Color Diamonds Light Up Christmas For Christie’s

The final major jewelry auction of 2015 is ready to go on December 10 by Christie’s in New York and some stunning color diamonds are set to go under the hammer.

1.  A Coloured Diamond and Diamond Ring

A massive 30.48-carat Fancy Vivid yellow diamond headlines this stunning ring and is flanked by tapered, baguette-cut white diamonds.   Pre-auction estimates for the ring have been set for between $1.4 and $1.8 million (USD).

2.  A Coloured Diamond and Diamond Ring

The diamond only weighs in at 3.74 carats but it is a stunning Fancy Vivid purplish pink set with  tapered baguette-cut white diamond on either side.   The piece is expected to sell for between $1.3 and $1.5 million.

3.  A Diamond and Coloured Diamond Pendant Necklace

The only necklace on our list, the piece features an 18.88-carat modified heart-shaped white diamond, with a circular-cut pink diamond and white diamond surround, as well as a pear and circular-cut diamond surmount to the fine link chain, enhanced by two circular-cut diamonds.   This fantastically intricate piece is expected to sell for between $1.25 and $1.75 million.

4.  A Coloured Diamond and Diamond Ring

The star of this piece is a pear brilliant-cut fancy gray-blue diamond, weighing in at 19.97 carats, trimmed with circular-cut diamonds and set within an undulating tapered baguette-cut diamond surround.   This final ring on our list has a pre-auction estimate of between $1 and $1.5 million.

5.  A Pair of Coloured Diamond and Diamond Ear Pendants

The high-end estimate for this piece is $1 million, not surprising considering the earrings feature a Fancy yellow pear brilliant and a pear modified brilliant-cut yellow diamond, weighing 15.10 and 14.86 carats respectively.

 

 

The Second Largest Diamond Ever Found

Canadian-based Lucara Diamond Corporation have announced the finding of the second-largest diamond in history.

This tennis ball-sized white diamond weighs in at a jaw-dropping 1,111 carats!   The stone, described as gem-quality with a type IIa grade, was found in the company’s Karowe Mine in Botswana on Monday.

The stone ranks only behind the Cullinan Diamond in terms of carat size.   When the Cullinan Diamond was recovered in 1905, it weighed in at an astronomic 3,106 carats.   The diamond was later cut into 9 major stones and another 96 smaller stones.

Lucara followed up that news with an announcement on the finding of two other hefty white diamonds.   The first, weighing in at 813 carats, is considered to be the sixth largest diamond ever recovered.   The other stone found weighed in at 374 carats.

“I am truly at a loss for words. This has been an amazing week for Lucara with the recovery of the second largest and also the sixth largest gem quality diamonds ever mined. We are truly blessed by this amazing asset.”

-William Lamb, president and CEO of Lucara

A 336-Carat Diamond Headlines Latest Lucara Find

Mining and development company Lucara Diamond outlined their latest diamond finds on Monday, August 17 and it was highlighted by a spectacular 336-carat diamond, type IIa white diamond.

Four other significant diamonds were also found including white ones weighing in at 184 carats, 94 carats and 86 carats.   A 12-carat pale pink diamond was also recovered but the official color will be confirmed once Lucara’s experts finish cleaning it.

The fabulous stones were mined from the Karowe Diamond location in Botswana.   Lucara, who owns 100% of that mine, have recovered 216 diamonds from that location that have sold for at least $250,000.   Of those diamonds, 12 of them have sold for more than $5 million!

Aside from the Karowe Diamond mine, Lucara also holds a 75% interest in the Mothae Project in Lesotho.   As per the company’s website, they have completed the trial mining stage at Mothae. The location was put on care and maintenance while Lucara investigates further development options.

Color Diamonds To Light Up April Auction

Sotheby’s Hong Kong is holding their Magnificent Jewels & Jadeite auction on April 6 and some color diamonds are expected sell in the multi-million dollar range.   Here is a look at the most prominent five set to go under the hammer.

1.  Impressive Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring/Pendant

A massive 77.77-carat cushion cut Fancy Vivid yellow diamond flanked by two heart-shaped white diamonds weighing in at 5.0 carats.   The piece is expected to sell for as much as $9.6 million (CAD).

2.  Rare and Exquisite Pair of Fancy Intense Purple-Pink Diamond, Fancy Intense Purplish-Pink Diamond and Diamond Pendent Earrings

Expected to sell for between $7.7 and $8.8 million, one earring is centred by a 4.01-carat Fancy Intense purple-pink diamond while the other has a Fancy Intense purplish-pink diamond weighing in at 3.72 carats.   The pieces also feature an inverted heart-shaped Fancy purplish-pink and Fancy Intense pink diamond weighing 0.63 and 0.55 carat respectively, and have a step-cut diamond background altogether weighing 5.05 carats.

3.  Very Rare Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring

Created by New York City-based jeweller Carvin French, this ring features a Fancy Vivid pink diamond weighing in at 4.57 carats and surrounded by 5.85-carats of pear-shaped white diamonds.  The ring is expected to sell for between $7.7 and $8.8 million.

4.  Impressive Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring

A two-diamond setting featuring a 30.13-carat cushion-cut Fancy Intense yellow diamond and a cushion-cut white diamond weighing in at 25.13 carats.   The ring is expected to sell for between $4.5 and $5.3 million.

5.  Fine Fancy Intense Blue Diamond, Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring

The final piece from the color diamond lots expected to sell in the millions is this ring centred by a 2.13-carat Fancy Intense blue diamond.   The main stone is framed by circular-cut pink diamonds and has an outer surround with heart-shaped and pear-shaped white diamonds.   These pink and white diamonds combine to weigh in at 3.65 carats.   The ring has an estimate of between $1.4 and $1.6 million.

The First Big Jewelry Auction of 2015

The winter doldrums are still surrounding us, but the bright lights of color diamonds is beginning with the Sotheby’s Important Jewels Auction on Thursday, February 5 in New York City.

We take a look at the Top 5 color diamond pieces set to go under the hammer in the first large-scale jewelry auction of 2015.

1.  Platinum, Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond and Diamond Pendant Necklace

The centrepiece features a hefty 5.07-carat pear shaped Fancy Orangy-Pink diamond.   The stone is set on a platinum necklace set with round diamonds.  The necklace is expected to sell for as much as $500,000 (CAD).

2.  Platinum, 18K Gold, Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring

Expected to sell for between $231,000 and 347,000, the main stone of this 18k gold diamond ring is a modified brilliant cut Fancy Intense Yellow diamond weighing in at 10.02 carats.   The stone is flanked by two trapeze-cut diamonds weighing 2.00 carats.

3.  18 Karat Gold and Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond Ring

A pear-shaped Fancy Intense Yellow diamond weighing 6.35 carats and flanked by 1.50 carats of pear-shaped white diamonds.  Industry experts expect the piece to sell for between $173,000 and $289,000.

4.  Pair of 18 Karat Gold and Colored Diamond Earstuds

The only earrings on the list, these feature cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut yellow diamonds weighing 5.10 and 5.00 carats.  The pieces are expected to sell for between $173,000 and $231,000.

5.  Platinum, 18 Karat Gold, Fancy Light Yellow Diamond and Diamond Pendant-Necklace

A heart-shaped 10.76-carat Fancy Light Yellow Diamond is the focal point of the piece with a platinum and 18-karat gold chain set with round diamonds.   The estimates have the necklace selling for between $144,000 and $173,000.

Yellow Diamonds Set To Blaze At Bonham’s Auction

 

 

 

In one of the final Magnificent Jewelry auctions of 2014, Bonham’s of London will have some beautiful yellow gems up for sale on Thursday, December 4.   Here’s a look at the 5 most impressive ones on the docket.

1.  A Fancy-Coloured Diamond and Diamond Ring

 

Designed by Cartier, this ring features a 6.03-carat cushion-shaped Fancy Intense yellow diamond with graduated rows of baguette-cut white diamonds, within a border of pavé-set brilliant-cut white diamonds.   The ring is expected to sell for between $140 and $180,000 (CAD).

UPDATE:  Did not sell

2.  A Fancy Coloured Diamond and Diamond Ring

 

Mounted by famed British jewelry designer Theo Fennell, this ring features a 5.00-carat radiant-cut Fancy Light yellow diamond with white diamond shoulders.   The piece is expected to sell for between $45,000 and $62,000.

UPDATE:  Did not sell

3.  A Fancy-Coloured Diamond Single-Stone Ring

A stunning Fancy Deep Yellow diamond ring with the stone weighing in at 5.05 carats.   Pre-auction estimates have it selling for between $45,000 and $54,000.

UPDATE:  Sold for $58,103.

4.  An Unmounted Fancy-Coloured Diamond

The largest loose colour stone scheduled to go under the hammer is this 6.35-carat Fancy Intense Yellow Brown diamond.   The marquise-cut stone is estimated to sell for between $45,000 and $54,000.

UPDATE:  The stone sold for $64,707.

5.  A Fancy-Coloured Diamond Single Stone Ring

Possibly the best “deal” on this list, this ring features a modern cushion-shaped Fancy Brownish Greenish Yellow diamond weighing in at 7.50 carats.   The stone is set between scrolling old brilliant and single-cut diamond shoulders.   Industry experts set the low-end estimate at $32,000.

UPDATE:  Did not sell

 

 

The Color Diamonds of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auction

Sotheby’s of Geneva will be holding their Magnificent Jewels and Nobel Jewels auction on Wednesday, November 12 and, once again, colour diamonds will be front and center.

We take a look at the top 5 colour diamond pieces including a brilliant blue, some amazing yellows and a couple of stunning pinks.   All five should sell for at least a million dollars apiece.

1.  A Rare Fancy Intense Blue Diamond Ring

 

Estimated to sell for as much as $3.3 million (CAD), this beautiful Cushion-Shaped Fancy Intense Blue diamond weighs in at 3.16 carats.

2.  Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond Ring

Another amazing color diamond ring, this one features a 4.53-carat Oval-Modified Brilliant Cut Purplish-Pink stone.   Industry experts believe it will sell for between $1.3 and $1.8 million!

3.  An Impressive Fancy Yellow Diamond Pendant

From the Swiss jewelry company Gubelin, this pendant features a massive 55.19-carat Fancy Yellow diamond.   This piece could be the steal of the auction as estimates have it selling  between only $1.1 and $2.2 million!

4.  A Rare and Impressive Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Ring

Graff Diamonds biggest entry in the world of color diamonds at the auction is this Step-Cut Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond weighing 10.30 carats.  Estimates have it selling between $1 and $1.7 million.

5.  Attractive Light Pink Diamond Ring

A Pear-Shaped Light Pink Diamond featuring white diamond shoulders is the final entry on the list.   The low-end estimate for the piece is $783,000 though, considering the rarity of pink diamonds, the sale price will probably end up closer to the top-end of the estimate $1.6 million.

Another Major Diamond Fine From The Cullinan Mine

There was another major diamond discovery at South Africa’s Cullinan mine this month as Petra Diamonds recovered a 232-carat diamond.

The white diamond is a D-color, type IIa stone with “exceptional” size and clarity.   It is also the second large diamond recovered by Petra Diamonds from the mine this year.   In June, the company recovered a 122.5 carat blue diamond, the largest blue diamond found by Petra since they acquired the Cullinan mine in 2008.

The Cullinan mine has been a great source for diamonds since it opened in 1902.   The mine, located in the small African town of the same name, is just east of Pretoria, Guateng, South Africa.   According to a recent tweet by Petra Diamonds, there have been over 800 diamonds found in the mine that weigh over 100 carats and 130 diamonds at over 200 carats.

The location first became famous in 1905 with the discovery of the 3,106 carat Cullinan Diamond.   Over a century later, it is still the largest rough diamond ever recovered.   The stone was eventually broken down into 9 large diamonds and an additional 96 smaller diamonds.

 

Other famous diamonds found at the Cullinan Mine include:

• The Golden Jubilee Diamond, the largest cut and faceted diamond in the world.   Recovered in 1985, it weighed in at 755.5-carats.   After two years of cutting, the brown diamond is a Fire Rose Cushion-Cut stone weighing in at 545.67-carats.
• The De Beers Centenary Diamond was found in 1988 and weighed in at a hefty 599-carats in the rough.  Graded as D-color and both internally and externally flawless, it weighs 273.85 carats in its finished form.   The shape has been described as heart-shaped without the groove on top.
• The Niarchos Diamond, a mysterious diamond that was found on a grease table in the recovery room for the mine in 1954.   In its rough form, it weighed in at 426.5 carats and possessed a small chip.   After a year of cutting, the diamond became a pear-shaped, 128.25 carat stone.
• The Premier Rose Diamond, found in March 1978, was originally a 353.9-carat stone.   It was eventually cut into three diamonds, the 137.02-carat Big Rose, the 31.48-carat Little Rose and the 2.11-carat Baby Rose.
• The Taylor Burton Diamond, is considered the first million dollar diamond after it’s famed purchase by actor Richard Burton for his then wife Elizabeth Taylor in 1969.   Originally weighing in at 241-carats, the diamond was cut into a pear-shaped, 69.42 carat stone.

 

The Color Diamonds of Bonham’s Fine Jewels Auction

With the fall auction season beginning to heat up, diamond industry eyes are looking toward Bonhams Fine Jewelry auction coming up on September 17.   The feature piece at the auction is the Duke of Windsor’s Diamond Frog which is being sold alongside a diamond brooch with the stones set in the formation of the Prince of Wales’ feathers, the badge of the Prince of Wales (pictured below).

 

The pieces together are expected to sell for more than $16,000 (CAD) but we focused on out these five color diamond pieces of jewelry.

1.  A Fancy Brown Yellow Marquise-Cut Diamond Ring

The most interesting color diamond piece in the auction, the centrepiece of the ring is a 12.22-carat Fancy Brown Yellow marquise-cut diamond.   The piece, which is expected to sell for between $140,000 and $180,000 also features a 2.40-carat border of tapered baguette-cut diamonds.

2.  An Argyle Purplish-Pink Diamond Ring

The stone may only weigh 0.80 carats, but this Fancy Intense Purplish-Pink Argyle diamond is stunning.   The ring also features pave diamond shoulders and is predicted to sell as high as $150,000.

 

3.  A Fancy Yellow Diamond Pendant

The focal point of this piece circa 1905 is a Fancy Vivid Yellow pear-shaped diamond weighing in at 2.93-carats.  Suspending the stone is a chain necklace via knifewire connectors with single-cut diamond detail, mounted in yellow gold and platinum.   The pre-auction estimates for the sale of this pendant are between $45,000 and $63,000.

4.  A Fancy Cushion-Cut Diamond Ring

 

This 7.50-carat Fancy Brownish Greenish Yellow diamond is expected to sell for between $45,000 and $54,000.   The cushion-cut stone is surrounded by scrolling old brilliant and single-cut diamond shoulders

 

5.  A 1920s Era Brownish-Yellow Diamond Ring

A ring befitting the jazz age of the 1920s, it features a Fancy brownish-yellow diamond weighing in at 4.73 carats.   The piece also features a mount of 0.30 carats of white diamonds.   This might be the steal of the auction with an estimated sale price of $27,000 to $36,000.

 

Throw me the diamond…I’ll throw you the whip!

If you fancy yourself an Indiana Jones-type adventurer,  you may want to head over to England as there are two separate diamond treasure hunts going on this month.

UK-based diamond store Beards Jewellers is set to launch The Great Diamond Rush, a treasure hunt for 10 different 0.40 carat white diamonds with all proceeds going to Maggie’s Cancer Centre.

The 10 diamonds have been hidden around Cheltenham, a small town located in southwest England with a population of 115,000.   Perspective hunters can purchase special edition treasure maps to help search for the diamonds for a cost of £10 (around $18 CAD).

The hunt will take place on the weekend of September 13-14.   Beards Jewellers expects all of the diamonds to be found that weekend thanks to specially denoted “Clue Makers”.   These people will be placed around the town and for an additional £5 (around $9 CAD) they will provide hunters additional clues to help find the diamonds.

The second England-based diamond hunt has been going on since the first week of August.  Jeweller 77 Diamonds launched a 1.14 carat diamond 100,000 feet into the air with the help of a helium balloon.   Thanks to the attached GPS tracker, it is known that the diamond landed somewhere near the small town of Gainsborough, in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England

77 Diamonds has said that they will tweet once the diamond is found.   As of today’s date, the stone is still missing and available for anyone who finds it.  Can’t wait to see what diamond treasure hunt makes the news next!

UPDATE (Sept.16, 2014)

All ten diamonds from Beards Jewellers’ The Great Diamond Rush  were found over the weekend of September 13-14.   The even better news is that over $11,000 (CAD) were raised for Maggie’s Cancer Centre.   The best story regarding one on the found diamonds is that Scott Thompson used the stone to propose to his girlfriend Lucienne Simpson.   Beards Jewellers’ Managing Director Alex Rose, has offered to make their engagement ring himself from that diamond.

Meanwhile, over in the 77 Diamonds hunt in Gainsborough, the diamond launched into space in the first week of August has still not been found.