Louis Vuitton 1001 Nuits Jewelry Collection

Louis Vuitton recently released their latest jewelry collection called 1001 Nuits, or 1001 Nights.

One of the pieces I like best in the collection is the Louis Vuitton 1001 Nights Bracelet -$725.00.

There are also other items included in the 1001 Nights Collection that are worth checking out like the earrings, necklace, ring and the hair barrette. All the pieces are made of Gold finished brass with Swarovski crystals.

1001 nights earrings - $515

1001 nights necklace - $560

1001 nights ring - $355

1001 Nights Hair Barrette - $355

All of the items are available for purchase online (eluxury.com)

Rare 3.69 carat ruby sold for $19,600 on eBay

An American has purchased a rare intense red 3.69 carat ruby on eBay India for Rs. 8,20,000 ($19,600) making it one of the most expensive jewelry items sold on the country-specific Web auction site.

Arvind Juneja, a Jaipur resident has a family business of Jewellery and registered on eBay in October 2007. He has sold more than 90 pieces of jewelry and gems since October, 2007 on the Web site. His eBay id is “Jewelsafari.”

“I am an avid collector of precious gemstones,” he said. “I wanted to trade my collection with the buyers who really understand the worth of these priceless and unique gemstones. I am glad that this stone is in the hands of someone who appreciates its true worth.”

The rare ruby is AGTA Certified (American Gem Trade Association Gem Testing Center)

$1,000,000 cultured pearl necklace

It took 10 years for Japanese jeweler Mikimoto to find just the right pearls for this necklace. The 18-inch-long strand is composed of 27 perfectly matched, perfectly round White South Sea pearls (extremely rare AAA quality cultured pearls 15.06 x 17.24 mm in diameter) and bears a "heart-stopping" luster, Mikimoto says.

The South Sea White cultured pearl is distinguished from all other pearls by its magnificent, satiny luster. MIKIMOTO South Sea White cultured pearls have a subdued, opalescent appearance which changes slightly under different light conditions.

This spectacular piece is complemented by a gorgeous art deco oval clasp with 11.92 carats of diamonds. It's on sale for $1 million and available for a limited time at MIKIMOTO New York.

Astro Boy encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds

A Japanese boy looks at a 10 cm (4 inch) model of Japan's rocket-powered boy Astro Boy encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds worth about 100 million yen ($828,720) displayed at a Tokyo department store April 7, 2003.

Artist Osamu Tezuka, considered the father of Japan's animation or "manga" industry, created Astro Boy as a serialised comic strip in 1951 and set his character's birthday far in the future-April 7, 2003.

Set in futuristic Metro City, "Astro Boy" tells the story of a young robot created by a scientist to replace the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving father's expectations, the robot embarks on a journey before he returns to save the city and reconcile with the man who had rejected him.

Summit Entertainment plans to distribute Imagi Studios' computer-animated feature "Astro Boy" worldwide in 2009.

Graff Lesotho Promise Necklace

Graff's Lesotho Promise necklace was designed from the 603 carat Lesotho Promise diamond stone, , the 15th largest rough diamond ever recovered, found in the Letsenf diamond mine in the African country of Lesotho. It is the 15th largest rough diamond ever recovered and was sold to Graff and its partner polishing company Safdico for $12.36 million in October last year.

Graff who cut the diamond into twenty six smaller diamonds ranging from .52 carats to the impressive 76.41 carat pear shaped at the tip of the necklace. After 18 months of cutting and polishing, they have turned these those stones into one spectacular necklace, The Lesotho Promise Necklace.

The necklace contains every single diamond made from the Lesotho Promise diamond stone totaling 223.35 carats and the diamonds are set in white gold. The stones are valued at $50 million but a value hasn't been given for the finished piece.

The necklace is part of the company's display of magnificent jewels in Monte-Carlo and is available for viewing until August 10 (hurry up !) at the Salle Empire, Hotel De Paris in Monte-Carlo .

Amateur treasure hunter finds $50,000 bejewelled cross

A treasure hunter has struck gold, after his metal detector guided him to a rare Anglo-Saxon cross in the middle of a muddy farmer's field.

The stunning pure gold artefact was set with red gemstones and dates from the 7th century. It may have originally held a relic such as bone from a Disciple or fragment of the Cross.

Measuring just over an inch long, the finely decorated 18 carat gold is worth at least £25,000 ($50,000). The red stones are among the world's most ancient gems and were used by ancient Greeks .

The anonymous finder discovered the 1,400-year-old cross just 12 inches beneath the sod on a farm in Nottinghamshire. He handed the find to a coroner who declared it as treasure trove at an inquest. This means the finder will get half the proceeds of a sale. He is likely to split his earnings with the farmer.

Backes & Strauss Regent 1609 AD Watch

The Regent 1609 AD is the first Backes & Strauss limited edition timepiece. The name of the luxury watch pays tribute to English astronomer Thomas Harriett who made the first drawings of the moon, before Galileo.

The Backes & Strauss 1609 AD watch showcases an original and luxurious moon phase indicator, which presents a representation of a 17-star constellation, depicted in round brilliant diamonds.

Produced in collaboration with Geneva's Franck Muller Watchland, which manufactures the movements and completes assembly, Backes & Strauss watches sparkle with diamonds set in 18k gold cases shaped to accentuate the multifaceted gems' play of light.

Established in 1789, Backes & Strauss is famed for being the world's oldest diamond company and every Backes & Strauss watch has at least one diamond, set by hand into the crown.

The Regent 1609 AD is currently on display in the Harrods Fine Jewellery in London until it is officially launched in October 2008. The model will be limited to 219 pieces (in two sizes) and available in different diamond combinations, from £17,000 ($34,000).

Le Coffret de Victoire - Dior

Le Coffret de Victoire Collection for Dior, released a few months ago, has some of the most unusual and original rings crafted from the finest gems, ores and materials.

Created by designer Victoire de Castellane, the collection includes rings with skulls, cameo rings, floral rings and even a food dog on a pillow as well as an angler fish. Those sealife creations perfectly match a nautical summer ! (iconique)

After 14 years spent designing costume jewellery for Chanel with Karl Lagerfeld, Victoire was appointed in 1998 by Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, as designer of the first ever collection of Fine Jewellery for the house of Dior.

Her creativity is enhanced by using precious stones she is so fond of since her childhood days when she used to play with her grandmother’s jewels.

You can visit Dior website to see the entire collection.

World's most expensive magazine

Shot by famous celebrity photographer Avinash Gowariker, the cover of Kohl, a recently launched ITP lifestyle magazine targeting Asian women, features Indian actress Katrina Kaif, who is the star of many Bollywood hits and was voted the Sexiest Woman by a famous international magazine.

Thanks to the alliance with an established UAE-based jeweler Damas, the face of the magazine comes dipped in 91 grams of gold and festooned with 622 diamonds. Total 86 hours were invested by Damas craftsmen to hand-apply layers of gold leaf to a specially-treated gold-edition of the exclusive magazine.

The special edition of the magazine was unveiled for the very first time at an official press conference on 24 June, in the Borders outlet in Mall of the Emirates. It is said to be the world's most expensive magazine and worth over $10,000.

The magazine is set to be showcased at many of the Damas stores throughout the GGC till October and is anticipated to undergo auction for the Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre in October 2008.

New Dior Watches

Dior has launched two new watches , La D creation and Christal Midnight Blue rubber.

Designed exclusively by John Galliano for Dior, The Christal Midnight Blue rubber watch has a 33mm stainless steel case and a blue mother of pearl dial set with 36 diamonds. , the stainless steel bracelet is set with 117 diamonds, and the registers are set with pyramid-cut, scratch proof blue sapphire crystal. The model is produced in a limited edition of 500, priced at £3,150 ($6,200).

The La D creation from Victoire de Castellane, artistic director of fine jewelry at the Dior house, has an 18K rose gold case with a mother of pearl dial and an 18k rose gold in-set spiral of 55 pink diamonds, while the bezel is made up of a further 76 diamonds off set against a black satin strap. This watch is a limited edition of 15 and sells for £14,900 ($29,800)

They both have been available from Dior boutiques and selected retailers since May 2008.

Boucheron Snake Chocolate Necklace

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Parisian jeweler Boucheron, they have teamed up with Parisian Chocolatier La Maison du Chocolat to recreate the unique style of a Boucheron snake necklace - but in chocolate!

So is it something to wear or something to eat ? The chocolate version is truly a work of art though and it’s not all chocolate: the gold snake skeleton necklace is coated and decorated with chocolate which covers the chocolate gold skeleton, carrying a 20.08 carat fancy brown tinted yellow diamond!

T he necklace is on a tour around the globe which includes locations such as Japan, Russia, India, America … It’s for sale at $1,200,000!
According to Lussorian, “there has been some interest in the piece, but it recently endured a slight problem in Japan when all the flashes from the Japanese paparazzi started melting the snake!”

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Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2: a fascinating chronometric

The World of Watchmaking loudly applauded to the introduction of the Gyrotourbillon 1 as it was destined to become the world-first spherical tourrbillon.
Following the amazing success of the Gyrotourbillon I, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created its worthy successor characterized by technically innovative nature : the swivelling case of the Reverso.

This extraordinary watch mechanism overturns longestablished principles, since it represents the first time that a wristwatch houses a cylindershaped balance-spring.

The three-dimensional motion of the spherical tourbillon fascinates observers by the exceptional speed of rotation of its two carriages. The spherical tourbillon comprises an inner carriage that performs a full rotation in 18.75 seconds, while the outer aluminum carriage completes a more common 60-second rotation.

The distinctive shape of the Reverso case further accentuates the absolute beauty of this unmatched technical innovation .

The watch is available in a strictly limited series of 75 platinum pieces. Via watches.infoniac

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The new Centigraphe by F.P. Journe : 360,000 km/h at your fingertips !

The F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain is a pretty incredible piece of haute horlogerie. a first and foremost the creme de la creme of chronographs.

"Perhaps you have super-human reflexes and would like to measure the speed of an asteroid caroming through the atmosphere?" With the Centigraphe, you can do that, thanks to an exceptional manually wound chronograph movement

This complex mechanism features three subdials, each of which are marked with a time scale, and a tachymeter. Triggering the rocker switch on the right side of the watch sets the hands into motion–at this moment, the immediate attention getter is the red foudroyante “flying-seconds” hand at left, which travels around its scale once each second;

Combined with the tachometer scales, being able to measure intervals of 1/100th second makes it theoretically possible to time something moving at 360,000 kilometers per hour! Even though your reflexes most likely won’t be able to take advantage of that, it’s nonetheless quite the fascinating feature.

Videos

Via vialuxe

Bulgari Diagono Moon Phase Watch

Bvlgari have expanded the Bvlgari Diagono watch collection with a luxurious new limited edition model.

The Bvlgari Diagono Retrograde Calendar Moonphase watch features a 42mm case made from brushed and polished 18K rose gold, a bezel engraved with the iconic Bvlgari-Bvlgari signature, and an intricate dial that showcases multiple textures and polished and faceted indexes.

The watch displays the moon phase on a half dial at the bottom of the display and the rose gold sectors at 9 and 3 o'clock show the day of the week and the date.

The watch uses the Bulgari caliber BVL34 automatic movement and is available in in a limited series of 300 piecesin Bulgari stores worldwide.

Source : Vialuxe

Santos Triple 100: The 3-D watch by Cartier

The Cartier Manufacture has created a new timepiece that is a true symbol of horological innovation.

The oversized Cartier Santos Triple 100 watch delivers a great surprise due to the first-ever rotating-dial mechanism united with a skeleton movement : Turn the crown, and you can select between three unique identities!
The three different dial faces of the Cartier Santos Triple 100 watch appear in succession: from a classic face featuring 12 Roman numerals, to a face completely paved with round diamonds and black sapphires in a marvellous jeweller’s chessboard, followed finally by a face engraved with a tiger’s head, which required over 40 hours’ work.

The team of watchmakers developed mobile prisms in 18K white gold. The prisms get activated simultaneously with help of the crown. They are operated by a miniature-gear-trains system that makes them swivel gradually in one direction or the other, thus allowing the Cartier watch reveal three different dial faces.

Moreover, the timepiece with the case crafted in 18K white gold is entirely set with precious stones.
It will be available to most avid watch connoisseurs in a numbered limited edition of only 20 pieces.

Source : infoniac / hautehorlogerie

The world's most expensive champagne glasses

The Daily (Australia) has reported that an Australian jeweler recently unveiled what he says are the world's most expensive champagne glasses, valued at $400,000 and blinged out with 1700 white and pink diamonds.

Designer John Calleija said five jewellers spent more than three months finishing the two glasses, which were chiselled from huit kilogram blocks of crystal.
Each glass stands 15cm tall, weighs 250g, and together encrusted with 15 carats of white diamonds and six carats of rare argyle pink diamonds. They are finished with platinum 18 carat white and rose gold.

Mr Calleija said he was experimenting with his designs when he came up with the idea, but it just as easily could have been a pair of diamond-encrusted chopsticks. "I just wanted to get into a different area of objects, like luxury goods. I drew a whole series of diamond-encrusted letter openers, salt and pepper shakers, scissors, everything... But I drew the glasses and there was just something about them."

The buyer, an anonymous Melbourne businessman, vowed to put the glasses to good use, promising to bust them out for special occasions and to turn them into cherished family heirlooms.

The glasses, which will head to London for the official opening of Mr Calleija's second store, were the pride and joy of his team : "Tears were coming from their eyes because they know how much this has been a labour of love".

Onassis Jewelry Sale

A diamond necklace that used to belong to Christina Onassis, daughter of Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis, sold at auction on Wednesday for $7.1 million.

The necklace, with a 38-carat pear-shaped diamond, was the highlight of the Onassis jewelery auction at Christie's in London. It is a reminder of the glamour associated with the Onassis family and a fitting example of the great jewelry and art the Onassis family was known for collecting

Christina Onassis was the only daughter of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who went on to marry JF Kennedy's widow Jacqueline.
She lived a life of luxury, but there was tragedy too, as she lost both her parents and a brother within the space of two years. Christina died in 1987 of a heart attack. She was just 37 years old.
Her jewelery collection was put on sale by her daughter Athina.

The auction also included the so-called Faberge Buddha which sold for $2.5 million : This was a jade-colored Buddha by Peter Carl Faberge, renowned for creating ornamental eggs for Russia's imperial family.

$2Million Diamond Handbag

First unveiled in Tokyo during a fashion show in June 2007, the diamond-encrusted platinum handbag will go on display at jewellery shops around London to mark the inaugural London Jewellery Week which runs from 11-15 June, celebrating the work of established designers as well as new talent.

Valued at £1m ($2 million dollar) and created by Japanese designer Ginza Tanaka, the bag has been set with more than 2,182 diamonds totaling 208 carats.

The organisers of the event say the handbag will be available for sale.

Its diamond shoulder strap can be detached and worn as a necklace or a bracelet, while the 8-carat pear-shaped diamond centrepiece surrounded by a cluster of eighty-one smaller diamonds can be taken off and worn as a brooch.

The locations where the handbag will go on display will not be disclosed in advance for security reasons.

Source : BBC

$2 Million Dollar Shoes

These $2 Million dollar Shoes from Stuart Weitzman were unveiled at Le Vian party in Las Vegas last week. The silver leather heels feature over 185 carats of tanzanite and 28 carats of diamonds.

The front strap features a slim strap of diamonds but the heavy gemstones are designed to curve around the ankle with a 16 carat pear-shaped tanzanite drop surrounded by diamonds that dangles down over the top of the foot.

The shoes are balanced with a delicate diamond front strap that perfectly complements Stuart Weitzman’s timeless, elegant shoe design.

Le Vian is an internationally recognized jewelry brand with a name and tradition that spans 500 years. Its jewelry applies the ancient arts of hand carving, beading and goldsmithing to designs at the cutting edge of modern style.

Write Something Beautiful, Win a Boucheron Ring

Boucheron , the well known place Vendome Jeweler, is organizing a literary contest called "Quatre" . The contest invites one to write about precious moments of lives. Unforgettable moments or memories or simply dreams.

Here is the concept of the contest in a few words :
- Write a text where you reveal a moment of intimacy that you consider to be precious
- Any form is accepted (song, poem; dialogue, short story, simple prose, haiku...)
- Your text is limited to 2 500 characters (spaces included)
- You can write in French, English or Japanese
- Duration of the contest : from may the 15th to the30th of June 2008

The most beautiful texts will be published on the website www.boucheron.com/preciousmoments as well as interviews of well known French luxury celebrities such as Inès de la Fressange, Aïssa Maïga, Isild Le Besco...
The jury will select the most beautiful testimony (one for each language)of precious moment and the winners will receive the precious ring from the Quatre ors collection.

Source : Sophie Briquet / French on-line advertising agency heaven