news – Page 15 – The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA)

Vara of London Unveils Privé Collection of Jewels

I first met Mayuri Vara in 2014 at an upscale Hong Kong bar with sweeping views of the city. It was there that the former pharmacist showed me her first collection of jewels under the brand, Vara of London.

Diya pink sapphire and diamond ear jackets in 18k Gold that can be converted to studs VARA OF LONDON

At the time I lauded her initial collection of classic and elegant of jewels as a well-thought-out mix of products where individual pieces match but in a variety of innovative ways. The jewels were made of sterling silver plated with yellow gold or white gold, with some pieces having a black rhodium finish. The collection was dominated by a mix of smoky quartz, amethyst, citrines, peridot, tourmaline with some diamonds sprinkled among the gems.

Rani ruby and diamond ear drops in 18k rose gold that can be converted into ear jackets. VARA OF LONDON

Five years later I met Mayuri at Madame Fù, a contemporary Chinese restaurant in a recently opened cultural and shopping center that used to be the Central Police Station. She showed me pieces from her newest collection, “Privé,” which remains true to her original inspirations that include the glamour of Elizabeth Taylor, her British and Indian heritage and the dynamic city of Hong Kong. The self-taught designer said she started creating jewels because she had difficulty finding pieces she loved.

Serpentina Linea 18k rose ring with diamonds VARA OF LONDON

“I design fine jewelry that I would wear myself as an everyday accessory,” she said. “Statement pieces, worn with a crisp white shirt during the day, through to evening wear. My clients, most of whom are women, financially independent, choose to purchase fine jewelry for themselves, wearing pieces that empower them, choosing to self gift for a birthday or reaching a personal or business goal.”

The new collection of approximately 12 elegant and fashionable pieces reveals how Vara has upped her game in materials and versatility. Her new collection boasts pieces in 18k white and rose gold set with rubies, pink sapphires and diamonds.

Mayuri Vara founder of Vara of London VARA OF LONDON

Like her previous collection it has strong focus and the pieces could be mixed and matched without appearing as if it is a suite of jewels. However, she has increased this versatility by creating a few transformable pieces. For example, her Rani earrings, which feature rows of round rubies, could be worn as long silky drops or as ear jackets. Her Diya ear jackets are available with either diamonds or pink sapphires as the dominate gem. Like her other earrings these are transformable with the jackets being removable so they can be worn as elegant studs.

Meanwhile, her Serpentina Linea necklaces, bracelets and rings use thin coiled 18k white or rose gold in the form of a snake, paved with rows of diamonds. Earrings from the same line use black rhodium gold and black diamonds. Like her first collection, the dark color contrasts provide an edge to the elegance of the pieces.

Serpentina Linea earrings in black gold and black diamonds VARA OF LONDON

Vara is involved in certain charitable causes. For example she has donated jewels for charity auctions such as Christina Noble Children’s Charity which support underprivileged children in Vietnam, and The Womens Foundation Hong Kong, which empower women in poverty.

Vara’s next plan is quite ambitious, saying she wants to exhibit at Paris Couture week, which would place her young brand with some of the most important high jewelers in the world.

Serpentina Linea bangle in 18k white gold & diamonds VARA OF LONDON

Vara of London jewels are available through the company’s website or on the website of the Harvey Nichols department store.

Source: forbes

Kimberley’s last diamond miner, Ekapa, struggles to stay afloat as artisanal miner deal unravels

KIMBERLEY Ekapa Mining, the last major diamond company operating in Kimberley, has imposed a three-month, 12.5% salary reduction across the board on its staff in an attempt to remain economically viable in the face of slumping diamond prices and renewed problems with illegal miners on its property.

The operation was formerly run as a joint venture with London-listed, Petra Diamonds, which sold its 75.9% controlling stake in July last year to partner Ekapa for R300m.

At the time, Ekapa was experiencing major problems with illegal miners operating on its properties, but had – hopefully – reached a workable solution after surrendering 600 hectares of its ground to the illegal miners provided they stayed off the rest of the company’s lease area.

That was in terms of a deal brokered by the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy and the Sol Plaatje Municipality which runs Kimberley. The deal, lauded at the time by mines minister, Gwede Mantashe, was called the Batho Pele initiative and the former illegal miners were reclassified as artisanal miners.

Yet KEM CEO, Jahn Hohne, has now revealed that KEM is still spending R3m a month on security measures to keep the miners off mine property after further incidents including arson on some of the company’s haul vehicles.

Hohne could not be reached directly for comment.

In reply to written questions the company issued a statement saying: “Kimberley Ekapa Mining is reliably informed that an alleged new third force of illegal miners is attempting to muscle in and around the Batho Pele initiative.

“They are using force; trespassing; conducting illegal mining; sabotaging mine infrastructure and allegedly being supported by illegal diamond traders”.

Asked what was being done about the situation, the company replied: “Kimberley Ekapa Mining is working closely with all relevant stakeholders … to ensure the success of the initiative”.

According to the statement the current crunch in the global diamond market, which has hit small diamond prices particularly hard, “… equates to an approximately 20% year-on-year price decrease in dollar terms for Ekapa’s mining operations in Kimberley”.

Hohne had originally proposed a 25% wage cut which was vehemently rejected by the National Union of Mineworkers and the union has also rejected the 12.5% cut now imposed.

This is despite Hohne’s commitment that the reductions will be repaid “… from the earliest available distributable profits when the new business model is successful”.

The statement said management was engaging directly with the NUM in the Northern Cape and that “… at the time of this response Kimberley Ekapa Mining had not received any formal notification of a dispute being declared”.

Source: miningmx

GEM DIAMONDS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LARGE DIAMONDS’ PRICES DESPITE MARKET

Gem Diamonds, which operates the Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho, has published its sales performance for the first half of the year ended June 20, 2019. Gem Diamonds sold 55,714 carats during the period, achieving an average price of $1,697 per carat – 10% more than the average price for H2 2018. Revenue for the period totaled $41.6 million USD.

During the period, the miner sold a 13.32 carat pink diamond for a Letšeng record of $656,934 per carat, and recovered three diamonds greater than 100 carats. It sold 15 diamonds for more than $1 million each. Gem Diamonds added that it is on track to deliver its targeted $100 million “in incremental revenue, productivity improvements and cost savings over the 4-year period to end 2021”.

Gem Diamonds concluded by announcing that prices for the smaller and commercial goods “have been under pressure for some time with the larger goods having been less affected, although showing recent signs of weakness”. However, the miner expects “Letšeng’s unique, ultra-high-quality goods to be less vulnerable over time to market pressures”.

Source: israelidiamond

Botswana Diamonds Shares Jump On Licence Extension

Shares in Botswana Diamonds PLC jumped Thursday after it extended two “strategic” diamond licences for further two years, as it considered forming a joint venture to develop the projects.

Shares in Botswana Diamonds were 9.9% higher at 0.54 pence in London on Thursday.

Botswana Diamonds – through its wholly-owned Sunland Minerals Ltd subsidiary – extended the Prospecting Licences PL232 and PL235 in Botswana to the end of September 2021.

The firm explained the “key” licences were “strategically located” in the centre of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, covering 500 square kilometres. Botswana Diamonds has already identified “prospective drill ready targets” following “intensive” work at the sites.

Botswana Diamonds said it was “already in extended discussions” with a “major” diamond producer regarding the formation of a joint venture for the next phase of the work on the licences.

Source: morningstar

Russian Model Shows Off Lamborghini Aventador Encrusted With Two Million Diamonds

With London’s supercar season underway, it’s only natural that you will see a variety of Ford Fiestas, Volkswagen Polos and Vauxhall Corsas. Who are we kidding, eh?

The streets are actually packed with extravagant cars such as a £280,000 Rolls Royce Dawn, a £140,000 Porsche 911 GT3 and even a Bugatti Chiron worth an unbelievable £2.5 million. Wonder whether you can get it on finance.

Despite these, it was Russian model Daria Radionoca’s Swarovski crystal encrusted £350,000 Lamborghini Aventador that got the most attention.

According to the MailOnline, the 26 year old studied business management in London and now customises fur and leather products for wealthy clients.

So, now we know where she got the inspiration from herself, it is believed that the revamp took 700 man hours and over two months to apply two million of the crystals. Phew, bet she didn’t do that on her own.

Daria clearly likes her cars as well because she had previously owned a Lamborghini Huracan and a Mercedes CLS which she also adapted to suit her style. Wonder how much she forks out on insurance though…

Daria lives in Knightsbridge, central London, and is just one of 600 owners of the SuperVeloce version of the V12 model.

As well as this supercar, the model is CEO of two companies: DRJACKETS by Daria R. and a beauty salon called Royale Dolls Beauty.

She has over 150,000 followers on her personal Instagram account and in a recent Instagram Q&A on her story when she was asked how she could afford the whip, she said: “If you work as hard as I do – then you would afford one as well, even at a younger age. Whatever I show on Instagram – that’s what I decide to show.

“There is much more behind all these fancy pictures. I’m a very hardworking and ambitious person and I work 24/7, even when I sleep my mind is always on and always thinking about work and ££.

“I love luxury, I don’t want to depend on anyone – hence I’m working like crazy and being able to afford whatever I want.” Fair play to her.

When someone asked how she got insurance on the SV (SuperVeloce), she wrote: “Everything is possible, it’s just a matter of £££££. I’m paying way too much for insurance but this car is worth it”.

Source: ladbible

PS: Swarovski crystals are not diamonds.

3.72 Carat Diamond found at Crater of Diamonds State Park

A 3.72 Carat diamond was discovered at Arkansas State Park.

Miranda Hollingshead 27 year old of Texas discovered the diamond during her first trip to the park.

Miranda said she was in town visiting siblings and they wanted to do something fun, so they visited the park.

An hour into their search, she found the yellow diamond.

Park officials said recent rainfall in the area likely assisted in the diamond being uncovered.

The 3.72 carat yellow diamond is the biggest one discovered this year, topping the 2.12-carat brown diamond discovered last month.

Anna Hu’s 100 Carat Yellow Diamond Necklace

Five pieces created by contemporary high jewelry artist, Anna Hu, will be among the jewels being offered at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale on October 7.

The high jewels on offer will come from Hu’s latest collection, “Silk Road Music Collection.” Unveiled in Paris during the first week of July, it consists of a group of about a dozen jewels inspired by musical and cultural exchanges that took place on the Silk Road – an ancient trade route connecting the eastern and western parts of the world.

Leading the five pieces at the upcoming auction is the “Dunhuang Pipa Necklace,” set with a 100.02 carat fancy intense yellow diamond provided by Sotheby’s. Its estimate is $5 million – $6.25 million. The silhouette of this necklace resembles a Chinese pipa a four stringed Chinese lute attached to lines of a western musical staff in 18k white gold that flows in twists and waves, and sparkles with pavé diamond along the neckline.

Hu was inspired by images of women playing the pipa depicted on murals in Dunhuang, considered an oasis for travelers in China’s northwest desert area along the Silk Road. The necklace can be transformed into a brooch and earring.

“It is absolutely a pleasure to collaborate with Sotheby’s on this project and be given the opportunity to work with the 100.02 carat yellow diamond, which is a true gift from nature,” Hu said.

Yvonne Chu, acting head of department, Jewellery, Sotheby’s, said this necklace “is one of the most important jewelry pieces on offer this season.”

As with much of Hu’s work, this latest collection combines her passion for music and western art with the Chinese themes from her upbringing in Taiwan. A resident of New York for many years, Hu’s brand is known for creating one-of-a-kind pieces with rare gemstones crafted by skilled French-trained artisans.

Source: forbes

Sotheby’s Expects $26M for Pink Diamond

A 10.64 carat pink diamond ring worth up to $25.5 million will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s Hong Kong sale.

The fancy vivid purplish pink center stone is internally flawless, the auction house told Rapaport News Friday. Sotheby’s will offer the piece, which is flanked by white diamonds, at its Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale on October 7. The ring has a presale estimate of $19.1 to $25.5 million USD.

Pink diamonds have historically done well at auction, with the Pink Promise, a 14.93 carat, fancy vivid pink, fetching $32 million USD at Christie’s Hong Kong sale in 2017. In November, Harry Winston purchased the Pink Legacy, an 18.96 carat, fancy vivid pink diamond, at Christie’s Geneva auction for $50.4 million USD.

Prices of pink fancy color diamonds increased 0.4% in the three months ending June 30, outperforming blues and yellows, the Fancy Color Research Foundation noted. The imminent closure of Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine in Australia has contributed to the price rise, as the deposit produces most of the world’s pinks, explained Alan Bronstein, president of the Natural Color Diamond Association.

Source: Diamonds.net

Tiffany & Co. launches men’s line, hoping diamonds are a dude’s best friend

Tiffany & Co. hasn’t had any trouble getting men to come shop for the ladies in their lives.

Now the jeweler behind those iconic blue boxes wants them to stay and peruse … for themselves.

Tiffany is rolling out its first comprehensive jewelry line for men, the company announced Thursday, in a bid to attract younger shoppers and reverse declining sales. Come October, the collection will include nearly 100 designs, some of which will fetch prices as high as $15,000. Tiffany also plans to add home furnishings and accessories, such as ice tongs and beer mugs, with male customers in mind.

But retail experts say it could be a tough sell. The glitz and glamour of Tiffany has long been tied to feminine jewelry (along with Audrey Hepburn’s soft smile and bejeweled neck).

Rolling out masculine designs are one thing. But getting male customers in the door and with themselves in mind is quite another.

“[Men] still see Tiffany as a female-based proposition, just because of its heritage and even things like the color of the boxes,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm GlobalData Retail. “It could be quite difficult for them to really persuade male customers that they have something to offer and that is relevant to them.”

Reed Krakoff, Tiffany’s chief artistic director and who developed the collection, told the Associated Press that the new line will get its own floor space in Tiffany’s 300 stores, rather than being sold alongside other merchandise.

“Men all over the world are wearing jewelry and more accessories as part of a wardrobe,” Krakoff told the AP. “You started to see it on the runways, in social media.”

Krakoff said that men’s merchandise hasn’t historically been a large focus for Tiffany. But the company saw an opening given that half of the company’s global customers are men, most of whom come into Tiffany to buy women’s jewelry.

“We have a captive audience,” Krakoff said.

Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia Business School, gave credit to Tiffany for trying to become “more relevant” and less reliant on its aging “legacy customer.” That is key when younger shoppers “aren’t responding the way their parents did in terms of their affection for fine jewelry.”

But Cohen was skeptical that there was much Tiffany could mine in the men’s jewelry business. Gem stones and diamonds may glisten on the runway. But they do not carry the same currency for the average Joe.

“I just don’t see it as a meaningful business,” Cohen said. “To think this is going to be some sort of windfall — it’s just not going to happen.”

It is not just a lack of male foot traffic that has unsettled Tiffany. In November, company shares plummeted after Tiffany reported weaker-than-expected sales. Chief executive Alessandro Bogliolo said at the time that tourists, and specifically Chinese tourists, were traveling less, dampening sales in places like New York and Hong Kong. (Bogliolo said business in China was still strong, reaching double-digit sales growth throughout 2018.)

Though the fine jewelry market for men climbed to $5.8 billion worldwide in 2018, according to the market research firm Euromonitor International, it still lags far behind the $33.2 billion women’s market.

Saunders pointed to the athleisure brand Lululemon as a company that successfully pivoted from a mainly female audience and got more men in to shop. But Lululemon’s challenge was, in some ways, simpler to overcome, Saunders said. Lululemon does not carry the same “heritage” as Tiffany and could more easily persuade men to buy comfortable, practically gender-neutral workout clothes — not expensive bling.

Still, Tiffany has at least one major advantage: Even if men are not shopping for themselves right now, they are already inside and at the counter. Alexis DeSalva, a senior analyst of retail and e-commerce at Mintel, said Tiffany does not have to go after an entire new bucket of customers and woo them inside.

Rather, Tiffany can focus its pitch on existing male customers. Better yet, it can spread the word to its female fans who will then talk up the new line to male friends and family.

“Part of [Tiffany’s] legacy is on the service they offer,” DeSalva said. “They need to hone in on that and make sure they’re communicating [to men], ‘Hey, we have something for you too.’”

Source: Rachel Siegel washingtonpost

Super-deep diamonds contain traces of a pristine chunk of early Earth

A unique haul of diamonds that formed incredibly deep underground has been found in Brazil. What is more, they contain evidence that points to the existence of a pristine piece of original Earth rock that remains intact far underground.

It is hard to believe that any of Earth’s early structure could still exist today after being churned up by more than 4 billion years of geological activity.

But several diamonds uncovered in the Juína area of Brazil contain chemical signatures that suggest such a reservoir of rock is still preserved deep under the surface.

The diamonds, which were analysed by Suzette Timmerman at the Australian National University and her colleagues, contain high levels of an ancient helium isotope called helium-3 that was incorporated into Earth’s first rocks.

Diamond time capsules

This suggests that the diamonds, which are themselves thought to be less than 500 million years old, formed in or above a remnant of Earth’s original rock, Timmerman says. As they formed, they encapsulated some of the ancient helium-3 that is slowly diffusing upwards from this primordial rock, she says.

The diamonds also contain a mineral called breyite that is formed at ultra-high pressures, suggesting they originated about 410 to 660 kilometres underground. This means the primordial rock must be deeper than at least 410 km, says Timmerman.

Normally, diamonds form less than 230 km underground. This makes these “super-deep” diamonds unique time capsules to study early Earth, Timmerman says.

The diamonds were carried by upwellings of hot rock and volcanic eruptions about 93 million years ago, finally ending up in the Juína mines at the surface, her team’s analysis shows.

The researchers are now hoping to work out the location and size of the preserved primordial rock that supplied the helium-3 now trapped in these diamonds. “Hopefully we will then be able to understand more about how it formed and survived,” Timmerman says.

Her best guess is that the primordial rock is a very dense structure close to Earth’s core, which would explain why it has managed to remain intact all this time.

It won’t be possible to access the rock directly because it is so far underground, but further studies of super-deep diamonds may help us to understand it better, she says.

Source: newscientist