Rare Orange diamond to showcase at Shapiro Auctioneers

Orange / yellow Orange one of the rarest colours found in natural diamond.

In 2014 a spectacular orange fancy vivid pear shape diamond mined in South Africa, weighing 14.82 carats was auctioned for a record price of $2.39 million per carat or $35.54m for the diamond. Setting a new record price per carat for any fancy colour.

The 1.03 ct Intense Fancy yellow Orange Round brilliant is made rarer because of the combination of the size, shape, colour and clarity.

Shapiro’s Auctioneers will auction the diamond at the May 13 Jewellery sale.

The Fascination by Graff

The Diamond Watch that effortlessly turns into an exquisite ring

The Diamond Watch that effortlessly turns into an exquisite ring

Created by Graff Diamonds a London based jewellers founded in 1960.

Fascination is a diamond encrusted masterpiece piece which features a 38.13 ct pear shaped diamond which can be worn as a ring or inserted into a diamond encrusted watch bracelet with 152.96 cts of white diamonds.

Graff uses only the very finest diamonds, resulting in the creation of the most fabulous jewels in the world.

The Fascination will be on show at the BaselWorld watch fair in Switzerland, which begins tomorrow.

Brown Diamonds natural or synthetic

Colour in diamonds

Causes of colour in heat treated brown diamonds and synthetic brown diamonds are similar to treated pink diamonds.

In natural diamond the colour is related to a lattice imperfection. This can be mimicked in synthetic or treated diamond by a variety of treatments including annealing, heating or irradiating. The heat and pressure or irradiation can result in the lattice deviation resulting in the brown or pink colour.

Synthetic brown diamond is created by compressing graphite under extreme pressure and heat to above 1500 Celsius. The treatments were perfected in several laboratories in Russia, United States and China.

Lazare Kaplan Internationals Belgium subsidiary Pegasus Overseas Ltd marketed the General Electric processed diamonds under the name GE POL or in the USA as Bellataire.

This led to a technique for creating, or treating brown diamonds into higher valued colours like yellow or colourless diamond.

The disclosure of the treatment is noted by the “GEPOL” inscribed on the girdles of every treated diamond.

Brown diamonds are often marketed with expensive sounding names like Cognac, Champagne or Chocolate diamonds. Natural brown diamonds are a cheap alternative to more expensive colours.

Over graded diamonds

Recently there has been a lot of controversy in the diamond and jewellery trade regarding over graded diamonds. This led to one laboratory being banned from listing on Rapaport. Video

If you have any concerns about your diamond DCLA Laboratory will check it for you FREE of charge.

Rapaport Australian listed laboratory DCLA

DCLA and Cibjo

Contact DCLA for information

DCLA continues to see overgraded diamonds with no alert to the puplic from the industry associations in Australia.

Gemmological Institute of America seven week graduate diamond diploma

Gemmological Institute of America

The GIA a gemmological organisation will be conducting a seven week graduate diamond diploma from January 8.

The programme combines theory lessons with practical hands on learning and will be held in Jaipur.

Students will learn how to grade in accordance with the GIA’s 4Cs colour, cut, clarity and carat weight of diamond in the D-Z colour range.  

As well as how to grade diamonds and detect simulants and treatments like fracture filled diamonds using gemmological equipment.

The course will be taught by instructors from the Mumbai campus.

GSI Opens Botswana Lab

Mark Gershburg CEO of GSI said that after decades of just mining rough diamonds. Botswana capital Gaborone now cuts, polishes and sells diamonds.

This has created demand for gemmological laboratories. Therefore Gemological Science International has now opened a laboratory in Botswana’s trading centre.

Where’s the best place to buy loose diamonds?

General consensus is to definitely buy online.

Simple reason is online sales don’t have the expense of retail location, security and personnel.

All of these add to the cost of the diamond, but not the value.

But before you do buy, ask these questions.

Do all online diamond sellers ship free of charge?

Can you view before buying, if you wish? 

Is the diamond certified by an IDC or equally highly recognised Laboratory?

Is the diamonds quality guaranteed?  

Only at the DCLA Diamond Exchange the answer is yes to all these questions.

The Diamonds are certified by the best laboratories in the world and are Fully Guaranteed.

The shipping is Free across Australia.

And most important, a trained diamond grader will personally show you all the diamonds attributes, as well as explain all the details so that you understand and make an educated decision before you buy.

This is all done as a free service complements of the DCLA laboratory which is the only qualified and state of the art IDC Laboratory in Australia.

29.6 carat blue diamond found in South Africa

Petra Diamonds has recovered a 29.6 ct blue diamond, possibly the rarest and most coveted in the world.

Cailey Barker at brokers Numis said the diamond could fetch between $15 million and $20 million at auction.

Chief Executive Johan Dippenaar said “this is probably the most significant stone we’ve ever, in terms of blue stones, recovered”. At the mine is located in South Africa.

DMIA calls for all-industry, international meeting on misrepresentation of synthetics as natural diamonds

New York, November 12, 2013

Dear Colleagues,

Much has been written in the past month concerning synthetic diamonds being represented as natural diamonds. We at the DMIA believe that it is imperative that the industry respond immediately and forcefully.

DMIA issued a formal call to action 18 months ago in May of 2012 (reprinted below in its entirety) and do so again now. In our view, one of the major problems in attacking this issue is the lack of cohesion from stakeholders all of whom are rightfully very concerned.

As an industry leader DMIA is indeed making progress as we are in constant contact with local as well as Federal law enforcement agencies, the United States Department of State, and our domestic industry leaders; among them GIA, JA, AGS, MJSA, JVC, to mention just a few.

We once again call on the international and domestic leaders from industry, law enforcement, and laboratories to physically gather together as soon as possible and for as long as is necessary to finalize the best approach.

To that end, we reiterate today that we are ready to host a conclave in New York City and will work immediately with our colleagues to make it a reality.

Ronnie VanderLinden, President

Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America

Blue Nile’s 3Q Sales +20%

Blue Nile’s sales rose 20 % year on year for the third quarter of 2012. Turn over for the third quarter was $89.8 million.

4 quarter sales are expected between $140 million and $153 million, compared with $112 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.  

We are excited to report solid results in the third quarter, with accelerating revenue growth and expanding earnings per share, Said Blue Nile.

With continued steady execution of our strategy coupled with exciting product offerings for the holiday season, we believe we are well positioned to achieve our goals for 2012.