We've mentioned the adorable Bo Bo from Qeelin Jewelry before but now the bejeweled panda pendant has a new identity, several identities in fact. The Fantastic Bo Bo collection re-imagines the adorable animal in several incarnations including Super Bo Bo with a red and blue outfit with rubies and sapphires, Pretty Bo Bo in pink sapphires with a diamond handbag and necklace, Captain Bo Bo in cognac diamonds with tiny hook and eyepatch and DJ Bo Bo in black diamonds with white diamond headphones and a tiny MP3 player. Precious jewelry has rarely been cuter.

Here is a stunning piece of Dior men's jewelry and it is a one-of-a-kind watch at that. LVMH-owned Dior takes one of their standard watch designs and forgoes much of that unnecessary stuff, like most of the metal. Instead the watch seems to be held together mostly by diamonds, rubies and red tinted mineral glass. The movement is a manually-would tourbillon that you can see operating almost in silhouette through the tinted red glass.

Case is 42mm wide in White gold, with the thorough assortment of diamonds and rubies being carried over to most of the bracelet. The style of this high cost fashion watch is impressive with a rhyme and reason to the jewel layout. The dial skeletonization is uniquely done, and the views of the movement are quite pretty. I like the use of the large pyramid-cut ruby as the palette over the tourbillon. Price for this piece unique Dior watch was 1.3 million Swiss Francs. This Dior Christal Tourbillon Diamonds and Rubies watch has been nominated to be included in the awards for the 2009 Geneva Grand Prix d'Horlogerie.

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

Seems like everywhere I turn I'm seeing ads for sweepstakes involving jewelry or other high-end prizes. It must be the two-fold punch of a sagging economy (spend money! win stuff!) and Valentine's Day. So indulge me -- or yourself, if you win -- because here's another: Teleflora's Rubies & Roses Sweepstakes. Select Teleflora rose purchases will be delivered with a game piece and PIN. The sender and recipient both can enter to win these prizes: Grand -- $60,000 ruby and diamond necklace; 100 winners -- $600 14k gold ruby and diamond heart-shaped pendant; 1,000 winners, $150 10k gold diamond and created ruby heart-shaped pendant. Official rules here.

P.S. Not sure your guy knows which flowers to send to you? Send him this.

At the Victoria's Secret fashion show in Miami on Friday, some very special things were worn by some very special women in some very special places.

I'm talking about Adriana Lima in a $5 million Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra with white and black diamonds and rubies, and Heidi Klum in a sexy red bra and panty set laced together with strands of diamonds and adorned with giant red sequined wings.

As you can see, it was a glamorous show flanked with silver palm trees and many of the most beautiful women in the world. There were 68 outfits in total, each with its own spectacular theme. See our ten favorites in the gallery here.

The Victoria's Secret fashion show will be on CBS on December 3rd.

[via StyleList.com/blog]

With rubies from Myanmar/Burma being banned by many Western countries, the hunt has been on for rubies that come from a less politically sensitive area. In the last few years, there has been increasing exploration for rubies in Greenland. Just as Canadian diamonds are sometimes seen as an easy way around the potential harmful associations with some African diamonds, Greenland's rubies seem like a no-conflict solution, one that could benefit both the companies investing and Greenland's people.

But as Marc Choyt over at Fair Jewelry points out, that may not be the case. He has written a series of posts that go into great depth on this complex issue. To summarize: for years, Greenland's Inuit people have come across rubies and picked them up on their travels and sometimes sold them but now with big companies such as True North Gems exploring the area for ruby deposits, some Greenlanders feel they are being pushed away from the ruby business. They assert that the rough ruby shown at right, valued at half a million dollars was confiscated from its Inuit owner and that it is just part of a campaign to keep the Greenland people out of the potentially lucrative mining business.

The story of what's happening in Greenland is complicated and Marc's done a very thorough job of looking at both sides. He traces the journey of Neils Madsen, a Greenlander who found himself caught up in the ruby battle simply because he wished to dig for rubies in an area where exploration was taking place. A conflict with people working for True North Gems and the government led to him forming the August 16th Union (the confrontation took place on August 16, 2007), a group whose objective was to secure the rights of all Greenlanders to artisanally mine and sell rubies. Right now Greenlanders are now allowed only to sell semiprecious gems, not precious gems. Madsen has circulated a petition on behalf of the August 16th Union, demanding the rights to have small scale mining and selling of rubies as guaranteed under Article 32. This petition has gathered 2600 signatures, which is four and a half percent of the entire nation of 57,000.

He also interviewed Andrew Lee Smith, Founder and CEO of True North Gems who says he and his company support of small scale mining and selling of rubies by Native Greenlanders as long as it is done within the parameters of the law (and as long as his company has the right to explore and potentially mine rubies in compliance with the laws of Greenland.) He believes that the August 16 Union's main issue is not with True North Gems but with the existing laws of Greenland and that the union is a loud, radical minority.

True North does keep a chain of custody and assurance of source on the stones so that the Greenland rubies aren't mixed with rubies from other places which is what happened initially with Canadian diamonds. Right now the company isn't selling materials since they need the consent of the Greenland government and a mining license (currently they are still in the exploration phase). They are hoping to establish a commercial ruby operation in Greenland and sell the stones as Greenland branded material.

Over at Fair Jewelry you can sign the petition to support the rights of native Greenlanders to mine the stones from their own land.

The U.S. ban against the importation of rubies and jade from Mynanmar is now official. President Bush signed legislation Tuesday hoping to send a strong message to Myanmar's brutal ruling regime. While many jewelry companies including Tiffany & Co., Cartier and Bulgari already have had bans in place for a while, this bill makes it official. The U.S. government was particularly motivated to move after military junta's reaction to the cyclone that hit the country in May. The regime was slow to accept help and and the country is still in recovery from that devastating event. First lady Laura Bush has spoken out on the issue of a ban against rubies from Myanmar before and she accompanied her husband in the Oval Office as he signed the bills, which extend and harden sanctions Congress first passed in 2003.

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, produces some of the world's most beautiful rubies. The rubies from the Mogok region have a deep translucent color often described as pigeon's blood. As the AP article notes, many stones are currently being laundered through nearby countries such as Thailand to get around sanctions. Myanmar also does a brisk business in jade and jadeite which is continuing to be bought merchants coming from China and Hong Kong who purchase the stones in state-run auctions held periodically.

DeWitt watches have introduced their new Haute Joaillerie collection which is meant to marry form with substance in the form of high-end watchmaking and diamonds and rubies. The three watches are the Différentiel, Mystérieux Squelette and Force Constante each with a tourbillon. All the gem-set parts of the case and buckle of Haute Joaillerie Tourbillon watches includes stones set along the caseband, bezel, lugs, crown and buckle.

The Tourbillon Différentiel was the winner of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix in the innovation category and includes 151 diamonds totalling more than 17 carats. The movment is the handwinding caliber DW8002 with 24 jewels and the 18K white gold case measures 43mm X 12mm.

The Tourbillion Mystérieux Squelette features 141 diamonds with a total of over 17 carats. The movement is the handwinding caliber DW8001 with 19 jewels and the 18K white gold case measures 43mm X 14mm.

The Tourbillon Force Constante uses the handwinding caliber DW8003 movement with 25 jewels, beating at 21,600bph with a 72 hour power reserve. The 18K white gold case 18kt white gold measures 43mm X 12mm. It is accented with 151 rubies that have a total carat weight of more than 17.6 carats. As per the article in Time Zone, those gorgeous red rubies are sourced from Myanmar, which could be a moral problem for those wishing to abstain from stones from that region.

The rubies that are mined in the Mogok Valley in Myanmar are some of the most beautiful and prized stones in the word. The rich red color and uncommon clarity of the "pigeon's blood" stones means that they command some of the highest prices in the world. They are also coming under increasing scrutiny. Much as diamonds from certain African countries such as Sierra Leone have been used to fuel wars and have been labeled blood diamonds, there are worries that stones from Myanmar are helping to fund the country's military regime. In light of the protest which occurred last month in which people were killed as soldiers opened fire on monks and civilians calling from democracy, the focus on these gemstones has increased.

The concern is not just over the money fueling wars but also the conditions in mines in Myanmar. A recent article in the Scotsman offers a chilling portrait of mining in the area. Allegations include the fact that mine owners may get workers addicted to drugs so that they can control them better.

Bans on Myanmar gems are nothing new. There has been a ban in place for several years, since the Congress banned the importation of products from the country. Tiffany & Co stopped buying rubies from Myanmar in 2003 and Cartier and Bulgari have joined them. Also the Jewelers of America has asked Congress to amend the ruling of the original ban to specifically mention gemstones mined in Myanmar. A Reuters article mentions that the reason for this is because some gem dealers are not taking the issue seriously. A quick scan of eBay revealed many listing for "Burmese rubies." Some of these are likely not from the region, unscrupulous dealers often tag rubies as "Burmese" because the rubies have such a reputation for beauty.

For a counterpoint, check out this post from Gary Roskin who writes for JCK and is a gemstone expert. He is in contact with dealers in the region who say that the gemstone money doesn't go to the government and that instead of hurting the government, a ban could hurt the Burmese people.

Despite the controversy, Myanmar has said that they are going forward with a planned auction of gems and jade next month. Unlike the regimented world of diamonds, the colored gemstone industry is far less centralized and regulated. There is also no Kimberley Process that addresses the human rights concerns for gemstones.

Recently I told you about the gorgeous pearls that will hit the block at Sotheby's in December. Of course, their toughest competitor Christie's also has a jewel auction in December with another set of pearls with historical provenance. The necklace shown here is made of natural pearls, diamonds and rubies and will go on sale at Christie's in London on December 12. The pearls once graced the neck of Marie Antoinette and were smuggled out of revolutionary France by Lady Elizabeth, the Countess of Sutherland. The pearls were later mounted onto a necklace for the wedding of Lady Elizabeth's grandson and have remained in the family for over 200 years. The necklace was made in 1849 and has a fringe of 21 graduated drop-shaped gray natural pearls, each suspended from an old-cut diamond collet, and connected to a diamond ribbon which intertwines with a ruby collar. The collar is set with 12 button-shaped gray natural pearls mounted in gold. This amazing piece is estimated to sell for between £350,000 and £400,000.

[via The Independent]

In today's age of motion and touch sensors and every other kind of high-tech gadget we've got for security of precious goods, Harrods in London recently took a unique step to protect a pair of very expensive shoes: they hired a poisonous cobra to stand (sit? slither?) guard.

Obviously this was a publicity stunt, not a real security effort, but I say good for them. That's pretty clever, and for all intents and purposes it worked. The cobra has since returned to its owner and the shoes are, I'm sure, under a more traditional lock and key type security system.

Curious what kind of shoes warranted such a show? A pair of red sandals by Rene Caovilla that are encrusted with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds and valued at about $120,000.

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.

If you are running out of places to put your diamonds, consider your sneakers. The perfect accessory to those pricey limited edition sneaks just might be Kickbars, jewel-encrusted shoelace clips. The bars, which feature emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds set in white gold, can also be used on bracelets and necklaces. The original Kickbar has 54 G color, VS1 diamonds pave set into the rectangular bar (a total weight of 2 carats) and sells for $7500.

An LA Times article earlier this spring highlights another way to make your shoes sparkle, a company called Greedy Genius is selling interchangeable diamond eyelets.

One of the latest to join the Chanel J12 family, this watch is truly limited edition as only 12 are being made -- if you're lucky enough to get one you're in an very small club. There's not much information out yet, but we do know this Chanel J12 Limited Edition watch comes in a 38mm case of 18k white gold and ceramics. The dial is set with 84 diamonds and 12 rubies, the bezel is set with 36 rubies, and the crown features a cabochon ruby. It will also come in a 33 mm version if you prefer a smaller size, and no word yet on price.

More beautiful pieces have come out of the House of Taylor Jewelry collection. Three couture jewelry pieces from the Elizabeth Collection inspired by Dame Elizabeth Taylor, will be featured in Christie's Magnificent Jewels
auction on April 25 in New York. The three Elizabeth Collection pieces include a four strand, diamond and golden pearl necklace estimated at $25,000-$35,000, a pair of diamond encrusted ear pendants with four large cultured golden pearls, set in 18 karat white gold and estimated to sell for $6,000-$8,000, and a double-strand ruby and diamond necklace, with a long ruby and diamond tassel designs set to sell for $180,000-$250,000. The ruby necklace is after the jump.

Prince Edward of Wales certainly knew how to show his love for Wallis Simpson. The man who gave up a kingdom for love, gave the object of his affection this amazing Cartier brooch with their initials W and E done is rubies and sapphires. The brooch is now for sale again at Bonhams in London on Dec. 7. The auction has an estimate of up to 35,000 pounds ($67,729), lower than the $95,333 it brought when it was first on the market in the 1980s. The brooch was purchased from Sotheby's in 1987 by the Daily Mail newspaper and was won in a Daily Mail poetry competition by Percy and Vera Brindley and auctioned by Bonhams in 2000.

[via Bloomberg]