September 14, 2016

Diamonds Unleashed For Serena Williams

September 14, 2016/ Kathleen Marino

The DIAMONDS UNLEASHED FOR SERENA WILLIAMS jewelry collection debuted September 12, 2016 during New York Fashion Week. The collection accompanied Serena Williams’ new fall collection on the runway during her fashion show. The trend-forward jewelry collection is available in silver tone, gold tone or copper tone. Jewelry from the collection includes a diamond accented bangle, a diamond accented knuckle corset ring and a double band choker. Each piece from the DIAMONDS UNLEASHED FOR SERENA WILLIAMS collection features a responsibly mined and produced diamond from CanadaMark.

THE DIAMONDS UNLEASHED VISION

Williams has partnered with Kara Ross’ Diamonds Unleashed organization, to create a beautiful and unique display of the jeweler’s talent, re-defining the act of purchasing diamonds and supporting women’s empowerment. Through Kara Ross’s vision for DIAMONDS UNLEASHED, the symbol of a diamond is extended to stand for women’s strength, independence and solidarity. Each piece celebrates individuality and empowerment — both for the women who designed them and for the woman who wears them.

The result is a line of cuff bracelets, choker necklaces, hoop earrings and rings that are gold-plated, some displaying responsibly mined CanadaMark diamond accents. The collection will retail starting at $169.90 and capping at $419.90.

The designs are bold and fashion-forward with a nod to athletic inspiration via a lace-up motif. Each piece subtly incorporates the Diamond Unleashed logo, which Ross designed as a symbol of women’s empowerment.

To further support the independence of the next generation of women, DIAMONDS UNLEASHED donates its net profits to multiple nonprofit partners, including She’s the First and Girls Who Code. Both organizations support women’s education and help women fulfill their potential by unleashing their talents.

April 28, 2015

The “Ultimate Emerald-cut Eiamond" Fetches More than $22 million

April 28, 2015/ Kathleen Marino

An anonymous buyer who called in their bid became the owner of one impressive diamonds, a 100.2-carat, internally flawless, D color Type IIa diamond. The diamond sold for $22.1 million at Sotheby’s New York jewelry sale on April 21, falling slightly short of its highest pre-sale estimate, $25 million.
The hundred-carat stunner led Tuesday’s Magnificent Jewels sale and was one-third of the auction’s $65.1 million total, a new record for Sotheby’s in New York.
According to Sotheby’s, the stone is the largest “perfect” diamond with a classic emerald cut ever sold at auction and the first 100-carat-plus perfect diamond sold at an auction held in New York. The $22 million paid for it is a record for a colorless diamond auctioned in New York.

Kathleen Marino M.A, G.G., AJP, NAJA

April 10, 2015

Stunning 100.20 carat D color Diamond

April 10, 2015/ Kathleen Marino

Meet the Ultimate Emerald-Cut Diamond. The 100.20 carat D color internally flawless emerald-cut diamond will go up for auction at Sotheby’s, April 21, 2015. The stone originated from a rough diamond weighing over 200 carats, found in southern Africa by De Beers. It took the owner over a year to cut and polish the diamond.

April 09, 2015

GIA to Host "Dreams of Diamonds" Exhibit

April 09, 2015/ Kathleen Marino

The “Dreams of Diamonds” exhibit will be on view at the Gemological Institute of America from April 29 to May 11. It will feature 25 diamond pieces, including a pair of boots set with 1,527 carats of diamonds and a 50.05-carat flawless D-color diamond. More than 4,000 carats of diamonds will be on display. The exhibit coincides with a debut of a book on these stunning and unique pieces.
The book was put together by British photography and design team Alastair Laidlaw and Christine Marsden. It is a massive oversized ‘Super Book’ that features full print size images and weighs more than 30 pounds. The book took six years to complete, featuring the diamonds and jewelry in unusual, “dream-like” settings.
The items featured in the book were provided by 12 of the world’s best-known diamantaires and designers. Seven of them: Adler Joailliers, Chatila, Chow Tai Fook, Diacore, Mouawad, and Munnu The Gem Palace, are loaning pieces for the exhibit at GIA.
Appointments are necessary to see this exhibit. Head to GIA’s website for details.

November 18, 2014

The Blue Belle of Asia

November 18, 2014/ Kathleen Marino

The Christie's November 11th auction shatters the world record for any sapphire sold at an auction with the Blue Belle of Asia fetching a staggering US$17.7 million.
The 392.52 carats cushion-cut Ceylon sapphire is the world’s fourth largest faceted blue sapphire and was listed as the second most expensive lot at the sale (estimate $6.9 – 9.9 million), however it soon outperformed the highest estimated lot, colored diamond and diamond ear pendants by Bulgari.
The enormous blue sapphire has a provenance dating back to 1937. This is an even larger landmark notice as this was also the first time that a blue sapphire or a colored gemstone lot had been at the top of a public auction and outperformed diamond containing lots.