Colored Diamonds

A rare Fancy Vivid Blue diamond from the celebrated collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon sold for a staggering $32,645,000 ($3,348,205 per carat) – a new world auction record total price for any blue diamond and a new world auction record for price-per-carat for any diamond at Sotheby’s New York headquarters.

The 9.75 carat, pear-shaped diamond was eagerly sought after by seven bidders who competed for 20 minutes for the extraordinary stone, ultimately selling to a Hong Kong private collector who has named the stone The Zoe Diamond.

Brad Brooks-Rubin has appointed by the GIA to the newly-created post of global director of Development and Beneficiation.

The GIA said the appointment would "strengthen its commitment to bring benefits of the global gem and jewelry industry to producing communities".

The Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on December 10 concluded the firm’s 2013 jewelry auction season with sales of $65,790,125. The 495-lot auction was 86 percent sold by lot and 92 percent by value.
A 52.58-carat D-color Internally Flawless Golconda diamond was bought for $10.9 million, while a diamond jewelry collection – Property of an Elegant Lady, by Lev Leviev, was sold for $10.2 million

Almost five years after the world’s worst financial crisis for three generations, the repercussions are still being felt in the European market, says diamantaires. One of the wealthiest continents in the world with a potential market of around 350 million people, Europe remains stuck in the doldrums.

In a major announcement, Rio Tinto brought a close to more than a year of speculation, by saying it aimed to retain its diamond assets after concluding a strategic review which looked at a range of options, including potential divestment.
 
Rio Tinto Diamonds & Minerals Chief Executive Alan Davies said: “The medium to long-term market fundamentals for diamonds remain robust, fuelled by growing demand for luxury goods in Asia and continuing strong demand in North America. 
 

The third of the CIBJO commissions' Special Reports has been released a month before the opening of the 2013 CIBJO Congress in Tel Aviv on May 7, 2013.

Prepared by the CIBJO Coloured Stone Commission, headed by Nilam Alawdeen,  the report  reviews updates already made to the Coloured Gemstone Blue Book and also those that are being considered. In particular it looks at the nomenclature used to describe gemstone treatments.

Sotheby’s will put 400 lots with a total presale estimate of more than $35 million up for sale at its annual spring Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on April 17.

The highlight of the sale may be an exceptional 74.79-carat, D, VVS1, potentially flawless, Type IIA, pear-shaped diamond with a presale estimate of $9 million to $12 million.

The pear-shaped stone will be sold a month before Christie’s sells a pear-shaped D color, Type IIA flawless diamond weighing 101.73 carats in Geneva.

A unique natural vivid blue heart shaped diamond will be one of the highlights of an auction of exceptional gems and jewelry by Tzoffey's 1818 to be held during the March 17-20 US/International Diamond Week at the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE).

It is possible the 1.93-carat diamond will sell for more than US$1 million per carat if sales held by Sotheby's last year are an indication.