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Jeweler News

  • The Most Colorful Jewelry in the World

    The color of jewelry is a major component of its attraction (of course) but the American Gem Trade Association took it a step further and voted for the most amazing colorful jewelry in the world. Simply amazing pieces.

    The AGTA Spectrum Awards is considered by many to be the most respected and prestigious creative awards for the jewelry design industry. Launched in 1984 by the American Gem Trade Association, it honors, recognizes and promotes designers whose work uses natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls in fine jewelry design. The international competition serves as the benchmark for jewelry designers striving to gain recognition for their work. In addition, it is one of things the jewelry industry uses to establish trends through the use of color and materials.

    The AGTA recently announced the 2014 winners of the competition, held in New York, and according to Douglas K. Hucker, CEO of the AGTA, the 500 or designers who participated stretched the boundaries in what can be achieved in jewelry design with colored gems and pearls.

    Source: Forbes

    Best of Show, Leon Mege, Platinum ring with a 4.71 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with French-cut diamonds (1.31 ctw.).

    Best of Show Leon Mege, Platinum ring with a 4.71 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with French-cut diamonds (1.31 ctw.).

    Check out more amazing pieces here.

  • One Earring of Madonna’s Sells for $34,375

     

    Julien’s Auctions said Saturday that bidders worldwide sought items from Madonna’s professional and personal life during the two-day Icons & Idols: Rock n’ Roll auction in Beverly Hills that started Friday.

    The auction house says the gown and stole from her “Material Girl” video sold for $73,125, while the wedding dress the pop icon wore when she married Sean Penn in 1985 brought in $81,250.

    Her jacket from “Desperately Seeking Susan” sold for a record $252,000 and one earring worn in the film fetched $34,375.

    Other highlights include the gown from the film “Evita” — which sold for $15,000 — and her “A League of Their Own” uniform — which sold for $31,250.

    Source: AP Press

  • The Legacy of Oscar de la Renta

    The “Sultan of Suave” has passed away at 82 and left a legacy in the fashion world that will have a never-ending ripple effect. Here are some images in his memory.

    The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die,” he told an audience at New York’s 92Y “Fashion Talks” series in June 2013. “We always think we are going to live forever. The dying aspect we will never accept. The one thing about having this kind of warning is how you appreciate every single day of life.”

    http://www.funkyjewelry.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Oscar-de-la-Renta-Show-Fashion-Jewelry-Collection.jpg

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lauren Bacall’s Jewelry Heading for NYC Auction

     

    NEW YORK (AP) — Lauren Bacall’s art, jewelry and furniture will be auctioned in New York.

    Her estate is selling hundreds of items that had filled her three homes. Bonhams auction house estimates they will bring $3 million.

    The film and theater legend died in New York City in August at age 89.

    Bonhams says two Henry Moore sculptures from the collection will be offered during its Impressionist and modern art sale in November.

    Bacall was a big fan of Moore’s work. Six more of his sculptures will be sold in March, with about 700 other lots. They include tribal art and paintings by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Alexander Calder and others.

    They once decorated her homes in Los Angeles, Amagansett, Long Island, and the famed Dakota apartment building in Manhattan.

     

    Henry Moore

  • Amal Alamuddin and George Clooney Show Off Wedding Rings in Venice

    Actor George Clooney and lawyer Amal Alamuddin thrilled crowds on Sunday in Venice when they took to the waters of Venice to show off their wedding rings as their first day as a married couple.

    The 53-year-old was begged by the crowd to show off his ring, a wide band in white gold, but jokingly looked at his right hand in surprise – after so many years as a bachelor, you could forgive him for taking a while to get used to being married.

    Alamuddin’s ring was more delicate and looked like it featured a band of small diamonds.

     

    The wedding bands of George Clooney and his new wife Amal Alamuddin.

     
    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/george-clooney-and-amal-alamuddin-dazzle-venice-with-their-new-wedding-rings-20140929-10nb8h.html#ixzz3EhmvxmpZ

     

     

  • Highlights of the 2014 Jewelers’ Choice Awards

    Just because you couldn’t be there doesn’t mean you can’t see the dazzling winners from this year’s Jewelers’ Choice Awards. Put on your sunglasses!

    The Winners: the 2014 Jewelers’ Choice Awards

    Best Ring Design

    Under $2,500
    14k white gold diamond ring; $1,980; Gabriel & Co., NYC; 212-719-3258; gabrielny.com

     

     

    The Winners: the 2014 Jewelers’ Choice Awards

    $2,501–$10,000
    18k white gold ring with 6.58 ct. marquise-cut ocean-blue aquamarine and 0.6 ct. t.w. diamonds; $8,999; Parlé Jewelry Designs, Pocatello, Idaho; 208-233-4059; parlegems.com

     

     

    The Winners: the 2014 Jewelers’ Choice Awards

    Colored Stone Jewelry

    Under $2,500
    14k white gold and sapphire diamond necklace; $1,510; Gabriel & Co., NYC; 212-719-3258; gabrielny.com

     

     

    The Winners: the 2014 Jewelers’ Choice Awards

    Over $10,000
    Custom 18k rose gold Baroness ring with 14.09 ct. morganite and 2.36 cts. t.w. brilliant-cut diamonds; $19,279; Yael Designs, San Francisco; 415-989-9235; yaeldesigns.com

     

     

    The Winners: the 2014 Jewelers’ Choice Awards

    Diamond Jewelry

    Under $2,500
    Vines of Romance 14k rose gold and diamond ring; $2,000; El Dorado Jewelry Inc., Los Angeles; 213-689-4406; eldoradojewelry.com

  • Swarovski Building its Web Empire

    Atelier Swarovski by Viktor&Rolf | Photo: Jason Lloyd Evans

    Most people think crystal when they hear the name Swarovski. And rightfully so. The family reputation is built upon them. But most don’t realize the retail power this company carries in terms of jewelry:

     

    According to Nadja Swarovski, the head of corporate communications and design services at crystals giant Swarovski, only two companies are ahead of it in jewellery sales: Cartier and Tiffany, both of which are in the fine jewellery space. “We’re certainly the largest in terms of the crystal jewellery element,” she confirms. “We have big goals in terms of the jewellery industry and our position in it.”

    “In all areas, overall, we have the ambition to outperform the expanding jewellery market by a very few percent,” adds Markus Langes-Swarovski, head of Swarovski Professional and Daniel Swarovski tourism services GmbH, and great-great-grandson of Daniel Swarovski, who founded the Wattens, Austria-based company in 1895. But in a company the size of Swarovski, even a modest expansion will be significant in absolute numbers. The group saw revenues of over €3 billion (about $4 billion) for 2013, and there are 2,480 Swarovski-branded jewellery and accessories stores around the world.

    Source: The New York Times

     

  • The “Ohhh” in Opal

    We don’t talk about opal nearly enough. But that doesn’t mean we don’t offer up the utmost respect to its magical and varied iridescence that seems to be in a constant state of colorful change.

    Here are some simply stunning opal pieces seen at Jewelry Week in Las Vegas several weeks ago, thanks to JCK.

     

     

    Jamie Wolfe gold drop earrings with pink opal and diamonds

    Small Circle Aladdin earrings in 18k gold with pink opals and 0.04 ct. t.w. diamonds, $1,390; Jamie Wolf

     

    Tatiana Berenguer opal and diamond drop earrings in gold

    Lushness earrings in 18k yellow gold with opal and 2.5 cts. t.w. diamonds, $7,500; Tatiana Berenguer

     

    Rina Limor opal and diamond drop earrings

    Earrings in 18k gold with 18.57 cts. t.w. Australian opal doublets with 1.13 cts. t.w. diamonds, $5,600; Rina Limor at LUXE Intelligence

     

    Tatiana Berenguer opal and diamond drop earrings in gold

    Lushness earrings in 18k yellow gold with opal and 2.5 cts. t.w. diamonds, $7,500; Tatiana Berenguer

     

    Erica Courtney opal and Paraiba earrings

    Earrings with huggie hoops in 18k gold and 21.17 cts. t.w. Paraiba, 15 cts. t.w. opals, and 0.78 ct. t.w. diamonds, $38,200; Erica Courtney

     

    Read more here!

     

  • Buy the Eye of Golconda!

    Apparently no one wants this beauty. Well, maybe its that little issue of the asking price, which apparently wasn’t reached:

    The Eye of Golconda, an impressive necklace built around two D-flawless diamonds that was predicted to fetch as much as $10 million at the Christie’s jewelry auction last week, did not sell, company officials said. 

    The piece, the headline offering at the auction house’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale on May 27, featured a 40.5 ct. D-color internally flawless diamond from the famed Golconda mine, as well as a 6.76 ct. D-internally flawless Golconda diamond up top.

    “There was interest up to $7.2 million,” François Curiel, chairman of Christie’s Asia Pacific, tells JCK.  “But the vendor insisted on $8.5 million, so we did not sell it.”

    Source: JCK

     

    40.5 Carat Golconda Diamond Fails to Sell at Christie’s

  • Grace of Monaco Shines! (At least in the Jewelry Department)

    Biopic Grace of Monaco took a royal beating after its screening at the Cannes Film Festival. But it’s shining moments reside in the fashion/jewelry arena, so all is not lost!

    According to The Daily Beast:

    Even more important than her outfits, however, is the jewelry, a staple in Grace Kelly’s wardrobe. Kelly was a loyal client of Cartier, and the jeweler agreed to provide the jewelry for the film. Some original pieces were loaned to the movie while others were re-created, but overall there was so much bling on set that two bodyguards had to accompany Kidman during filming.

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    “As a devoted client, Grace Kelly, later Princess Grace of Monaco, maintained a loyal relationship with the jeweler in Paris and Monaco. Cartier created the 10.47-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring, which she was given by Prince Rainier III in 1956. For her wedding she received numerous gifts of Cartier jewelry, such as a diamond and ruby tiara and a necklace composed of three strands of diamonds,” the house said in a press release.

    “Faithful reproductions of five of these royal jewelery pieces were produced in the ateliers of the Maison, with the consent of the Sovereign House of Monaco. The original creations are part of the royal jewels of Monaco,” they added.