Serious Christmas Spirit: Abu Dhabi Hosts $11 Million Christmas Tree

The Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, just debuted its $11 million dollar Christmas tree. Kind of puts your $50 six-footer to shame, huh?

A Tree's Best Friend.

Before you ask what could possibly make a tree--even a 43-foot tall tree--cost $11 million, we'll tell you: jewelry. Lots and lots of jewelry. The artificial tree is bedecked with 181 pieces, including diamonds, pearls, emeralds, and rubies, along with "more mundane gold and silver balls and bows." Well yes, we would expect that nearly anything put next to a $3.5 million diamond set would strike one as "mundane."

A Record In The Making.

Because hosting a massive piece of thief-bait isn't enough, the hotel is looking to get the tree recognized by the Guinness Book Of World Records as "the world's most expensively dressed," going up against a Japanese tree dressed to the tune of $10.8 million. If Emirates Palace does take the honor, it will join their Guinness record for the world's most expensive shot of alcohol (a $2,000 cognac). Here's hoping.

Victoria's Secret unveils 2008 'Fantasy Bra'

After reading this article, I mused "some things never change!" I suppose these creations are figments of the imagination in the artist' mind. With the current economy, you'd think Victoria's Secret would be less inclined to be so ostentatious. But hey...it's makes the news, right?

Have a good one.


October 20, 2008

The Victoria's Secret 2008 Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra features 3,575 black diamonds, 117 one-carat round diamonds and 34 rubies.

Columbus, Ohio—With the holiday season approaching, Victoria's Secret unveiled its annual jewel-encrusted "Fantasy Bra" on Monday, with this year's lingerie creation totaling more than 1,000 carats and valued at $5 million.

Jeweler Martin Katz crafted the 2008 Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra using 3,575 black diamonds, 117 certified one-carat round diamonds and 34 rubies.

The piece de resistance of the bra's design, however, is two black-diamond drops totaling 100 carats.

Dubbed "the ultimate fantasy gift" by the Columbus, Ohio, intimate apparel company, the bra, modeled by supermodel Adriana Lima, is adorned with 3,900 gems and totals 1,500 carats.

Victoria's Secret has been partnering with jewelers to create an over-the-top bedazzled bra since 1996.

Past Fantasy Bra creations include 2006's "Hearts On Fire Fantasy Bra," a balconet-style brassiere with more than 2,000 diamonds weighing a total of 800 carats and modeled by Karolina Kurkova.

That bra's estimated value was $6.5 million and marked the 10th anniversary of the Fantasy Bra.

Christie's to auction 101-carat diamond

Hong Kong—Christie's will put a 101.27-carat diamond on the auction block on May 28 during its spring jewelry sale in Hong Kong.

The gemstone is the largest colorless diamond to appear at auction in 18 years and bidding is expected to exceed $6 million. The winning bidder will have the privilege of naming the stone.

The stone was cut from a 460-carat rough diamond, certified by the Gemological Institute of America as having F color, VVSI clarity and an "excellent" grade in both polish and symmetry.

"Only three colorless diamonds of over 100 carats have ever appeared at auction, all sold in Geneva," Christie's Chairman of Jewelry Francois Curiel said in a statement. "With Asia becoming such a vibrant market, it is fitting that this rarest gem should be offered on May 28 to the growing number of collectors in this region."

The diamond will be unveiled during Christie's Spring Masterpieces Exhibition, scheduled for Feb. 23-27 in London.

Christie's jewelry auctions take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Geneva; Hong Kong; London; New York; Paris and Milan, Italy.

The auction house reported jewelry sales of $395 million in 2007, an 11 percent increase over 2006 sales of $355 million.Other notable diamonds recently auctioned off by Christie's include the 53.71-carat "Dubai Magnificence," a pear-shaped, D-color, flawless-clarity stone sold in New York in December.

Red carpet ripped out from jewelry designers

February 05, 2007

By Beth Braverman

Hollywood, Calif.—George Clooney and Julia Roberts were not the only losers at the 65th Golden Globe Awards. Also among the disappointed were fashion houses, makeup artists, hotels and—of course—jewelry designers.

The Globes appeared a lot less golden this year, as organizers did away with the red carpet and the traditional black-tie trappings. The annual ceremony, which kicks off Hollywood's awards season, has served in the past as a harbinger of jewelry and fashion trends for the Academy Awards and the rest of the year.

"The Golden Globes give such exposure to jewelry designers," says Helena Krodel, associate director of media for the Jewelry Information Center. "A good picture of a celebrity wearing a designer's jewelry will appear not only in coverage of the event but also throughout the year in trend reports and in dos and don'ts lists.

Without the Globes, jewelry companies are
placing product at smaller events. Sarah Michelle Gellar
wore 18-karat yellow gold rose-cut diamond earrings
and bangles by Amrapali of Jaipur to a movie premiere on Jan. 15.

"Savvy to this significance, Platinum Guild International (PGI) has, for the past five years, hosted a suite to outfit celebrities with millions of dollars in borrowed jewels for the bash.

In early January, PGI decided to cancel the suite because many actors had said they would not cross picket lines to attend the Golden Globes. A few days later, NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced plans to downsize the Golden Globes from a three-hour, glitz-filled TV event that draws more than a thousand celebrities and media moguls to a Golden Globe Awards Winners Special hosted by Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell.

In the absence of the red carpet, celebrity presenters, audience members and the actual handing out of awards, Bush and O'Dell were reduced to delivering the names of the winners as if they were a couple of news anchors. Normally fantastic fodder for the juggernaut of celebrity media, this year's event received little coverage.

"From the [perspective of the] jewelry industry, it is really a shame," says Michael O'Connor, PGI's senior vice president of marketing communication and public relations. "We had 42 designers [who would have shown in the suite] who literally had the red carpet pulled out from under them. They have lost the consumer brand awareness and celebrity placement that they normally get."

Besides garnering press play for stars and for platinum, the PGI awards suite provides stylists and their famous clients access to lesser-known jewelry designers.The writers' strike began on Nov. 5 when scribes walked off the job after failing to arrive at an agreement with studios regarding, among other things, their right to digital distribution profits.

"Even the big houses rely so heavily on public relations and the red carpet at these events," Krodel says. "This is one of the only chances for the really big pieces to get exposure.

These sapphire and diamond earrings

in platinum by Oscar Heyman

exemplify the type of blockbuster-level

jewelry Hollywood stars might have

worn on the red carpet at the Golden Globes.

"The People's Choice Awards, typically less important for jewelry designers, also cancelled its red carpet and traditional format when it aired on Jan. 16. The Screen Actors Guild Awards proceeded as planned on Jan. 27, thanks to its union ties and included a red carpet. But it was barely a blip on the ratings radar, with just 6.1 million viewers compared with the nearly 40 million who watched last year's Academy Awards.

At press time, writers had not yet announced whether or not they would picket the more influential Academy Awards, set for Feb. 24, which could lead to a similar scaling down of the ceremony.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed, because the Golden Globes are important, but the monster is the Oscars," says Chris Aire, a jewelry designer and red-carpet regular. "If the Oscars still happen, I think we'll be OK."

At press time, writers had agreed not to picket the Grammy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 10.However, Aire and other designers have also begun looking at other opportunities for product placement to make up for the lost Globes red carpet. Aire has jewelry appearing in three upcoming movies and plans to bulk up his advertising this year.


These rose-cut diamond earrings by
Amrapali of Jaipur would likely
have made the red carpet at the Globes.

Bochic, the New York-based designer-jewelry firm, saw its star soar last year after Angelina Jolie wore its vintage-style necklace and earrings to the Golden Globes, and that alone seems to have prevented a case of red-carpet withdrawal this year.

"Red-carpet events are a fixture right through the year in Hollywood, and because we have the Bochic collection in our public relations showroom year-round, we are known to celebrities and their stylists as a source for red-carpet jewelry," says Ginnina D'Orazio of D'Orazio and Associates, which handles publicity for Bochic as well as for other red-carpet brands such as Le Vian and Hellmuth. "In addition, we provide jewelry for many editorial shoots with celebrities throughout the year, so in many ways, it's simply business as usual."




Globe trends that struck out

If the Golden Globes had aired, you would have seen these trends, experts say:

Shorter earrings: Shoulder dusters get brushed aside this year for shorter drop earrings and larger cluster-style earrings that lie on the lobe.

Brooches: Pins have popped back into fashion's forefront, especially flower- and starburst-themed brooches.

Colors: Large, smooth gemstones—particularly in pink, blue and green hues—accent colorful gowns that stars are choosing lately. Cocktail rings remain a red-carpet favorite.

Yellow gold: While platinum remains a hands-down favorite at Hollywood's most dressed-up events, risk-taking, fashion-forward celebrities have made the move to rich, yellow gold designs.
Bold pendants: Shorter earrings put the emphasis on the neck, where big, vintage-feeling medallions look just right this season.


Editor's note: This story first appeared in the February 2008 issue of National Jeweler.

ACTRESS, EVA GREEN "SPARKLES" IN WHITE GOLD

11:44:38 GMT, 31 December, 2007
World Gold Council

Actress Eva Green sparkled in unique gold jewellery items at a recent film premiere, BusinessIntelligence Middle East has reported.

The star, who previously played a James Bond heroine opposite Daniel Craig in Casino Royale and is currently starring in The Golden Compass, sported the Montblanc Dentelle white gold jewellery set at a London premiere in Leicester Square.

Ms. Green's white gold and diamond necklace was the result of eight years of painstaking research and has an estimated value of $2.1 million (£1.04 million).

Her earrings, also a combination of white gold and Montblanc diamonds, had an estimated value of $750,000.

Ms Green has chosen to wear jewellery crafted by Montblanc on a number of occasions since she first presented at the Acadamy Awards last February, the firm said.

Born in Paris, France, Eva Green has also starred in The Dreamers and Kingdom of Heaven and is the fifth French-born actress to play a Bond girl, according to the Internet Movie Database.



The news feeds on this site are independently provided by Adfero Limited © and do not represent the views or opinions of the World Gold Council.

Eddie Murphy engaged!

July 30, 2007
Source: OK! Magazine

Questions about a ring worn by Tracey Edmonds prompted Shrek star Eddie Murphy to respond, "If I were gonna do an engagement ring, it would be much bigger." Two days later the actor/comedian proposed to his girlfriend of 10 months, slipping an estimated eight-carat yellow diamond Cartier engagement ring on her finger.

The couple is planning to have a romantic, low-key wedding before the end of the year. This will be the second trip down the aisle for both Murphy and Edmonds, who was previously married to singer Kenneth “Baby Face” Edmonds for 13 years. Murphy and his first wife Nicole Mitchell were married for 12 years.

His previous relationship and recent paternity battle with Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls have been an ongoing topic in celebrity news.

TOP FALL JEWELRY TRENDS REVEALED

July 30, 2007

New York—Bold cuffs, organic forms and personalized pieces are some of the hottest trends for fall jewelry, according to a Jewelry Information Center (JIC) seminar held at the JA New York Summer Show on Sunday.

Bracelets will remain the "it" fashion accessory for fall in cuff styles that feature freeform precious metal, nature themes, enamel detailing and bright faceted or cabochon gemstones. Bangles will also be on trend in hand-hammered high-karatage metals with rose-cut diamonds. Thin "personal" bracelets, created from cord, rubber, plastic or woven gold and colored fabric, are also expected to be popular, especially when paired with symbols of sentimentality.

Gem-laden cocktail rings will share the spotlight this season with wide bands highlighting intricate carving or hand-hammered metals. Stacking rings are also sure to be a hit.

Non-traditional hearts, lock and keys, crowns and other girlie motifs will emerge as top pendant trends, along with monograms, emblems, coins and crests.

Medallions will still be in vogue, typically in round shapes with double-sided designs. Carved or openwork designs make the style more affordable, and many will be hung low on rubber cord or string for a more organic feel.

Houston museum to highlight Verdura

July 20, 2007



Houston—The Houston Museum of Natural Science will offer the first-ever exhibit of Verdura-designed jewelry this fall.

Verdura's "Wrapped Heart" brooch will be on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science this fall.

"Verdura: The Life and Work of a Master Jeweler" will appear in The Lester and Sue Smith Gem Vault at the museum from Nov. 16-Feb. 17.

Duke Fulco di Verdura (1898-1978) created intensely colored jewelry inspired by natural forms and classical patterns. He began his career in 1927 as a textile designer for Coco Chanel.

Chanel named Verdura head designer for her private and boutique jewelry collection, a title he maintained for eight years. In 1935, he created the iconic Maltese Cross Cuffs that Chanel wore throughout her life.

The cuffs will go on display at the exhibit, along with a curb-link bracelet watch created for Greta Garbo and brooches created for Clare Luce Boothe.

Admission to the exhibit is free with general admission to the museum.

West Coast Diamond Thief

Watch out for West Coast switch artist
July 13, 2007

New York—The Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) is warning jewelers on the West Coast to be on the lookout for a man who is allegedly asking jewelers to view diamonds and then swapping the stones with cubic zirconia.

According to the warning, the man enters retail jewelry stores and asks to see the largest set of diamond earrings that the jeweler has on hand. After examining the goods, he leaves the store and then returns shortly thereafter to view the pieces again and switch the diamonds for cubic zirconia. The thief tends to focus on high-end department stores, and has hit in Santa Monica, Calif., and Portland, Ore., among other locations, according to the JSA.

Authorities believe the man has contacts in Alaska, Arizona, California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington. The San Diego Police Department has connected the man to at least six pending diamond-switch cases on the West Coast, the JSA says.

The suspect is a white male who is described to be about 34 years old, approximately 6 feet tall and 185 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, police say.

Jewelers with information on the suspect may contact Detective Timothy Johnson at the San Diego Police Department at (619) 744-9515.

And the Bride Wore Bling; Parker, Longoria Wed

MODERN JEWELRY TRENDS

by Cheryl Kremkow

You’ve heard of trophy wives, of course. A newer phenomenon is trophy couples: celebrities who wed in the spotlight, prompting a mad race to see whose jewelry, dresses, and other bridal booty will benefit from the reflected starlight. Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria and NBA star Tony Parker married at at Saint Germain L’Auxerrois Church in Paris in what is the celebrity wedding of the year so far, one of the couples tying the knot on lucky 7-7-07.

So who won the bridal placement sweepstakes? If you follow these things, you have no doubt heard that the five-carat emerald cut engagement ring was designed by Jean Dousset, a jeweler from Paris who has now also opened a studio in Los Angeles, no doubt to capitalize on the publicity. (Dousset also designed the pendant with Parker’s number 9 that Longoria wears to Spurs games.)

The wedding bands are Piaget, two turning Possession bands in 18K white gold. Hers has two rows of 80 brilliant-cut diamonds separated by a row of 27 square-cut diamonds. His is plain 18k white gold. At the couple’s request, an inscription was engraved inside both rings in French.

The bride’ wore H.Stern’s half-a-million dollar Hebe Earrings in 18K Noble Gold with 17 carats of marquise, cushion, oval & round cut diamonds. The earrings were designed in collaboration between Eva’s longtime stylist and friend Robert Verdi and H.Stern Creative Director Roberto Stern. She also wore a $100,000 diamond bracelet from the H.Stern 2007 Red Carpet Collection to accent her Angel Sanchez gown. Hair Stylist Ken Paves added sparkle to Eva’s hair with H.Stern Zephyr and Geometric hair clips with with more than 15 carats of cognac diamonds.

The gifts for the 13 bridesmaids were also H.Stern: Giardino earrings, each pair $1,000. The bride gave her husband a Piaget watch customized with a large pave diamond number nine on its face.

Some of the gifts to the couple were also occasions for industry publicity. The happy couple received engraved his and her Oceanaut Pacha Cobra watches, set with 1.25 total carats of VS1, G-color diamonds, conflict-free, of course.

Parker/Longoria Engagement photo courtesy of White Lace Wedding

With this bling, Parker, Longoria wed

July 09, 2007

Paris—Tony Parker and Eva Longoria weren't the only lucky ones on July 7. At least three jewelry companies are celebrating after their product was featured at the celebrity wedding this past weekend.

Desperate Housewives star Longoria donned one-of-a-kind H. Stern jewelry as she wed San Antonio Spurs point guard Parker at Saint Germain l'Auxerrois Church in Paris on Saturday, followed by an elaborate reception at the 17th-century Chateau of Vaux le Vicomte.

Longoria wore H. Stern's "Hebe" earrings (left) and "Zephyr" and "Geometric" hair clips for the ceremony and the company's "Isis" earrings for the reception. She also gave H. Stern "Giardino" earrings to each of her 13 bridesmaids.

Each female guest at the wedding, including Longoria's co-stars Nicolette Sheridan, Terri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman, received a Van Cleef and Arpels "Sweet Alhambra" bracelet (right). Based on Van Cleef and Arpels iconic Alhambra design, the 18-karat yellow-gold bracelets feature a miniature mother-of-pearl clover charm. The Sweet Alhambra collection will reach U.S. stores in October.

In addition, a movie producer in attendance gifted the couple with matching his-and-her Oceanaut "Pacha Cobra" watches (left). The Swiss timepieces feature an ETA three-phase chronograph movement, a curved sapphire crystal and a diamond bezel.

Tiffany & Co. Reportedly Speculated To Be Takeover Target - Update

RTT News reports:

[TIF]6/26/2007 12:45:55 AM Monday, jewelry and specialty retail stores operator Tiffany & Co. Inc. (TIF) is once again reportedly speculated to be a takeover target.

Reports suggested that either France-based luxury goods conglomerate LMVH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA is interested in acquiring Tiffany or shareholder Nelson Peltz intends to increase his stake in the company. The company's stock gained more than 3% in Monday's regular trading session.

LMVH is the parent company of around 60 sub-companies that each manage a small number of prestigious brands. The group was formed after mergers brought together champagne producer Moet et Chandon and Hennessy, a manufacturer of cognac, a type of French distilled wine. In 1987, they merged with fashion house Louis Vuitton to form the current group. The group is partly owned by Christian Dior group and operates around 1,500 stores worldwide.

In February, a hedge fund run by billionaire financier Nelson Peltz, Trian Fund Management LP, revealed that it has bought a 5.54% stake in New York-based Tiffany to become the company's largest shareholder. According to the fund's filing with the SEC, it is seeking to help Tiffany improve its margins and earnings per share growth and address various operational and strategic issues, including optimizing global expansion opportunities and evaluating non-core businesses. The fund currently owns 7.5 million shares of the company. Trian Fund also noted that Tiffany's common stock was under valued and that it represented an attractive investment opportunity.

For the recent first quarter, Tiffany & Co. reported a 15% increase in net earnings to $49.66 million from $43.14 million a year ago. On a per share basis, earnings climbed 20% to $0.36, based on 139.72 million shares, from $0.30, based on 144.37 million shares, in the prior-year quarter. Net sales for the quarter grew 15% to $620.88 million from $539.24 million in the previous-year quarter.TIF closed Monday's regular trading session at $51.91, up $1.93 or 3.86% on a volume of 5.64 million shares.

GIA Museum celebrates gem-carving pioneer

June 25, 2007

The use of angles and curves in this sculpture from Bernd Munsteiner reveals the gem-carving master's radical approach to his craft.

Carlsbad, Calif.—A new exhibit at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Museum showcases an innovative body of work from German artist Bernd Munsteiner, a pioneer in the art of gem carving.

The June 8 gala event marking the opening of the exhibit, "Reflections in Stone," drew a capacity crowd eager to meet the "Father of the Fantasy Cut," as Munsteiner is frequently known.

The gem legend sparked a revolution more than 40 years ago when he broke out in an entirely new direction of gem carving. Today, he is best known for turning agates and transparent stones into sculptures and objets d'art. His trademarks include the abstract use of angles, grooves and curves, scaling across the stone.

During the gala event, gem and mineral authors and teachers Si and Ann Frazier delivered a presentation titled "Bernd Munsteiner: Maker of a Gemstone Revolution."

This marks the third presentation in GIA's 2007 Museum Lecture series. The Munsteiner exhibit will be open to the public through March 2008 at GIA's Rotunda Gallery. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, call (760) 603-4000.

DIAMONDS BEYOND CONFLICT

Jewelry Scene
by Ivan Solotaroff

With conflict diamonds—and “Blood Diamond”—safely in the rearview mirror, the World Diamond Council held its fifth annual meeting at Jerusalem’s David Citadel Hotel on May 9 and 10.

Hosted by the Israeli diamond industry, the conference kicked off with a masterful speech by Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres on globalism and the future of worldwide industries such as the diamond. A more supply-side address greeted the closing banquet by the Likud Party’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu. Calling on Ramat Gan (in collaboration with a government he hopes soon to head) to put an end to Belgium as a diamond center, he vowed to bring all Antwerp dealers—“and not only Israelis,” he said, “but Indians as well”—to Ramat Gan to do business.

A comprehensive presentation on the “Blood Diamond” movie, by the Diamond Promotion Service’s Carson Glover and Nancy Orem Lyman, set the tone for much of the meeting to follow: a merging of the industry’s historical responsibilities in Africa and the proactive measures it has taken and must continue to take, both to resolve the issues and to educate the public on their full realities. WDC chairman Eli Izhakoff noted that, rather than harm the industry, the movie “gave us a wonderful opportunity to tell consumers about the great strides we’ve taken toward eliminating the trade in conflict stones.”

Conflict diamonds are now at less than half a percent, by value, of world trade. That figure was agreed to even by industry watchdog, Global Witness’s Alex Yearsley, cited by Izhakoff variously as a “partner” or as “the conscience” of the diamond industry. Yearsley did note, however, that certain productions of the Congo and DRC, while “not, technically, conflict stones, are nonetheless tainted by affiliation with, or controlled by, rebel groups.” He also cited half a dozen countries, including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the Central African Republic, as potential hot-button zones where the industry “would do well to arm itself” against future taint.

He had high praise for the WDC’s mission to Ghana, headed by Charterhouse Street’s Andrew Coxon and the HRD’s Mark von Bockstael, where production and trade of diamonds that had come under the conflict headlights last year were audited extensively on three occasions. Presentations of findings by von Bockstael provided the conference’s gemological and technical highlights. It’s amazing how much the issue has taught us about rough diamonds.

Von Bockstael was one of many to note that the diamond is now the world’s most audited, controlled, and overseen commodity. “Look at timber, fisheries, cars, plasma TVs, even oil,” says Michael Rae of the Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices, “no one has taken the steps we’ve taken.” All, however, were entirely necessary, Rae adds. “In the same way that customers today expect a certificate for diamonds of value, the customer of tomorrow will expect assurances of ethical practices behind the jewelry they’re buying.” Those would extend to simulants, lab-grown diamonds, and enhancements, as well as issues of African beneficiation and the plight of alluvial miners, issues that formed a backdrop to many speakers.

Given the WDC’s success in merging 45 member nations in lockstep cooperation with the Kimberley certification schemes to establish conflict-free status for the world’s legitimate diamonds, it was widely suggested the body go forward on such issues. Will it become, in essence, the arbiter of a fractious and discoordinated industry?

“The WDC must seek to expand its mandate beyond conflict,” says Gareth Penny, managing director of De Beers. “The resource capability of the WDC must be reviewed and where possible increased. It has to be in a position to address issues arising from the governance of our industry, its business ethics, and environmental concerns, and be able to demonstrate awareness of the issues facing the communities in which the industry operates—anywhere in the world.” — Ivan Solotaroff

Soap star appears in Caressa ads

"All My Children" star Leven Rambin is the new face of Caressa. She portrays Lily Montgomery on the show.












June 19, 2007

Belgium—Caressa, a designer-jewelry division of De Beers sightholder Taché, has tapped All My Children star Leven Rambin for its new advertising campaign.

"I am thrilled to be a part of this campaign," Rambin said in a statement. "The Caressa brand is synonymous with elegance and empowerment. It inspires me to achieve my dreams as my most beautiful self.

"In the ads, Caressa unveils two new collections, both inspired by women from the 18th or 19th centuries and aimed at modern female self-purchasers.

The Georgia Collection features a rose motif, and the Lady Brooke Collection features lace dripping with diamonds from a silk or satin and organza cord.

"Women today are not as simple as we pretend to be," Caressa Executive Vice President Kendra Bridel Weinman said in a statement. "We want to do it all—have a successful career, keep up with the fashion trends and have a loving relationship with our perfect family. We tried to capture this in our jewelry collections.

"Photographer Sergio Kurhajec, whose clients include Cosmopolitan, Glamour and GQ, shot the new campaign. The ads debuted in the May 2007 issues of Vogue and W magazines.

Sotheby's sells two diamonds for almost $8M

May 26, 2007

Geneva—Sotheby's auction house sold two yellow diamonds, known as the Donnersmarck Diamonds, for approximately $4.6 million and $3.2 million, during its "Magnificent and Noble Jewels" sale held here on Thursday.The sale—the most successful at Sotheby's Geneva since 2000, with the highest total for a jewelry auction so far this year—brought in a total of $40.5 million. Six lots sold for more than $1 million.Sotheby's attributes the success of the sale to the noble provenance and quality of the jewelry.The Donnersmarck Diamonds, the auction's top two lots, are a pear-shaped diamond weighing 82.48 carats and a cushion-shaped diamond weighing 102.54 carats. Sotheby's had estimated the value of each stone at $1.5 million to $1.95 million.An additional top lot of the night was a diamond necklace from the collection of an Italian Princely family, which sold for $790,583, nearly double its presale estimate of $427,000.

That's an interesting way to transport diamonds

What is amazing and even a bit frightening about this story is that he swallowed and regurgitated it multiple times. A two carat diamond is not huge but 8.2mm (.323 inches) is still noticeable....and how did he end up dropping it down the drain? Perhaps he was just tired of the charade...


California Prisoner Swallows $25,000 Diamond To Hide It

March 10, 2007 12:46 p.m. EST

Nicole King - All Headline News Staff Writer

Orange, CA (AHN) - A diamond worth $25,000 was found stuck in a shower drain at a California prison. A prisoner there is suspected of stealing the two carat colorless diamond two years ago.

Bret Allen Langford, 39, is accused of asking the owner of a jewelry store to show him the diamond in April 2005 and then sped away. Police arrested Langford, but never found the diamond.

An investigator representing Langford told jail officials to search the jail's drains if they wanted to find the stone. Langford told police he stole the diamond and swallowed it and kept regurgitating it every time he was transferred.

Police say the diamond will be cleaned and returned to the jewelry store.