http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm The Diamond Ideals Blog en-us Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:05:28 -0700 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:07:00 -0700 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss info@diamondIdeals.com info@diamondIdeals.com http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/3/12/DFlawless-7222-Carat-Pear-Goes-to-Auction Sothebys Auction House showed a 72.22 stunning D Flawless Pear-shape diamond during a press preview yesterday, 11 March, 2008. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg) The diamond will go to auction on April 10th, 2008, in Hong Kong. Availability of these stunning, large gemstones has dwindled in the last few years and demand has become extremely strong. This has caused the prices of large gems to skyrocket in the past few months, pushing prices to all-time records. This diamond is expected to fetch around US$ 13 million. Depending on the outcome, DiamondIdeals.com may bring their 10.75ct D-Internally Flawless Ideal Cut diamond to auction. One never knows. Posted by DiamondIdeals - Specializing in Engagement Rings Diamonds Market and Industry Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:07:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/3/12/DFlawless-7222-Carat-Pear-Goes-to-Auction http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/2/15/Platinum-price-reaches-record-high Platinum price reaches record high February 14, 2008 LondonPlatinum's price reached a record high for the second day in London, trading above $2,000 an ounce, reports Bloomberg News. Platinum for immediate delivery in London gained as much as $50, or 2.5 percent, to $2,027.50 an ounce, according to the news source. The escalated price is due to power cuts in South Africa, which accounts for almost 80 percent of global platinum output. The world's second-largest platinum producer, Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., forecasted a drop in its platinum output due to the power shortages, which could be as much as 40,000 ounces of production, roughly equal to more than two days of global supply. South Africa's state-run utility Eskom Holdings Ltd. told Bloomberg News it will retain limits on power supply to users such as mines and smelters to 90 percent of normal needs until 2012. In related news, gold for immediate delivery in London increased 0.2 percent to $908.68 an ounce, according to the news source. The metal's price reached a record high on Feb. 1 at $936.92. Posted by DiamondIdeals - Specializing in Engagement Rings Precious Metal Jewelry Mining Market and Industry Engagement Rings Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:59:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/2/15/Platinum-price-reaches-record-high http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/2/12/Stars-rock-Grammys-in-cuffs-drop-earrings National Jeweler February 11, 2008 Grammy-winner Rihanna wears diamond studs, a right-hand ring and Chopard's 27-carat "Barrel" cuff. Los AngelesThe music industry was singing the blues when it came to fashion at last night's 50th Annual Grammy Awards, with crooners such as Rihanna, Beyoncé and Nelly Furtado donning blue-tinted gowns. In terms of jewelry, however, the stars hit a high note, with bold cuffs and drop earrings studded with diamonds taking first place as the top picks of the night. Though cuffs have played a major role in red-carpet jewelry-wardrobing for some time now, the latest incarnations of the trend reveal sculptural forms that diverge from the ubiquitous smooth, circular, wrist-hugging style. Natasha Bedingfield wears diamond earrings with 22-karat gold drops by Amrapali of Jaipur. Grammy-winner Rihanna donned Chopard's aptly named "Barrel" cuff, a 27-carat diamond stunner that clung to her wrist at both ends but ballooned out in the center; American Idol alum Fantasia wore H. Stern's textured, snaking "Celtic Dunes" cuff in 18-karat Noble gold and diamonds; and Beyoncé, who shimmied onstage alongside Tina Turner, chose jagged-edged diamond cuffs by Lorraine Schwartz to anchor her tulle, sequined confection of a dress by Elie Saab. When it came to earrings, music's leading ladies chose to keep the baubles short, framing their faces at chin-length or even higher. Miley Cyrus dons diamond and shell earrings by Bochic. Beyoncé dazzled in chandelier earrings featuring pear-shaped diamonds by Lorraine Schwartz; Alicia Keys sparkled in 36.33-carat "Sodwana" hoop earrings by Diamond in the Rough, which featured a wavy 18-karat gold design studded with 30 rough diamonds in varying shades of cognac, azure, canary and rose; "Unwritten" singer Natasha Bedingfield matched a purple Reem Acra gown with diamond earrings featuring 22-karat gold drops from Amrapali of Jaipur; and teen queen Miley Cyrus went full-on with organic jewelry, donning shell earrings with diamonds by Bochic to go with her mermaid-like locks. While necks (minus a conspicuous gold coil number worn by Nelly Furtado) were for the most part ignored in favor of accents for the wrists and ears, right hands got a lot of love at last night's show. Jay-Z chose diamond pins and diamond dress buttons by Neil Lane. Fergie donned a diamond "Dome" right-hand ring by Cartier; Lisa Rinna wore H. Stern's pavé diamond "Golden Stones" right-hand ring; Natalie Cole wore Chopard's ashoka-cut fancy-yellow-diamond right-hand ring with pavé diamond band; and Rihanna went with Chopard as well, donning the brand's "So Happy" diamond right-hand ring. Men weren't immune to the call of diamonds either, with Chris Brown, Akon, Ludacris and Ne-Yo all choosing to accessorize with diamond studs. Jay-Z took the bling one step further, wearing diamond pins and diamond dress buttons by Neil Lane. Posted by DiamondIdeals - Specializing in Engagement Rings Diamonds Pop Culture Jewelry Market and Industry Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:45:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/2/12/Stars-rock-Grammys-in-cuffs-drop-earrings http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/2/1/What-is-Rhodium-and-why-is-it-used-in-engagement-rings Rhodium, used in rhodium-plating of many engagement rings, is a silvery white metal that is highly resistant to corrosion and is extremely reflective when polished. It is commonly used in finishing jewelry, mirrors, search lights and head-lights. It is also used in electronics and can be alloyed with platinum to be used in jet engines. Rhodium is also used in the auto industry in emission and exhaust control. Rhodium is mined primarily in South Africa and Russia. It is traded on a daily basis and the current price of over $7,000.00/oz makes gold and platinum look inexpensive. At this price, it is no wonder it is used only in very small amounts. Rhodium plating of jewelry results in an extremely thin layer of rhodium, measured in microns. Gold is a yellow metal. When it is alloyed (mixed) with other whiter metals such as silver, nickel or palladium, it takes on a whiter look. This whiter version of gold, known as white gold is not entirely white. In fact, white gold is a very pale shade of yellow. In order to give white gold jewelry the incredible white shiny look sought after by consumers in a jewelry store, every piece of 14 or 18 Karat white gold jewelry is plated with rhodium and polished to a high shiny finish. As durable as rhodium is, when it is applied in such a microscopically thin layer, it will wear off. Many people look at their engagement rings after they have worn them for a few months and notice that their diamond ring is yellowing around the edges. One of the surprisingly popular searches done on the web today is by people looking to find out how to clean white gold. The truth is white gold cannot be cleaned. Or more precisely, white gold cannot be whitened by cleaning. Any cleaning will loosen and removed trapped dirt under the diamond, but will not clean the gold. The only solution is to bring the ring back to a professional jeweler and ask them to re-plate the ring with rhodium. This is a common process and can be done in a few hours at little cost. After re-rhodium plating, the jeweler will polish the ring to a high shine and voilà, the ring will look like new. Unfortunately most jewelers will not disclose this aspect of buying white gold jewelry. The alternative white metal which does not need rhodium plating is platinum. Platinum does cost more that gold, but when you consider the lifetime of maintenance required by white gold, the price of platinum may not be beyond consideration. Posted by DiamondIdeals - Specializing in Engagement Rings Precious Metal Jewelry Market and Industry Engagement Rings Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:13:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/2/1/What-is-Rhodium-and-why-is-it-used-in-engagement-rings http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/1/30/Survey-finds-diamonds-or-roses-as-the-best-Valentines-Day-gifts AFNS - LOS ANGELES, USA, 30-01-08 According to the results of a nation-wide survey conducted online in the United States via Harris Interactive by Teleflora, the world's leading floral service, both men and women are in agreement about gifts to give on Valentines Day. 84 percent of women ages 18-34 selected diamond jewelry or roses as the gifts that come to mind when they think about this romantic day. Surprisingly to some, 77 percent of men in that same age group are in agreement. No matter what the age, diamonds or roses never goes out of style, suggested the survey, considering that 72 percent of men and 76 percent of women ages 45-54 selected diamond jewelry or roses as gifts that first come to mind for celebrating Valentines Day. When given a list of the best Valentine's Day gifts to receive, women selected roses as the best gift to receive (32 percent); diamond jewelry as the second best gift (29 percent); jewelry other than diamonds as the third best gift (26 percent); roses other than flowers as the fourth best gift (24 percent). When given a list of what men would want to give their significant other on Valentine's Day, 53 percent selected roses, followed by flowers other than roses at 39 percent, and 34 percent of men would give jewelry and 26 percent of men would specifically give diamond jewelry to their loved ones this Valentines Day. Posted by DiamondIdeals - Specializing in Engagement Rings Diamonds Pop Culture Jewelry Market and Industry Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:50:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/1/30/Survey-finds-diamonds-or-roses-as-the-best-Valentines-Day-gifts http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/1/30/Diamonds-brighten-14th-Annual-Screen-Actors-Guild-Awards AFNS] LOS ANGELES, USA 30 January 2008  Hollywood's biggest stars came out to support the 14th Annual Screen Actors GuildAwards and diamonds once again proved to be the clear choice as the most glamorous accessory to sparkle on the red carpet. Hollywood's leading ladies from television and film proudly donned their most sophisticated diamond looks, with the big trends of the evening being diamond power earrings, showcasing large diamond studs, diamond drops, and diamond chandelier earrings; boldly adorned stacked diamond bracelets and cuffs; and diamond Right Hand Rings. Diamond broaches also made a grand appearance. To highlight the evening's best all-diamond looks, actress Ana Ortiz, from the nominated cast of the television series, "Ugly Betty" showcased an amazing half a million dollar diamond look by Kwiat, including beautiful diamond cluster earrings, a vintage diamond and platinum bracelet, and a diamond and platinum flower broach worn in her hair. Presenter and actress, Kate Beckinsale also stole the red carpet wearing Van Cleef & Arpel's private museum collection pieces, including stacked diamond bracelets on both wrists, bold diamond stud earrings, a 1919 Art Deco diamond Right Hand Ring, and a breathtaking diamond broach. Female nominee and award presenter Marion Cotillard wore a Happy Spirit diamond Right Hand Ring and Happy Diamond pave pendant necklace by Chopard. A service of the Antwerp Facets News Service (AFNS). Article may be reproduced provided that credit is given to AFNS. Posted by DiamondIdeals - Specializing in Engagement Rings Diamonds Pop Culture Jewelry Market and Industry Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:44:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/1/30/Diamonds-brighten-14th-Annual-Screen-Actors-Guild-Awards http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/1/22/World-Market-Metal-Prices-Affect-Engagement-Rings-and-More A customer recently asked us why Diamond Ideals had increased the price of engagement rings by about 25% percent over the last year (2006-2007). In fact, we have increased all our gold and platinum jewelry, not just our engagement rings. If you look at the price of gold and platinum over the last 12 months, the explanation is simple. Gold went from up from $634/oz in December 2006 to $833/oz in December of 2007; an increase of over 31%. Platinum has had a similar run, going from $1,133/oz to $1,528/oz in the same period; an increase of about 35%. Diamond Ideals tries to maintain costs as low as possible in order to make superb jewelry affordable. Unfortunately there are some forces that are impossible to contain. We maintained our prices on engagement rings and wedding bands as long as possible, but finally had to relent. Even with this small price change, Diamond Ideals still creates extraordinary engagement and wedding rings at highly competitive prices. Posted by DiamondIdeals - Specializing in Engagement Rings Precious Metal Jewelry Market and Industry Engagement Rings Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:32:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2008/1/22/World-Market-Metal-Prices-Affect-Engagement-Rings-and-More http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2007/1/9/When-Buying-a-Diamond-Starts-With-a-Mouse On January 7, 2007, The New York Times (GARY RIVLIN) published an article called When Buying a Diamond Starts With a Mouse. The article is mainly about how Blue Nile is a market maker in the diamond and jewelry industry with it's growing online sales. The article however goes on to point out that Blue Nile's downside is that it doesn't allow customer's to compare diamonds side by side or even provide images of individual stones. We at Diamond Ideals do however provide images of all of our diamonds through our Miner Report request and are happy to provide additional side by side images as well. We understand the significance, both emotionally and financially, of buying a diamond and we do our best to provide you all of the information necessary to make an informed and confident decision. The wealth of information that we provide is often more than you receive in a brick and mortar jewelry store. We also staff GIA certified gemologists to accurately answer all of your questions. Posted by: Megan - Diamond Ideals Market and Industry Tue, 09 Jan 2007 06:59:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2007/1/9/When-Buying-a-Diamond-Starts-With-a-Mouse http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2006/10/18/Huge-African-diamond-sells-for-over-12-million [Reuters & MSNBC] ANTWERP, Belgium - The biggest diamond to be found in 13 years, the "Lesotho Promise," was sold on Monday at auction for more than $12 million and is expected to fetch in excess of $20 million once it is cut up. The 603-carat (120 gram) diamond, named after the tiny African mountain kingdom where it was found, went under the hammer at the Antwerp Diamond Centre and was sold to the South African Diamond Corporation, owner of luxury jewellers Graff. The 10th largest white diamond ever to be found, it will be cut into a large heart-shaped diamond and several smaller stones which will then be sold. The uncut diamond is a third bigger than a golf ball. Posted by: Megan - Diamond Ideals Market and Industry Wed, 18 Oct 2006 12:05:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2006/10/18/Huge-African-diamond-sells-for-over-12-million http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2006/1/6/Study-Online-jewelry-purchases-surged-in-2005 National Jeweler - JANUARY 05, 2006 - Reston, Va. -- Jewelry and watches represented one of the fastest-growing categories of Internet purchases, according to a new study, which finds that consumers spent 27 percent more on jewelry and watches online in 2005 than in 2004. According to a comScore Networks study, the year's fastest-growing online sales categories were computers and apparel and accessories, each of which grew 36 percent in 2005. Total Internet spending for the year amounted to $143.2 billion, a 22 percent increase over 2004, according to comScore. The consumer research firm estimates that online spending on non-travel items accounted for 6 percent of all consumer spending for the year, excluding cars, gas and food. In November and December of 2005, consumers spent $19.6 billion online on non-travel purchases, 25 percent more than in 2004. According to comScore, the five retail Web sites which saw the greatest number of total visits during the holiday season (Nov. 1 to Dec. 25) were, in descending order: eBay, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Apple Computer, Inc. and Target. Megan Diamond Ideals Market and Industry Fri, 06 Jan 2006 14:54:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2006/1/6/Study-Online-jewelry-purchases-surged-in-2005 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2005/11/30/Industry-Analysis-Diamond-Outlook-Shows-Dwindling-Supplies-Rising-Prices Industry Analysis: Diamond Outlook Shows Dwindling Supplies, Rising Prices Russell Shor - GIA Dwindling supplies of rough coupled with increasing demand for polished will drive diamond prices ever higher, but will also force major consolidations within the industry. This was the conclusion of several key diamond executives who addressed the Rapaport International Diamond Conference Oct. 20 in New York. They predicted that shortages of rough diamonds in coming years will run square against the numerous industry marketing and branding initiatives. The resulting combination of rising prices and high advertising and marketing costs will force many firmseven large, well-established companiesto either consolidate or vertically integrate with retailers, or go bankrupt. Moshe Leviev, of the Leviev International Diamond Group, told the audience of more than 280 that shortages of rough diamonds over 20 points, especially high-quality goods, will be a dominant factor for the next decade. Diamond stocks held by De Beers and other mining companies totaled over $22 billion a few years ago. Now these are down to $3 to $4 billion  essentially working stocks, meaning there is no overhang. He added that he believes there will be no major new breakthrough diamond mines coming on line for five to eight years at a minimum, so shortages will get worse as demand rises. However, there are several potential large mines in Canada and Russia that could be developed within that period if procedural and legal problems can be ironed out. Dilip Mehta, chairman of Rosy Blue, an Antwerp-based multinational diamond firm, noted that the industry is entering an era of fundamental change: from an excess of supply over demand, to the reverse. Weve seen how rising demand helped De Beers liquidate nearly all its buffer stocks of diamonds and, assuming that demand keeps rising, production will not be able to keep up. Both warned that prices for diamonds will rise significantly in coming years. However, De Beerss Diamond Trading Company (DTC) has set a growth target of 50% in worldwide diamond jewelry sales  $84 billion  in the next 10 years, according to Lynn Diamond, director of the Diamond Promotion Service. Its apparent that most of this growth will come from price increases, not rising unit sales, because of supply shortages, added Ken Gassman, research editor for the Rapaport Diamond Report. Leviev stressed that the DTCs Supplier of Choice initiatives, which require sightholders to fund costly marketing and advertising campaigns to increase diamond jewelry sales, will take their toll on diamond manufacturers. First, there is no guarantee that sufficient rough will be available to support all of these initiatives. Second, the market cannot support 130 different diamond brands. So we are likely to see many companies bankrupted by high costs. The shortages in quality rough diamonds ultimately will lead to a major reorganization of the industry, with major retailers and diamond suppliers vertically integrating, said Elliot Tannenbaum, who heads the Israeli operation of Schachter and Namdar. By 2010, we will see suppliers taking major stakes in retail jewelers. By 2028, we will see a situation like the oil companies, where a few major players have operations integrated from mining to retail. Retailers not attached to major suppliers may have difficulty finding supplies. Martin Rapaport, publisher of the Rapaport Diamond Report and organizer of the conference, stressed that future retail competition will be geared more toward marketing and branding initiatives than price. In short, strategy will be more important than skill. The future, however, is less worrisome than the current industry debt and inventory situation, according to Peter Gross, who heads the diamond and jewelry division of ABN AMRO Bank, the industrys largest lender. Before we get to the supply shortages, there is an excess of polished inventory hanging in the market and an excess in manufacturing capability that is driving the price of rough to unrealistic levels. He said the excess manufacturing supply is causing the current spike in rough prices, even as large quantities of polished are still sitting in dealers safes. This has created an unhealthy situation. The rising cost of rough and lengthening credit terms of U.S. retailers has contributed to a very sharp rise in industry debt during the past year: from $6.88 billion to $8.66 billion. Most of that increase is from India, where the debt nearly doubled in three years. Gross said the rising debt levels are not a concern in themselves, but that there is a decline in the quality of the debt  rough price increases and high inventories of polished stock are squeezing profitability from the industry. Megan Diamond Ideals Market and Industry Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:42:00 -0700 http://www.diamondIdeals.com/blog/client/index.cfm/2005/11/30/Industry-Analysis-Diamond-Outlook-Shows-Dwindling-Supplies-Rising-Prices