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Famous
Colored Diamonds A COLORFUL HISTORY
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Many of the world's most
famous and expensive diamonds are natural color gems. Probably the most
celebrated of them all is the Hope Diamond* an extraordinary fancy blue
diamond of 45.52 carats. It is displayed at the Smithsonian Institute
in Washington D.C.
Then there is the
Dresden Green, a 40.70 carat apple-green diamond named afterthe German
city where it is displayed. One of the most outstanding yellow diamonds
is the Tiffany, a 128.51 carat cushion-cut canary yellow gem. Red and
pink diamonds are extremely rare. There are only about six known red diamonds
in the world. The Argyle Diamond mine in Australia is the world's foremost
source of intensely pink diamonds, but only a handful are recovered each
year.
The largest Champagne
colored diamond is the Golden Giant which weighs 407.43 carats. At the
other end of the color scale in this family is the Ear shape cognac diamond
of 111.59 carats.
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Red
Two
of the very few reds include the Halphen Red which was at one time owned
by a 19th century diamond dealer of the same name. It weighed about one
carat. Then there is the 5.05 carat Red Diamond. This emerald cut stone
was polished by the Goudvis Brothers of Amsterdam in the 1920s. In December
2001, a 1.92ct Red diamond sold at auction for greater than $860,000 per
carat.
Green
The most famous is the Dresden Green named after the city where
it was displayed for 200 years. This 40.70 carat stone is apple-green
in color and cut as a pendeloque. It is still on display in Dresden.
Blue
There are none more famous than the legendary Hope Diamond. An
extraordinary fancy blue diamond of 45.52 carats. It is displayed at the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington. Argyle has achieved even higher prices
in sales of blue diamonds.
Pink
The Agra Diamond has its origins in India. This light pink stone,
weighing 32.34 carats was recently sold by Christie's. The Hortensia is
a five-sided diamond of 20.53 carats of a pale pink color and is used
as part of the French Crown Jewels. It is now displayed in the Louvre.
In 1987 a .94ct Purplish Pink diamond sold for $926,000 per carat.
Yellow
The
10.73 carat Eureka Diamond is a yellowish of the color scale in this family
is the Earth Star, a pear- ston6] but its p,ace in history js assured
as it js considered to be the first authenticated South African diamond.
The Tiffany Diamond is a cushion cut stone of 128.51 carats in the rare
canary yellow category.
Champagne
The
Golden Giant is a giant Champagne colored diamond, which weighs 407.43
carats. It is owned by Click of New York. The privately-owned Earth Star
is a pear shape Cognac diamond of 111.59 carats.
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Gemoiogical
information - Origin Of color in diamonds
It is not widely
known but diamonds are naturally found in more colors than most other
gemstones. Color formed in diamonds at about the time the gems started
to shape, some three billion years ago. There are said to be three primary
causes of color in diamonds:
Foreign elements. During
formation the interaction of another element within the carbon crystal
lattice of the diamond led to color. Introduced nitrogen caused yellow
or orange diamonds. Boron gave rise to blue diamonds.
Natural radiation.
This influence produced green diamonds.
Pressure. Compression
of the diamond lattice structure by tremendous forces deep beneath the
earth is said to have led to red, pink and Champagne Diamonds.
Laboratory grading
information
Champagne Diamonds
are graded by gemologi-cal laboratories in a similar manner to colorless
diamonds - except for the obvious addition of color.
Color
With Champagne Diamonds
this is the most important factor; especially when color-matching diamonds.
Inspection is best saved for a bright day with northern daylight for a
true perspective. Argyle has developed a guide for ordering uniform tints
of Champagne, (show diamond scale)
C1-C2...Light Champagne
C3-C4...Medium Champagne
C5-C6...Dark Champagne
C7...Fancy Cognac.
Cut
Bad cutting
can affect the color in a diamond, often leading to uneven color-zoning.
In fancy colored diamonds, "bow ties" often appear in those
cut in fancy shapes. This is not necessarily bad unless it dramatically
affects the color of the stone.
Clarity
Like ail
diamonds, colored stones come in a range of clarities. The amount of color
usually outweights clarity unless the stone is visibly marked.
The following
Gemoiogical Laboratories have accepted and are using Argyle's C1-C7 color
grading scale for Champagne Diamonds.
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Watch
Trends |
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"An Alternative
Man's Watch". Elini launches DN-24 of Street and Chrome in a Sleek
and Futuristic Design, is a Perfect Alternative for a Man's Watch. A stream-lined
design of Stainless Streel and Black IP Chrome, with a rectangular case
that is classy, yet fashion-forward and most definitely masculine, the
DN-24 stands for Day and Night, 24 hours a day.
"Dolce Collection": Elini launches a Classic Beauty in the Dolce
Collection Inspired by from the desire. Dolce means "sweet"
in Italian and refers to the candy-colored hues in which it is available.
The Dolce Classic, Top or Full are Swiss-Mode Watch with a White, Pink,
or Blue dial, 26 mm Stainless Steel Case, Swiss Made Quartz "Ronda"
movement 1064, Sapphire Glass, 3 ATM pressure of water resistance, Interchangeable
Italian Leather Strap, 8, 56 or 149 Full Cut Top White Diamonds, Total
Weight 0.30*, High Tech Precision Pave Setting.
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"NEW
YORKER-GRAND":
The New Yorker-GRAND maker a strong impression with
its 44 mm stainless steel casing with IP Rose Gold Overlay is offered
in 3 different color combinations: Brown, Black and White Sun-ray dial.
A chronograph Swiss movement, fine Italian leather straps, hardened Mineral
crystal, and a distinctive unique serial number quarantee quelity.
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"The
Elini Jumbo": With an amazing almost 2 inches (27 mm) of case. The
Jumbo Collection is available in the Jumbo S/S, Jumbo S/S IP, Jumbo Top,
and the Jumbo Full. This urban style timepiece is perfect for the big and
athletic man. This is the watch for the man who has the confidence to wear
diamonds and wear it large. The Jumbo has a 47 mm stainless steeel or black
ceramic IP case. On the diamond version, the amount of diamonds is strikingly
beautiful and yet because of its size and urban lines it looks very masculine
on a man's wrist. The oversized case has dual colors in red, blue, or white
and also features 3 additional chronograph dials in matching colors.
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AP
Audemars Piquet |
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1
"Royal Oak Lady Alinghi": 2712,
quartz movement rhodium-plating, circular-graining and "cotes
de Geneve" decorative pattern. Limited Edition and a depiction
of two sails billowing in the wind Satin-brushed steel crown with
polished steel cabochon 50 m water-resistance. Dial made from silver
with red Alinghi logo. Matt white full-grain crocodile leather wristband
strap. |
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2 "Lady
Royal Oak watch": Redesigned to emphasize rounded shapes, curving
surfaces and softened angles, the octagon transcends its legendary
rigorous nature to reveal an extremely endearing side of its personality.
Released from its classic proportions, it adopts extremely appealing
dimensions. The centre is reduced; the bezel and the flange are
broadened and domed, offering a surface in which the eight hexagonal
screws almost appear to be spinning. Like two joined hands, the
two octagons form a softly rounded pebble that looks as sturdy from
the front as it seems delicate from the side.
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Exquisite
diamond jewelry and captivating colored gemstones
from the private collection of Mrs, Margaret Adderley
Kelly |
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Christie's,
global market leaders in jewelry since 1994, is pleased to announce
the sale of the magnificent private jewelry collection of Mrs. Margaret
Adderley Kelly, on June 7 at Christie's Rockefeller Centre. The
Kelly name is legendary and is internationally recognized as "the
company" for providing temporary employees. Mrs. Kelly was
a philanthropist and a fashionable woman who loved to travel, enjoyed
the performing and culinary arts and avidly collected jewelry and
fine porcelain. Her passion and discerning eye for exquisite jewelry
and rare and unusual gemstones is seen throughout her collection.
Kelly Services, Inc.
Started
in 1946 by her husband, the late William R. Kelly, the small Detroit
business called Kelly Services, Inc. quickly grew into a temporary
staffing empire. Their employees, called The Kelly Girls,"
were in high demand. By 1957, the iconic "Kelly Girl"
became a household name and was synonymous with high-quality temporary
employees. Kelly Services, Inc. earned its place as a Fortune 500
company that now employs over 700,000 people with 2,600 offices
in 27 countries—a testament to Kelly's pioneering spirit and
vision.
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Magnificent Jewels
The exceptional
breadth of the collection offers an array of colored diamonds, diamond
jewelry and gem-stones that speaks to her appreciation and connoisseurship
for the rare and beautiful. An exquisite group of diamond cluster jewelry
by the prominent London jeweler, David Morris, includes a magnificent
necklace (estimate: $800,000-1,000,000), a bracelet (estimate: $350,000-400,000),
a brooch (estimate: $350,000-400,000) and a pair of ear clips (estimate:
$60,000-80,000). Also by David Morris is a pair of elegant diamond ear
clips with two large and well-matched pear-shaped diamonds of 13.47
and 13.34 carats (estimate: $250,000-350,000).
Mrs. Kelly greatly
admired rare colored diamonds and was fascinated by two particularly
appealing hues exemplified in a striking marquise-cut fancy blue diamond
ring of 6.21 carats enhanced by two purplish-pink diamonds (estimate:
$400,000-600,000). Also stunning and unusual is a modified rectangular-cut
fancy intense orangy-pink diamond ring of 6.82 carats set within a heart-shaped
yellow diamond mount (estimate: $350,000-450,000).
Equally unique and
exceptional is her collection of colored gemstones, which features an
extraordinary pink-orange Padparadscha sapphire ring of 20.84 carats,
a rarity in today's market (estimate: $200,000-250,000). The gemstone
whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word 'padmaraga,' meaning the
color of a lotus blossom in bloom, displays an excellent hue, intensity
and saturation of color. Designed especially for Mrs. Kelly by the celebrated
jeweler, Henry Dunay, this captivating piece is part of her vast collection
of his designs.
The Philanthropy of Mrs.
Margaret Adderley Kelly
Mrs. Kelly's philanthropy
was a cornerstone of her life and many organizations benefited from
her generosity including the Broward Center for the Performing Arts
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to which she gifted $1 million. A member
of the Board of Directors of the Florida Grand Opera, she sponsored
several galas and operatic productions. In honor of her grandson, Russell
Adderley, who died of cancer at the age of 12, she bequeathed $2 million
to the School of Medicine at the University of Michigan. Mrs. Kelly
was also involved with organizations including the Memorial Sloane-Kettering
Cancer Center, the MD Anderson Cancer Center and a $1 million gift to
Catholic Charities.
www. christies.com
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Famous Colored Diamonds
