My friend had a garage sale last week. She and her family sold all the junk that had been residing in their basement for years. After a day’s worth of hard labor, they made $182. On the other side of the world, Sotheby’s in Hong Kong made just a hair more.

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite spring sale achieved $64 million (HKD 499 million) and was  79 percent sold by lot and 70 percent by value.

The top lot of the sale was an emerald-cut, 8.01 carat, fancy vivid blue diamond ring that sold for $12.7 million (HKD 99.2 million), or $1,588,079 per carat.

Quek Chin Yeow, the deputy chairman and head of Sotheby’s jewelry department in Asia, noted that the sale represented one of the highest totals for jewelry sales held in Asia by the auction house.

“Throughout the day there was spirited competition among collectors from across Asia for top quality round white diamonds and pink diamonds, as well as for Burmese ruby, Colombian emerald and jadeite jewelry,” he said.

Other top lots included a brilliant- cut, 18.11-carat, D, FL  diamond that sold for $3.96 million (HKD 30.9 million). A pear-shaped, 3.28-carat internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond and diamond ring fetched $3.2 million (HKD 25.3 million) at the sale. A Burmese ruby and diamond necklace with 23 natural unheated rubies with a total weight of 53.07 carats garnered $3.1 million (HKD24.2 million) while a 14.12-carat moval-shaped Golconda, D, IF diamond ring sold for $2.4 million (HKD 18.6 million) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Source: Diamonds.net 

Well, the price is not exactly stellar, unless you’re exceedingly “in the pink.” But the stone itself? Magnificent! It’s one of two known significant sized round pink diamonds in this world with no modifying colors. In short, it’s pink and nothing but pink!

Take a look:

12.04-ct. fancy intense pink Type IIa round brilliant-cut diamond ring by Harry Winston.© Christie’s Images Limited 2012

The largest round fancy intense pink diamond to ever appear at auction will be part of Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale on May 29. The 12-ct. diamond is estimated to fetch $8 – $10 million.

The extremely rare diamond is owned by a private collector. It was purchased from Harry Winston in 1976—the same year, the United States launched its first satellite on a mission to Mars: The Viking landers. Ronald Winston named the diamond the “Martian Pink” to honor the historic event.

The Martian Pink is one of two known significant sized round pink diamonds in this world—the other being the 23.60-carat Williamson Pink diamond that was presented to Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her wedding in 1947. While most natural pink diamonds exhibit a color modifier like purple, orange or grey, the gem that is up for auction “shows absolutely no trace of a secondary color, making it exceedingly rare,” the auction house said. “Combined with a Type IIa characteristic, the diamond shows an extraordinary limpidity together with a lovely intense pink coloration.”
Source: Jewelry News Network

 

Looking for a more “down to earth” price for a pink gem? Feast your eyes on one of our favorite rings:

Style 9505M- Rose Gold Diamond and Pink Moissanite Ring Stunning, delicate 14kt rose gold engagement ring set with a 1.0ct (dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created round moissanite color enhanced to spring pink surrounded by 1/3ct t.w. white diamonds. Matching earrings also available.

If committing to a real ink tattoo is a little too intimidating, then consider these gold alternatives. Produced by high-tech company Genefinity, these temporary tattoos adhere to skin. They’re pretty amazing. Thanks to 10x for this discover.

Italian engineers have come up with an alternative way to wear gold, silver and other metals: as temporary tattoos adhered to the skin.

Produced by the high-tech company Genefinity, Gold Sin Jewels are the product of scientific research in nano-tech materials. Available in different patterns, the tattoos last between three and seven days–and because they’re stuck to you, it’s hard to misplace or lose them. Impossible, actually.

So how do the tattoos work? Genefinity calls it the “Ghost” process, and it involves fixing thin films of gold, silver, platinum and palladium to flexible substrates, or surfaces on which organisms live.

Gold Sin Jewels are made on a paper support that functions with hydro-soluble molecules, such as a think 24-karat gold film. A bio-compatible resin layer allows the film to adhere to skin, and keeps it safe, waterproof and lasting.

Read more.

This rock is just a tad too big to be worn around the neck. And maybe just a bit out of most of our price ranges! But boy, what an amazing specimen. Even if you’re not a gem fanatic like we are, you’ll still be “green” with envy:

The beauty of excess is it never stops growing. At $1500 a pop, these diamond studded business cards send one heck of a message. I wonder if you can scrape the stones off and make a piece of jewelry with them? Hmmmm…

Black Astrum is out with customized Signature Card range. Meant for high profile people across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the Swiss metal business cards come studded with diamonds. Said to be a “highly distinctive symbol of status and wealth”, one set of the cards feature over 30 carats of diamonds.

Since its exclusively customized to a client’s specifications, the cost of making varies. However, the company states that the average selling price per card is about the £1000 ($1,500), and it is sold in sets of 25, 50 and 100 cards.

Sufian Khawaja, Black Astrum’s concept director says, “We’ve had several enquiries from American celebrities and international businessmen, however our cards are offered by invitation only, reflecting our desire to serve only the most premier individuals”. The cards were originally created as a one-off project for a wealthy Middle Eastern family.

 

Source: Luxury Launches

According to Bloomberg News, gold prices continue to rise, after recent news about Iran’s nuclear development:

Gold futures headed for the biggest gain in 10 weeks on increased demand from investors after reports that Iran produced its first nuclear fuel rod and as the dollar weakened. Silver also gained.

A domestically-made rod was inserted into the core of Tehran’s atomic research reactor after performance tests, the Iranian Students News Agency reported yesterday. The dollar fell against the euro on signs that manufacturing is expanding in the U.S. and China. Blackstone Group LP’s Byron Wien, who had correctly predicted last year’s gain in gold, said bullion will rally 15 percent in 2012 to $1,800 an ounce.

“Fear trade is back because of Iran,” Adam Klopfenstein, a market strategist at Archer Financial Services Inc. in Chicago, said in a telephone interview. “Also, we are seeing buying across commodities because of the weaker dollar.”

It seems almost obvious: if people are feeling comfortable enough to buy luxury items such as jewelry, it may indicate that the economy may be slowly creeping up once again.  Though, as this article points out, customers may be willing to splurge a bit more, but “tap out” easily. The momentum, in short, is choppy:

All the quarterly financials for the major chains covered by National Jeweler and included in that particular newsletter were positive. Comps rose 14 percent for Sterling Jewelers, 6 percent for Zale Corp., 15 percent for Tiffany & Co. in the Americas and 8 percent for Neiman Marcus.

The sales figures released by major chains are in harmony with the reports we received from retailersand the post-Black Friday sales figures released by a myriad of different analysts and agencies.

In short, it was a strong weekend for sales.

But, will this momentum continue through the holiday season and into next year? The answer seems to be nobody knows, or, at least, nobody can agree on a prediction.

In analyzing sales on Black Friday, The NPD Group Inc. said that the day came in with a “roar” as consumers packed stores early to take advantage of heavily advertised savings but went out with a “whimper.”

According to NPD, 56 percent of consumers who shopped on Black Friday said they weren’t likely to shop again that weekend, an indication that consumers are “tapped out,” one industry analyst said.

Read more.

It looks like the well-known and prestigious Christie’s auction house in London is no longer for the special few in attendance. Christie’s will be auctioning off several of Elizabeth Taylor’s pieces online as well as in-house. And although they’re calling it a “online-only sale”, I have a sneaking suspicion it won’t be cheap!

The two-week online sale will run concurrent with the live auctions. This marks the first time that the famed auction house will host an exclusively online addition to a private collection.

Christie’s has hand-selected more than 500 fine and costume jewelry items for the online-only sale, including exceptional Art Deco-era jewelry and an array of signed jewels by Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Ruser, among others.

Through a special engagement with the luxury fashion retailer Moda Operandi, Christie’s will offer prospective shoppers a sneak peek at a selection of highlights from the online-only sale starting Nov. 14 at shop.modaoperandi.com/ElizabethTaylor. Beginning Nov. 18 the full complement of online-only lots will be available for viewing at Christie’s website at christies.com/etonlineonly.

“To ensure the full breadth of the collection is accessible to collectors worldwide, Christie’s has taken the innovative step of adding this special, online-only component to our live auctions, so that bidders from around the world can participate in this landmark two-week-long event,” Marc Porter, chairman and president of Christie’s Americas, said in a statement.

The first piece is a diamond-encrusted necklace with 12 golden pearls mounted in 18-karat white gold, estimated at $200,000 to $300,000.

Source: JCK Jewelry

We’ve talked about platinum at length over the last year. It still remains a much talked about metal, including the considerable attention it received at the 28th annual AGTA Spectrum Awards hosted by the American Gem Trade Association that celebrates outstanding design using colored gemstones. The 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition was held in New York City on October 22-23. Take a look at some of the amazing highlights:

Platinum Honors™ 2012 Winners:

Best Use of Platinum and Color

Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry: Platinum ring featuring a 19.05 ct. cushion-cut Aquamarine with pave-set Diamonds (.41 ctw.).

Bridal Wear

James W. Currens, J.W. Currens Inc.: Platinum ring featuring a 16.80 ct. sugarloaf Ruby accented with Diamaonds (4.54 ctw.).

Day Wear

Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc.: Platinum Ring featuring a 16.76 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline cabachon accented with antique cushion-cut Diamonds and Diamond melee (3.10 ctw.).

Check out the rest of the winners here.

Right about this time of year, people are groaning about the holidays. Many are already feeling an economic pinch (or stranglehold) so buying gifts only adds to the existing financial burden. Unless you’re rich. Apparently, according to a recent poll, they are the ones who plan on spending more this holiday season.

The Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, released annually by Harrison Group and American Express Publishing, found that those at the very top of the income spectrum, with discretionary incomes of $250,000 or more, plan to spend an average of 7 percent more on holiday gifts.

However, those with discretionary incomes in the $100,000 to $250,000 range said their holiday spending budgets will be 17 percent lower than in 2010.

As for non-affluent consumers, with incomes below $100,000, some 28 percent said they expect to spend less on gifts than they did in 2010.

Overall, some 57 percent of affluent consumers say they are looking to buy fewer gifts this holiday season, with the number one reason being “they have too much stuff.” In 2010, the no. 1 response to this question was they were “worried about the economy.”

The survey also found that 36 percent of wives would like jewelry as a holiday gift, while only 27 percent of husbands plan on giving gifts in this category. Source: JCK Magazine

Style 10044 Round Pave Stone Heart Pendant   Heart pendant and bail with approximately 1 2/5ct t.w. round brilliant pave’ stones, comes with an 18″ cable chain. Style 7064M Antique Style Filigree Moissanite Bracelet Antique style filigree bracelet with Charles and Colvard created moissanite. 3/16″ wide and the standard 7″ long. Available Total Weight: 3.60ct t.w.