Jewelry

Vegas preview: Betting on silver

2010-05-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
By Catherine Dayrit
May 26, 2010

In Las Vegas, Calgaro will be offering its "Jealousy Collection" bracelets, evocative of fabric and crafted in sterling silver with a patented colorized silver fabrication; suggested retail price is $795. (818) 319-4200 or CalgaroUSA.com

With Las Vegas Market Week fast approaching, retail jewelers are spending a last couple of days examining their inventory and fine-tuning their shopping lists.

While fill-in staples such as bridal, diamond solitaire pendants and anniversary bands are sure to make the cut, buyers are likely to hone in on two other specific merchandise categories: the high-end couture sector and the entry-level price-point arena.

Recent reports in the press, combined with market surveys, point out that activity has been returning at the very high end of the market. It's good news, but still, that is just the very tip-top of the market and many consumers remain cautious about spending. ...

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Pearl Jewelry

2010-05-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Pearl

2010-05-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

source : wikipedia

A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable.

Valuable pearls occur in the wild, but they are very rare. Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters make up the majority of those that are currently sold. Pearls from the sea are valued more highly than freshwater pearls. Imitation or fake pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry, but the quality of their iridescence is usually very poor - and generally speaking, artificial pearls are easily distinguished from genuine pearls. Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past they were also stitched onto lavish clothing. Pearls have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines, or in paint formulations.

Pearls that are considered to be of gemstone quality are almost always nacreous and iridescent, like the interior of the shell that produces them. However, almost all species of shelled mollusks are capable of producing pearls (formerly referred to as "calcareous concretions" by some sources) of lesser shine or less spherical shape. Although these may also be legitimately referred to as "pearls" by gemological labs and also under U.S. Federal Trade Commission rules, and are formed in the same way, most of them have no value, except as curios.

Definition

Almost any shelled mollusk can, by natural processes, produce some kind of "pearl" when an irritating microscopic object becomes trapped within the mollusk's mantle folds, but the great majority of these "pearls" are not valued as gemstones. Nacreous pearls, the best-known and most commercially-significant pearls, are primarily produced by two groups of molluscan bivalves or clams. A nacreous pearl is made from layers of nacre, by the same living process as is used in the secretion of the mother of pearl which lines the shell.

A "natural pearl" is one that forms without any human intervention at all, in the wild, and is very rare. Many hundreds of pearl oysters or pearl mussels have to be gathered and opened, and thus killed, in order to find even one wild pearl, and for many centuries that was the only way pearls were obtained. This was the main reason why pearls fetched such extraordinary prices in the past. A cultured pearl, on the other hand, is one that has been formed with human intervention on a pearl farm.

One family of nacreous pearl bivalves, the pearl oysters, lives in the sea while the other, very different group of bivalves live in freshwater; these are the river mussels such as the freshwater pearl mussel. Saltwater pearls can grow in several species of marine pearl oysters in the family Pteriidae. Freshwater pearls grow within certain (but by no means all) species of freshwater mussels in the order Unionida, the families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae.

A black pearl and a shell of the black-lipped pearl oyster

A pearl being extracted from an akoya pearl oyster.

Value of a natural pearl

Quality natural pearls are very rare jewels. The actual value of a natural pearl is determined in the same way as it would be for other "precious" gems. The valuation factors include size, shape, quality of surface, orient and luster.

Single natural pearls are often sold as a collector's item, or set as centerpieces in unique jewelry. Very few matched strands of natural pearls exist, and those that do often sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. (In 1917, jeweler Pierre Cartier purchased the Fifth Avenue mansion that is now the New York Cartier store for US$100 cash and a double strand of matched natural pearls valued at the time at US$1 million.)

Keshi pearls, although they often occur by chance, are not considered natural pearls. They are a byproduct of the culturing process, and hence do not happen without human intervention. These pearls are quite small: typically a few millimeters in size. Keshi pearls are produced by many different types of marine mollusks and freshwater mussels in China. Today many "keshi" pearls are actually intentional, with post-harvest shells returned to the water to regenerate a pearl in the existing pearl sac.

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl

Opal Jewelry

2010-05-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

Opal : as a mineral

2010-05-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

source : wikipedia.org

Opal is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most commonly found with limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, marl and basalt. The word opal comes from the Latin opalus, by Greek ὀπάλλιος opallios.

The water content is usually between three and ten percent, but can be as high as twenty percent. Opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white and greens are the most common. These color variations are a function of growth size into the red and infrared wavelengths. Opal is Australia's national gemstone.

Precious opal

Precious opal shows a variable interplay of internal colors and even though it is a mineraloid, it does have an internal structure. At micro scales precious opal is composed of silica spheres some 150 to 300 nm in diameter in a hexagonal or cubic close-packed lattice. These ordered silica spheres produce the internal colors by causing the interference and diffraction of light passing through the microstructure of the opal.It is the regularity of the sizes and the packing of these spheres that determines the quality of precious opal. Where the distance between the regularly packed planes of spheres is approximately half the wavelength of a component of visible light, the light of that wavelength may be subject to diffraction from the grating created by the stacked planes. The spacing between the planes and the orientation of planes with respect to the incident light determines the colors observed. The process can be described by Bragg's Law of diffraction.

Visible light of diffracted wavelengths cannot pass through large thicknesses of the opal. This is the basis of the optical band gap in a photonic crystal, of which opal is the best known natural example. In addition, microfractures may be filled with secondary silica and form thin lamellae inside the opal during solidification. The term opalescence is commonly and erroneously used to describe this unique and beautiful phenomenon, which is correctly termed play of color. Contrarily, opalescence is correctly applied to the milky, turbid appearance of common or potch opal. Potch does not show a play of color.

The veins of opal displaying the play of color are often quite thin, and this has given rise to unusual methods of preparing the stone as a gem. An opal doublet is a thin layer of opal, backed by a swart mineral such as ironstone, basalt, or obsidian. The darker backing emphasizes the play of color, and results in a more attractive display than a lighter potch.

Combined with modern techniques of polishing, doublet opal produces similar effect of black or boulder opals at a mere fraction of the price. Doublet opal also has the added benefit of having genuine opal as the top visible and touchable layer, unlike triplet opals.

The triplet-cut opal backs the colored material with a dark backing, and then has a domed cap of clear quartz or plastic on top, which takes a high polish and acts as a protective layer for the relatively fragile opal. The top layer also acts as a magnifier, to emphasize the play of color of the opal beneath, which is often of lower quality. Triplet opals therefore have a more artificial appearance, and are not classed as precious opal.

Precious opal consists of spheres of silica of fairly regular size, packed into close-packed planes which are stacked together with characteristic dimensions of several hundred nm.

Common opal

Besides the gemstone varieties that show a play of color, there are other kinds of common opal such as the milk opal, milky bluish to greenish (which can sometimes be of gemstone quality), resin opal which is honey-yellow with a resinous luster, wood opal which is caused by the replacement of the organic material in wood with opal, menilite which is brown or grey, hyalite is a colorless glass-clear opal sometimes called Muller's Glass, geyserite, also called siliceous sinter, deposited around hot springs or geysers and diatomite or diatomaceous earth, the accumulations of diatom shells or tests.

Other varieties of opal

Fire opals are transparent to translucent opals with warm body colors yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red and they do not usually show any play-of-color, although occasionally a stone will exhibit bright green flashes. The most famous source of fire opals is the state of Querétaro in Mexico and these opals are commonly called Mexican fire opals.

Peruvian opal (also called blue opal) is a semi-opaque to opaque blue-green stone found in Peru which is often cut to include the matrix in the more opaque stones. It does not display pleochroism.

Sources of opal

Australia produces around 97% of the world's opal. 90% is called ‘light opal’ or white and crystal opal. White makes up 60% of the opal productions but cannot be found in all of the opal fields. Crystal opal or pure hydrated silica makes up 30% of the opal produced, 8% is black and only 2% is boulder opal.

The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source of opal. Andamooka in South Australia is also a major producer of matrix opal, crystal opal, and black opal. Another Australian town, Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, is the main source of black opal, opal containing a predominantly dark background (dark-gray to blue-black displaying the play of color). Boulder opal consists of concretions and fracture fillings in a dark siliceous ironstone matrix. It is found sporadically in western Queensland, from Kynuna in the north, to Yowah and Koroit in the south.

The Virgin Valley opal fields of Humboldt County in northern Nevada produce a wide variety of precious black, crystal, white, fire, and lemon opal. The black fire opal is the official gemstone of Nevada. Most of the precious opal is partial wood replacement. Miocene age opalised teeth, bones, fish, and a snake head have been found. Some of the opal has high water content and may desiccate and crack when dried. The largest black opal in the Smithsonian Institution comes from the Royal Peacock opal mine in the Virgin Valley.

Another source of white base opal or creamy opal in the United States is Spencer, Idaho. Spencer has an open pit mine that you can visit for a fee, about 4 times a year. One business in Spencer also brings material down from the mine site to their store, so that would be opal miners can dig for their own opal, again for a nominal fee. A high percentage of the opal found there occurs in thin layers. As a result, most of the production goes into the making of doublets and triplets.

Other significant deposits of precious opal around the world can be found in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Indonesia, Brazil (Pedro II a city in the state of Piauí), Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Ethiopia.

In late 2008, NASA announced that it had discovered opal deposits on Mars.

Historical superstitions

In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal. It was also said to confer the power of invisibility if wrapped in a fresh bay leaf and held in the hand.Following the publication of Sir Walter Scott's Anne of Geierstein in 1829, however, opal acquired a less auspicious reputation. In Scott's novel, the Baroness of Arnheim wears an opal talisman with supernatural powers. When a drop of holy water falls on the talisman, the opal turns into a colorless stone and the Baroness dies soon thereafter. Due to the popularity of Scott's novel, people began to associate opals with bad luck and death.Even as recently as the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that when a Russian saw an opal among other goods offered for sale, he or she should not buy anything more since the opal was believed to embody the evil eye.

Opal is considered the birthstone for people born in October or under the sign of Libra and the star stone for people born under Scorpio.

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal

Jewels Shine at Auction

2010-05-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

source : nytimes.com

"Gems and jewels have been doing brilliantly at auction for months, as if bidders had never been told that there is a recession," Souren Melikian writes.A late 18th-century pair of ear clips with spinels and diamonds, cataloged as "the property of a German Princely and Liechtenstein Ruling Family," almost quadrupled the high estimate at $105,000 at Sotheby's Geneva auction.On Dec. 10, when the mood in London was at an all-time low, Christie's sold the most expensive jewel ever. The 35.56-carat blue diamond rose to $24.31 million, or to be strictly accurate, £16.39 million, to Laurence Graff of London.The gem's history goes back to the 17th century, when Philip IV of Spain gave it to his daughter Margaret Theresa on her betrothal to Leopold I, the ruler of the "Roman Germanic Empire." Later, it belonged to the Princes of Wittelsbach in Bavaria. The stone was cut by Sa'ida-ye Gilani, the Iranian poet, calligrapher and jeweler employed at the Moghul court by the emperor Jahangir (who reigned from 1605-1627), thus multiplying its potential value manyfold. However, the catalog did not mention this, since it was not known at the time of the sale.Five months later, another extraordinary price within its range was realized at Sotheby's in Geneva. A fancy blue diamond, a 7.03-carat gem, brought in $9.48 million, just over $1.34 million a carat, making the diamond the most expensive stone per carat ever sold in any category.Where aristocratic provenance could be established, jewels soared sky-high. A diadem and necklace made by Cartier in 1912 for Olga Princess Paley, Countess of Hohenfelsen, both doubled their high estimates. The diadem (described as an "aigrette tiara") set with rose-cut diamonds and two aquamarines, brought $512,014.The necklace, designed in the same heavily ornate style, cost an equally breathtaking $392,700.

At Christie's late spring London sale of jewelry on June 10, signed jewels set with good quality stones sold like hot cakes regardless of style or period.

A necklace made from oval gold links joined by diamond-set clasps and signed Cartier Paris excited bidders, who sent it climbing to $42,750, more than triple the estimate.

Christie's "superb antique diamond brooch" was an unusual composite piece. Made up from magnificent 18th-century pear-shaped diamond drops hanging from an inverted lotus chalice, it exceeded the high estimate as a private collector from Britain footed the $374,824 bill.

In its own modest line, an Art Deco travel clock of spinach-green jade, its dial framed by a gold chain motif set off by black enamel, provided evidence of the private buyers' sunny disposition, as it brought $14,260, substantially more than the high estimate.

source : nytimes.com

Forget the Afterlife, These Are for Here and Now

2010-05-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

source : nytimes.com
By SUSAN JOY
Published: May 12, 2010

TOMB RAIDERS Clockwise from top left: Lanvin gold and turquoise serpent choker, $2,875 at Barneys New York; Fallon gunmetal and crystal Isis earrings, $150 at Barneys Co-Op; Anndra Neen mixed-metal pyramid pendants, $495 and $550 at kirnazabete.com; TomTom 18-karat gold-plated link necklace with gunmetal chains, $325 at evanewyork.net; Eddie Borgo Step Collar in 18-karat gold plate and black pavé crystals, $1,250 at Bergdorf Goodman; A Peace Treaty handmade antiqued gold-plated bronze earrings, $170 at apeacetreaty.com; Low Luv by Erin Wasson 14- karat gold-plated hieroglyphic cuff, $105 at mywardrobe.com; Fallon oxidized sterling-silver-plated brass Cairo bangle, $170 at Fenton/Fallon, and Tomb cuff, $198 at shopbop.com.

PYRAMIDS, pharaohs, snakes, hieroglyphics and plenty of golden jewels — yep, King Tut is back in town.
Should a childhood fixation with all things ancient Egyptian be rekindled by the arrival of the latest blockbuster Tut exhibition, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” now at Discovery Times Square Exposition, we’ve unearthed a trove of cool spring jewelry that would be the envy of a pharaoh.
Two of this year’s nominees for the accessories award that the Council of Fashion Designers of America will bestow next month found their way to Egypt via quite different routes. ...

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Nice ice - Diamond jewelry still tops for retailers

2010-05-16T11:07:00.001-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
By Catherine Dayrit
May 04, 2010

Carla Amorim's "Champagne" ring in 18-karat yellow gold with 1.5 carats of diamonds; suggested retail price is $9,000. CarlaAmorim.com

New York--Despite widespread efforts to reduce inventory, there are some items that jewelers simply must keep in stock.

Diamond hoops and studs, as well as delicate pendants, are can't-go-wrong options for need-it-now customers, while trendy diamond charms and colored diamonds might catch the eye of customers seeking the unique.

Diamond jewelry continues to represent the largest category of sales among jewelry retailers, bar none, thanks in part to a marketing machine matched by no other jewelry category. Credit is also due to innovative new styles--who would have thought rough cuts and brown diamonds would become designer darlings?--offering a welcome retreat from the familiar. ...

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Sotheby's blue diamonds set another color record

2010-05-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
May 12, 2010

This 7.64-carat, cushion-shaped fancy intense blue diamond ring sold for $8.03 million, or $1.05 million per carat, Tuesday at Sotheby's in Geneva.

Geneva--Two blue diamonds broke records Tuesday in Geneva at Sotheby's "Spring Sales of Magnificent and Noble Jewels" in yet another display of the strength of natural colored diamonds at auctions worldwide.

In what Sotheby's terms the "standout moment of the day," a 7.64-carat, cushion-shaped fancy intense blue diamond mounted in a ring sold for $8.03 million, or $1.05 million per carat, following fierce competition from three buyers. According to a news release from Sotheby's, the sale sets a new record per-carat price for a fancy intense blue diamond sold at auction. ...

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Tanzanite celebration of life jewelry design awards 2006

2010-05-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Sabine Roemer

Sabine Roemer’s ring was inspired by the vivid blooms of a blue-violet wreath flower which, like tanzanite, is unique to the country of Tanzania. Sabine wanted to combine these two gifts of nature into a piece that is both organic and refined.

Ruth Grieco

Ruth Grieco has created a captivating, versatile piece which like many of her designs can adorn the body in different ways, here being both a brooch and a necklace. For Ruth, tanzanite’s changing blue-violet hues capture the mystery of maternity, and her piece is a magnificent celebration of tanzanite’s spectrum of colors. The detachable tanzanite drop lends movement, whilst the elongating effect of the diamond leaf forms give the piece a grace and fluidity, allowing it to fall perfectly whichever way it is worn.

James Powell

Delicate and richly detailed, James Powell’s design evokes the traditional motif of a stork delivering a baby.

But instead of a stork, James has created two exotic, ethereal hummingbirds that hover watchfully above their precious cargo. A stunning tanzanite drop represents newborn baby, and the cherished gift of new life.

Maria Canale for Suna Brothers

As with many of her designs, Maria Canale drew on nature’s inspirations for this pendant. The beauty of the changing seasons is captured in the opaque backdrop of a frozen lake, re-created through the innovative use of a circular optical lens. Graceful etchings depict fallen leaves trapped just beneath the water’s surface, whilst a dazzling tanzanite in deepest blue rises through the ice as a symbol of vitality and new life. When worn, the lake’s diamond circle is anchored to the necklace through a delicate chain of leaves, but the tanzanite appears to float, suspended gracefully against the skin.

Dima

Dima’s work is characterized by her instinctive blending of cultural styles and faith symbols. In these hoop earrings, crafted in Egyptian beaten gold, she intertwines the story of the Maasai’s traditional affinity with blue as the color of fertility with the biblical depiction of the snake in the Garden of Eden. As the snake coils sensually around the hoop, the tanzanite drops from its mouth, symbolizing the fruit of temptation.

Zoltan David

In Zoltan David’s winning necklace, flawless technical craftsmanship brings to life a richly detailed, timeless design. Zoltan’s “Flowerfly” captures the vitality of a flower in full bloom. The signature metal ornamentation technique that is Zoltan’s patented creation adds depth and texture to the wings and petals that flank a rare and spectacular matching pair of trilliant cut tanzanites.

Rodrigo Robson

Entitled “Start,” Rodrigo Robson’s necklace is a bold, contemporary exploration of the Be Born to Tanzaniteä theme. Highly innovative and original, Rodrigo’s design features real ultrasound film to portray in a modern, literal form the ever-inspiring miracle of new life. His circular links evoke the unbreakable bond between mother and child, whilst tanzanite, the precious gemstone of the present generation, perfectly completes this youthful celebration of birth.

Stephen Webster

Best known for his striking designs that bring out the fire in unique and exotic stones, Stephen Webster needed no greater inspiration than this 29 carat heart shaped tanzanite in deepest midnight blue with flashes of red. With Stephen’s signature edgy, contemporary touch, the traditional symbol of love becomes a show-stopping statement of passion. Highly stylized scrollwork set with diamonds give this classic cut a look that is spectacularly rock ‘n’ roll.

Ginny Dizon

In creating her cuff bracelet, Ginny Dizon drew her inspiration from the Maasai legend of tanzanite’s discovery, where a bolt of lightning set the land ablaze, transforming crystals on the ground into shimmering blue-violet gemstones. When the last cinders dissolved into the earth, awestruck Maasai tribesmen filled their pouches with the extraordinary gems, intuitively knowing that they would bring about a better life. Ginny’s cuff bracelet captures the drama of the lightning, whilst her use of both rough and facetted tanzanite symbolizes the journey each stone takes from its raw state in the earth to its final polished perfection. In Ginny’s interpretation, the theme “Be Born to Tanzaniteä” becomes a story of discovery, and a celebration of the natural miracle of this rare and elusive gem.

Colin Waylett

Colin Waylett’s stunning arm cuff is evocative of the noble traditions of Tanzania’s proud Maasai people. The interlocking shields represent the unity of warrior tribemen returning at sunset from a hunt against a blue and golden sky. The glinting of the last drops of sunlight catching the tips of the tribesmen’s spears is captured in the cuff’s diamond tips.

Laurence Ratinaud

Laurence Ratinaud’s unique ring was inspired by the creation of life before birth. White gold is elegantly crafted into a mesh egg shape representing conception. It holds and protecting within it a simple tanzanite oval that signifies life itself. Laurence’s piece symbolizes both the simplicity and its fragility of the seed of new life, showing how something that becomes so infinitely complex can at its earliest moments be held in the palm of the hand.

Claire Woolley

The universal and iconic image of the stork delivering a newborn is captured in Claire’s pendant. A beautiful tanzanite drop, representing the child, is delicately suspended from the necklace’s abstract depiction of the stork in this simple, graceful interpretation of the theme.

Talento Joias

Talento Joias’ delicate, distinctive necklace combines twirling strands of tanzanite beads with polished tanzanite ovals set in starburst diamond clusters. Representing hope and life, its designers’, Rachel Tavora and Renata Bessa (featured above), were inspired by the Greek myth of the first woman, Pandora. Created under the direction of the god Zeus, Pandora was a poisoned gift to mankind. According to myth, Pandora was tempted by her curiosity to open the forbidden box given to her by Zeus. In doing so, she released all of mankind’s miseries locked inside, closing the box only in time to capture hope. Although paradise seemed lost, the myth ends with hope’s survival, showing that even in the bleakest of times, so long as hope survives, mankind keeps its chance to be re-born to a new and better life.

Maria Webster for Boodles

Maria Webster’s graceful birth pendant for Boodles was inspired by the precious bond between mother and child. Fashioned in platinum and encrusted with diamonds, Maria’s pendant represents the cradling arm of a mother as she nurtures her baby.

Louis Mariette

Louis Mariette’s spectacular design, fittingly entitled “A Dream in Africa,” was inspired by memories of his own childhood in Africa. Louis describes this as a dazzling assault on the senses, from the vibrant colors of exotic flowers in bloom to the jumble of semi-precious stones and crystals he would collect to create handmade bracelets and necklaces for his friends and neighbors. Louis’ tanzanite adorned headpiece is a vision of exuberant flowers, handmade in painted resin using a specially developed technique. Twirling metal work is encrusted with pink and lilac pearls, and on the largest cluster nestle sparkling tanzanite gemstones. Louis set the gemstones so that they would sit at the center of the wearer’s forehead, to signify the birthplace of all creativity, a person’s ideas, thoughts and dreams.

Sevan Bicakci

Sevan Bicakci’s extraordinary tanzanite ring was inspired by the traditional Tales of One Thousand and One Nights. In this tale, part of a frame story (stories within a story) the wives of the Sultan Schahriah live to see only one dawn after marriage because he has them beheaded the morning after their wedding night. However, his new wife, Princess Scheherazade, outruns her fate by telling the Sultan a new story each night, always stopping at the most exciting point so that he will let her live until the following evening. The ring re-creates the atmosphere in which Princess Scheherazade weaves her magic, enthralling her audience with her tales of mystery and adventure. In this way, the characters Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sinbad the Sailor were born, and in bringing them to life, the Princess earns her nightly reprieve, and survives to see another day.

Shaun Leane

Shaun Leane’s ring, innovative in design and breathtaking to behold, is set with a 10 carat tanzanite centerstone around which flows a coil of pavé set ocean blue sapphires. The tanzanite cleverly locks together with interchangeable bands designed to complement its magical and mysterious qualities. Shimmering natural black diamonds capture its intangible energy, whilst shimmering white diamonds intensify its refreshing brilliance. While the white diamond band is to wear by day, the black diamonds are perfect for evening.

Arabel Lebrusan

Arabel Lebrusan’s delightful, unusual earrings were inspired by the crochet work women in her native Spain use to create baby clothes and crib linen for newborns. The combinations of different thread structures with the resulting variety of forms and finishes are reflected in Arabel’s blending of white gold, silver and enamel to create the fans, swirls and teardrop forms in her feminine piece.

Stuart Weitzman and Le Vian

The Stuart Weitzman and Le Vian pair of evening shoes are true show-stoppers: a $2 million dollar creation in glistening silver leather embellished with over 185 carats of tanzanite and 28 carats of diamonds. Stunning ankle bracelets are set with museum quality tanzanite gemstones, painstakingly matched and cut by Le Vian’s master craftsmen, each crowned with a spectacular 16 carat, sparkling tanzanite drop which adorns the front of the foot. The shoes are balanced with a delicate diamond front strap that perfectly complements Stuart Weitzman’s timeless, elegant shoe design.

Kwiat

Janice DeBell’s tanzanite earrings for Kwiat were inspired by a desire to celebrate the gemstone’s unique spectrum of colors, from shimmering lilacs to deepest blue-violet. Juxtaposing trilliants and ovals, Janice has created a look that is powerful and full of drama, echoing the form of a traditional African tribal spear but with an aesthetic that is edgy and modern. But there is a final, unexpected touch of old-school glamour: turn over each spear and you will find a delicate dusting of diamond micro-pavé.

Charlotte Ehinger-Schwarz 1876

Charlotte Ehinger-Schwarz’s extraordinary necklace is a tribute to the abundant geological landscape and the magnificent native wildlife of the country of Tanzania. A giraffe, elephant and ape nestle among precious rubies, tsavorite and zoisite. A detachable diamond drop carries the necklace’s centerpiece: a dramatic 25 carat marquis cut tanzanite.

source : tanzanitefoundation.com

Tanzanite : as a mineral

2010-05-09T05:57:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tanzanite is the blue/purple variety of the mineral zoisite which was discovered in the Meralani (Merelani) Hills of Northern Tanzania in 1967, near the city of Arusha. It is used as a gemstone. Tanzanite is noted for its remarkably strong trichroism, appearing alternately sapphire blue, violet, and burgundy depending on crystal orientation.

Tanzanite in its rough state is usually a reddish brown color. It requires artificial heat treatment to 600 °C in a gemological oven to bring out the blue violet of the stone.Tanzanite is a rare gem. It is found mostly in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mineral is named after Tanzania, the country where it was discovered.

World's largest tanzanite

One of the most famous large tanzanite "Queen of Kilimanjaro",on 18 karat white gold

The world's largest faceted tanzanite is 737.81 carats.One of the most famous large tanzanites (242 carats) is the "Queen of Kilimanjaro". It is set in a tiara and accented with 803 brilliant cut tsavorite garnets and 913 brilliant cut diamonds. Because tanzanite is relatively soft, it is not usually set in necklaces and earrings, so the tiara is truly a rarity.The tiara is currently on display in the Gallery of Gold and Gems at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The exhibition is from the private collection of Michael Scott, the first CEO of Apple Computers.

Factors affecting value: grading

There is no universally accepted method of grading colored gemstones. TanzaniteOne, a major commercial player in the tanzanite market, through its no-profit subsidiary, The Tanzanite Foundation, has introduced its own color grading system. The new system's color-grading scales divide tanzanite colors into a range of hues, between blue violet and violet blue.

The normal primary and secondary hues in tanzanite are blue and purple not violet. Purple is a modified spectral hue that lies halfway between red and blue. Tanzanite is a trichroic gemstone, meaning that light that enters the stone is divided into three sections each containing a portion of the visible spectrum. After heating, tanzanite becomes dichroic. The dichroic colors are red and blue. The hue range of tanzanite is blue-purple to purple-blue.

Clarity grading in colored gemstones is based on the eye-clean standard, that is, a gem is considered flawless if no inclusions are visible with the unaided eye (assuming 20x20 vision).The Gemological Institute of America classifies tanzanite as a Type I gemstone, meaning it is normally eye-flawless. Gems with eye-visible inclusions will be traded at deep discounts.
source : wikipedia

The bridal category remains solid as a rock

2010-05-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

source :nationaljewelernetwork
By Michelle Graff
Nisan 12, 2010

Natural blue and pink diamond ring by Scarselli Diamonds, Scarselli.com. Blue was the second hottest natural color diamond choice (behind yellow), with 22 percent of the vote, while 7 percent picked pink.

While consumers may remain hesitant to splurge on fashion jewelry, nothing seems to stop them from falling in love and getting married, the results of National Jeweler's Product Panel on bridal jewelry show.

Nearly half (47 percent) of the retail jewelers who took the survey reported that their loose diamond, diamond engagement ring and wedding band sales have increased over the last three years, while 36 percent said they have remained steady.

As the economy continues to bounce back, bridal will no doubt remain central to any jewelry store's success, as retailers find creative ways to adjust to a post-recession world and continued Internet interference. ...

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Loose Diamonds - Most Popular Diamond Cuts

2010-05-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

Round

For almost 100 years, cutters have been perfecting their art in effort to achieve the grandeur and luster of the round diamond.

Asscher

A uniquely modified square Emerald. Being a trademark design cut, Asscher diamonds are short in supply and highly sought-after.

Princess

Brilliant, square diamonds with no trimmed corners. An extremely popular choice for engagement rings.

Radiant

Rare and unique, the Radiant Diamond features beautiful barely trimmed corners. This blazing cut makes an exceptional choice.

Cushion

Gently rounded like a cushion, this exceptional cut has been in high demand for over a century as a solitaire.

Pear

Pear shaped diamonds go back to the 1400s. These stones are most popular as engagement rings & pendants.

Marquise

This slim and point-ended cut, set parallel to the finger & often embellished by accent stones. Popular for wedding rings.

Heart

The heart shape is mostly in demand in recent years for pendants. High color level is important as it is visible at the corners.

Oval

Elegant and luminous, oval diamonds compliment feminine fingers, and are usually extremely fashionable among small-handed women.

Emerald

A rectangular cut of the emerald diamonds featuring trimmed corners and rectangular facets, popular when set with accent stones.

Triangle

Also "Trilliant Diamonds", these stones are often used in stud earrings. Chosen wisely, this cut can be a splendid center stone.

source : diamonds-usa.com

Historic stones rule the day at Christie's

2010-05-02T05:44:00.001-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
April 23, 2010

Legend has it that the Archduke Maximilian, who once ruled as emperor of Mexico at the urging of Napoleon III, had the Emperor Maximilian Diamond in a pouch around his neck when he was executed by a firing squad. The 39.55-carat cushion-cut stone sold for $1.76 million at Christie's on Thursday.

New York--Two stones with colorful histories sold above their estimates Thursday at Christie's "Jewels: the New York Sale."

According to a news release issued by the auction house, a private U.S. buyer paid $1.76 million for the 39.55-carat, I color Emperor Maximilian Diamond, which was estimated to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million.

The cushion-cut stone has a long and interesting history, having once been owned by the Archduke Maximilian, who ruled as emperor of Mexico at the insistence of Napoleon III but was later executed. It is believed that he was wearing the diamond around his neck when he faced the firing squad.

After passing through a number of owners, the stone fell into the hands of diamantaire Laurence Graff, who bought it at Christie's in 1982 and sold it to Imelda Marcos, widow of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. ...

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'Emeralds for Elephants' collection to hit London

2010-05-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
April 23, 2010

Designed by Sabine Roemer, the "Emerald Queen" featuring a 679-carat emerald will be one of 250 elephant statues that will be displayed in London this summer and will also be the highlight of a pop-up collection of bespoke emerald jewelry opening at Selfridge's in London next month.

London--Over the years, Chicago residents have strolled past life-sized "Cows on Parade" statues and Washington, D.C., denizens have corralled "Party Animals," an outdoor art exhibit of brightly decorated elephant and donkey statues. Now, Londoners will greet a vivid herd of elephant statues all their own, including one featuring a staggering 679-carat emerald.

In May, the "Emerald Queen," a life-size fiberglass elephant designed by U.K. jeweler Sabine Roemer, will debut in the Wonder Room of London-based department store Selfridge's. Decorated with Zambian emerald dust and featuring a hefty oval-shaped emerald as a headdress, the Emerald Queen will serve as the highlight of "Emeralds for Elephants," a pop-up collection of bespoke jewelry created by eight renowned designers.

The Emerald Queen is one of 250 elephant statues set to be displayed around London, from May through July 2010, as part of an effort to create public awareness about the plight of the endangered Asian elephant and to raise more than $3 million for the cause. ...

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Topaz Jewelry Photos

2010-05-02T05:20:00.000-07:00

Topaz : as a mineral

2010-05-02T04:04:00.000-07:00

source : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.

Color and varieties

Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine, yellow, pale gray or reddish-orange, blue brown. It can also be made white, pale green, blue, gold, pink (rare), reddish-yellow or opaque to transparent/translucent.

Orange topaz, also known as precious topaz, is the traditional November birthstone, the symbol of friendship, and the state gemstone for the US State of Utah

Imperial topaz is yellow, pink (rare, if natural) or pink-orange. Brazilian Imperial Topaz can often have a bright yellow to deep golden brown hue, sometimes even violet. Many brown or pale topazes are treated to make them bright yellow, gold, pink or violet colored. Some imperial topaz stones can fade on exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time.Blue topaz is the Texas state gemstone. Naturally occurring Blue Topaz is quite rare. Typically, colorless, gray or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated to produce a more desired darker blue.

Mystic topaz is colorless topaz which has been artificially coated giving it the desired rainbow effect.

Localities and occurrence

<-Topaz Mountain, Utah
Topaz is commonly associated with silicic igneous rocks of the Topaz is commonly associated with silicicgranite and rhyolite type. It typically crystallizes in granitic pegmatites or in vapor cavities in rhyolite lava flows like those at Topaz Mountain in western Utah. It can be found with fluorite and cassiterite in various areas including Ural and Ilmen mountains of Russia, in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Flinders Island, Australia and the United States.

Some clear topaz crystals from Brazilian pegmatites can reach boulder size and weigh hundreds of pounds. Crystals of this size may be seen in museum collections. The Topaz of Aurungzebe, observed by Jean Baptiste Tavernier measured 157.75 carats.

Colorless and light-blue varieties of topaz are found in Precambrian granite in Mason County, Texas within the Llano Uplift. There is no commercial mining of topaz in that area.

Colorless topaz, Minas Gerais, Brazil

A cut blue topaz

A red topaz

Imperial Topaz Gem

Facet Cut Topaz Gemstones in various colors, including mystic.

Etymology and historical and mythical usage

The name "topaz" is derived (via Old French: Topace and Latin: Topazus) from the Greek Τοπάζιος (Τοpáziοs) or Τοπάζιον (Τοpáziοn), the ancient name of St. John's Island in the Red Sea which was difficult to find and from which a yellow stone (now believed to be chrysolite: yellowish olivine) was mined in ancient times; topaz itself (rather than topazios) wasn't really known about before the classical era. Nicols, the author of one of the first systematic treatises on minerals and gemstones, dedicated two chapters to the topic in 1652. In the Middle Ages, the name topaz was used to refer to any yellow gemstone, but in modern times it denotes only the silicate described above.

Many modern English translations of the Bible, including the King James Version mention Topaz in Exodus 28:17 in reference to a stone in the Hoshen: "And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle (Garnet): this shall be the first row."

However, because these translations as topaz all derive from the Septuagint translation topazi[os], which as mentioned above referred to a yellow stone that was not topaz, but probably chrysolite, it should be borne in mind that topaz is not meant here.The masoretic text (the Hebrew on which most modern Protestant Bible translations of the Old Testament are based) has pitdah as the gem the stone is made from; some scholars think it is related to an Assyrian word meaning flashed.More likely, pitdah is derived from Sanskrit words (पीत pit = yellow, दह् dah = burn), meaning "yellow burn". Pliny says that Topazos is a legendary island in the Red Sea and the mineral "topaz" was first mined there. The word topaz might be related to the Arabic word توباز which meant "the subject of the search" or Sanskrit word तपस् "tapas" meaning "heat" or "fire."

source : wikipeadia

History of Gold

2010-04-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Gold has a long and complex history. From gold’s first discovery, it has symbolized wealth and guaranteed power. Gold has caused obsession in men and nations, destroyed some cultures and gave power to others.

Archaeological digs suggest the use of Gold began in the Middle East where the first known civilizations began. The oldest pieces of gold jewelry Egyptian jewelry were found in the tomb of Queen Zer and that of Queen Pu-abi of Ur in Sumeria and are the oldest examples found of any kind of jewelry in a find from the third millennium BC. Over the centuries, most of the Egyptian tombs were raided, but the tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered undisturbed by modern archaeologists. Inside the largest collection of gold and jewelry in the world was found and included a gold coffin whose quality showed the advanced state of Egyptian craftsmanship and goldworking (second millennium BC).

The Persian Empire, in what is now Iran, made frequent use of Gold in artwork as part of the religion of Zoroastrianism. Persian goldwork is most famous for its animal art, which was modified after the Arabs conquered the area in the 7th century AD.

When Rome began to flourish, the city attracted talented Gold artisans who created gold jewelry of wide variety. The use of gold in Rome later expanded into household items and furniture in the homes of the higher classes. By the third century AD, the citizens of Rome wore necklaces that contained coins with the image of the emperor. As Christianity spread through the European continent, Europeans ceased burying their dead with their jewelry. As a result, few gold items survive from the Middle Ages, except those of royalty and from church hordes.

In the Americas, the skill of Pre-Columbian cultures in the use of Gold was highly advanced long before the arrival of the Spanish. Indian goldsmiths had mastered most of the techniques known by their European contemporaries when the Spanish arrived. They were adept at filigree, granulation, pressing and hammering, inlay and lost-wax methods. The Spanish conquerors melted down most of the gold that they took from the peoples of this region and most of the remaining examples have come from modern excavations of grave sites. The greatest deposits of gold from these times were in the Andes and in Columbia.

During the frontier days of the United States news of the discovery of gold in a region could result in thousands of new settlers, many risking their lives to find gold. Gold rushes occurred in many of the Western States, the most famous occuring in California at Sutter’s Mill in 1848. Elsewhere, gold rushes happened in Australia in 1851, South Africa in 1884 and in Canada in 1897.

The rise of a gold standard was meant to stabilize the global economy, dictating that a nation must limit its issued currency to the amount of gold it held in reserve. Great Brittain was the first to adopt the gold standard in 1821, followed, in the 1870s, by the rest of Europe followed. The system remained in effect until the end of the first world war, after which the US was the only country still honoring the Gold Standard. After the war, other countries were allowed to keep reserves of major currencies instead of gold. The arrival of the great depression marked the end of the U.S. export of gold in the 1930s. By mid 20th century, the US dollar had replaced gold in international trade.
text source : http://bullion.nwtmint.com/gold_history.php

Red-hot diamond on block at Sotheby's Australia

2010-04-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
April 01, 2010

The 0.82-carat center stone of this ring will mark the first red diamond to be offered for public auction in Australia. The ring is estimated at as much as $921,556 and also features fancy blue diamonds and brilliant-cut colorless diamonds set in platinum.

Sydney, Australia--Sotheby's Australia's upcoming April 12 sale of antique and contemporary jewelry will be a significant one for the auction house. The event will mark the Australian branch's first standalone jewelry sale, with the highlight slated to be the first red diamond ever offered for public auction in Australia.

The 0.82-carat, fancy purplish-red Argyle diamond is set into a ring and is flanked by a pair of fancy blue diamonds in a round brilliant-cut diamond surround, all mounted in platinum. Its value is estimated at between 700,000 and 1 million Australian dollars (between about $645,065 and $921,556) and will be accompanied by a letter from Argyle Diamonds attesting to its rarity.

Sotheby's said in a media release that despite the notable discovery of the Argyle pink diamond deposits in Western Australia, less than a handful of red diamonds have been discovered, and connoisseurs have long considered red diamonds to be among the most precious and rare of diamonds.

The April 12 sale will offer even more superb examples of colored stones, including a double strand of graduated emerald beads accented with diamond-set rondelles (estimated between $9,676 and $11,519), a sapphire and diamond ring (estimated between $23,034 and $32,248) and an emerald and diamond ring (estimated between $64,497 and $82,907). ...

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Black Diamonds

2010-04-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

What are Black Diamonds, as seen in most jewelry?

Black diamonds are typically enhanced. Black diamonds are genuine diamonds treated with radiation to make their color appear black. Under normal lighting conditions the color enhanced black diamond looks black. However, it is actually very dark green. To observe the very dark green color, a fiber-optic light source can be placed near a thin edge of the diamond (such as the girdle or culet). This allows the light to illuminate some of the interior of the stone. The very dark green color that becomes visible is commonly seen in enhanced black diamonds. The very dark green color that is seen is never seen in natural diamonds. It is a result of radiation treatment.

Famous Black Diamonds

The Black Orloff

The Black Orloff (Orlov) cushion cut diamond (shown left) which still weighs in at a very respectable 67.50 carats. It is reported to have belonged to a nineteenth-century shrine near Pondicherry, India, and to have weighed 195 carats in the rough. Set in a diamond and platinum necklace, the Black Orloff has been widely exhibited. In 1969, the stone was sold for $300,000. It was resold in 1990 at Sothebys for $99,000. Also called the Eye of Brahma Diamond. The diamond is currently owned by Dennis Petimezas, a diamond dealer from Pennsylvania who bought the diamond for an unspecified sum in 2005.

"The Gruosi" Black Diamond

Upon creating amazing black diamond jewelry for his luxury jewelry house de Grisogono, chairman and founder Fawaz Gruosi enjoys a special place in diamond history: he is credited with popularizing the fascination with black diamonds in 1996 - a fascination that continues today.

He also had a rare opportunity - a rare opportunity even for a grand jeweler like himself: he got to name a diamond. Naming a diamond is something reserved only for original buyers of a rough diamond. The de Grisogono founder chose the name "The Gruosi" for the incredible 115.34-carat black diamond. In fact, Fawaz Gruosi has actually been involved in naming two diamonds - the other being the 312.24-carat "The Spirit of Grisogono," also a black diamond with the famous Swiss jeweler Mr. de Grisogono. These two black diamonds are the two largest black diamonds in the world.

sources : generousgems.com,blackdiamonds.co.uk,vialuxe.com

Swarovski latest to fall under silver’s spell

2010-04-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
April 23, 2010

Swarovski's first sterling silver collection, the "Manhattan Collection" features pieces like these featuring silver and black cubic zirconia.

New York-Austrian crystal giant Swarovski clearly has a thing for New York: Besides releasing the "Manhattan Collection," its sterling silver debut, the brand's boutiques worldwide will be decorated with a Sex and the City 2 theme, playing up the jewelry and accessories featured in the film.

In a departure from its predominantly costume jewelry focus, Swarovski is bringing its fashion-forward ethos to the company's first sterling silver jewelry collection, the "Manhattan Collection," unveiled as part of its fall collection.

The collection features a modern chain-link silhouette, with pieces crafted in .925 sterling silver with rhodium plating, and offered at price points ranging from $260 to $320. The designs deploy a black-and-white motif, mixing sterling silver with the brand's black cubic zirconia stones.

The silver collection will be available in early August in Swarovski boutiques, through authorized Swarovski retailers and on the brand's Web site, Swarovski.com. ...

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Stuller system gets Kera bead sales rolling

2010-04-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

source : nationaljewelernetwork.com
April 23, 2010

Stuller has created a selling system to make selling its branded Kera bead collection easier.

Lafayette, La.--Stuller has launched a marketing support system for Kera, the branded bead collection that the Lafayette, La.-based jewelry manufacturer initially launched in November 2009.

The comprehensive Kera Selling System can be purchased for less than $5,000 and is accompanied by full marketing support, including more than 150 total Murano, glass and sterling silver beads; six varieties of bracelet styles and two necklace styles; fashionable packaging; marketing brochures and branded polishing cloths and counter pad. ...

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Famous Emeralds

2010-04-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Gachala Emerald (origin: Colombia)
The Gachala Emerald is an uncut 5-cm emerald crystal weighing 858 carats (172 g). The stone was found in 1967 at Vega de San Juan mine in Colombia and is named after the mining district where it was discovered. Now in the United States, it was donated to the Smithsonian Institution by the New York jeweler, Harry Winston.

Chalk Emerald (origin: Colombia)
The Chalk Emerald is a 37.82 carats (7.56 g) Colombian emerald.

It originally weighed 38.40 carats (7.68 g), but was recut and set in a ring, where it is surrounded by sixty pear-shaped diamonds (totalling 15 carats (3.0 g), by Harry Winston Inc. The ring is housed in the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in the United States and was donated to the museum by Mr. and Mrs. O. Roy Chalk in 1972.

Duke of Devonshire Emerald (origin: Colombia)

The Duke of Devonshire Emerald gets its name from the 6th Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish, who according to one version, received the enormous gemstone as a gift from the first emperor of Brazil, Don Pedro I, the son of King John VI of Portugal, but according to a second version purchased the gemstone from the emperor.

The Duke of Devonshire Emerald is a terminated hexagonal-shaped crystal discovered from the mines of Muzo, Santa Fe de Bogota, in Colombia, reputed to be the premier source of the world's finest emeralds. It is an exceptional deep-green emerald, with perfect transparency in certain areas, but heavily flawed in other areas. The emerald that measures 5 cm across the pinacoid also has a height of about 5 cm, and weighs 1,383.95 carats. The emerald had a reputation as the largest and finest uncut emerald in existence.

Mackay Emerald
The stunning 167.97-carat Mackay Emerald was mined in Muzo, Columbia. The largest cut emerald in the National Gem Collection, it is set in an Art Deco diamond and platinum necklace designed by Cartier Inc. In 1931, Clarence H. Mackay presented the necklace as a wedding gift to his wife, Anna Case, a prima donna of the New York Metropolitan Opera from 1909 to 1920. The piece was donated to the Smithsonian Institute by Mrs. Anna Case Mackay in 1984. Source: The National Gem Collection by Jeffrey E. Post.

Jewelry Art Awards 2009 of Jewelry Artist Magazine

2010-04-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Jewelry Arts Awards

Jewelry Artist magazine's annual competition yields 10 outstanding winners

Pins & Brooches

Naomi Sarna
First Place, Pins/Brooches
(Also Best of Competition)
FIRST WAVE
32mm x 23mm. 18K gold, Chinese freshwater pearl, VS diamonds, Montana sapphires, Contra-luz opals, Imperial topaz. Handmade lost-wax gold setting surrounding pegged and epoxy-set pearl. All stones are pave set with bright-cut finishing. Photo: Azad. sarna.naomi@gmail.com, naomisarnadesigns.com

Naomi Sarna
Second Place, Pins/Brooches
JUBILANT HEART. 38.5mm x 43.3 mm. 87.5 carat rose quartz, 18K gold, VS diamonds, Montana sapphire, Impreial topaz, Contra-luz opal. Lost-wax carved and gold-cast setting. Photo: Azad. sarna.naomi@gmail.com, naomisarnadesigns.com

Bracelets

Genevieve Yang
First Place, Bracelets
MOON PHASES CUFF. 2.0" x 2.5" x 1.75". Fine silver, sterling silver edge, and 24K gold. Spray of flush set VS F plus diamonds, Hand fabricated, forged, roller embossed, keumboo, flush setting. Photo: Hap Sakwa. genevieve@genevieveyang.com, www.genevieveyang.com

Alex Maryaskin
Second Place, Bracelets
UNTITLED. 8". 14K yellow gold, Australian opal, and diamonds. Filigree work, scroll work, and spiral and granulation detail. Photo: Ralph Gabriner. 757-596-0481, www.artoffiligree.com

Earrings

Nanz Aalund
First Place, Earrings
NAUTILUS EARRINGS
33mm x 5mm x 26mm each earring. 22K gold and epoxy resin. Corrugated 22K gold is spiraled with epoxy resin cast into the spiral. Fabricated ear clip. Photo: Doug Yaple. nanz@nanzaalund.com, www.nanzaalund.com

Pendants/Necklaces

Marie Scarpa
First Place, Pendants/Necklaces
TWENTY ONE. 3.25" x 3" x 5". 20-gauge Argentium sheet, 3mm Argentium heavy walled tubing, 12-gauge round Argentium wire, 36-gauge 3½% platinum silver wire, 34-gauge 18K yellow gold wire, 7mm 1.51 carat whirlpool cut citrine, 2.5mm round faceted black spinels, 4.5 round white freshwater pearls. Fabrication including sawing and soldering, hand weaving, stone setting and hand polishing, and texturing. Photo: Hap Sakwa. 707-765-6558, www.mariescarpadesigns.com.

Melissa Pedersen
Second Place, Pendants/Necklaces
CELEBRATION SPROUT NECKLACE. 25cm x 15cm x 3cm. Sterling silver, Argentium silver, 3mm fresh water pearls. Hand carved wax, lost wax casting, fused, constructed, and soldered. Photo by the artist. info@melissapedersen.com, www.melissapedersen.com.

Miscellaneous Jewelry

Jeffrey Appling
First Place, Miscellaneous Jewelry
BROKEN CIRCLE. 17" and 10mm. Sterling silver, 14K white gold, 14K yellow gold plate, 13mm faceted triangular black spinel, 2.0mm black diamonds, and 2mm colorless diamonds. Black rubber neoprene. Carved, cast, fabricated, flush set and tension set. Photo: Hap Sakwa. 760-322-2883, www.JeffreyAppling.com.

Robin Antonsen
Second Place, Miscellaneous Jewelry
OBJECT. 6". Sterling silver hair pin. Constructed, rolling mill, hydraulic press, and patina. Photo by the artist. brightshadow@cheerful.com.

Rings

Jeffrey Appling
First Place, Rings
SURFER RINGS. 15mm x 21mm x 29mm. Silver and copper with paint pigment cross-linked into the upper metal molecules, 2mm diamonds, 7.5mm freshwater cultured pearls. Carved, cast, tension set, flush set, baked. Photo: Hap Sakwa. 760-322-2883, www.JeffreyAppling.com.

L. Sue Szabo
Second Place, Rings
SWAY. 1.5" L x 0.375" W 1" D. Sterling silver, 4 carat pink sapphires, 0.33 carat burmese ruby. Hand fabricated, tube settings for gems. Photo: Ericka Crissman/Wired Images. www.lsueszabo.com

For information on entering your jewelry in the next competition, click here!

source : jewelryartistmagazine.com

A Storied Name in Jewelry Makes a Comeback

2010-04-15T14:10:00.001-07:00

source : nytimes.com
By JULIA WERDIGIER
Published: September 9, 2009

A firebird brooch from the Fabergé jewelry collection.

LONDON — Fabergé, jeweler to the last Russian czar and creator of the legendary Imperial Easter eggs, made a comeback of sorts Wednesday when it presented its first jewelry collection in more than 90 years, even as other luxury goods makers are bracing for a tough year.

The collection is the result of a two-year effort by Fabergé’s owners, a group of investors led by the British private-equity firm Pallinghurst Resources, to revive the brand by reuniting it with two heirs of the Fabergé family.

The firm also assembled a management and design team that includes Mark Dunhill, former president of Alfred Dunhill, a leather and accessories maker owned by the Swiss luxury goods company Richemont, and Frédéric Zaavy, an avant-garde Parisian jeweler. ...

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