Luxist

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.

carat pink diamond.

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.

These have been out for a while but somehow I hadn't seen them before. Swiss company Sarcar has found a way to add yet more diamonds to a watch. In their Solitaire watches a bezel set one carat diamond rotates around a dial set with a carpet of diamonds. The watch comes in red or white gold and the bezel and dial are set with brilliant-cut diamonds and the crown features a diamond. The watch has a crocodile leather strap and there is also a limited edition Royal Solitaire watch with a gold and diamond set strap. The standard Solitaire will cost you around six figures.

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.

The evening belonged to earrings and bracelets. Jennifer Hudson wore a yellow diamond necklace (picture after the jump) and a few others wore diamond necklaces but overall heavy earrings and wrists layered with diamonds were the order of the day. Cate Blanchett, Cameron Diaz, Jessica BIel and Jada Pinkett Smith all surrendered their earlobes for the evening to some beautiful and costly gems.

The extraordinary bracelets worn by Nicole Kidman were a pair of 375 carat rough diamond cuffs designed by L'wren Scott. The cuffs contain 187 "arrowhead" shaped diamonds that are known as maccles. The stones are distorted octahedrals that at some point in their growth have "changed direction" creating distinctive triangle shape and are uncut.

After the jump, some of my favorite gems of the evening.

PS (For Info and commentary on the fabulous gowns, please check out our sibling blog Styledash).

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.

Since then prices for pink diamonds have varied. The Economist covers the history of the 28-carat pink available for bid at Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels auction on December 6. We first heard of this gem back in May 2005 when it failed to sell at auction. The sparkler was on its own then, now it has been mounted into a ring to better tempt those who might slide this cotton-candy confection onto a finger and decide they must possess it at all costs. Young women in Hong Kong and China have pushing up the prices of these stones. This diamond could sell for over $7 million even though it is graded VS2 (a trained eye and a 10x loupe could spot the flaws).

The gem was found in either Britain or Angola and may well be the big pink diamond of Hart's book (the rough diamond was sold and Hart never saw it after it was polished). I suspect this diamond won't go unsold this time, after all a paler and slightly smaller pink sold for a similar price in 2005.

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.

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Luxist

gems

Valentino Kaleido Gem-Embellished Tote, Handbag of the Day

Rare Blue Diamond Sells at Auction: $9.49 million

Jewelry by London Designer Carri Vacik

David Marshall's Platinum & Gem Jewelry

Polar Bear Diamonds

Decorate with Diamonds!

The Price Of Flawlessness

Golden Cradle Studded with Diamonds, Rubies, and Emeralds

Blue Nile Fancy Color Diamonds Collection

What is Zultanite?

Sarcar Solitaire Watch

Academy Awards Jewelry Picture Roundup

Largest Natural Sapphire For Sale in the U.S.

Big Pink Diamond Tries It Again At Auction

Judith Leiber Jewelry

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