Announcements

The gavel fell at $12.9 million for the 101.41 carat ‘Juno’ diamond and $0.7 million for the 111.59 carat ‘Earth Star’ at Sotheby’s New York last week, pushing the total sum for this distinctive pair of pear shaped diamonds over the $13 million mark.

IGI has analyzed and graded a 30.18 carat emerald cut laboratory grown diamond, the world’s largest to date. Produced by Ethereal Green Diamond, LLP the 30.18 ct “Pride of India” is the first polished lab grown diamond to exceed 30 cts.

IGI Education Director John Pollard will join Rob Bates, Tanya Nisguretsky and Marty Hurwitz to present “The State of Lab Grown Diamond Industry” this Thursday. Rather than the usual “pro/con” arguments, the panel will address evolving new topics including melee, the implications of patent expirations and paradigm shifts in planning and cutting.

IGI recently graded 27.27 carat, 20.24 carat and 15.16 carat lab grown diamonds produced by Greenlab Diamonds LLP as part of their “sustainable and affordable luxury” project. The 27.27 and 20.24 carat gemstones are the largest polished lab grown diamonds ever produced.

Petra Diamonds, owner of the legendary Cullinan diamond mine, is looking to sell their Koffiefontein mine, a sister operation acquired from DeBeers’ in 2007. Established in 1870, Koffiefontein is one of South Africa’s oldest diamond mines, located just 50 miles south of Kimberley.

A phenomenal 50 carat diamond is available for viewing by appointment in Palm Beach. The centerpiece of a high jewelry collection titled “Graffabulous,” the new owner of this historic D Flawless oval cut will have the opportunity to name the diamond before Graff adds it to their timeline of famous gemstones.

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.

IGI will offer complimentary consultation services to attendees of this week’s Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show. The five day event is taking place Wednesday-Sunday March 23-27 at Expo Centre Sharjah, UAE, and is expected to attract more than 60,000 visitors and 500 industry brands.

The 2022 GEM Awards, presented by Jewelers of America, will take place in New York tomorrow night, marking the event’s 20th anniversary. The black tie affair at Cipriani 42nd Street begins at 6:30 pm with a social hour followed by the GEM Awards dinner.

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.

“The mother of all fairs,” Jewellery & Gem World (JGW) will temporarily relocate from Hong Kong to Singapore in 2022. The move is made with pandemic restrictions in mind, with a goal of becoming more accessible to international suppliers and buyers. Update: The event will now be staged September 27-30 at the Singapore Expo.

Mountain Province Diamonds, joint-owner of Canada’s Gahcho Kué diamond mine, has announced a supply agreement with Chow Tai Fook, one of the world’s top jewelers. Under the terms of the agreement, Chow Tai Fook will purchase a selected range of rough diamonds from Mountain Province over a renewable one year period.

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 Year of the Tiger officially began on February 1, marking the start of holiday festivities celebrated by nearly two billion people around the world. To all who are celebrating Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year and Spring Festival this week, IGI wishes you health, prosperity and a joyful year ahead.

In 2017 Nick Boulle became the first certified Rolex retailer to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This weekend he’ll compete in the 24 hour sunset-sunrise event again, driving the No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R, which boasts the name of his family’s Texas based jewelry store.

IGI has analyzed world record setting 150.42 and 141.48 carat lab grown diamond crystals produced by Meylor Global. These crystals smash the previous world record of 115 carats, also set by Meylor Global in September, 2020.

The legendary Mir Diamond Mine, built at the order of Joseph Stalin, had a surface operation which lasted 44 years. The recent discovery of an estimated 38 million carats of diamond reserves at Mir have now led to optimism from Mining giant Alrosa about its restoration and further development.

John Pollard is a professional educator who has been collaborating on projects with IGI for more than a decade. On January 1, 2022 he became Senior Director of Education for the institute.

Around the world, IGI welcomes the arrival of New Year’s Day over a period of 16 hours. As we celebrate from one location to the next and the next – we like to share this collection of positive expressions and sentiments.

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.

Rio Tinto Minerals has named Angela Bigg the President and Chief Operating Officer operator of their Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Angela will be the first female to oversee the mine and its 1,100 employees.

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.