eye-candy

Earlier this month IGI received two large HPHT-produced lab-grown diamonds for analysis and grading. One of those stones has become the Guinness World Record Holder for the largest black lab-grown diamond in history.

Can we call them the Blues Brothers? Individually weighing 25.75 carats, 21.25 carats, 17.57 carats, 11.42 carats and 9.61 carats, Petra Diamonds reports that these spectacular siblings were assessed to be individual stones, not originally part of a larger diamond.

An exceptionally rare, clear diamond “the size of a lollipop” is being offered without reserve at auction by Sotheby’s. According to the auction house, an item of this historic importance and value has never been offered with no-reserve before.

The last two 100+ carat diamonds, unearthed over a span of 48 hours, are the 10th and 11th gem-quality stones weighing more than 100 carats found at Letšeng this year. At an elevation of more than 10,000 feet, the world’s highest diamond mine also boasts the world’s highest value-per-carat.

The Argyle Diamond Mine in the remote east Kimberley region of Western Australia is scheduled to close by the end of 2020 following nearly forty years of production. “One Lifetime, One Encounter” is an auction event, offering a collection of the rarest diamonds extracted there over a year’s production.

A well-organized compilation of 10 beautiful Graff creations, splendidly set to music. Settle in for 13 minutes and 13 seconds of glorious, uplifting creations from the masters at Graff.

This 10+ carat HPHT produced lab-grown diamond was initially graded Fancy Intense Yellow by IGI. When it returned to the lab its color had been changed to Fancy Vivid Pink. IGI confirmed that the color had been shifted from yellow to pink through irradiation using a 5MeV Electron Beam Transfer system.

IGI has called upon the world’s creatives to step forward, with resounding success. With notice of abundant entries pending, the deadline for submission has been reset to the end of August due to popular demand.

Participation is free: IGI has called upon the world’s creatives to step forward and contribute. The 2020 IGI JEWEL Jewelry Design Contest invites jewelers, artists, teachers, students and fans alike to submit design-concepts in four categories.

Last year, Hong Kong based Coronet, a division of Aaron Shum Jewelry, set the Guinness World Record for most diamonds set on a watch at Baselworld, with “Mudan,” adorned with an astonishing 15,858 diamonds weighing 50.01 carats.

The Ebelyakh mine in Yakutia has yielded a number of remarkable colored diamonds in the past several years, including this newcomer. A 236 carat yellow-brown crystal which is the largest colored rough diamond ever extracted in Russia.

No matter if I am Black, Crystal, White, Fire, Water or in a Matrix, depending on the basic color and in a decreasing progression of red, violet, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo… The title of Noble Opal is the one that I deserved and I still deserve.

A chance to win awards, cash-prizes, education, recognition and exposure: The 2020 IGI JEWEL Jewelry Design Contest invites jewelers, artists, teachers, students and fans alike to submit design-concepts in four categories by August 20. Participation is free of charge and open to anyone, whether professional or not.

Maynard Ferguson had a different blues in mind when composing his jazz masterpiece for the 1993 album “It’s My Time,” but blue diamonds have a special appeal and character all their own. Like the call and response motifs which characterize blues jazz, blue diamonds seem to call out to each other in their individual but harmonious combinations of hue, tone and saturation.

The July Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction did not disappoint, in items offered or bids commanded. I thought I would share a few of my favorite jewelry items sold – and sprinkle in another genre or two, just for fun.

Have you ever heard of “trapiche” gemstones? Those elegant six- pointed stars, so unique, so rare, so peculiar, such as emerald-beryl, ruby-corundum and sapphire-corundum, garnet, tourmaline and chiastolite? What about Carmel Sapphire, never found before on the whole terraqueous globe

An extremely rare variety of beryl which gets its red color from trace amounts of manganese, the Utah Geological Survey estimated that one crystal of red beryl is found for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds. In 2006 the Jewelers Association designated red beryl as the world’s rarest colored gemstone.

Whether it’s imagination, disagreement or politics over rare and expensive objects, or planets aligning poorly – there are a number of gemstones rumored to curse those who own them. Of course, in at least one famous case below, the rumors may have been exaggerated to appeal to a buyer. But whatever the case there’s entertainment value in what I’m bringing below.

Four of the most magnificent diamonds in recent years have come from the same Lucara-owned Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana in recent years. I thought to assemble a visual feast of delicious rough and how they polished. My sparkling smorgasbord even includes both light and dark meat.

The “disappearing diamond” is a 16.87 carat natural Fancy Vivid Yellow SI1 Radiant shape, coated by carbon nanotube technology which absorbs more than 99.96% of light and is the blackest material in existence.

Did you ever wonder what happened to the incredible Esperanza Diamond? After a charmed journey, but a failed auction, this national treasure is still for sale. Let’s re-visit her unique story and see where things stand today.

The Guinness World Record for most diamonds set in one ring belongs to the IGI-graded Lotus Temple ring created by Mumbai’s Lakshikaa Jewels. Enjoy this wonderful video documenting the careful grading of each of its seven components.

What’s on your watch-list? Bookmark this post and get some popcorn ready. There are nearly 24 sparkling hours of well-known jewelry themed movies listed below. These 10 cinematic classics span more than 80 years. I’m not going to play favorites (even though I have one), so here they are in alphabetical order.

On this USA holiday, when we honor and remember those who serve our country, I thought it would be appropriate to visit symbolic tokens along the same lines. Patriotic jewelry has traditionally connected sweethearts, wives, mothers and families at home to loved ones fighting overseas.