Monthly Archives: June 2012

“Mad Men” Jewelry

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The fashionable women of “Mad Men” captivate with dazzling vintage jewelry

The AMC hit TV sensation “Mad Men” has inspired a revival of ‘60s-era fashion, including vintage and antique jewelry to complement the sleek suits, floral dresses and soft cardigans gracing the show. For discerning men, vintage gold cuff links make the perfect accessory for a 60s-inspired suit or blazer.

Women have a bevy of style options for vintage jewelry similar to the pieces seen on “Mad Men.” Classic diamond stud earrings in yellow gold or white gold are a versatile staple on the show, and can be dressed down and paired with a cardigan or floral dress or worn with a more upscale ensemble such as a vintage cocktail dress. In keeping with the time period, yellow gold jewelry is popular on the show, and vintage yellow gold bracelets, necklaces and earrings make perfect pairings for bombard blouses and bright dresses. Pearls were a hit in the ‘60s as well and can still be versatile jewelry, going well with everyday outfits or more glamorous evening attire.

Antique Diamonds

For diamond lovers, there is no shortage of ’60s-inspired vintage diamond jewelry to choose from. Three-stone diamond engagement rings were popular during that era, with each ring showcasing a brilliant, large center stone flanked by two smaller diamonds. The three diamonds represent love’s past, present and future. Classic diamond solitaire rings were also popular in the ‘60s, often with round, oval or marquise cut diamonds set in yellow gold. In the late ‘60s, hippie styles inspired more asymmetrical diamond ring designs and wider ring bands.

Whether you are going for a glam look, upscale business wear or feminine and casual, you can find the perfect vintage jewelry to complete your vintage-inspired look, and turn heads like the much-watched cast of “Mad Men.”

Beau Sancy Diamond: The Auction of a Lifetime

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Sotheby’s is gearing up to auction off the 400-year old ‘The Beau Sancy’ diamond on May 14 in Geneva, Switzerland. The diamond is among the world’s most coveted jewels due to its illustrious history. And in what has been dubbed “the auction of a lifetime,” the 34.98-carat, colorless, flawless, pear-cut diamond is expected to fetch $4 million.

The Beau Sancy diamond is world-famous for its beauty and is expected to fetch $4 million at auction.

The Beau Sancy diamond took the jewelry world by storm during the 16th century. Originally owned by the Lord of Sancy, the diamond was cut from the famed gem mines in Golconda, India. The trendsetting piece was the first to feature a pear-cut design, which made it rare and highly desirable. The striking look of the diamond was so distinct that subsequent gemstones were fashioned after it.

Thus, the Beau Sancy diamond was instrumental in transforming diamond jewelry from rudimentary shapes to the stylish pieces that are common today.

The Lord of Sancy sold the Beau Sancy diamond to King Henri IV of France in 1604, who bought it as a gift for his wife, Marie de Medici. When the King was assassinated in May of 1610, Medici fell into poverty and was forced to sell her prized possession to Frederick Henry, the Prince of Orange.

Over the last several centuries, the Beau Sancy diamond was passed among several royal European families, and is now owned by the descendants of the last emperor of Germany.

The Beau Sancy diamond is currently on display in Paris. It will make stops in London and Zurich before heading to auction.

15-Carat Yellow Diamond on Display in Toronto

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From May 2 to 6, Toronto jeweler Birks & Mayors Inc. will exhibit the largest fancy yellow diamond jewelry collection in the company’s 133-year history. The exhibit will be held at the prestigious Birks location on Bloor Street in Toronto’s swanky Yorkville neighborhood. The glamorous collection will contain 60 pieces of stunning yellow diamond jewelry, with a combined value of $10 million.

Birks Yellow Diamond: This 15-carat yellow diamond ring will be up for auction at Birks and Mayors in Toronto.

The highlight of Birks’ five-day exhibit is a 15-carat yellow diamond ring set on a platinum band. The three-stone stunner features an internally flawless, radiant-cut, fancy yellow center diamond, with trapezoid colorless diamonds on both sides. The trapezoid stones complement the eye-catching allure of the yellow diamond, and bring its flawless beauty to the forefront of the piece.

 

This 10-carat purplish pink diamond is one of the most valuable jewels in the world, worth about $2.5 million.

Birks & Mayors’ yellow-diamond exhibition comes on the heels of their highly-touted display of a rare purplish pink diamond ring in Edmonton last month. The exquisite, 10-carat ring was created from 21.35-carats of diamonds that originated in a South African mine. Due to the unique shade and large size of the diamond, it took roughly 3 ½ months to cut and polish the stone. The fancy purplish pink diamond ring is set on a platinum band, which highlights its illustrious light color.

With an estimated value of $2.5 million, the purplish pink diamond ring ranks among the priciest in the world. It is also one of the largest on record. In fact, it is bigger than Australia’s largest rough-cut pink diamond, a 12.76-carat sparkler unearthed last year in the country’s legendary Argyle diamond mines.

New Black Diamond Collection

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With more than three decades’ experience, Barkev’s is nationally known for the fine products it manufactures as a leading designer in the jewelry industry. The company, based in Los Angeles, specializes in creating and selling beautiful engagement rings that last for generations. In addition to this, Barkev’s produces wedding bands for men and women, as well as pendants, bracelets and earrings, all of which can be set with diamonds or other gemstones.

Many different variants of the typical diamond engagement ring are apparent, including the Solitaire, Three-Stone, Starnish and Halo Collections. Recently, Barkev’s added the Black Diamond Collection to its showcase of beautiful engagement rings.

There are many different rings to choose from in the Black Diamond Collection, each with its own unique characteristics. The defining trait of the Black Diamond Collection is the addition of black diamonds in each ring design. These are not the only diamonds in the ring—white diamonds are also an important part of each piece. The contrasting colors of the diamonds make for an eye-catching combination that leaves observers with a sense of awe and curiosity.

The standard metal used in each of these rings is white gold, available in both 14K and 18K. If customers would like a higher grade of metal quality, they can choose to upgrade to platinum. The weight of the diamonds in the Barkev’s Black Diamond Collection varies from 0.10 to 1.15 carats, so there is something for every diamond lover. Each ring is exclusively designed and manufactured by Barkev’s in the USA.

View the entire black diamond collection.

Tips for Shopping for Sapphires

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Sapphires are one of the most valuable gemstones and stand out from the crowd with their distinctive, deep blue hue. One of the world’s most renowned sapphires is Kate Middleton’s dazzling 18-carat oval sapphire engagement ring surrounded by diamonds that belonged to Princess Diana. You can get a dazzling sapphire ring of your own with these tips to help you find the best sapphire jewelry:

Quality

Go for quality instead of size.  A large sapphire with blemishes or uneven coloring will not carry the allure of a smaller, deeper hued stone with no visible flaws.

The Four Cs.

As with diamonds, sapphires are evaluated based on their cut, clarity, color and carats. Cut determines how your sapphire will shine, and a well-cut sapphire will look even and brilliant. Clarity tells you how many flaws or inclusions a sapphire has. A sapphire with only internal inclusions will look more even and stunning to the naked eye, whereas one with external inclusions may look uneven and less brilliant. Color is the hue of your gemstone, and the most desirable sapphire colors are highly saturated medium blues. A stone that is too dark or too light will not look as good and will be worth less. Carat weight tells you the size of your gemstone. In general, the more carats, the more the sapphire will cost.

Personal Taste

When shopping for the perfect sapphire jewelry, consider the wearer’s style and preferences. Does she like antique pieces or vintage looks or does she go gaga for glam styles? Knowing her preferences can help you find the right cut and carat weight for her sapphire. It will also help you determine the best setting and band material.

Metals

Precious metals such as platinum, gold and white gold are popular choices as bands or chains for sapphire jewelry. Platinum is the most expensive metal and offers a lasting glow that does not tarnish. Gold and white gold often come in 10-karat, 14-karat and 18-karat options, with the higher karat amounts containing more gold and thus costing more.

Settings

Platinum is a popular setting material for sapphires because it is so strong. The setting holds your gemstone in place so it is important to have a durable setting. If you are buying a sapphire solitaire ring, it will have prong settings. Six-prong settings are the most secure and will ensure your sapphire stays snugly in place. Other types of settings include tension, channel and pave settings. These types of settings call for excellent craftsmanship to ensure your sapphire is protected.

Expensive Royal Jewelry

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From ornate palaces and heart-stopping wedding ceremonies, to gorgeous gowns and lavish countryside retreats, the royal’s truly live fairytale lifestyles. Royal jewelry collections have long been the most spectacular in the world, containing historic gems whose eye-catching allure is exceeded only by their eye-popping price tags.

Marie Antoinette Necklace

Marie Antoinette is noted for her derisive, “Well, let them eat cake,” comment which ultimately led to her beheading. France’s former queen owned an expressive collection of lavish jewels, the most noteworthy of which was the “Marie Antoinette Necklace.” The stunning piece featured a 7.06-carat pear-shaped white diamond, two rare, oval shaped yellow diamonds with a combined 5.24 carat weight, and a pink diamond on the bottom. The stunning necklace is valued at $3.7 million.

Queen Mary’s Diamond Riviere

Queen Mary’s Diamond Riviere necklace includes 34 graduated old-cut diamonds.

England’s first female ruler, Queen Mary, had one of the world’s most stunning jewelry collections. The Diamond Riviere — or river of diamonds, necklace is arguably the collection’s highlight. The dazzling piece features 34 graduated old-cut diamonds mounted on silver and gold. The Diamond Riviere was given to Queen Mary by her daughter, Princess Margaret, in 1900. The necklace was sold at auction in 2006 for $1,828,224, nearly three times its pre-auction estimate.

Princess Margaret’s Poltimore Tiara

Princess Margaret’s dazzling tiara fetched $1.7 million at auction.

On May 6, 1990, the world watched the first televised royal wedding between Princess Margaret of England and photographer Antony-Armstrong Jones. The princess walked down the aisle wearing the Poltimore Tiara, which was originally created in 1870. The stunning crown contained dozens of old-cut diamonds set on scroll motifs. The tiara was a versatile piece that could be converted to a necklace or 11 individual diamond brooches.  The Poltimore Tiara fetched $1.7 million at auction in 2006, more than double its pre-sale estimate.

Kate Middleton Engagement Ring

Kate Middleton’s stunning engagement ring belonged to the late Princess Diana and i valued at $39,488.

Though not as pricey as other royal jewelry pieces, Kate Middleton’s engagement ring is a historic gem. It originally belonged to Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana, who received the stunner as an engagement ring from Prince Charles. The ring features a large, oval sapphire center stone, surrounded by a halo of brilliant-cut round diamonds. The stunning piece is valued at $39,488.