Color diamonds are not just for royalty and celebrities anymore. Blue Nile has just launched an exclusive $4.5 million collection of rare, fancy color diamonds for sale online. With yellow, pink, blue, purple, orange, cognac, champagne and red diamonds to choose from, why settle for white? 
Color changing gemstones are always popular with collectors. A while back I reported on the Leviev chameleon diamonds now comes news of a stone which has been around for a while but is poised to make its mark on the gemstone market. Modern Jeweler has a long piece on this stone which shows different colors depending on the light source used. Turkish diaspore used in jewelry since the 1970s. Now it is being sold under the name of Zultanite and higher quality versions of this stone are making their way to market. The stone shifts from varying shades of green in sunlight to a pinkish brown in incandescent light. Zultanite recently turned up at the gem show in Tuscon and there seems to be interest both from home-shopping markets and from higher-end operations. Zultanite may be a chance for those who aren't quite ready for the high prices of chameleon diamonds or alexandrite to purchase a color-changing gemstone.
At the Academy Awards the blackened gold and rough diamond trend continued with many stars wearing pieces that were had a vintage feel. Last year's most amazing piece was probably the Bulgari collar worn by Keira Knightley. There weren't, in my opinion, any real showstopper pieces like that on the red carpet this time but there were definitely some major jewels being displayed.
Yesterday I brought you a big beautiful green tsavorite, today let's look at the largest natural blue sapphire in the United States. This stone was cut from a 129 carat rough which was found in Sri Lanka in 1952. It was originally cut into an 80-carat stone and sold. It has been cut down to 69.53 carats in an effort to improve the light and color reflection and create a better shape. It is for sale for $417,000. It's a bit large for a ring but would be beautiful set in a pendant with diamonds, citrines or spessartite garnets.
I recently finished a book called Diamond: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession by Matthew Hart which explores the history of the diamond trade. The book begins with the discovery of a large pink diamond in Brazil. There's something distinctly alluring about the big pink diamonds. A few years ago, pink diamonds loomed large in the public consciousness after Ben Affleck bestowed a bubblegum pink, six carat diamond on Jennifer Lopez. 
Judith Leiber already makes sparkling objects for you to carry and wear on your feet or shield you from the sun, now the company will make precious jewels for you to wear. Their crystal bedazzled minaudières in a variety of shapes are world famous. WWD reports that the first collection of Judith Leiber fine jewelry debuted at the JCK jewelry show in Las Vegas. The jewelry will be available in October in Judith Leiber's four boutiques and in jewelry stores and high-end department store. Prices will range from $2,000 to $50,000 but custom pieces could go as high as $1 million. The jewelry mimics the Judith Leiber style, very feminine with pave diamonds that highlight larger gems such as tourmalines, diamonds and sapphires.
Not all the big jewel auctions happen at Sotheby's or Christie's, Tzoffey's Auction House will be holding an auction of precious gems as part of the 32nd World Diamond Congress in Israel next month. The auction has an estimated value of $50 million and includes both jewelry and unset gems. The piece shown here is a brooch set with blue, pink and white diamonds (a total of 41.84 carats) mounted in platinum. This bauble has an estimated value of $5 to $7 million. Other items include a five carat orange diamond and a sapphire and diamond brooch in the shape of a swallow which is set with a briolette sapphire that weighs 43.48 carats. The auction takes place at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel on June 28 and is open only to professionals in the jewelry trade. 
Imagine an entire jewelry collection made just for you to
your specific requirements. Each year, jeweler Mimi So spends time with one client
and spends nearly a year creating a personalized jewelry collection. The process starts when Mimi So spends a week with
Mimi So in Manhattan. Together they spend time poring through her archives and choosing what appeals to the client.
Mimi gets to know the client personally. The client spends the week in a penthouse at the Trump International Hotel.
After the week they collaborate on a worldwide itinerary, a 10-to-15-day trip where they jump from continent to
continent on Mimi's private Lear jet getting inspirations. After that, Mimi gets to work for six months working on
drawings and plans for the pieces. At the end of the year, the client receives the custom collection in a wooden box
made of woods from the places they visited. The price of this amazing experience can range from $5 million to $15
million depending on the gems used.
The New York Times pointed out
that the negative environmental impact
that gold mining can have has prompted jewelry companies to join Leber Jeweler, Inc. in a campaign called "No Dirty Gold," which hopes to push the
industry towards responsible mining practices. Leber has a commitment to quality that has lasted over the past 85
years. They sell a line of Earthwise Jewelry that is not only
beautiful, but socially conscious. The gold and platinum settings for the jewels are actually made from recycled metals
and their gems come from sources that guarantee fair-labor policies. Their 18-carat white gold used in the collection is
alloyed with palladium, rather than nickel, to avoid potential allergic reactions in their clientele; they are as
conscientious about their customers as the environment. The 18-karat white gold Twisty Sapphire ring, pictured here, is
a stunning solitaire that carries a message as well as a sparkle. Price $800.
Harrod's is showcasing the world's most expensive bunny.
The bunny is made to look like the iconic Lindt chocolate bunnies, which are traditionally wrapped in gold foil and
sold around the Easter holiday. Though the critter matches the 200-gram chocolate double in size, the Harrod's bunny is
inedible, made not of chocolate but of 24-karat gold. It is inlaid with diamonds, rubies, citrine and topaz, and is
valued in excess of £20,000, or approximately $35,000.
On display until April 16th, you can bid on the bunny by visiting it in the Candy Room at the Harrod's Knightsbridge store. All proceeds will be given to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Alternatively, you can buy yourself an edible Lindt chocolate bunny, sold in a set of three for $10.99.
A little bit watch, a little
bit jewelry, Corum’s Debutante is a small 16.5mm white
mother-of-pearl dial and diamond watch that comes with three bangle bracelets set with green peridot, pink topaz and
sky blue topaz stones. These interchangeable bracelets have a mechanism to attach the watch to the bangle of your
choice. There are also additional bracelets including one set with citrines, one with amethysts and another with
diamonds that can be purchased separately. The retail price is $6201.
| # | Blogger | Posts | Cmts |
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| 1 | Deidre Woollard | 148 | 4 |
| 2 | Jared Paul Stern | 53 | 0 |
| 3 | Rigel Celeste | 51 | 0 |
| 4 | Tracy Chait | 39 | 0 |
| 5 | Laura Malesich | 32 | 0 |
| 6 | Lisa Palladino | 16 | 0 |
| 7 | Meg Massie | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | Gillian M. Kalson | 1 | 0 |
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