, Setting a World Auction Record”

Mark Davis Esther Ring

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Bring the geometric playfulness of mod style back into your wardrobe with the Esther Ring ($1700) by designer Mark Davis. These colorful Bakelite rings are highly polished offering a sheen that makes you take notice. The colorways offered are soft enough to be worn with any outfit throughout the year, but still posses a boldness that is eye catching and would add an interesting quality to your attire.

The dome shaped Esther Rings are minimally accented with a small bezel set, off centered diamond adding just the right hint of glimmer. An advantage to this ring is its versatility. It can be worn casually and offer a dose of the unexpected or be worn with more formal outfits for a playful but elegant feel.

Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

Source

Tags: Bakelite, diamond rings, diamonds, jewelry, mark davis, rings

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