eye-candy

On May 11 a 228.31 carat diamond discovered in South Africa more than 20 years ago, will become the largest white diamond ever sold at auction, according to auction house Christie’s, with a presale estimate between $20 and $30 million.

Creativity in diamond design continues to expand, thanks to the expanded possibilities offered by the CVD growth process. IGI recently graded another groundbreaking creation, an 8.96 carat Fancy Intense Green cannabis-inspired lab grown diamond.

Christian Dior founded his business on the 8th of October in 1946. Located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, his atelier included 8 studios from an 8 story building situated on Avenue Montaigne. Now Christian Dior’s favorite number has been “written in stone,” to celebrate a historic reopening.

This Hamsa-inspired pendant, recently graded by IGI, features a single 13.28 carat Fancy Vivid Blue lab grown diamond as the […]

Winifred Mason created her first piece of jewelry in 1940, a pendant made of bronze, copper and silver. In the years that followed she began filling orders for prestigious Fifth Avenue stores in New York, including Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdales. She is considered by many to be the first commercial black jeweler in the USA.

Sotheby’s is taking an exceptional 15.10 carat fancy vivid blue diamond on a world tour, with a pre-sale estimate of $48 million.

The world’s largest cut diamond, a 555.55 carat fancy black named has a new owner and a new name. Purchased by Richard Heart, founder of cryptocurrency company HEX, the diamond’s name will change from The Enigma to the HEX.com diamond.

Art Smith was a visionary jewelry artist who pioneered many innovations in the mid 1900s, including bold geometric pieces that both cover and reveal the body. Today we spotlight this 11 minute video, celebrating Art Smith.

As we approach February 6, the date of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, The Natural Diamond Council regales us with the story behind her breathtaking coronation diamonds. It seems ‘only natural’ to share the council’s stories on these forever-diamonds, as we move into the 70th year of this beloved monarch’s reign.

Town & Country’s Lynn Yaeger, who also pens for Vogue and the New Yorker, has offered refreshing perspective for jewelry lovers, portraying the act of self-gifting as “self-care.”

A 555.55 carat diamond, recorded in the Guinness World Records as the largest polished black diamond in existence, will be offered at a single-lot auction at Sotheby’s early next month. The online sale will be without reserve, and cryptocurrency will be accepted as payment.

The auction market soared to new heights in 2021, with a total of $12.6 billion in sales brought in worldwide […]

The Billionaire Ashoka Watch is covered with more than 171 carats of diamonds. The crown of the watch, at 3 o’clock, has been seen with different accents, including a rose cut diamond, an emerald, and a ruby. Here are videos featuring all three accents.

In November we announced the results of the IGI Expressions™ Jewelry Design Competition. Now we are pleased to feature all seven winning creations together, bringing our coverage of this uplifting event to a close.

Earlier this month Bailey’s Fine Jewelry in Raleigh, North Carolina, created a fairy tale gingerbread and gemstone house, valued at more than $1.27 million. Best of all, it features diamonds, pearls and gemstones, not a cannibalistic witch.

IGI congratulates Malvika Vadsak, honored for her winning IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year’s creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream,” the competition’s theme.

IGI congratulates Melika Etemadi, receiving Honorary Mention for her IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year’s creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream,” the competition’s theme.

IGI congratulates Leila Bahrami, honored for her winning IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year’s creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream,” the competition’s theme.

IGI congratulates Shirin Kazemi, honored for her winning IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year’s creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream,” the competition’s theme.

IGI congratulates Sanaz Ghafari, honored for her winning IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year’s creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream,” the competition’s theme.

IGI congratulates Haniyeh Mohsenizadeh, honored for her winning IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year’s creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream,” the competition’s theme.

IGI congratulates Dr. Dushyant Dave, honored for his winning IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year’s creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream,” the competition’s theme.

As lab grown producers continue to sharpen their skills we are seeing quality advancements in many areas, including fancy colors. This video compilation features a visual buffet of lab grown diamonds, recently submitted to IGI North America for grading.

On November 9 a pair of three-strand diamond bracelets, formerly owned by Marie Antoinette, smashed expectations at Christie’s Magnificent Gems Auction in Geneva, when they sold for 7,459,000 Swiss Francs (more than $8 million), several times more than their pre-sale estimate.