The Diamond Studio Daily 08/11/2013

The appetite for coloured gemstones has grown in the UK and globally as consumers seek gems that stand out from the crowd or to own as investments. You only have to step onto Bond Street or peruse the windows of luxury jewellers from Paris to New York right now to spot a recurring theme: coloured gemstones. While gemstones have played a huge part in jewellery design for millennia, there has been a notable renaissance for punchy, juicy coloured stones that consumers are no longer afraid to wear. So what is it about coloured gemstones that is winning the hearts of the consumers? Popular trend and sales are showing gemstones are the new diamond, at least for brides-to-be. Jewellers have noticed an increase in coloured gemstones amongs consumers, especially those who seek alternatives to the traditional diamond engagement ring, Instead of a diamond solitaire or diamond three stone ring they ask for striking green tsavorite garnet and red spinel. Statement necklaces in onyx, coral or amber have been popular, and cluster rings are now very much in demand, as are particular hues of stone such as peach-coloured sapphires and aquamarine. The Gemological Association of America (GIA), while offering training and education for diamonds and stones, also keeps an eye on the evolving markets. Its senior industry analyst Russell Shor agrees that stones considered obscure have become increasingly popular in recent times. “For many years the popular notion of garnet was a brownish-red coloured stone, however garnets come in nearly every colour of the rainbow, and in all price ranges,” he explains. “The popularity of these so-called ‘obscure’ gemstones has increased exponentially in recent years because consumers have come to know their beauty through telvision and the internet. I believe that we have entered into a new era in which colour is going to play an increasing part in our lives, our jewellery and our luxury purchases.”

Today's Diamond of the Day is the Briolette of India a colorless diamond (weighing 90.38 carats) that was found in India. It is cut in a briolette shape, and is a D-coloured (colourless) type diamond. If the fables about it are true, it may be the oldest diamond on record, perhaps older than the Koh-I-Noor Diamond. In the 12th century, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the first Queen of France and later England, brought the stone to England. Her son, Richard the Lionheart, is said to have taken it on the Third Crusade. It next appeared in the 16th century when Henry II of France gave it to his blonde mistress, Diane de Poitiers. It was shown in one of many portraits of her while at Fontainebleau. After disappearing for four centuries, the stone surfaced again in 1950 when the jeweler, Harry Winston, of New York, bought it from an Indian Maharajah. It was sold to Mrs. I.W. Killam and bought back by Mr. Winston, following her death, about 10 years later.


In at number 45 in our Celebrity Engagement ring  is 
Khloe Kardashian Odom.  The 12.5-carat radiant-cut engagement ring from Lamar Odom is worth $850,000.

Today's Diamond of the Day is the Black Orlov According to the legend, the Black Orlov is said to have taken its name from the Russian Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov who owned it for time during the mid-eighteenth century. It is a 67.50-carat cushion-cut stone, a so-called black diamond (actually, a very dark gun-metal color). It is reported to have belonged to a nineteenth-century shrine near Pondicherry, India, and to have weighed 195 carats in the rough. Unfortunately the Indian origin of this stone is almost certainly false. There is no documentation of India having produced any black diamonds of note. 


In at number 45 in our Celebrity Engagement Countdown is Jessica Simpson. Eric Johnson gave Jessica Simpson a 5-carat ruby ring in honor of her July birthday. "The ruby design for Jessica was perfection," says Eric, "It's a classic design with a twist because the side stones are pear-shaped."

Feathers at Fendi

Leaves where big with Balenciaga.

Go gold or go home Dolce and Gabbana

 SS/2014 shows are in full swing here are some of the jewelry trends hitting catwalks next season.

The Diamond Studio Daily 06/11/2013

Rose gold is what’s trending this season in both the fine jewelry and fashion jewelry markets. While this lovely, pink-hued metal has been used in jewelry pieces for decades, recently rose gold jewelry has increased in popularity in every jewelry avenue. Rose gold is now seen in fine jewelry, engagement and wedding ring settings, watches and also fashion jewelry pieces. In fact, now men’s watches and other jewelry pieces are even sporting rose gold accents! The warmth of rose gold jewelry brings out the underlying pink tones of skin in contrast to the bling factor of white and yellow gold. Also, rose gold brings out the natural beauty of diamonds as well as many colored gemstones.     
Rose gold jewelry’s recent increased popularity can be attributed to several factors. First, it’s different. For the woman, or man, who is less traditional, rose gold jewelry offers an alternative to the more common white or yellow gold jewelry. Also, the soft pink tone of rose gold pieces works well with the colors and hues of the soft colors and feminine styles
popular in women’s fashion right now.
Second, rose gold provides another color to add for mixing and matching metals as well as materials. The two-tone look for mixing white and yellow gold has been popular for years. Women are now mixing rose gold with either white or yellow gold pieces and sometimes they mix it with both. Rose gold adds another color and dimension. Women mix different gold colors of bangle bracelets, stacking rings, and necklaces to create an individual look.
Cartier helped introduce this look in the late 1920’s when they introduced the Trinity band, a ring made of three intertwining bands of rose, white and yellow gold. Customers and fans of rose gold may be surprised to learn that there is actually no such thing as pure rose gold. Gold in its purest form always has a gold or yellow color. But, gold in its purest form is soft. Jewelers have to add other metals to the mixture not only to increase gold’s durability and strength but also to change the color. Rose gold is typically a mix of yellow gold and copper alloy. The ratios can be adjusted to create a deeper or lighter color. The more copper alloy used, the deeper and darker the color.

Today's Diamond of the Day is the Beau Sancy. As soon as she set eyes on the Beau Sancy diamond, Marie de Médicis, wife of the French king Henri IV, knew she wanted it, and she nagged her wayward husband until he bought it for her.

It was to bring neither of them great pleasure. In 1610, a day after her coronation – for which the large pear-shaped gem was set atop her crown – Henri was assassinated, leaving six children under the age of nine. So began the Beau Sancy's 400 year journey through European royal history.

The 34.98-carat jewel became the oldest diamond ever to go under the hammer at auction, selling for eight million francs (£5.3m) at Sotheby's in Geneva, Switzerland. 

In at number 46 in our Celebrity Engagement ring 

countdown is Natalie Portman. Natalie Portman has kept relatively quiet about her engagement and secret wedding with Benjamin Millepied, but that hasn't stopped us from drooling over her ring. Not only is it gorgeous, but it's also eco-friendly. Millepied designed the ring himself, making sure to use recycled platinum and conflict-free diamonds. Beautiful and good for the planet – we love it! 

The Diamond Studio Daily 05/11/2013

Guy Fawkes (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Who where led by Robert Catesby, who planned to assassinate the Protestant King James and replace him with his daughter, third in the line of succession, Princess Elizabeth. Fawkes was described as "pleasant of approach and cheerful of manner, opposed to quarrels and strife,loyal to his friends". It was this mixture of piety and professionalism which endeared him to his fellow conspirators. Fawkes's final role in the plot was settled during a series of meetings in October. He was to light the fuse and then escape across the Thames. Simultaneously, a revolt in the Midlands would help to ensure the capture of Princess Elizabeth. Acts of regicide were frowned upon, and Fawkes would therefore head to the continent, where he would explain to the Catholic powers his holy duty to kill the King and his retinue. The King however ordered Sir Thomas Knyvet to conduct a search of the cellars underneath Parliament, which he did in the early hours of 5 November. Fawkes had taken up his station late on the previous night, armed with a slow match and a watch. He was found leaving the cellar, shortly after midnight, and arrested. Inside, the barrels of gunpowder were discovered hidden under piles of firewood and coal. Fawkes admitted his intention to blow up the House of Lords, and expressed regret at his failure to do so. His steadfast manner earned him the admiration of King James. This admiration however was not to save Guy Fawkes and the conspirators who where put to death by hanging.

Today's Diamond of the Day is the Ashberg Diamond The diamond is one of the first diamonds discovered in South Africa in the mid 1860s and used to be part of the Russian Crown Jewels, a collection that started in 1719. After the 1920s, the Crown Jewels were transferred to the Kremlin Diamond Fund. In 1934 a Russian trade delegation made a visit to Sweden and sold the Ashberg diamond to Mr. Ashberg. The gem was mounted to a diamond necklace and displayed at the Amsterdam Exhibition a few years later. In 1959 it was put up for sale, however, the buyer remains unknown. In the 80s the stone was failed again to reach its reserve at an auction. Maybe you are interested?

In at number 47 in our Celebrity Engagement Ring countdown is Cathrine Zeta Jones. This 10 carat monster diamond studded creation that shines on the ringer finger of Catherine, Is enigmatic. It features 28 miniature shimmers encircling the giant marquise cut at the center. Reports are that Michael Douglas spent a slice of his fortune for this $1,million engagement ring.

The Diamond Studio Daily 4/11/2013

                                                                                                                                                                                                  We where so pleased to go to Belfast on Saturday to show off some of our different collections, We where overwhelmed by how warm and inviting the city and it's people are. Its truly a magical place and we hope so very much that we can return to work their on a regular basis! So much to see and do in this vibrant city, not to mention the amazing breakfast we got from Failte's restaurant.

Today's Diamond of the Day is the Archduke Joseph a colorless, antique cushion-shaped brilliant, originally weighing 78.54 carat. It originated in India's Golconda mines, where the colorless Koh-i-Noor, the Blue Hope Diamond and other famous diamonds also originated. It was named after Archduke Joseph August of Austria, its first recorded owner who had it deposited in the vault of the Hungarian General Credit Bank on 1st June 1933. This was the first record of the existence of the Archduke Joseph diamond. In 1936 it was sold to an anonymous buyer who is believed to have been a European banker and kept in France, locked away in a safe deposit box, where it remained undiscovered from the German occupation powers during World War II. It surfaced at auction (but not sold) in 1961 in London and again at Christie's in Geneva in November 1993. On November 13, 2012 the Archduke Joseph (76.02 carat) was sold for more than 20m Swiss frank.

Today's celebrity engagment ring comes from Colleen Rooney in at number 48 on our top 50 countdown. Wayne Rooney might have proposed to a 17-year-old Coleen McLoughlin in a petrol station in 2003, but he more than made up for that with the four-carat, emerald-cut diamond ring he gave her. Estimated Value: $46,000

The Diamond Studio Daily 1/11/2013

"Who first comes to this world below
In dreary November's fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true."

November Birthstone - Properties of the Topaz
For those who were born in the month of November the Topaz is the traditional birthstone. The November birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Topaz is associated - constancy, loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The traditional metaphysical properties for the November birthstone Topaz are strength, releasing tension and balancing emotions. The healing properties of the birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to  sanity, asthma, blood disorders, tuberculosis and insomnia. The Topaz is also used to enhance spiritual rejuvenation and feelings of happiness. At The Diamond Studio we can source any colour of Topaz and set it any way you would like, So why not treat a fiend or love one to a birthday surprise with extra special meaning.

Today's Diamond of The Day is the striking "Angola Star" it was unearthed in its namesake country of Angola, after nearly a billion years in the making. Extremely unique in size, shape and character, it is the prize jewel of Diamond in the Rough's impressive collection. The 217.39 carat central natural rough diamond is set in Pave diamonds which accent this historic, conflict-free natural rough diamond, on a 32 inch chain containing 12 additional rough diamonds for a total carat weight of 237.54 carats.

In at number 49 of our Celebrity Engagement Ring countdown is Emma Bunton with this stunning 3 stone engagement ring from her longtime partner Jade Jones. This baby (couldn't resist the reference) has a 3-carat brilliant round cut for a center stone with 1-carat pear shaped stones as a side stone. Estimated cost? Around £60,000.

Diamond Studio Daily 30/10/2013

Today's diamond of the day is The Amsterdam Diamond, a black diamond weighing 33.74 carats (6.75 g). It's cut to a pear shape and was sold in 2001 for $US352,000, the highest price paid for a black diamond at auction.

• Black diamonds are also called Carbonado. A name coined by Portuguese because of the diamonds resemblance to porous charcoal.

• They are found in the Central Africa and Brazil, with Brazil being the major source.

• The natural colour of a black diamond ranges from black to dark greys.

With celeb power couple Kim Kardashian and Kanye West getting hitched to the tune of a 15 carat rock we decided to choose our top 50 celebrity engagement rings and give you a daily dose of love. 

50 - In at number 50 its Scarlett Johansson, Romain Dauriac proposed to Scarlett Johansson, not with an enormous, chunky rock, but a delicate Art Deco-designed ring. It features three round-cut diamonds laid vertically to create an eye-catching rectangular shape. Beautiful.