It is most exciting to see a ring made up. I have a ring almost ready for a lovely lady who kindly allowed me to share some photos. I have this sample ring with a 1.20ct round brilliant cut diamond set in the centre with lovely open leaf diamonds. This amazing ring is a gorgeous flow of curves.

We are setting a lovely oval shaped centre diamond for her actual ring. Photos to follow soon.

Watch this space. 

 

Tiffany 6-prong Setting or Solitaire?

Tiffanys love stories.

Since its creation over a century ago, the Tiffany Setting has been the world’s favorite engagement ring. The ring of rings, as it has been called, is the most brilliant ring ever. It is also the most beautiful classic and elegant. And various versions have been copied, interpreted and re-designed taking from its essence world wide.

It is a ring design I have sold thousands of times over and over. And for the first ring on the hand, its symbolism as as solitaire is rather alluring. And us in the jewellery trade do have Tiffany's to thank for as they have spurred a multi-billion dollar industry with stronger than ever demand for engagement rings today.

The six-prong/ claw setting/ mount is safest for the round brilliant cut diamond as it protects 6 corners of the gem stone and gives it a truly elegant symmetry when viewed from the top. In addition to strength and security, it also enhances the size of the stone as the eye is unconsciously drawn the the corners of the 6 claws. I favour and suggest this setting for at least half a carat and over.

Though the 4-claw settings or 4-double claw settings have definitely become a bigger favorite, allowing more of the diamond to be seen from every angle and lots more room for design features especially for over 1.50ct up (see right example). It also makes it easier to keep clean and a glorious view for the tip of the diamond that I absolutely love...

Sotheby's Geneva Sale Features Rare, Nobel Jewels

The Magnificent and Noble Jewels auction on May 14 at Sotheby's Geneva offered more than 650 lots of aristocratic jewels, diamonds and gemstones.

Auctions are amazing and riveting to say least when pieces designed and crafted by the old world jewellers, who made their name since the 50s and 60s become showpieces.

It is a sad, undisputed truth today amongst us in the fine jewellery trade to see so many precious jewellery making techniques no longer passed down. Today's fine jewellers pushes the bottom line, the sales figures, the mass market of middle-upper class who jump on the brand bandwagon.. with not much left for art and craftsmanship. Pick up a 1960s - 80s made Bulgari jewel and a 2010 made one and hold it in your hand... it is different. The feel, the weight, and hand made finish. Same with Cartier and many countless other established jewellery houses. Hence making auctions of such scale and caliber truly in demand.

The centerpiece of this auction includes a group of 23 pieces from the collection of actress, photojournalist and sculptor Gina Lollobrigida. Much of this collection was designed by Bulgari in the 1950s and 1960s and the jewelry was worn by the actress at key events earlier in her career. She is selling her diamond jewelry to raise money for stem cell research, saying now is the time to give back for the fortunate life she has had. Read about it here.

Highlights include a pair of natural pearl and diamond pendant earrings, circa 1964, which is estimated to fetch up to $1 million; sold for 2.29 million francs ($2.37 million), an auction record.
The earrings beat the $1.98 million figure set in 2011 from the sale of natural pearl and diamond earrings by Bulgari, owned by late actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Other highlighst included a a 19.03-carat diamond ring, circa 1962, with a pre-sale estimate of up to $800,000 and a diamond necklace-bracelet combination from 1954 that was projected to sell for as much as $500,000.

Noble and historic jewels play a prominent role in this auction, such as a 74.53-carat fancy yellow cushion-shaped diamond that once belonged to the late Imperial Majesty Sultan Ahmed Shah Qajar, the seventh and last ruler of the Qajar dynasty of Persia. This piece had a high presale estimate of $1.8 million and was sold for 2.85 million francs ($2.95 million), an auction record for a fancy yellow diamond.


An important light pink diamond and diamond necklace formerly belonging to a lady of title, is estimated to fetch up to $2.5 million. The necklace (pictured) features a  detachable pendant set with two marquise diamonds, a 6.93-carat brilliant-cut light pink diamond and two circular-cut diamonds of 34.78 carats and a 11.38 carats.

Sotheby's will auction a 27.90-carat, D, internally flawless cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond ring with a high presale estimate at $6 million.

The diamond received the highest color and clarity grade from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and is in the type IIa subgroup, which comprise of less than 2 percent of all gem diamonds and often have extraordinary optical transparency.

Colored diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and Burmese rubies also appear in the sale alongside jewels designed by  Suzanne Belperron for her close friend Cecyle Simon. Sotheby's sale of jewels from Belperron's personal collection fetched $3.5 million at the Geneva auction last year.

The Magic of the One Carat Round Diamond

Which 1.00ct diamond will you choose? 

                 

There is rarely the opportunity to compare apple with apple, especially with diamonds. Each stone varies in so many ways from another even though seemingly exactly the same. 

Today most clients go shopping armed with knowledge they acquired from google, wikipedia and family friends. See GIA Diamond grading report above.

Deciphering it is one thing, understanding what you buy is another and trusting that the diamond you receive is what the certification says is again another dimension to consider. 

Both these diamonds have been handpicked for a client. We are looking at nearly twice the expense of the H-colour diamond vs the D-colour. Contact me for pricing details. 

At an immediate glance, the you can observe in the images that D is whiter than H. 

Perhaps you can also notice that the SI2 diamond on the left is remarkably clean on the photo image. This is a RARE find as most SI2 diamonds today are heavily included with imperfections that can be easily visible to the naked eye. So I am confident to say this diamond is great value and bound to be snapped up in a flash.

Other details to look out for: 

1. Grading on Cut grade, Polish and Symmetry.

FYI: Cut grading alone took GIA over 5 years to establish. Read about the components of cut grade, and understand the diamond anatomy here. If you are a physicist or scientist or engineer, you will probably appreciate this information, where brilliance can be measured by pure mathematics - check out the diagram of percentages and measurements on the bottom middle of the cert.

2. Fluorescence - GIA blog gives some good information about it.

Most of us in the industry prefer no fluorescence as it will assure the client will not see strange glows of strange yellows, greens, pinks and the most common, blue fluoro under lighting conditions that has UV. 

Diamonds with no Fluorescence therefore, also carry a higher price tag, as more than 35% of diamonds in the market do exhibit some fluorescence. Hence my word of advice for buyer beware is to not pay the price of a no fluorescence diamond, if you are offered one WITH fluorescence especially in a retail environment.

More tomorrow! Thanks for reading :)

Ring Design Sketch Draft

An idea always begins with a sketch. 

I love to draw all angles of various views of the ring at the same time. 

Top, front, side and 30 degree angle to scale 2:1.

It is from understanding how high a diamond needs to sit above the hand, how the curves in the shoulder of the band sweep to meet the main gem stone that creates a beautiful ring. The front view of a sketch often throws many off as it is probably the least easy to appreciate. 

You see the full ring size engulfing (or sometimes seemingly to dwarf) the main diamond and the view is less flattering as we rarely look at a ring straight on from the front. 

The top view is the money-shot, made famous by Tiffany's solitaire engagement ring image.

 

So the top view is where women fall head over heels for. Is this a top view you like to see on your hand everyday? The height of the ring in any design is really crucial and that is also where proportions of the ring will change and be enhanced, even by that mere 1mm. I will share more designs as we go. Thanks for reading :)

Fancy Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring

Have you seen a stunning Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond up close?

In natural light, they exhibit a beautiful blue sparkle that will take you by surprise as the diamond is essentially yellow coloured.

Yellow diamonds, and fancy-colored diamonds in general, continue to grow in popularity. Larger yellow diamonds have made headlines in recent years for their natural beauty and gemological rarity. With natural fancy-colored diamonds, the value increases with intensity of color and how evenly distributed the colour runs through the rock. See GIA Color Scale Chart below:

Diamonds that display color purity--or the absence of modifying colors, Meaning the Fancy Intense and the Fancy Vivid--command the highest prices in the marketplace.
 
They are the Canary Yellow diamonds coveted and adorned by the celebrities of Hollywood. Carrie Underwood, Heidi Klum, Paris Hilton... just to name a few.

How a diamond is faceted also affects the brilliance and fire of the color bouncing back to your eye. If you are looking for a fancy colored diamond, being able to view the stone and have a second opinion from a reputable jeweller is a must. See how the color chat also links us back to the white diamond color chart?

Have you found the dream engagement ring design?

 

Every other day, I will meet a client who will be beaming as he or she shows me a picture cut-out from a magazine, or on their iPad or iPhone with an image of the most beautiful ring they had seen. 

This stunningly rare 16.01-carat yellow diamond ring unveiled by Birks Jewelry Store is a fine example. Bear in mind an image that takes your breath away is often done so with clever photoshop and most of all its proportion in size of the centre gem. 

It is a designer's dream to design with a large diamond for it does allow more room to play with especially details in the bezel setting. Look close to see more yellow diamonds and a lovely petal shape formation underneath the main stone. This unfortunately cannot be achieved with a stone under the 1.00ct. And sometimes my job to bring a happy lady back down earth. My finished sketch for the client is of a 5 carat Cushion cut center diamond with just beautiful proportions. I had so much fun and look forward to see the finished product.

To be honest a 1.00ct to 1.50ct diamond is much easier to wear everyday than a 5.00ct (lifestyle depending of course). So if a 5.00ct or a 16 carat diamond is not for now, a smaller gem will can still be crafted to a stunning, gorgeous finish custom designed ring.

2.00ct Diamond Stud Earrings for your Engagement

I once had this conversation with a fellow jewellery designer that after sketching and helping so many clients with their engagement ring, that her choice of an 'engagement gift' is not the ring, but a stunning beautiful pair of diamond studs. I know the struggle first hand when the time came for me to choose my own ring design. My now husband got away with this one! But studs! Remember you get TWO diamonds... That's just brilliant an idea! For the modern, strong woman, who loves her hands free, plays lots of sports or music and is probably left handed.. (the ring gets so in the way).

Here's story to share.

It's one of those days... where size is clearly relative. My one carat round brilliant cut engagement ring all but looks a baby next to this lone stud earring, of a 2.00ct diamond size (each) with a further enhancement of the halo ring effect adding a definite impact to them.

Those are my client's every day earrings, which her young son had placed in his mouth, thinking they were lollies when he saw them in her jewellery box. True story! She had to have them cleaned (for obvious reasons, check out this photo) but thankful he spat them out. The son was a very normal four-year old who loves sweets :)

Beautiful pair of stud earrings, are they to die for?

The Diamond Stud Earrings

It feels like since eternity, there has been this infatuation and allure and the diamond stud earrings.
The classic, elegant accessory and must-have in every woman's wardrobe. Goes with everything you wear and of course the bigger the better.

What most love about it, including myself, is its understated elegance. A definite symbol of wealth, I get enquiries several times a day about prices, sizes, quality, design you name it...

No where else to put your hard earned $ but on your ears, and you cant even see it! That is until you walk right in front of a mirror or any highly reflective surface.

Check out these familiar stars, Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckam, Eva Longoria and how gorgeous those diamonds look.

I have a matching pair in 1.00ct F-SI2 GIA XXX - the DREAM DIAMOND STUD size made-up and ready for a client. With studs, my best advice is SIZE. Colour and Clarity can come secondary, since they are much further away than the ring on the hand. So grab a beautiful pair in brilliant round or Cushion cut and sparkle away! Enquire today.

Mining Pink Argyle Diamonds with Rio Tinto

There has always been stories I wonder how true, spun by diamond traders and merchants about the rarity of the amazing Pink diamonds and their source of origin - the Argyle Diamond Mine.

Argyle is known for its production of rare pink diamonds and is a large contributor to the ‎East Kimberley economy, with 70 percent of the mine's workforce from the local area.

Just days ago, Rio Tinto officially opened its Argyle underground diamond mine after a major capital improvement project that the company expects will extend the life of mine beyond 2020. ‎

‎“The new Argyle underground mine has allowed us to extend the life of this iconic asset ‎for Rio Tinto and Western Australia," said Alan Davies, the CEO of Rio Tinto's  ‎diamonds and minerals division.‎
What it means is this $2.2 billion underground project is expected to restore annual production to around 20 million carats, ‎compared with only 8.471 million carats mined in 2012.

Since its ‎launch about 25 years ago, approximately 800 million carats of diamonds have been ‎mined at the Argyle mine. ‎Rio Tinto explained that the underground mine uses the latest in block caving technology and is ‎the first of its kind in Western Australia.

It's common knowledge in the diamond trade that when pink diamonds were first discovered more than 25 years ago, it fell into the category of 'champagnes' and 'browns' for most did not know how precious and rare they are. It is only after much research and discovery of its scarcity that we can call it a 'freak of nature' for scientists cannot quite explain in chemistry why they turned pink in the ground. Afterall they hold the same chemical carbon composition like any diamond.

Read about the Argyle Diamond Tender, where the most exceptional and rare diamonds are sold by annual invitation-only tender. The Tender represents the opportunity to bid on exceptional diamonds that are not publicly available.  For every 1,000,000 carats (200 kg) of rough pink diamonds produced by the mine, only 1 carat (0.20 g) polished will be offered for sale at the tender. The invitation-only tender event is a highlight of the coloured diamond industry's calendar. An insight to how the tender is conducted, is like a blind auction where you place a closed bid and if you do not win the auction, you know it is sold for more than your bid price, but not what it went for.

Blame the Japanese and the crop of Chinese fascinated with the colour Pink. For most of the brightest and the best, mined from Western Australia, often that way before it comes onto the Australian market.There simply isn't enough demand compared to its allure to our foreign neighbours.

Despite the Argyle Pink diamond's exclusive rarity not available to the public, if you are interested in owning one, I have the means. Perhaps a rare beauty of a pink diamond for your engagement ring?

"Will you marry me?" says Prince Charming on his white horse

Buy this Fragrance & experience the romance of riding white horses with your loved one...

One of my all time favorite true proposal stories I love to tell... depicted by this beautiful image.

The picture of Ralph Lauren's Women's fragrance Romance brings a smile to my face. (By the way it is not quite easy to kiss and ride two horses yet look feminine, romantic and elegant all at the same time. So credit to Ralph Lauren's marketing team for capturing such a brilliant picture. )

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Perhaps it's the fairytale of Cinderella, Snow White... blame Disney Princesses! But something about white horses galloping gallantly away into the sunset conjures romantic happy ever after imagery.

He was a quietly confident man, soft-spoken and gentle in demeanor. Ordinary yet quirky at the same time. Sitting down in our jewellery boutique, he started to relate his engagement proposal as they all do, when they feel so comfortable like we as consultants have become their mate. It was a quiet late afternoon after a busy lunch time and the team on the floor started to gather around him as he shared his experience. Adding the 'Oooo..'s and the 'Aahhh... 's at the appropriate time like it was perfectly rehearsed.


"... I first planned to rent a Horse Drawn Carriage to ride up to my girlfriend's house and propose, but I decided to go that step further, learn some horse riding , then lease a nice white horse.... which I did..." he spoke so excitedly. His girlfriend is a teacher at the local primary school, so he thought to it innovative to take it that step further, seeking permission from the school principal and staff to propose to his beloved at morning assembly in front of the whole school.

I can hear all our hearts racing as me and my team listened intently to his story. I know many ladies including myself, would have died (of shock? embarrassment? horror?) if my boyfriend asked to marry me in front of a few hundred people, young or old, dressed in a rented gleaming crisp white suit, and riding to morning school assembly on a pristine white stallion (or as in the movie Shrek... a noble steed). Coming down from his horse, going down on one knee, and saying those words through a microphone already waiting for him, as he pulled out the ring box...

Well that is exactly what he did. It really takes one to know another. It takes someone so brave and mad dare I say to carry out what he planned. It also takes a girl so brave to say 'YES' in front of so many and probably recount this tale to the last day of her life, laughing or cringing? Perhaps she can still hear the thunderous applause and cheering that must errupt from the assembly of students, in awe of what they had just witnessed. Oh bless the little girls who love Disney...

He thanks us for all the help for his beautiful engagement ring and strides out of the boutique grinning ear-to-ear, beaming a smile he cannot wipe from his face.

Cheers to romance!