Archive for September, 2009

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has recently introduced a new “GIA Gem Pass Book” when making a purchase from two of its colored stone identification services: the GIA Identification Report and the GIA Origin Report.

Each passbook from the GIA has inside 50 pre-paid GIA GemPasses™ which are redeemable for identification or country-of-origin services.

The GIA has announced the following prices:

1. Identification GemPasses will be priced at $50 each,
2. Passes for country-of-origin services will cost $100.

Each GIA GemPass is valid for one service per loose diamond, regardless of gemstone size. Passbooks may be purchased and redeemed at GIA Laboratories in New York, Carlsbad or Bangkok.

“We hope our new GemPassbooks will make GIA identification services more affordable and accessible to the colored stone industry,” said Tom Moses, senior vice president, GIA Laboratory and Research. “GIA GemPasses are also transferable, meaning our clients can extend these savings to their customers.”

The reports will offer a highly detailed appraisal of the gem material including the identifying factors for the gem such as colour, transparency, shape, cut, dimensions, weight. The PassBook report will also feature a full color photo of the diamond.

Despite the recession, diamond sales continue to perform well. When comparing sales figures for In recent months both Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses have suffered badly due to the recession. However they both have recently confirmed that one sector that both see positive positive sales figures are diamonds sales.

According to the New York Times article, David Bennet, chairman of Sotheby’s jewelry departments in Europe and the Middle East, is quoted at recent auctions “it felt like being back in the good old days of the mid-1990s.”

In recent auction lots, the “Star of Josephine,” a vivid blue colored diamond, with a weight of 7.03 carats., sold for $9.48 million equivalent to just over $1.34 million a carat, making it the most expensive gem per carat ever sold in any auction. At a similar period in an auction in Geneva, a rare pink pear diamond weighing almost 5.29 carats, sold for over $2.04 million, or $385,633 per carat.

Also selling well were jewelry pieces that were either already collectible, or interpreted by the market as being collectible.

Tiaras necklaces and earrings all with documented ownership by European royalty at times almost quadrupled their estimates. For example, a pair of ear clips described as “the property of a German Princely and Liechtenstein Ruling Family,” did just that when it just barely missed sold for $420,000.

Because of the desire for collectible pieces, 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s stamped and marked pieces by famous designers are also doing well. A mystery set by Van Cleef & Arpels designed in the form of two intertwined leaves set with sapphires and diamonds hauled in $112,845, well over the expected price.

Finally the much anticipated wedding of ex-Playboy Playmate and ex-girlfriend of Hugh Hefner Kendra Wilkinson and NFL player Hank Baskett took place at the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles.

Both of Kendra’s former playmates and co-stars (Bridget Marquardt and Holly Madison) from the hit program “Girls Next Door” were bridesmaids. Playboy boss Hugh Hefner was also present among over 500 invited guests.

Kendra said “I could not be more delighted” While Playboy millionaire Hugh Hefner said “This is one of the happiest days in one of the happiest places on earth.”

After the ceremony, Kendra blogged, “Wussup everyone???? It’s the new Mrs. Hank Baskett!!!!!!!!! Ahhhh hahahahahha!! I cant believe I’m a married woman! Yayyyyy.”

Kendra wore an incredible flowing wedding dress and wore her sparkling diamond engagement ring bought months earlier by lover and fiance Hank Baskett.