The Award for the Most Beautiful Ring

What do you think about this ring?

When I first saw this design, I fell in love with it and am not exaggerating. It is so beautiful, elegant and so very different from any other design that I had seen.

Later what I read, justified my amazement. This engagement ring won Best in Show in JCK 2011 Platinum Innovation Award. What’s even more amazing is, the designer of this ring is no big name or someone who has been in the industry for years, rather a very young, 24-year old Michael Bartlett, who has just been in business for about a year and a half.

An associate designer at Stuller Inc., Bartlett’s design not only won in that particular category but also got the Best in Show honors. He said, “I got a little nervous when I realized how many big designers I was competing against," he said. "But then I heard a lot of buzz about my ring, so I wasn't sure."

A recent UL grad, Bartlett got married on June 25th just came back from his honeymoon on July 5th and was already a celebrity as everyone at Stuller had heard about his winning competition. This Platinum Guild’s Association competition is the largest one in the country.

Set brilliantly with 0.625 carats of diamonds inside and on top of the ring. This platinum that ring resembles crown or may be ribs is estimated to sell for more than $6,000.

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A rare 15th Century diamond crystal ring found

A very rare 15th Century diamond and gold ring that was found in March 2008 by John Steven in South Leicestershire, England will soon go off for sale at Bonhams in London.

Estimated to sell for about $24,000 to $32000, the ring features rough diamond. The auction house Bonhams bring light to the fact that diamond cutting was very rare 500 years ago. Diamonds are the hardest of the minerals, and thus cutting them requires great precision and special cutting tools, During that time not many craftsmen were known to use diamond cutting technique and tools.

The band of the ring is inscribed by Gothic script "amour mi tien" (love keep me).

Jean Ghika, Director of the Jewellery Department comments, "Bonhams is delighted to offer such a rare surviving 15th century diamond ring. It is a superb example of its type and was lying undiscovered for over five hundred years."

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Elizabeth Taylor’s Jewels to be auctioned by Christie’s

According to an American Magazine, Elizabeth Taylor’s magnificent diamond jewelry collection and many other of her antique jewels will soon be auctioned by Christie’s. This news is yet not confirmed by Chritie’s, it is speculated that the collection would be worth at least $150 million.

Taylor who died at the age of 79 due to congestive heart failure on March 23, possessed some of the finest jewels in the world.

Peter Sedghi, President of Luxury Jewels of Bevery Hills said, “To be honest, she knew more than I did [about jewelry]. When you would show her stones, she would tell you the origin, if it’s good quality, bad quality, where it came from. She had a collection like I’ve never seen before.”

Sedghi also said that many of her jewels had emotional value to them. One such was 33.19 carat Krupp Diamond that her fifth husband Richard Burton gifted her.

In 2002, Elizabeth Taylor hosted an exhibition of her much prized jewelry for the public. The exhibition included famed Krupp diamond (in picture above), La Preregina Pearl by Cartier and the huge heart shaped Taj Mahal diamond. The proceeds of the exhibition went to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

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The Most Valuable Handbag in the World – Mouawad 1001 Nights Purse

The House of Mouawad, famous for its fine jewelry which even has some of the world’s biggest diamonds to its name is once again back in limelight for producing world’s most valuable handbag. Tagged at $3.8 million, this bejeweled purse has been registered as the Most expensive clutch in the Guinness Book of World Records.

This heart shaped clutch has every reason to be expensive, crafted in 18K gold, it is studded with a total of 4517 diamonds. There are 105 yellow diamonds, 56 pink diamonds and the remaining 4356 are colorless diamonds.

Just like the epic Thousand and One Nights, this handbag too showcases romance and passion, it is said that it took 10 artisans around 8800 hours in total to create this legendary bad under the supervision of designer Robert Mouawad.

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Fine Jewelry Brand Verdura is now Online

Now here is something that every jewelry lover would love to look at. Verdura is a fine jewelry brand that was started by DUke Fulco di Verdura (1898 – 1978) a Sicilian Duke who started his career with none other than Coco Chanel. Coco Chanel hired him as a textile designer and later he went to become the head designer of her private and boutique collection of jewelry. Their collaboration led to the establishment of this legendary fine jewelry brand that adorned many royalties and celebrities since the early 20th Century.

The brand recently launched its new website that showcase a beautiful combination of their past and future. If you do visit their site, do read their ‘Our Story’ section, where they talk of the brands origin and evolution though the ages.

And for anyone who considers jewelry an art, do browse through their collection that has some of the most enthralling designs that you would come across, especially their vintage collection is simply superb.

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Ekati Spirit Diamond from Canada sets a New Record

A 78- carat diamond rough that was recently mined from the Ekati mine, Canada was sold this week at the BHP Billiton’s diamond center, Antwep for $2.8 million. This rough diamond of $2.8 million sets a new record and becomes the most expensive rough diamond from a Canadian mine. The previous record was set by 10.22 carats diamond rough which was sold for $1.2 million.

The stone is internally flawless and the most significant gem quality produced from this mine in the last 13 years. However this is not the biggest diamond discovery of the Ekati mine, the biggest was the 182 carat diamond which was found about 2 years ago, but it was of poorer quality.

There are no reveals on who the buyers in, but one can’t help but wonder hoe this stunning gemstone would looks once it is cut, given some fancy shape and set in some magnificent jewel :))

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Elvis’ Ring up for Auction

Elvis Presley remains one of the most bankable names, when it comes to celebrity collectibles. The Upcoming Signature Music and Entertainment at Heritage Auction, Beverly Hills features Elves Presley’s Star Sapphire Ring along with many other celebrity items such as Marlyn Monroe’s Long Underwear and Beatles ‘Butcher’ cover records.

This nugget ring with black star sapphire was one of King’s favorite. The 14K Yellow Gold has also. Elvis was often seen wearing this ring in the 1970’s, after which he gifted it to his tour promoter, Tom Hulett. The ring is estimated to be worth $15,000.

Stumbleupon Tags: fashion, celebrities, elvis presley ring, jewelry, famous jewelry, auction jewelry

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Kate Middleton – Get the Royal Look

Since the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Kate has become overnight fashion icon. Whatever outfit she is seen wearing is sold out within few hours.

Especially the whole ensemble that Middleton wore in their engagement announcement has many women going crazy. The $615 blue Issa dress that she wore was sold out in less than 24 hours world over.

Ingenue’s ‘Pipita’ is a neat replica of this dress available for just $160.82. But more than any outfit or hat she wore, what became an instant rage in women was the Princess Diana’s engagement ring that Prince William gave to Kate Middleton. This 18 carat blue sapphire engagement ring has given a new color to engagement rings.

Replica of Princess Diana’s engagement ring can be found at Angara.com (a leading online diamond and gemstone jewelry portal). The ring is available in various stone qualities and sizes. So that everyone can have a piece of royalty at a price they are comfortable with.

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Super Bowl Ring

They say Super Bowl teams don’t just fight for the Lombardi Trophy, the winners even get to wear some really fancy rings. The NFL pays for about 150 rings to be given to the winner team (including the players, staff, owners).

The ring shown above was given to the winners of the Super Bowl last year. The Super Bowl XLIV Championship0 rings for the New Orleans Saints were designed by famous New York Jeweler Tiffany & Co.

These rings also feature fleur-de-lis logo of New Orleans Saints with round diamonds. On the side of the ring is inscribed ‘World Champions’ in yellow gold and 16 diamonds signifying the number of games the team won in the series.

If you find these Super Bowl Rings fascinating, do browse through the ESPN’s special section on Super Bowl Rings with some really interesting ring stories.

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15.98 Carat Harry Winston Diamond rings tops the Sotheby’s Auction

Sotheby’s Important Jewelry Auction achieved 8,897,278 against the presale estimates between $6.8 to $9 million.

The main attraction of the auction was the 15.98 carat Harry Winston emerald cut diamond ring in platinum which scored $662,500. Next scored a 3.52 carat platinum round diamond ring which sold for $290,500.

You might also be interested in reading:

Bulgari Celebrates 125th Anniversary in Paris

Christie’s Pink Diamond sold at $1million per carat

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Bulgari celebrates 125th Anniversary in Paris

The famous designer house Bulgari celebrates its 125th Anniversary in Paris and with that exhibits over 600 of of its unique jewels at the Grand Palais.. The exhibition also displayed gems of the biggies like Liz Taylor, Ingrid Bergman and Sophia Loren.

Stumbleupon Tags: jewels, bulgari Blue Diamond, bulgary 125 anniversary, jewelry exhibition

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Christie’s Pink Diamond at $1 Million per Carat

The world suddenly seems to in a fix with Pink Diamonds. Just few days back Sotheby’s 24.78 carats pink diamond set a new record when it was sold for $46 million.

And here is another purple-pink diamond, this time from Christie’s which grabbed a mind boggling price. This 6.89 carats was sold at $6.91 million (about $1 million per carat).

The stunning cut – cornered modified rectangular shaped diamond is set with pink diamonds in rose gold ring.

Colored Diamond Jewelry

Technorati Tags: colored diamond,pink diamond

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