Diamonds Update

Magnificent Colored Diamond Sale

Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale in Geneva November 17 was a high dollar success for colored diamonds and other colored gemstones but the highlight of the show was a green diamond ring.
Only a few natural green diamonds have been auctioned in recent decades and most of those had bluish or yellowish secondary color, which pointed to the importance of the sale of a 2.52-carat Fancy Vivid green color Cushion Modified Brilliant Cut diamond.  The rare diamond was claw-set in a platinum mounting with yellow gold head.

The cushion modified brilliant cut diamond was graded Fancy Vivid Green color, VS1 clarity, depth 63.9%, table 58%, measurements 8.80 x 7.35 x 4.70 mm, ratio 1.20, Excellent polish, Very Good symmetry, Faint fluorescence, and was laser inscribed “GIA 2106213537.”  While not the highest priced item at the auction, the $3.08 million sale set a world-record for price per carat for a green diamond at auction.

Other colored diamonds sales made history too.  A 3.17-carat Fancy Intense blue diamond sold for $2.52 million and set a new world-record for price per carat for an Intense Blue diamond at auction.  The round brilliant cut diamond was set in a simple four-prong platinum mounting.  The natural Fancy Intense blue colored diamond has VVS2 clarity.

The Roxburghe Rubies, a necklace and earring set, sold for $5.77 million, five times the estimated price before the auction.  The necklace contains 24 cushion shaped rubies and 24 cushion-cut diamonds and the set dates back to the late 19th century.  The necklace was the property of Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe and is thought to have been purchased from Garrards by the 5th Earl of Rosebery, as recorded in one of his diary entries.  The necklace is accompanied by its original turquoise velvet fitted case, embellished with the monogram R under a coronet, by R&S Garrard & Co, Goldsmith and Jewellers to The Crown, as well as by the original hand-written documentation detailing the weights of the stones.

Blue Diamond Sells for $7.98 Million

Sotheby’s recent Hong Kong auction was the site of a record-breaking diamond sale.  The 6.04-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, cut in the emerald shape, sold for $7.98 million.  The internally flawless sold for $1.32 million per carat, which is a new price per carat record for any gemstone ever sold.  The combination of the rare blue color, the internally flawless color, and the large carat weight for a blue diamond make this an exceptional stone among world-class diamonds.

The previous owner of the diamond was a private Asian collector and the new buyer is Moussaieff Jewellers, a London based jeweler with a reputation for acquiring some of the world’s most valuable gemstones.

Blue diamonds have always captured attention because of their rarity and beauty.  There are entire books written about the most famous blue diamond, the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond, displayed in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.  The Hope Diamond started out as the 112.25-carat French Blue discovered in India, which was a source of blue diamonds from 1500-1700.

In recent history, South Africa has been the location of blue diamond discoveries, almost exclusively at the Premier Mine.  Some other famous blue diamond sales include a 1994 Sotheby’s sale of a $9 million for a 20.17-carat blue diamond ($460,000 per carat).  In 1995, a 6.70-carat blue diamond sold for $3.52 million ($525,000 per carat).

Hong Kong was an appropriate location for the record-breaking sale because diamond shoppers there are notorious for their thirst for luxury diamonds.  Hong Kong is the king of glitz in Asia, especially for colored diamonds.  Colored diamond sources are diminishing so the rare pinks and blues are becoming increasing popular with serious collectors in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Are Black Diamonds Space Diamonds?

Black diamonds have always been a puzzle for geologists. Also known as carbonado, black diamonds are treated as something a little different from conventional diamonds.

First, black diamonds have unusual physical characteristics such as being composed of millions of diamond crystals stuck together and being porous as if formed in a gaseous froth.  Traditional diamonds form as large crystals with classic crystal structure.  Black diamonds look more like the obsidian (glassy black) or pumice (gray and full of holes) that result from volcanoes.  The porous material is full of bubbles that appear to result from gases present when the diamonds formed.  Conventional diamonds, formed deep within the earth, where the high pressure does not allow gases to exist. 

Second, black diamonds are not found in conventional diamond mining locations.  Black diamonds are found in Brazil and the Central African Republic but not one has been discovered in Russia, Australia, Canada, or other African countries that are the primary sources of the 600 tons of conventional diamonds that have been mined over the last century.  Since conventional diamonds are formed deep in the earth’s crust, geologists have been challenged to explain why black diamond sources are so isolated and separate from conventional diamond locations.  Black diamonds are found in alluvial deposits where rivers have washed the stones until they collect in low-lying pockets where they are mined today.  Unlike conventional diamonds, the black variety is not found in kimberlite pipes that would indicate they were formed beneath the earth’s crust.

In recent months, a team of geologists led by Stephen Haggerty of Florida International University in Miami presented the results of a study that theorizes that black diamonds came from outer space.  The team proposes that an asteroid about half mile in diameter impacted earth billions of years ago where South America and Africa were once connected land masses.  Today the deposits of black diamonds are thousands of miles apart because the landmasses drifted apart.

Black diamonds are seldom used as gemstones because they are extremely hard to cut and polish.  They seem to have a hardness that exceeds conventional diamonds due to the fact they do not cleave along crystal planes.  As a result, regular diamond powder only cuts carbonado with extreme difficulty.  This trait makes it ideal for grinding, drilling and other industrial uses but not popular for uses in the jewelry industry.

As the public learns about the possible outer space source of black diamonds, its stellar origin might increase its popularity as a gemstone.  Owning a diamond from outer space might be just the marketing theme that changes how diamond shoppers perceive this unique form of diamond.

Tiffany Yellow Diamond on Display at Smithsonian

Opened in 1910, the National Museum of Natural History is part of the Smithsonian Institution and houses 125 million natural science specimens and cultural artifacts.  The Department of Mineral Sciences focuses on the study of the origin and evolution of minerals, gems, rocks, volcanoes, and meteorites.  What captures the media attention and are the biggest public draw are the gemstone exhibits, which feature such famous pieces as the 112-carat deep-blue Hope Diamond and 220 carat Star of Asia sapphire that are on permanent display.

In 2003, the Smithsonian was the location of a dazzling exhibit featuring the world’s seven rarest diamonds including the 59.6 carat Steimetz Pink, the 203 carat white Millennium Star, the 5.11 carat Moussaieff Red, the 1.01.29 carat vivid yellow Allnatt Diamond, the 5.51 carat blue-green Ocean Dream, the 27.64 carat deep-blue Heart of Eternity, and the 5.54 carat Pumpkin Diamond.

From April 11, 2007 through September 23, 2007, another one of the world’s rarest and most valuable diamonds is on exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History.  The 128.54 carat Tiffany Diamond is a golden-yellow cushion-cut diamond named after is owner, Tiffany & Company.  Also known as, the Tiffany Yellow, the stone is part of the “Bird on a Rock” jewel created by Tiffany designer Jean Schlumberger in the 1960s.  The platinum and gold bird, covered with white and yellow diamonds with a ruby eye, is perched atop the Tiffany Diamond.

Founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1837, Tiffany & Co. gained global recognition in the second half of the 1800s when the firm took advantage of the political turmoil in France.  Tiffany purchased 24 of the 69 French Crown Jewels in 1887 and numerous other famous colored diamonds.  However, a 287.42-carat rough diamond mined in South Africa in 1877 was to become the true attention getter for the firm.  Tiffany purchased the golden-yellow cushion-cut diamond for $18,000, shipped it to the United States, and put it on display in their store for viewing by millions of visitors over the next seventy years.

In June of 2006, the Tiffany & Co. Foundation donated $1.1 million to the Smithsonian as an endowment for the acquisition of gemstones for the Smithsonian’s gemstone collection.  The National Gem Collection, initiated in 1884, attracts more than five million visitors a year and its Hope Diamond, is the most popular museum object in the world.

Red Diamond For Sale

The Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia is famous for being the world’s premier source of pink colored diamonds but it is also the premier source of the few red colored diamonds known to exist.  To say that there is only a small number of true natural red colored diamonds is no exaggeration.  The number diamonds certified as red is estimated to be less than twenty so it is rare that a red diamond is seen in public, let alone available for sale.

Bruce Robinson Jewellers in Brisbane, Australia recently purchased a red diamond at the 2006 Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, which featured 65 exceptional colored diamonds.  While the purchase prices for the diamonds at the tender are confidential, the red diamond is now for sale and expected to demand a very high price.

The 0.54-carat brilliant-cut red diamond, named “The Lady in Red” measures only 5.13 mm and is I1 in clarity meaning it has inclusions visible to the unaided eye.  The diamond was a 1.46-carat rough diamond crystal and was cut and polished to its current 0.54-carat weight.  In spite of its small size, this diamond will probably be price well over $2 million.

Red diamonds are extremely rare.  The last red diamond sold for almost $1 million twenty years ago.  Because of their rarity and beauty, several red diamonds are among the most famous diamonds.

Perhaps the most famous of the red colored diamonds is the Moussaieff Red, a 5.11-carat ruby-red diamond making it the largest red colored diamond in the world.  Discovered by a farmer in Brazil in the 1990s, the internally flawless 13.90-carat rough crystal was cut by William Goldberg Diamond Corporation. The rare red stone was later sold to the Moussaieff Jewelers for a rumored $8 million.

The second largest red diamond is simply known as Red Diamond and is an emerald cut weighing 5.05 carats.  Its current location is unknown.

Another famous diamond is the De Young Red, a 5.03-carat round brilliant that is the third largest red diamond in the world.  The De Young Red is on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.  At one time it was mistakenly sold as a red garnet because the stone’s subtle brown hue give it an appearance more like a garnet than a rare red colored diamond.

The Hancock (Halphen) Red is an extraordinary deep ruby red making it exceptional among the reds even though it is smaller in carat weight at 0.95-carats.  In the 19th century, Edwin Streeter, a diamond dealer in Paris bought the extraordinary red known as the Halphen Red.  The stone disappeared from public view and was never seen again.  Almost a century later, a collector in England purchased a 0.95-carat red diamond, The Hancock Red, named after its owner Warren Hancock.  While there is no proof the two diamonds are in fact the same, the rarity of red diamonds makes it likely they are the same.  The purplish-red diamond sold for $880,000 ($926,000 per carat) at Christie’s in 1987.

Time will only tell what will happen to “The Lady in Red” that is currently for sale in Brisbane.

6.35 Carat Diamond Found in Arkansas

Donald and Brenda Roden of Point, Texas found a 6.35-carat coffee color, brown diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park on September 23, 2006.  They named their gem the Roden Diamond and are uncertain at this time whether they will eventually sell or keep it.

Park Superintendent Tom Stolarz noted, “The Roden’s gem is the eighth largest find of the 25,714 diamonds discovered since the Crater of Diamonds became an Arkansas state park in 1972.”  He described the gem as “about he same size and color as a large coffee bean.  The gem has somewhat distorted octahedral shape and a metallic-looking shine that is characteristic of diamonds from the Crater of Diamonds.”

Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and is located in southwest Arkansas two miles southeast of Murfreesboro.  The park is the world’s only publicly operated diamond site where the public is allowed to search and keep any gems found, regardless of value. 

Learn more about Crater of Diamonds State Park...

Magnificent Jewels at Christie's

Some of the most beautiful jewels in the world are sold at Christie’s New York and April 11 will be no exception.  Advertised as the Magnificent Jewels sale, this even will include the collection owned by Joan Kroc, the wife of McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc.

Here are some of the fantastic gems and jewelry that will be auctioned in April.

Probably the most valuable item will be a magnificent loose pear-shaped diamond weighing 50.67 carats and graded D color and VVS2 clarity.  Estimated value is $2.25 to $2.50 million.

A truly unique colored diamond ring features a 14.43 carat pear-shaped fancy dark blue-gray diamond surrounded by pave set pink diamonds set in a platinum and 18 karat rose gold mounting.  Estimated value is $1.2 to $1.5 million.

One of the Joan Kroc items is a colored diamond necklace by Harry Winston that features a 42.13 carat pear shaped fancy intense yellow color diamond hanging from two row round diamond necklace.  Estimated value is $1.0 to $1.5 million.

Pear shaped diamonds are the showcased shape and the sale includes a 12.02 carat pear shaped diamond with D color and Internally Flawless clarity set in a pave set diamond split shank platinum ring.  Estimated value is $600,000 to $800,000.

An impressive cushion cut blue sapphire weighing 80.86 carats is set in a platinum mounting with bullet cut diamond side stones.  Estimated value is $350,000 to $500,000.

It is hard to find sapphires that have not been heat treated but the sale includes a 24.21 carat rectangular cut blue sapphire in a platinum mounting with pave set diamonds on the shank and prongs.  Estimated value is $350,000 to $500,000.

A colored diamond and steel butterfly brooch, designed by Cartier, is sure to catch attention at the auction.  The wings have pave set fancy yellow diamonds enhanced with pear shaped white diamonds and oxidized steal veining.  The body is set with a carat pear shaped diamond, two cushion cut diamonds (2.68 and 6.33 carats) and pear shaped diamonds on the antennae.  Estimated value is $400,000 to $600,000.

A beautiful 5.25 carat modified square cut fancy pink diamond is set in a platinum and rose gold mounting flanked by trapeze cut white diamonds.  The center diamond is a natural fancy pink color with VVS2 clarity.  Estimated value is $400,000 to $600,000.

One of the more unique jewelry shapes at the sale will be a sapphire and diamond feather brooch designed by Flato.  The flexible, articulated feather has calibre cut sapphires extending from the stem with white pave set diamonds.  Estimated value is $30,000 to $40,000.

Discover more of the world’s most beautiful items at http://www.christies.com

Tanzanite

Tanzanite was enthusiastically celebrated after its discovery in 1967 as "Gemstone of the 20th Century.” The only known source of Tanzanite is a five square mile hilltop at Merelani, ten miles south of the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania.

While the correct name for the gemstone is “blue Zoisite,” the New York jewelry company, Tiffany, suggested it should be named after the place in occurs on the earth because the words “blue Zoisite" sounded unfortunately too much like the word "suicide". The name Tanzanite was used and has stuck helping this beautiful gemstone achieve success in the marketplace.

The deep blue colors of Tanzanite range from ultramarine to a light purplish blue. The most coveted color is a blue which shows a purplish hue. The source of its mesmerizing color is that tanzanite is trichroic: that is, it shows different colors when viewed in different directions. One direction is blue, another purple, and another bronze, adding subtle depths to the color.

Most rough crystals show a large proportion of the brownish-yellow, but the cutter may cure this by carefully heating the stone in an oven to about 500°C. This heating process requires careful attention because it is essential to determine the moment when the color turns blue. Heating is a treatment which is generally accepted in the trade and should be expected. Due to the heating, the most desirable rough stones are those that are relatively free of inclusions so that the heating process does not lead to fissures in the stone.

Tanzanite is a blue variety of the gemstone, Zoisite (hydrated calcium aluminum silicate) which has hardness 6.5 to 7 on the Mohr’s scale. It is not very scratch resistant so must be worn with care, especially in rings.

Tanzanites should be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush. It should never be cleaned by ultrasonic method and because of its chemical composition should never come into contact with acids. Never resize or repair a ring set with tanzanite because the stone could shatter in the heat of a torch.

New mining techniques and the liberalization of the Tanzanian economy has helped to boost production in the past few years to make tanzanite more available than ever before in the history of the gemstone.

Among the important gems discovered in the last 90 years, only Tanzanite has been added to the official birthstone list. It was adopted as a December birthstone by the American Gem Trade Association and shares that month with turquoise and zircon.

Tanzanites have become very popular and increasingly valuable for two obvious reasons: First of all is the spectacular color? Secondly, the stone is found on only one special location in the entire world. This is what makes it is especially valuable. The desire to own something unique and rare has always been a decisive criterion for assessing the value of special gemstones.

Cultured Fancy Colored Diamonds

Diamonds of the new century - cultured fancy colored diamonds - is the product of New Age Diamonds Inc. that consolidated under this brand a Russian former space lab where HPHT method for producing synthetic gem-quality diamonds originally was developed and applied - and all representative branches.

That is not just one more company trying to amaze the world and unshakeable diamond empire - but the powerful manufacture with wide scope of production where 120 unique high-capacity machines are producing orange, vivid yellow and greenish diamonds, grown in lab but having all chemical, physical and optical properties of real diamonds - and their attraction.

After years of research based on the Russian scientists' investigations with purpose to obtain gem-quality cultured diamonds, as well as the diamonds for technical needs in the field of microelectronics, and innovation of technology New Age Diamonds is ready to enter the market with a new company strategy that includes positive concept of joy-gems.

"Our aim is not to conquer the stable and respectable diamond market, - Mr.Shulepov, the president of New Age Diamonds said, - but to find the new one for our synthetic diamonds, the special niche that definitely exists. The reason to buy New Age Diamonds is obvious - they are as beautiful as real fancy colored diamonds, they have their brilliance and fire - but the price is times less."

Rich intensive colors of these stones give the unique possibilities for contemporary design of jewellery - affordable adornment for new generation, open-minded and new fashion oriented people who don't have any prejudices and can value the beauty and the purity of New Age Diamonds.

For more information: http://www.newagediamonds.com

Learn more about colored diamonds at http://www.diamondsourceva.com/Education/ColoredDiamonds/ColoredDiamonds.asp

Aquamarine

Aquamarine, named for the Latin phrase "water of the sea", is a blue to blue-green variety of the mineral beryl. Beryl also contains other gem varieties, including emerald and some lesser known varieties (such as morganite and heliodor). Light green beryl can be transformed into aquamarine if heated to 750º F (400º C). The green hues in regular aquamarine can also be removed through heating. In fact. almost all aquamarine gems on the market today are heat-treated. Generally, the deeper the blue in aquamarine, the greater its value. A very dark form of beryl resembling deep blue sapphire is artificially formed by irradiating certain beryls. These dark blue stones are not called aquamarine but "blue beryl".

Aquamarine is a fairly common gem, and is thus affordable. Some enormous transparent crystal masses have been exploited, and exquisite gems weighing thousands of carats have been cut from them. The beautiful light blue to blue-green color of aquamarine may fade upon prolonged exposure to light, so it is especially important to purchase this gem from a reliable dealer.

Light blue topaz is easily mistaken for aquamarine. The colors of these two gems are identical, and their physical properties are very similar. Topaz is the less expensive gem, and some crooked dealers may sell their topaz as aquamarine.

Unlike emerald, aquamarine gems are often completely flawless. In fact, an aquamarine gem with a visible flaw is rarely seen. The costs of producing synthetic aquamarine are very high when compared to the relative abundance of this gem, so synthetic aquamarine is not available on the market. However, production of synthetic blue spinel is easy and inexpensive, so it is used as a cheap aquamarine simulant. It is often mistakenly sold as "Synthetic Aquamarine".

Aquamarine is a hard and durable gem, but occasionally develops internal cracks if banged hard. Its color may fade upon prolonged exposure to light.

Aquamarine is faceted into many cuts. It is used in jewelry for rings, earrings, necklaces, etc. Many large, flawless gem pieces have been cut. Occasionally, perfect, flawless, six-sided crystals are worn as necklace pendants. Translucent aquamarine displaying a cat's eye effect and asterism are cut and polished into cabochons.