May 20th, 2009
The Hong Kong collector who bought Cullinan’s blue diamond has named it the ‘Star of Josephine’, Petra Diamonds said on Tuesday.
The flawless cushion shaped diamond, weighing 7.03 carats was purchased by Hong Kong collector Joseph Lau Luen-Hung on 12 May.
“Mr Lau bought the diamond for HK$74-million (US$9.48-million) and he has already exercised his right to name the diamond, which is now known as ‘Star of Josephine’,” said the company.
May 19th, 2009
De Beers has launched a global campaign to convince investors that diamonds are an alternative to gold as a safe-haven investment.
The move is a sign of the pressure on the world’s biggest diamond miner to find new markets following the collapse of traditional sales.
Stephen Lussier, De Beers’ executive director for corporate affairs, told the Financial Times the group had been approached in the past two months by “half-a- dozen” brokers linked to sovereign wealth funds and wealthy individuals.
May 14th, 2009
A flawless blue diamond weighing 7.03 carats has sold for a record 10.5 million Swiss francs ($9.49 million), the highest price paid per carat for any gemstone at auction, Sotheby’s said.
The rectangular-shaped blue stone, mounted on a platinum ring, is the rarest to enter the international market this year.
The anonymous phone bidder, who won after a 15-minute war, has yet to name the gem.
April 19th, 2009
As part of its 2009 collection, Rolex unveils the new Rolex Datejust 36 mm.
In polished steel with either a white or yellow gold bezel emblazoned with 52 diamonds, the new Datejust 36 mm is a resolutely feminine version that continues the Datejust tradition.
The Datejust 36 mm classic pieces are available in eight different models each featuring exquisite dials (four floral motif dials, two mother of pearl dials and two wave dials).
April 17th, 2009
Mervis Diamond Importers claim to be the first to create a diamond cupcake.
The cupcake is festooned with eight ideal cut round brilliant diamonds around its circumference and a two carat Asscher cut diamond in the center for a total value of $30,000.
Mr. Mervis hopes the dazzling dessert will be listed as the world’s first diamond cupcake in the Guinness Book of Records.
April 1st, 2009
A rare and flawless cushion-shaped blue diamond is expected to sell for between $5.8 million and $8.5 million when it goes up for auction at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on May 12.
The buyer will also choose a name for the diamond. Petra Diamonds said that the stone ranks amongst the most important blue diamonds ever to be offered for sale at Sotheby’s.
Discovered in Petra Diamonds’ Cullinan diamond mine in South Africa, the 7.03ct diamond was cut from a 26.58ct rough stone.
