gems

Ritmo Mundo Persepolis Watches Go Gem Crazy

These are like crazy colored candy - there is something almost charmingly juvenile about the look and (massive) size of these watches. A woman putting one on her wrist will feel like a girl again as the large watch dwarfs her forearm and offers an almost amusingly obnoxious display of sparkling colors. These Ritmo Mundo Persepolis models are in the "Multi-Gem" collection, but I like to call them "wild gem" watches. They have steel (and possibly other metal) cases totally covered with a variety of gem-stones. All Persepolis watches features double-sides faces that flip around in the case. The pictured model has two automatic movements that are partially skeletonized. There are also quartz models as well. Like I said, the watch is large - really large. The pictured model is over 50mm wide (try sporting that ladies). Though I think there are a few smaller versions as well. Prices for Ritmo Mundo Persepolis Multi-Gem models start at about $11,000, and go up to $45,000 for those like the above version with gems all over the dial and case.

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

Gallery: Ritmo Mundo Persepolis gems

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have designed an $11,000 pair of black diamond, emerald and white gold serpent cufflinks for famed London luxury goods house Asprey to benefit a children's charity. The luxe accessories are the first item for men in the Protector Collection, the line of limited edition fine jewels and silver objects created by the couple in collaboration with Asprey which my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported on last fall. The design of the Protector black diamond serpent links with 18k white gold bases and emerald eyes is based on Jolie's reflection on the serpent as an iconic guardian and cultural symbol of family protection, inspired by a ring she was given while pregnant with the couple's first child Shiloh in 2006. Each piece in Protector Collection is a limited edition, handcrafted at Asprey's London flagship store in New Bond Street. The black diamond serpent cufflinks match rings, earrings and a pendant in the women's collection. All proceeds from the Protector Collection pieces are being donated to the Education Partnership For Children of Conflict (EPCC). Co-founded by Jolie, the organization raises awareness and funds to educate child victims of war, conflict and natural disasters.

[via JustLuxe]

Sometimes it's hard to improve on what nature provides. Few designers understand that as well as Brenda Houston who incorporates natural minerals into her jewelry and home decor designs. Houston has always been attracted to the mystical and healing properties of natural minerals. She started working with them more than 15 years ago and after traveling extensively she conceptualized a collection of lamps and accessories that make the most of the natural beauty of the stones.

The sculptural qualities of the minerals used reveal themselves in lamps, artwork and jewelry created by an artisan using select stones and gold wire. Large agate slices sit atop hardwood bases. Minerals have been used as bases to form simply spectacular lamps or sit alone mounted for contemplation and enjoyment. Each piece is signed and the couture lamps are available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. The lamps range from $1500 to $3200; the tabletop pieces are about $500 to $5000 and the tables are about $1500 each.

Gallery: Brenda Houston Designs

Gemfields has officially announced the discovery of an absolutely enormous rough emerald earlier this month in their Kagem mine in Zambia. The emerald has been named "Insofu," which means 'elephant,' by the indigenous Bemba people to both honor its size and pay tribute to the World Land Trust's "Wild Lands Elephant Corridor Project." The emerald weighs in at 6,225 carats and is currently under the scrutiny of experts to determine its value and evaluate what possible futures it might have. Although it has rich color and good translucency the biotite shell is making it difficult to see deep into the emerald's core, but so far all estimates point to the potential for several cut gems of great size.

Traditional clear diamonds have always been among my least favorite gems (I know, I'm an oddball) because they just seem so common and plain. I prefer color and have always leaned towards more interesting gems like emeralds, rubies, and even raw or colored diamonds. Arthur Langerman has more than 40 years of experience with precious gems and is known to many as the "Color Man," and now he's teamed up with his daughter Natacha to launch a website that makes buying rare colored diamonds "as easy as ordering a book."

Browsing Langerman-Diamonds.com reveals page after page of glittering colored diamonds for sale in every shade and hue imaginable, plus an encyclopedia of natural diamonds, a blog, a design-your-own-wedding-ring tool, and access to expert advice (they'll call you within 24 hours) if you need it.

Hong Kong's fall sales have been great for records, for Christie's in particular. After several were broken at the art auction this week, the gem scene was ignited. A pink diamond no larger than a chickpea went for $10.8 million, according to Bloomberg News. The stone had the second-highest rating available (potentially flawless) and a weight of 5 carats. It shattered the per-carat record set back in May. Back then, Hong Kong property investor Joseph Lau picked up a 7.03-carat blue diamond at an auction in Geneva for $10.5 million.

The pink diamond was sent under the gavel by Graff Diamonds, a London-based jeweler. The stone was sold to a phone bidder who beat out Liu Yiqian and his wife, Wang Wei. But, those two have bought enough already, right?

Overall, the 255 lots sold (an 89 percent sell rate) brought in HK$372 million, with the action pushed forward by mainland Chinese, a growing trend in the auction world this year. Donald May, a ruby and sapphire dealer based in Hong Kong, attended the auction and told Bloomberg, "There's a lot of mainland Chinese buying; either they didn't know what the items are worth or they wanted them so badly that price didn't matter." He believes that prices were pushed way out of control.

There were other records set in Hong Kong, as well. A sapphire weighing 16.65 carats, set by Van Cleef & Arpels, brought in HK$18.6 million, also setting a per-carat record.

[Photo courtesy of Christie's]

Totes aren't really party pieces but this one is so pretty and fabulous I would probably find an excuse to make it work as one. It's the Kaliedo Gem-Embellished Tote by Valentino, and they weren't messing around with the gems -- not a single visible surface is gemless aside from the shoulder strap, handles, and designer-embossed logo plaque. This glitzy number will make daily errands a glamorous occasion in graduated clear to brown faceted gem embellishments and a dove gray satin lining. Magnetic push-stud closure at the top, interior pockets, and protective silver feet. $2,995

Economic conditions aren't so dismal that records can't be set. Sotheby's just moved a flawless, rare blue diamond for nearly $9.5 million – proving that taste can prevail even when wallets are generally gripped shut.

The rectangular blue diamond weighs 7.03 carats and sold at the highest price per carat ever fetched at auction – a whopping $1,349,752 (including the commission to Sotheby's). It's also the most paid for a "fancy vivid blue diamond" ... I didn't realize that such records were tracked. The winner chose to remain anonymous (can you blame him or her?) who was bidding by phone. The auctioned ended with a veritable telephonic battle that lasted 15 minutes.

The record until the blue diamond went under the gavel was $7.9 million for 6.04 carats. It was set in October 2007 in Hong Kong. Sotheby's sold the last record-breaker, as well.

In all, the auction house moved $35.7 million in gems and jewelry from 266 lots – not counting another 80 that didn't sell.

David Bennett, the chairman of Sotheby's jewelry department covering Europe and the Middle East, remarked, "It is fantastic in this market and shows that these rare things are very much in demand."

No, David. What's fantastic is that such items are in demand and that people are still willing to pay for them!

Carri Vacik is a London based gemologist who draws her inspiration from her personal love of history, traveling, and the arts, plus her Celtic and Anglo Indian origins. Gearing her jewelry to "dynamic women of independent spirit" she uses only 18k gold in her designs and has a penchant for gems with deep, vibrant color. The piece shown above is called "Gardens of Babylon" and features amethyst and blue topaz (it's my favorite). All pieces are bespoke and made for the individual at the time they are ordered. Prices range from $4,000 - $10,000.

Gallery: Carri Vacik Jewelry Designs

David Marshall jewelry designs are colorful and full of both soft curves and hard angular edges. Marshall works out of London and specializes in diamond and colored gem-set platinum pieces, gearing his jewels towards those that have contemporary taste but still appreciate classic and traditional influences.

I've always preferred colorful gemstones to diamonds, and platinum to gold, so much of this collection is right up my alley. Certainly a beautiful way to show someone special in your life how much you care this Christmas.

Via Lussorian

Gallery: David Marshall Jewelry

Polar Bear Diamonds hail from the first diamond mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada, where they are also cut and polished. The northern lights were the inspiration for a special diamond cut featuring eighty-nine facets surrounding an eight-sided crown, although they offer all shapes and sizes with each gem not only being Gemprinted for security and authentication purposes but all the diamonds also have a tiny polar bear engraved on the girdle. Polar Bear Diamonds have been seen on celebrities such as Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Definitely worth looking into as an alternative to more controversially obtained gems (plus I love their ad campaign!).

Via Justluxe

Gallery: Polar Bear Diamonds Ad Campaign

First off let me say that decorating your home with large, artificial gems is a delicate task that is really hard to pull off. That being said, though, used sparingly and in the right ways artificial diamonds can be a great way to satisfy (somewhat) your craving for sparkly gemstones and add a touch of glamor to your decor. Chiasso offers diamond sculptures in a couple different ways, miniature ones (above) and a large paperweight version if you're really looking to make a statement.

Via Wists

The word flawless is often overused but the 84.37 carat diamond that Sotheby's will auction off on November 14th in Geneva has earned the distinction. THe stone, a brilliant-cut, D-color, Flawless stone is the largest brilliant-cut diamond of top quality (the highest possible GIA rating) to ever appear at auction. The stone's perfection makes it one for the history books and it has a price to match, it is estimated to sell for $12 to $16 million. The owner gets naming rights over the stone.

Wow, way back in the 18th century they really knew how to bling things up. And unlikely things too, like this baby's cradle. Covered in gold and set with more than 2,000 gems including diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, it's currently on display in Tokyo at a special exhibit that includes about 140 other antique treasures from the Ottoman Empire (which came before the Republic of Turkey). The items will be on display through September 24th in honor of the birth of Prince Hisahito to the Japanese Emporer's son Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko (got that straight?). No word on what the cradle's valued at, although since it isn't for sale I guess it's more about admiring it's gaudy beauty than hoping to get one for yourself.