Rare heart-shaped colored diamonds in LA!

Los Angeles--The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) will display five rare heart-shaped colored diamonds in its new exhibition, The Lady Heart Diamond Collection, from Feb. 1 to June 30.

Each diamond is a different color--red, pink, orange, yellow and blue--and is a fancy vivid natural color diamond, as graded by the Gemological Institute of America. The stones range in size from 1.71 to 2.28 carats, and all are set in separate pieces of gold jewelry, custom designed for the temporary exhibit in the NHM’s Gem Vault.

“A heart-shaped diamond itself is immensely rare. While the diamond is in the rough, the final shape of the stone is determined by the diamond cutter based on which shape will maximize carat weight, symmetry and value,” said Bernard Bachoura, fourth-generation jeweler at California’s Sophia Fiori and designer of the exhibition.

Within the exhibit is the Lady Orquidea, a 2-carat fancy vivid orange heart-shaped diamond (below) mounted in a heart-shaped bezel accented with white pavé diamonds. Fancy vivid orange diamonds are believed by experts to be among the rarest of colored diamonds, the NHM said.

The Lady Zahira is a 2.26-carat fancy vivid yellow heart-shaped diamond (below) set in rose gold for the exhibit. This diamond originates from the Zimi mines in South Africa and its color “is more intense than most vivid yellow diamonds,” the NHM said.

Additional information about the NHM museum can be found on its website.

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Tiffany inks new agreement with Elsa Peretti

New York--Tiffany & Co. has extended the life of its sales and marketing partnership with Elsa Peretti for 20 years, Securities and Exchange Commission filings show.

The deal pays the 72-year-old Italian jewelry designer $47.3 million plus annual royalties for continuing use of her trademarked jewelry and other products, and requires that Tiffany reduce prices on Peretti products by 20 percent so as to achieve overall average gross margins of no more than 50 percent, with Peretti’s personal opinion on pricing to be given “due consideration,” the SEC filing states.

Tiffany must display the licensed Peretti products in its stores and devote a portion of its advertising budget to the line. The new agreement also prods Tiffany to stock more of Peretti’s non-jewelry licensed products, such as tableware. The inventory value of non-jewelry licensed products averaged about $4 million over the previous five years, according to the filing.

In addition, Peretti has the right to terminate the new agreement should any “change of control” occur at Tiffany & Co., which includes a sale, transfer or other disposition of the company’s assets.

The new agreement was finalized on Dec. 27 and extends a partnership that has been in place since 1974. Tiffany remains the sole licensee for the intellectual property rights necessary to sell Peretti’s trademarked jewelry and other products. 

Back in May, it appeared the long-standing relationship might come to an end, however, as SEC filings showed that the two parties were unable to agree on a price for Tiffany to buy Peretti’s intellectual property rights.

http://www.nationaljeweler.com/

Graff Pays $8.3 Million to Own 50 Carat Diamond for Third Time

Time and again, a certain 50 ct. D-color potentially flawless mega-rock keeps coming back to Laurence Graff.

The London diamond magnate purchased the top lot at Christie’s New York Dec. 10 Magnificent Jewels auction—a ring that he originally designed, featuring a 50.01 ct. rectangular-cut D-color potentially flawless diamond. He paid $8.37 million, or $167,400 per carat, said the auction house.

Christie’s sold the same diamond for $4.2 million in 2005, meaning in the intervening years its price has nearly doubled.

“This is the third time that I have owned this beautiful diamond and I am as thrilled today as I was the first time,” said Graff in a statement. “This is one of the finest D-color diamonds in the world and I am delighted to have it back again.”

The sale also set two notable records:

• An ultra-rare 3.15 ct. reddish orange stone—the largest such stone ever graded at the Gemological Institute of America—sold for $2.09 million, setting a new world auction record for a reddish-orange diamond, and a new per-carat record of $666,200.

• An 8.91 ct. sapphire sold for $1.37 million, or $154,000 per carat, setting a new per-carat record for a Kashmir sapphire at auction.

All in all, the sale realized a total of $32.5 million, with sell-through rates of 84 percent by lot and 86 percent by value.

www.jckonline.com

Color of the Year for 2013

It’s been a jewel-tone hit on the red carpet for some time, and now emerald green has officially taken hold of the fashion world given thatPANTONE has dubbed it the Color of the Year for 2013.

Emerald green, or PANTONE 17-5641, is the PANTONE Color Institute’s Color of the New Year for 2013.

The color authority, which surveys couture designers regarding their fave collection hues each season, revealed its annual choice this week, calling it “a lively, radiant, lush green.” Fashion designers Tracy Reese and Nanette Lepore are just two designers noted in thePANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2013 who are incorporating emerald into their spring collections.

PANTONE 17-5641 officially replaces Tangerine Tango, the Color of the Year for 2012, described as a “spirited, reddish orange” that “provided the energy boost we needed to recharge and move forward,” according to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Most often associated with precious gemstones, the perception of the color emerald is sophisticated and luxurious, and represents growth, healing, and new life in cultures worldwide. It’s also the color of renewal and prosperity, and enhances a sense of well-being and promotes balance and harmony.

“Green is the most abundant hue in nature—the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” Eiseman told the press. “Symbolically, emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal, and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world.”

Even cosmetics brand Sephora and department store chain J.C. Penney are capitalizing on the Color of the Year by launching unique emerald-green collections. Jewelry store owners can do the same by showcasing cases of emerald jewels large and small, available across a wide range of prices, as well as offering complementary jewel tones for the influx of emerald green clothing that will be in stores by spring.

www.jckonline.com

Art Deco Jewelry

Art Deco Jewelry

Art Deco emerged in an era of economic slumps and depressions, social strife, hunger marches and the political battle between Communism and Fascism. It was against this troubled and traumatic background that Art Deco forged it's own identity.

Art Deco designing was at its height during the 1925 world's fair in Paris, called the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an event set up by the French to showcase what they viewed as their supremacy in creating luxury goods and avante-garde position in industrial design. Everything from jewelry to small personal items, such as vanity sets and decorative boxes, to furniture was on display there. It was later that the period became known as Art Deco, shortened from the words arts decoratifs in the fair's name.

Art Deco was essentially an eclectic style; it's artists and designers plundering a diversity of historic sources. Simultaneously, however, it emphasised modernity, employing the latest industrial materials and techniques. It was this fusion of history and modernity that gave Art Deco its unique character.

Art deco is characterized by sleek, streamlined forms; geometric patterns; and experiments with industrial materials such as metals, plastics, and glass.

www.farlang.com

Harry Winston - The Water High Jewelry collection

Harry Winston has introduced its latest Water High Jewelry collection during the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris, a wealth of rare blue and green gemstones.

Harry Winston is renowned for the crystal clarity of its pieces, with only rare splashes of colour. In the Water collection, though, the 19 new pieces are set with sapphires and emeralds, as well as turquoise and Paraibas – and the legendary Winston diamonds are still present too.

Featuring fluid lines and pristine purity, this new collection brings high jewelry on a journey to the very heart of nature.

http://www.cijintl.com/

Rolex Redux: In-Demand Models From the Iconic Watchmaker

Wearing an iconic Rolex such as Paul Newman’s Daytona or the Sports Submariner isn’t only about getting a trendy look or flashing a status symbol. According to retailers, buyers are attracted to the history behind the dial. We spoke with three vintage watch experts to find out what their customers look for when purchasing a preowned Rolex.

“The market for vintage Rolex is stronger than ever,” says Josh Bonifas, watch expert and co-owner of Fourtané Jewelers in Carmel, Calif. “Everything is about the watch itself, the condition and the look. It’s like jewelry; if it doesn’t look good, it won’t sell.” The masculine Steve McQueen Explorer II, which retails from $10,000 to $15,000, is the shop’s best-selling model.

A vintage Steve McQueen Explorer II Rolex at Fourtainé Jewelers (courtesy of Fourtané Jewelers)

"Vintage Rolexes are very popular because of the historic appeal,” says one of the watch experts at DeMesy Fine Watches & Jewelry in Dallas. The Paul Newman Daytona men's chronograph watch in stainless steel, which sells for between $10,000 and $80,000, is a perennial favorite at the store.

A vintage Paul Newman Daytona Rolex at DeMesy Fine Watches & Jewelry (courtesy of Fourtané Jewelers)

Vintage stainless steel Sports Submariners, which are priced between $2,000 and $5,000, are the most in-demand Rolex models at Bachrach's Jewelers in Richmond, Va. “The historic part of Rolex is what attracts people to them,” says the sales manager. “They’ve been popular probably since the 1980s,” but the best-selling models in the store are from the ’60s and ’70s.

A vintage Sports Submariner Rolex at Bachrach's Jewelers (courtesy of Backrach's Jewelers)

Neiman Marcus Christmas Book Fantasy Gift Comes With a Tour of Van Cleef & Arpels

Neiman Marcus unveiled its 86th annual Christmas Book today, which included plenty of jewelry as well as one ''fantasy gift'' of his and hers watches.  Designer Ippolita features jewelry of clear quartz, mother-of-pearl, shell, gemstone and 18-karat gold with price points from just under $4,000 all the way up to $10,000 in the Christmas Book. Roberto Coin  created ''decadence to an extreme'' with a suite of precious stones linked together in an intricate mosaic to highlight shades of smoky quartz in and amongst white diamonds, cognac diamonds in 18-karat yellow gold jewelry with a price range of $6,300 to $25,000. The Neiman Marcus Christmas  catalog also featured a collection of mosaic pavé pinky rings from David Yurman with price points between $5,400 to $11,500. 

Throughout Christmas Book, numerous fashion jewelry collections by  Jose & Maria Barrera for Neiman Marcus adorn the models, such as a classic chandelier earrings  in topaz, glass, crystal and colored cubic zirconia; jet black Austrian crystal and a gunmetal-plated necklace and bangles that are generally offered in price points below $1,000.

John Hardy created a Neiman Marcus exclusive this year to commemorate the Year of the Dragon with jewelry of ruby, sterling silver, and 18-karat gold, from the Naga Collection. Pieces include a kick cuff, ring, earrings and necklace in a price range of $895 to almost $6,000.

The top jewelry gift in this year's Christmas Book begins with a classic story: Boy meets girl. As the fantasy goes, ''A romance is sparked. They share a kiss at midnight on Paris’s Pont des Arts. But fate intervenes, and they are separated. Each night, they send wishes — he upon a star, she upon a kite— that, one day, they will reunite.''

To capture that tale, Neiman Marcus offers one set of his and hers ''Poetic Wish'' watches from  Van Cleef & Arpels for $1,090,000. But the lucky buyer will also receive two business-class tickets to Paris and Geneva to tour the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique, atelier, and watchmaking workshops.  Neiman Marcus will be donating  $10,000 for each ''His & Hers 2012'' gift sold to The Norman Mailer Center, which supports writers who challenge readers’ perspectives on the world around them.

Other fantasy gifts this year include ''Beau Coop,'' a bespoke Versailles-inspired, custom-made, multi-level le petit trianon  for hens with a living room,  a broody room and a library filled with chicken and gardening books for visitors of the human kind. Challenge the gamer inside with a custom-made Pinel & Pinel Arcade PS Trunk gaming toy or if Broadway is more your style, one fantasy gift is a walk-on performer for the musical ''Annie.'' Tailgate in style with the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Woody-Tailgate Trailer (and a one-year supply of Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye) or simply hop into a 2013 McLaren 12C Spider, in Volcano Red, which will be sold with McLaren luggage and a business-class trip to England for a VIP dinner hosted by McLaren's chairman Ron Dennis and a tour of the McLaren Technology Center in February 2013.

Neiman Marcus is also offering a Jetlev R200 and the video portrait ''Snowy Owl'' by artist Robert Wilson who creates animals and people who appear static, as if portrayed within a painting, but the viewer is caught off guard when the subject unexpectedly breathes, blinks, or shifts.

For a culinary delight this Christmas, Neiman Marcus put together an  epic event where four  chefs -—Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse and Richard Rosendale—- will arrive at your home to prepare a feast for 10 guest and  Bertha Gonzalez, the world’s first female Maestra Tequilera, will kick off the evening with a Casa Dragones tequila tasting. 

www.diamonds.net

50-Carat Diamond Jewels Main Attraction Of Christie's Estimated $35 Million Auction

We are under a month away from the new James Bond movie, Skyfall.  Adele has done the title song which People Magazine has likened in style to the iconic “Diamonds are Forever” title song belted by Welsh singer Dame Shirley Bassey back in 1971.

After almost 40 years, the Bond “diamond” song has a melody and lyrics with luster so brilliant, it lingers in our collective “007” movie memories.  Such is the power of diamonds…

On October 16, Christie’s New York will hold its fall jewelry auction, called “New York Magnificent Jewelry”, with some very big diamonds, rare natural pearls and signed jewels. The 372 lots will be sold in two sessions with a pre-sale estimate of $35 million.

A trio of diamond jewels–earrings, a pendant and an “intense” yellow stone–are the sale headliners. The clear and yellow-stoned earrings weigh over 117 carats (est. $4,500,000 to $6,500,000).  I was a little concerned that the gems might be too hefty for the average earlobe, but was assured they were “very wearable”.

What does 50 carats feel like in the palm of your hand?

“Like a quail egg,” said Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry for Christie’s Americas and Switzerland, in a clipped British accent.

Kadakia, who says he sleeps and breathes diamonds, covets the 50 carat pear-shaped diamond, which is so pricey its estimate is available upon request. “It’s superb in the way it’s cut.  Textbook—a really special stone.”

And for those into yellow, there’s a 68 carat diamond estimated to sell between  $2,200,000 and $3,200,000.

Christie’s hopes to attract important private collectors from the Middle East, Russia and China as well as more experienced American and European buyers “who have been buying for hundreds of years,” said Kadakia.  “Those seasoned buyers who hope to add something new to their collection—maybe a stone with a new shape or size.”

But for those considering investing in diamonds, is it the right time to buy?

“In the last 16 years, the market has gone up 200%,” said Kadakia.

If true, those in 1% will like the 200% rise.

www.forbes.com

Global branding consulting firm Interbrand released its “Best Global Brands 2012” list with Coca-Cola coming in at the top followed by Apple and IBM.  Rounding out fourth spot was Google, which for the first time exceeded Microsoft’s brand value, which came in at fifth place.  

Apple had the biggest brand value increase in 2012, at 129 percent year on year, followed by Amazon at 46 percent and Samsung at 40 percent.  New entrants to the list included Facebook, which just became a publicly traded company this year, at number 69, as well as Prada, Kia, Ralph Lauren, MasterCard and Pampers. 

While technology brands dominated the list, many “fast-moving consumer goods” brands have grown their value consistently by expanding into emerging markets.  Automotive and financial service brands are still feeling the effects of the weak economy. 

Many jewelry and jewelry-related brands made the list as well.  Louis Vuitton, for example was eighteenth overall, while eBay was 36, Gucci at 38, Cartier at 68, Tiffany & Co. at 70, and Avon at 71.  

Interbrand noted that despite the slow global economic recovery, luxury brands increased their brand value from 2011, and have proved resistant to slowdowns in the market.  Success in luxury, it added, is dependent “not only upon a portfolio of superior products and superb quality of service, but also a strong cohesive brand, a formidable digital presence, and reputation that is timeless, elevated, and refined.”

www.diamonds.net

October Birthstone: If you're born in October, Happy birthday.

October is another month with two birthstone choices – Tourmaline and Opal.

TOURMALINE

Tourmaline has become a favorite gemstone among jewelry designer, and gem collectors the world over. Since it is available in a wide variety of colors, it is ideally suited to almost anyone's taste. Tourmaline also is known for displaying several colors in the same gemstone.  These bi-color or tri-colorgems are formed in many combinations; gemstones with clear color distinctions are highly prized.  One multi-color variety is known as watermelon tourmaline, and features green, pink, and white colors bands; to resemble its namesake, the gemstone is cut into thin slices having a pink center, white ring, and green edge.  Tourmaline is found in many localities including Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa, and the USA.

OPAL

The name opal derives from the Greek Opallos, meaning "to see a change (of color)."  Opals range in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red, and blue. An opal's beauty is the product of contrast between its color play and its background.  Opal is a formation of non-crystalline silica gel that seeped into crevices in the sedimentary strata. Through time and nature's heating and molding processes, the gel hardened into the form of opals. The opal is composed of particles closely packed in spherical arrangements. When packed together in a regular pattern, a three-dimensional array of spaces are created that give opal its radiance.

http://www.americangemsociety.org/

At Holiday Inn, diamonds for lucky guests

New York--Forget finding a piece of candy under the hotel pillow or having the towels contorted into amusing animal shapes that cause children to squeal with delight.

Beginning on Oct. 1, the Holiday Inn hotel chain is stashing cushion-cut diamonds that are more than one carat under the pillows of lucky guests at its inns in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Russia and Turkey. (The campaign will not be coming to hotels in the United States.)

Guests who are lucky enough to check into a diamond-blessed room will find what essentially amounts to a large, diamond-shaped paperweight under their pillow, along with a luggage tag telling them to see the hotel manager to collect the real thing.

The United Kingdom-based chain is turning to social media to promote its diamond drop, asking potential guests to check its Facebook page for hints as to where the company will place the precious stones.

The company says the promotion is an innovative way to mark its 60th, or diamond, anniversary while giving back to its guests in the process.

Holiday Inn opened its first hotel in Memphis, Tenn. in 1952. Today, the chain has 3,375 hotels worldwide across its brands, which are Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Resorts and Holiday Inn Club Vacation.

www.nationaljeweler.com

Alrosa Finds 158 Carat Diamond

Earlier this month, Russian diamond miner Alrosa uncovered a diamond that is one for the books—the gem weighs a whopping 158.2 cts.

Alrosa describes the stone as “a natural crystal roundish in shape, transparent and having prominent facets on one of the sides. The central part is clean, with no visible defects; there are inclusions of dark color, cracks, and a technical chip in the peripheral area.”

The diamond’s size is 35 x 22 x 22 millimeters.

Alrosa expects the stone to sell for $1.5 million, if auctioned.  

“If cut, this rough diamond may produce several polished diamonds having high quality characteristics, and each of them may be worth hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars,” the diamond producer added.

http://www.jckonline.com/

Ring Sells for $1.2 Million at Sotheby’s

Brooke Astor’s 22.84 ct. emerald engagement ring (photo courtesy of Sotheby's)

Jewelry from the estate of Brooke Astor, philanthropist and legendary New York society figure, fetched $5.7 million at Sotheby’s New York.

The sale, which concluded on Sept. 25, was led by Astor's 22.84 ct. platinum, emerald, and diamond engagement ring; it sold for $1.2 million. The entire auction brought in $18.8 million, nearly doubling its estimate of $9.7 million. All 64 lots of jewelry were sold.

Other highlights of the jewelry collection included a Bulgari 18k gold, platinum, emerald, and diamond necklace, which sold for $686,500, and a Van Cleef & Arpels platinum and diamond ring, which sold for $614,500.

The proceeds of the auction will benefit Astor’s favorite charity organizations, including the New York Public Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Pierpont Morgan Library, and the Animal Medical Center of New York.

Bulgari 18k gold, platinum, emerald, and diamond necklace

Van Cleef & Arpels platinum and diamond ring

Sotheby's Jewels Sale Tops $16M

Sotheby’s New York completed its sale of important jewels, which achieved a total of $16,383,856 and was 79.3 percent sold by lot. The top lot was a 5.08-carat, VVS2 brilliant-cut fancy light pink diamond that sold for more than twice its high presale estimate at $1.4 million or $280,807 per carat.

A 3.09-carat, VS1 pear-shape fancy intense orangy-pink diamond pendant (pictured) fetched $770,500 or $249,353 per carat and a 13.22-carat Kashmire sapphire and diamond ring sold for $578,500; both lots of which sold well above presale estimates.

Gary Schuler, the head of Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York, said,  “We saw particularly strong prices for unique color diamonds, led by the fancy light pink diamond that soared to $1,426,500 above a high estimate of $700,000.

''While many of our top 10 prices came from American trade buyers, both signed jewels and stones under 10 carats brought spirited bidding from collectors worldwide,'' he said. ''Jewels from the estate of Kitty Carlisle Hart, which we were delighted to offer, doubled their overall low estimate and were led by her beautiful art deco diamond sautoir that achieved $146,500. And in a continuation of a trend we have observed in recent years, natural pearls remain a strong segment of today’s market.”

Christie's Auctioning Legendary 76 Carat D-Flawless Diamond

Christie’s expects the world-famous 76.02 ct. D-IF Archduke Joseph Diamond to fetch $15 million at its Nov. 13 auction in Geneva.

While the auction house provided the $15 million figure, an official estimate will only be provided upon request.

While Christie's did not reveal the stone's current owner, it was once offered for sale by Pheonix jeweler Al Molina.

A Christie’s release calls the gem “one of rarest and most famous diamonds in the world.” The stone was discovered in the Golconda mine in India, the source of such legendary gems as the Koh-i-noor, the Hope, and the Regent. According to the auction house, “Golconda diamonds have a special whiteness often described as soft, watery, and pure, so that light appears to pass through the stone completely unimpeded.” The Archduke Joseph is the largest and most perfect Golconda stone to ever appear at auction.

The stone received its name from one of its owners, Archduke Joseph August of Austria, who passed it on to his son, Archduke Joseph Francis. The son is believed to have deposited the stone in a bank where it remained through World War II, escaping the attention of the Nazis. After decades of mystery, the diamond reappeared in 1962, and was then sold again at Christie’s in 1993, where it realized $6.5 million (the company says that figure is equivalent to $10.5 million today). 

“The magic of auction sometimes brings back great gems to our salerooms more than once,” François Curiel, international head of Christie's jewelry department, said in a statement said. “In November, we have the privilege to give both new and established collectors the opportunity to own a piece of history once again.”

www.jckonline.com

Russia Has More Diamonds Hiding in an Asteroid Crater Than the Rest of the World Has Combined

If you had more diamonds than the rest of the world combined hiding under an asteroid crater, would you tell anyone? Russia was happy to keep that knowledge a secret until now, finally revealing plans to begin tapping into a reserve containing trillions of carats worth of diamonds.

It's a treasure trove of unprecedented scope, secrecy, and value.
First reported by the Christian Science Monitor, the crater, which rests in the upper reaches of Siberia, was left by an asteroid that crashed into Earth 35 million years ago, creating an impact zone that's 62 miles in diameter. In the intervening eons, it's believed to have spawned enough diamonds to power the global market for the next 3,000 years. By context, the next biggest Russian reserve at the Yakutia mines is believed to have one billion carats—several orders of magnitude less than this current haul.

What makes these diamonds especially valuable to prospective buyers is the fact that they're impact diamonds, or diamonds formed as a result of an asteroid or meteor crashing into the carbon-based compound graphite. According to IDEX, these are diamonds that can never be used as jewels, but rather are extremely valuable for their industrial applications. For starters, Russian officials claim these newly revealed diamonds, known as impactite, are twice as hard as normal diamonds, while others value these diamonds for their grain size and abrasive cuts.

So why reveal the secret now, after all these years? When the discovery was first made decades ago, Russian already had other diamond mines which were yielding abundant amounts of the coveted mineral. And because the diamond industry was heavily regulated back then, there was little financial motivation to announce a discovery that has the power to heavily influence the market for these things. But now, with the diamond industry starting to show signs of life after bottoming out in 2009, and the increased use of diamonds in the technological world, Russia seems to think its a good time to start mining these valuable little things (or at least start thinking about mining them).

But the true effect will take time to be felt, according to a quote given to the Russian publication ITAR-TASS by an expert in the field:

Deputy Director of the Yakutnipromalmaz Institute Gennady Nikitin warns: "The Popigai diamonds can overturn everything, and is not clear what will happen to prices in the market."

So how will this impact us normal people? Probably not much at all. Since these jewels will never be converted to gems, the price of that wedding ring you plan to give or receive will never be affected by this Russian stockpile. But should there be a global shortage in the future, Russia will be in a unique position of controlling the entire industrial diamond industry. Given the increased use of lasers in technological innovations, and the quest to attain nuclear fusion (both of which rely on industrial diamonds), the demand for this rock won't be diminishing anytime soon.

PRECIOUS METALS: Gold, Silver Surge as Fed Reveals Easing Plans

--Gold, silver surge to six-month highs after Federal Reserve announcement

--Comex December gold rises 2.2% to settle at $1,772.10 a troy ounce

--Comex December silver settles 4.5% higher at $34.778 an ounce

--Easy-money policies can boost demand for precious metals as a U.S. dollar, inflation hedge

--Platinum supported by calls for strike in top producer South Africa

(Adds details on trading halt in the seventh, eighth paragraphs.)


By Matt Day and Nicole Friedman

NEW YORK--Gold and silver climbed to six-month highs Thursday, as the Federal Reserve's announced round of bond buying sparked a retreat in the U.S. dollar and in demand for a hedge against potential inflation down the line.

The U.S. central bank said that it would buy $40 billion of mortgage-backed securities each month and that it could extend those purchases if the U.S. labor market doesn't improve. The Fed also said it would extend its program known as Operation Twist, under which it sells short-term bonds and buys longer-term bonds in an effort to lower borrowing rates.

Gold and other precious metals can gain from easy-money policies similar to the ones announced Thursday as investors seek a hedge against the inflation that can result. Such policies by the Federal Reserve also can take a bite out of the dollar, drumming up demand for dollar-denominated gold.

Gold for September delivery gained $38.50, or 2.2%, to settle at $1,769.10 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest settlement since Feb. 28. The most actively traded contract, for December delivery, rose $38.40, or 2.2%, to settle at $1,772.10.

The September silver contract rose 4.5% to settle at $34.716 a troy ounce, the highest since March 1.

The Fed also extended its outlook for low interest rates to mid-2015, from its previous outlook of late 2014. Low rates can send investors looking for higher yields into precious metals.

Trading in gold was halted by Comex operator CME Group Inc. (CME) twice Thursday as volume spiked before and after the release of the release of the Fed's statement. A CME spokesman said the exchange halted trading for less than a minute at 12:14:47 p.m. EDT, and again at 12:31:20 p.m. EDT.

The exchange uses such trading halts to prevent excessive price volatility.

The Fed's action was widely expected after Chairman Ben Bernanke and other officials hinted at the central bank's willingness to act should economic growth in the U.S. weaken. Gold futures gained 9% between Aug. 2 and Wednesday's close.

Even after those gains, "I think that you had a lot of people sitting on the sidelines just wanting to make sure there wasn't a surprise here" on Thursday, said Matt Zeman, head of trading with Kingsview Financial.

The day's gains could spark another leg higher in gold in the weeks ahead, said Adam Klopfenstein, a senior market strategist with Archer Financial Services.

Gold spent much of this summer in sideways trading, as investors worried about the global economy preferred the U.S. dollar at the expense of precious metals. That sparked some talk that gold's 11-year bull run could be set to stumble, and speculators grew cautious toward the metal.

After the Fed's announcements, "I think we're going to see a lot of the [gold] skeptics throwing in the towel," Mr. Klopfenstein said, adding that some of those traders were closing out bets on lower prices Thursday. "Gold is having an impressive run."

On top of the Fed news, platinum gained an additional price boost as labor unrest continued in South Africa four weeks after violence erupted at a mine owned by Lonmin PLC.

Platinum mine workers called Thursday for a nationwide strike across the sector to begin Sunday. South Africa produces 75% of the world's platinum, according to chemicals and precious metals company Johnson Matthey.

Platinum for October delivery settled up 1.8% at $1,679.50 a troy ounce.

Demand for physical platinum could exceed supply next year, said TD Securities, which forecast that prices would rise above $1,825 a troy ounce in the second quarter of 2013.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120913-714170.html

De Beers Diamond Jewellers Unveils 'Imaginary Nature' in Asia

De Beers Diamond Jewellers unveiled its jewelry collection, Imaginary Nature, for the first time in Asia today. The event was attended by award-winning actress, Gigi Leung and Taiwanese actress and model Bianca Bai. De Beers stated that the Imaginary Nature collection exhibits a journey of light, where heightened imagination meets natural beauty with diamonds.

Francois Delage, the chief executive of De Beers Diamonds Jewellers, said, “We wanted, through Imaginary Nature, to truly establish our legitimacy as a jeweler and to express our vision through a strong creative and contemporary gesture. Our unique designs inspired by our DNA bring to life our brand essence – The Jeweller of Light – by creating exquisite pieces, moments and movements from a journey from earth to light. The eight one-of-a-kind creations sublime our diamond mastery and jewelry know-how, and we are delighted to now unveil them in Asia.”

Each Imaginary Nature piece balances the contrasts of the natural world with the drama of an ascent and the grace of gliding, according to De Beers. These rich contradictions are conveyed through an array of diamond cuts and settings. Radiant pear-cut diamonds were set on a tilt in a way to engage light and trace movement. By contrast, the definite angles of the baguettes against round brilliant diamonds punctuate each piece with tradition and brilliance.

Leung (pictured) said, “It is so refreshing to see a contemporary take on high jewelry, the three-dimensional aspect and the interplay of light between different diamond cuts is truly unique.”

Hollie Bonneville-Barden, the jewelry designer, added, “Imaginary Nature represents an exhilarating yet elegant display of evolution, inspired by the beauty of transformations within nature, which are realized in a story of metamorphosis. Each piece reveals a unique gesture inspired by the essence of nature. With the diamond as our muse, the collection is centered on diamonds of character, focused on pears and baguettes to create a language of movement and fluidity.”

http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=41084

Best Brands in Luxury Jewelry; Graff, Asprey and Mikimoto Take Top Honors in Luxury Institute Survey, but Tiffany Proves Most Popular

Ultra-wealthy U.S. shoppers with at least $200,000 per year in household income and minimum net worth of $5 million rank U.K.-based Graff Diamonds highest among 22 luxury jewelers in the 2012 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey by the independent and objective New York-based Luxury Institute. LBSI scores comprise respondents’ evaluations of each brand’s products, customer service experience and reputation.

With the top overall LBSI score of 7.98 out of 10, Graff ranks first on brand reputation and product quality considerations, scoring highest in evaluations of materials and craftsmanship.

Graff is also the brand that pentamillionaires are most likely to deem worthy of charging premium prices, followed by fellow U.K. jeweler, Asprey, and Japanese pearl specialist, Mikimoto. Asprey (7.82) and Mikimoto (7.77) also rank second and third, respectively, in overall LBSI scores.

Top luxury jewelers serve an exclusive clientele. Just 1% of pentamillionaires have purchased one of Graff’s diamonds in the past 12 months, 3% have shopped Asprey and 4% have purchased from Mikimoto. Tiffany & Co. is the most popular luxury jeweler: 13% of ultra-wealthy shoppers made a blue box purchase in the past year; 75% plan to buy Tiffany goods in the coming year.

“Quality in craftsmanship and materials are primary considerations for any luxury goods brand, but especially so in jewelry,” says Luxury Institute CEO Milton Pedraza. “The top-ranked jewelers also pay attention to delivering an outstanding customer experience to create true brand value and a competitive advantage.”

Survey participants reported average income of $682,000 and average net worth of $14.6 million.

http://luxuryinstitute.com/blog/?p=1991