Snoopy turns 60 years old this year and to celebrate the anniversary the Hong Kong fine jewelry brand TSL has created a 5.5″ diamond statue of the iconic cartoon character that just might get into Guinness as the world’s most expensive. “Diamond Snoopy” features 207 carats of gems, with a total of 9,917 diamonds, 783 [...]

Diamonds have an allure about them that make them probably the most sought after gemstones in the world. They say that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, and more than likely that sentiment is due to their brilliance, their sparkle, and the way they make a person feel when wearing one. But, what we know as these perfectly clear and beautiful gemstones start their lives as basically rocks. They have to be mined and honed and crafted into what we know as diamonds.

An interesting article about buying expensive diamonds on-line. The story goes into great detail about how these on-line dealers can explain and show consumers just what they are getting and how the prices are determined. Truly a great read for anybody looking to purchase diamonds and bridal jewelry on-line.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a celebration for lovers. It’s also a time when jewelers step up their advertising for precious stones like diamonds.

Traditionally, consumers have gone to jewelry stores to purchase engagement rings and other fine gems. Now, a small but growing number of people are buying diamonds online and spending thousands — even tens of thousands of dollars — to buy something they have never seen.

Alok Kapur proposed with champagne, chocolate and a diamond ring. It was classic and romantic. But he bought his ring in a much less traditional way. He purchased it online from Blue Nile — the nation’s largest online seller of diamond engagement rings.

Initially, Kapur was skeptical. Buying such an expensive item sight unseen required a leap of faith. But his concerns were put to rest.

“They answered all of my questions — explained everything about the diamonds,” he says. “The transparency was great.”

A very interesting spin on whats been happening in the world diamond markets and investment opportunities that may now exist.

LONDON (Reuters) – Shares in diamond producers, which failed to join a mining sector rally last year as consumers shunned luxury, are set for a boost from a recovery in gem prices.

Hot Stocks

The diamond sector, a key supplier to the jewelry industry, was one of the hardest hit when consumers shied away from swanky purchases during the economic downturn amid worries about household debt, mortgages and jobs.

When prices of rough, or unpolished, diamonds dived in late 2008, stocks tracked the decline, but they have yet to fully react to output cutbacks by No. 1 producer De Beers and others that have nurtured a rebound in gem prices.

“The rough diamond market is recovering and prices are close to where they were prior to the downturn; the diamond stocks haven’t reflected this yet, trading relatively flat over the past six months,” said Tyler Broda, an analyst at Canaccord Adams.

“There was also no re-rating on the back of the better-than- expected Christmas numbers and the valuations still appear cheap. We think there is an opportunity here.”

Investors seeking pure diamond exposure must look to mid- and smallcap stocks since the biggest producers are parts of diversified groups or unlisted like Russia’s state-run Alrosa.

De Beers is 45 percent owned by mining group Anglo American (AAL.L) while Rio Tinto (RIO.L) (RIO.AX) and BHP Billiton (BLT.L) (BHP.AX) also have diamond divisions.

Around three-quarters of the London-listed diamond companies underperformed the wider UK mining index .FTNMX1770 in 2009, with a handful of firms, including Petra Diamonds (PDL.L) and Gem Diamonds (GEMD.L), seeing their value drop over the year.

Petra shed 24 percent last year, underperforming the UK mining index by 64 percent as most miners shot up, while Gem Diamonds lagged the index by 57 percent. The UK mining index doubled.

So far this year Petra has given up another 7 percent while Gem has gained almost 10 percent.

Another diamond covered phone has been revealed. The Nokia Supreme takes a Nokia 8800 and armors it in solid platinum veneers and screws and covers it with 12.5 carats of pink diamonds. There are approximately 1225 stones set into the phone including a three-carat navigational button made of a flawless center stone. The phone has a total of 83 grams of platinum. Stuart Hughes designed the phone for Goldstriker. It comes in a granite box with a leather interior. Just three will be made and each sells for around $160,000.

Engagement rings are a symbol of a promise and a commitment for the future. They are highly romanticized and something that girls fantasize about, probably starting about the time they first notice boys. They will most likely change their mind more than several times, both about the boy they envision giving them the ring and about what the ring that symbolizes their engagement will look like.

Engagement fantasies are just that – fantasies; I can assure you that they are not thinking along the lines of what a discount ring, or even an affordable ring will look like. As they get older, their character and values will determine whether their fantasies are more towards marrying for love, or for status. It is a horrifying thought to know that the majority of marriages are somewhat of a business decision. I guess that would apply as well then, to the engagement.

A all inclusive guide to understanding diamonds. Understand what is on the diamond certificate. How two diamonds of the same size, color and clarity can vary in price by 35%! Both visual and detailed explanations of a diamond’s size, color, clarity and cut, and how each of these factors independently influence prices!

Treasured, rare and always adding sparkle into our lives, diamonds will never fall out of fashion. Life’s most endearing moments – engagements, birthdays and anniversaries – are celebrated with diamonds. But most people believe that a diamond with color is an inferior jewel. Not so, according to many classic jewelry designers. On the contrary, colored diamonds are some of the most precious stones around.

Jennifer Lopez’s 6-carat fancy pink engagement ring and Paris Hilton’s 24-carat, $5 million fancy yellow engagement ring are credited with bringing colored diamonds back into the spotlight.

Like Hilton and Lopez, many women yearn to set themselves apart from everyone else. The rarity of fancy yellow diamonds – only 2 percent to 3 percent of diamonds mined in the world are considered “fancy yellow” – makes them popular among women who want to make a statement with their stones.

Since 1955, the Scarselli family has been producing and selling some of the world’s highest quality yellow, blue and pink diamonds available on the market. Known worldwide for three generations as masters in the art of colored diamonds, they possess an extensive inventory of special and unique stones in all colors, shapes and sizes, as well as their much sought after signature jewelry pieces.

Diamonds are allotropes of carbon , whose hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry.

Diamond in Greek means “impossible to tame”.

Diamonds are found mainly in central and southern Africa ,although significant sources of the mineral have been discovered in Canada ,Russia ,Brazil ,and Australia.

There are Synthetic Diamonds and Natural Diamonds.

There is something so special about diamonds, and they are so valuable, that people have been trying to make them for a long time. Synthetic diamonds were first produced in 1953, in Stockholm ,Sweden by ASEA ,Sweden’s major electrical manufacturing company. Pressure was maintained within a device at an estimated 83,000 atmospheres for an hour to produce these diamonds.

For many people, there’s only one way to propose and get engaged: with a diamond ring. It is considered to be a symbol of a man’s enduring love that he will spend a large amount on a large diamond that the woman can then show off to her friends and family – it shows that he can and will support her for the rest of her life.

This post will address most questions many people have about buying jewelry at Costco. If you have never thought about buying a piece of jewelry from Costco, well you better think again!

Before we answer the jewelry question, we need to explain the Costco Model. This recession may really challenge Costco’s business model. The company has built itself around being the upscale warehouser–paying premium wages to its workers, while carrying premium products. You really don’t want to be the high-cost provider in a deflationary environment–at least, not as long as wages remain sticky. It’s also less broadly distributed, centering itself near relatively affluent areas. In most cases, that’s a good place to be. But so far, the recession has taken a disproportionate toll on those with substantial assets. Regardless, Costco continues with a very standard markup structure ranging from 20-30%. How can Costco survive at 20-30% markup? Simple, they make a huge profit on the membership fees. The 20-30% markup on merchandise basically covers about 100% of their fixed costs, the rest including the membership fees is all profit.

The holidays are coming up and the UK’s Hallmark Jewelers are ringing in the season with the most expensive Christmas ornament in the world.

Adorned with 500 diamonds—three of them one carat apiece—arranged along a snowflake pattern and orbited by 188 rubies, The World’s Most Valuable Christmas Bauble, as they call it, is a truly exquisite and unique piece of holiday décor.

Work on the Bauble began on Boxing Day (December 26th, for stateside readers) 2008 and took almost a year to complete. The two halves of the interior orb were cast in London’s Hatton Garden Jewellery Quarter. The bulb was unveiled at a VIP gala and its designer, Mark Hussey, plans to display it in his Titchfield store should a buyer not be available.

The Christmas Bauble is valued at £82,000—over US $136,000.

When does a good thing become too much of a good thing?

A recent episode of Dancing with the Stars provides a clue.

Carrie Ann Inaba appeared on the show wearing a diamond and platinum bracelet, ring and diamond and platinum drop earrings, all by Neil Lane.

If she had stopped there things would have been fine. The spectacular diamond ring spanned one and a half fingers. On the other arm was the Art Deco-inspired diamond and platinum bracelet at a cool 30 carats and $150,000. And framing Inaba’s pretty smile were triple teardrop earrings, set with 6 briolette diamonds totalling 15 carats and $75,000.

For reasons known only to Inaba, or her stylist, a large pearl brooch of unknown origin was also pinned to her shimmery white dress and a necklace draped down to her décolletage.

Some Info About Cheryl Fornash
I’m excited to create a unique business in Richmond. After 14 years in the retail jewelry business and 20 years as a marketing representative for IBM, I have been inspired to start a business that combines my expertise in the jewelry business and the technical knowledge gained from my career at IBM.

I’m not your traditional retail store or an online retailer. I offer you the best of both worlds by providing more personal service, more selection and lower prices than a retail store. Also, I eliminate the risk of buying online. You can view a diamond or a piece of fine jewelry and have all your questions answered in the privacy and convenience of my Richmond office prior to making your buying decision.

As an importer, I can offer diamonds and fine jewelry at lower prices than any retail store or retailer on the internet. I import GIA and AGS certified diamonds directly from Israel and Belgium, and I have relationships with fine jewelry designers throughout the country. These relationships and the fact that I have avoided the high overhead of a retail store allow me to offer you diamonds and jewelry at incredible prices.

I feel fortunate to have an opportunity to create my own business, and with this comes certain responsibilities to my community. I continue to support such charities as Go Red For Women, American Heart Association and the VCU Massey Cancer Center.

It is unique to find a single source with the best prices on diamonds and designer jewelry. I have a passion for the jewelry I sell, and I’m committed to providing the very best prices, quality and service to my customers. I look forward to hearing from you.

The existence of the diamond has positively impacted our society, along with others for ages. Diamond jewelry began as a luxury for many wealthy and other well to do individuals; however, in recent times the diamond has become more common in jewelry for all individuals.

The most popular form of diamond jewelry is that of an engagement ring. With millions of couples getting engaged or married each year, many diamond engagement or wedding rings will be purchased. There are many individuals who are unsure where an item came from or how it is made. Since diamonds do not magically appear in jewelry, workers are needed for this careful process.

Everybody knows that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And everybody knows that Victoria’s Secret is a guy’s best friend. So, it only makes sense to combine friends and make everyone happy. This season, Victoria’s Secret is unveiling a $3 million fantasy bra, and it features quite an impressive collection of diamonds.

The Fantasy Bra has nearly 2,500 diamonds of various colors, including a huge 16-carat heart-shaped diamond in the middle. The diamonds are colored white, cognac and champagne.

The bra, which boasts 150 carats, was designed exclusively for Victoria’s Secret by Italian jeweler Damiani and manufactured in Valenza, Italy. It can be worn five ways, including strapless, halter, crossback, one-strap or classic.

Every year Victoria’s Secret includes a novelty bra as part of its fall fashion. Last year’s model was worth $5 million. The 2003 model, which was worth $8 million, was famously worn and broken by Heidi Klum on the Jay Leno Show. However, because the recession, this year’s bra is worth a “mere” $3 million.

On December 1st you can all see Marisa Miller modeling the 2009 Fantasy Bra at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which will air on the CBS television network. Fergie and the Black-Eyed Peas will be performing at the event. Allegedly, front row tickets for the spectacular are going for $25,000.

The famous 32.01 square Annenberg diamond sold at auction to an unnamed phone buyer on Wednesday. The diamond, known for it’s near-flawlessness, was bought by Leonore Annenberg for her 90th birthday. She died in March at age 91. Christie’s auction house had the gem delivered to her by armed guards in celebration of her birthday.

Annenberg served as the US Chief of Protocol during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, a position that granted her diplomatic status. Her husband, Walter Annenberg, was a billionaire who was both a publisher and the Ambassador to England under Richard Nixon. The Annenberg name gave the diamond even further importance. Richard Annenberg died in 2002.

The Emerald-Cut diamond is set in a ring designed by New York jeweler David Webb, who flanked the center walnut-sized stone with pear-shaped diamonds, one weighing 1.61 carats, and the other 1.51 carats. Although Christie’s set the pre-sale estimate for the masterpiece at $3-$5 million, it was clearly coveted by many, and well exceeded expectations.

Petra Diamonds Limited (”Petra” or “the Company”), the international diamond mining group, announces the recovery of an important 507.55 carat white diamond at the Cullinan mine in South Africa. This spectacular gemstone was recovered on Thursday 24 September and is currently with experts for analysis. Initial examinations indicate that it is of exceptional color and clarity, and most likely to be a Type II diamond. Further details, including color grading and clarity, will be released once the diamond has undergone appropriate analysis.

The diamond was recovered alongside three other special white stones of similar color and clarity in the same production run: another very large stone of 168.00 carats and two other stones of 58.50 and 53.30 carats.

At 507 carats (just over 100 grams) the diamond, which has yet to be named, is considered to be amongst the top 20 largest high quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide and ranks alongside other illustrious diamonds recovered at the celebrated Cullinan mine. Cullinan has a special place in the history of diamonds as the source of the world’s largest gem diamond ever recovered, the ‘Cullinan’, at 3,106 carats rough. It has also produced a further two of the world’s largest diamonds, the Golden Jubilee at 755 carats rough and the Centenary at 599 carats rough, and many other famous gems including the Taylor-Burton (69 carats polished).

When it comes to diamonds, there are numerous scams to avoid. Most scams are minor, but there are some major ones that come up from time to time concerning the buying and selling of diamonds. Scams occur simply because most people who buy diamonds – for whatever reasons – don’t know that much about diamonds. Therefore, they are easily fooled.

Jewelry stores like to show their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask to see the diamond in a different, darker type of lighting as well. Jewelry also stores often run ‘fluorescence’ scams to varying degrees. Referring to a diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very unique and special, but in fact, this type of diamond is of lesser quality – even though the jeweler will try to make you think you are getting something special. On line dealers will often simply alter the images. Remember the quality of the photography work and post-photography “photo touching” can greatly alter the presentation of the piece.

A common scam that most jewelry stores participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam. The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a ring, only states the total carat weight of all diamonds in the piece, instead of listing the total weights separately for each diamond. This leads consumers to believe that the main diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it is. Ask what the total carat weight of the center stone is. Also beware of fractions. Jewelry stores are allowed to round off diamond weights. This means that if the jeweler tells you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is probably between ½ and ¾ carat – but closer to ¾.

Some truly unscrupulous jewelers target those who want appraisals on diamonds that were given to them as gifts or that were purchased elsewhere. They will try to tell you that the diamond is worthless, or worth less than it actually is worth – and offer to take it off your hands or trade it for a much better diamond, along with the cash to make up the difference. This is called low balling. Get a second, third, and even a forth opinion before taking any action.

Another common dirty trick is to switch the diamond you have chosen and paid for with one of lesser quality and value when you leave it to be set in a piece of jewelry, or leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only way to avoid this is to do business with one trustworthy jeweler. Avoid jewelers that you have not done business with in the past.

There are many more scams that jewelry stores commonly pull on unsuspecting consumers (click READ MORE below). Our best suggestion is to your homework and research both online and in brick and mortar stores. We here at The Modern Jeweler believe that most often your BEST value will come from reputable jewelers that have both a solid on-line presence with an up-to-date look and feel, as well as a high-quality, elegant brick and mortar store. Regardless, just use your best judgment, and purchase your diamonds with the utmost care and consideration.