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May humanity recognize and appreciate the power of love. May the eternal light shine in everyone’s heart and existence expands to a higher dimension. I wish everyone health, prosperity and peace. Continue reading here: May humanity recognize and appreciate the power of love.
“Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.” Read the original here: Groucho Marx
“I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” Original post: Fred Allen
“If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.” Read the original: H. G. Wells
“Ask five economists and you’ll get five different answers – six if one went to Harvard.” Read the original post: Edgar R. Fiedler
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Go here to read the rest: Peter Drucker
“Space is the breath of art.” See the article here: Frank Lloyd Wright
“The best artists know what to leave out.” See the original post here: Charles de Lint
Given that we’re now in the heart of the spring season, Diamond & Estate Trust is devoting this week to this season’s most colorful, lively luxury jewelry trend: colored diamonds . Up today is the pink diamond , perhaps the most popular colored diamond of the last few years. From its striking Red Carpet presence (did you see Penelope Ann Miller ’s 3 carat pink diamond ring at the 2012 Oscars?) to its massive price tag at Christie’s and Sotheby’s auctions (one fetched more than $600,000 just last month), it’s no surprise that the pink diamond is one of the most coveted gems of 2012. How rare are pink diamonds? Just how rare is the pink diamond? If you’ve been reading our posts this week, you already know that 1 in every 10,000 diamonds mined is a color other than white. Within the spectrum of colored diamonds , the pink diamond falls somewhere in the middle: It’s not as rare as the red, purple, blue or green diamond, but it is far less common than brown, black, yellow and grey diamonds. The number of pink diamonds in the world is so few that most people will never see one of these gorgeous gems outside of a museum or auction (which may explain the world’s excitement over the recent pink diamond discovery at Australia’s famed Argyle Mine!) How do pink diamonds get their color? Whereas nitrogen gives yellow diamonds their hue, and boron causes a diamond to turn blue, scientists are still not sure what causes diamonds to take on a gorgeous, rosy hue. Still, most agree that the romantic pink color is the result of a rare atomic structure present while a diamond is forming. As with most colored diamonds, the richer and deeper the pink hue, the more valuable the gem. When it comes to pink diamonds, natural fancy deep and fancy intense hues are the ultimate sign of luxury. Capitalizing on the world’s love affair with pink diamonds, many jewelers use techniques like irradiation and heat to turn white diamonds to that desirable rosy pink hue. Just remember that natural colored diamonds are much more valuable than artificially treated ones. Want to know for sure that a pink diamond has a natural color? Check its certification! What are some famous pink diamonds? The Conde Pink Diamond The largest known pink diamond in the world is the Darya-i-Nur or Sea of Light diamond. At 175 carats, this flawless, rosy pink diamond is found in the crown jewels of Iran. Another notable pink diamond is The Grand Conde, also known as The Conde Pink, The Conde Diamond, or Le Grande Conde. At 9.01 carats, this light pink pear-shaped diamond has as much beauty as it does history. The story goes that King Louis XIII presented this stunning diamond to Louis de Bourbon, the commander of the French Army during the Thirty Years’ War. And numerous pink diamonds have gained worldwide fame at recent luxury jewelry auctions . A fancy vivid pink 5 carat diamond in a chic cushion cut fetched $11.8 million at a Christie’s Hong Kong sale in 2009. Another pink diamond from Christie’s, a 14.23 carat rectangular cut fancy intense pink diamond, fetched $23.2 million at a 2010 sale in Hong Kong. And a 6.01 carat fancy vivid blue and pink diamond ring set a world record for price-per-carat when it fetched a cool $10.1 million in an October 2012 auction. What’s the next major pink diamond to go up on the auction block? An exquisite 9 carat cushion cut pink diamond ring that copper heiress Huguette Clark inherited from her mother. Christie’s expects this gorgeously cut, perfect condition pink diamond from 1910 to go for $10 million to $15 million when it’s sold later this month. What cut is best for pink diamonds? Pink diamonds are often seen paired with white diamonds , a popular design aesthetic that amplifies the beauty of a pink diamond’s color. Radiant, princess and brilliant cuts are preferred for pink diamonds, as these cuts feature strong facets that bring out the depth and color of a pink diamond. But because a pink diamond is so romantic, many jewelers choose antique cuts not commonly seen in colored diamonds. The cushion cut, for instance, is a soft, lustrous diamond cut that matches the romance of a soft pink diamond. Which celebrities wear pink diamonds? Penelope Ann Miller stole the spotlight at the 84th Annual Academy Awards when she wore a stunning 3 carat pink diamond ring that matched the powdery pink color of her vintage gown. Jennifer Lopez was one of the first celebrities spotted wearing a pink diamond, a magnificent 6 carat pink diamond engagement ring given to her by then-fiancée Ben Affleck. Mariah Carey, Nicole Kidman, and Salma Hayek have been spotted recently wearing pink diamonds. (We can’t think of anyone who’s worn a pink diamond better than Nicole Kidman did. Did you love her Red Carpet pink diamond Bulgari necklace as much as we did?) Pink diamonds and Diamond & Estate Trust For the ultimate symbol of luxury and romance, there’s nothing more exquisite than a rare, breathtaking pink diamond. This 6.8 carat fancy intense pink radiant cut diamond in our collection has a gorgeous natural hue and a quality cut that brings this pink diamond to life. It would be perfect in a classic ring setting or as a custom piece designed just for you by our experts.
With spring finally upon us, it only seems fitting to devote some time to the colored diamond , spring 2012’s most vibrant jewelry trend. First up in Diamond & Estate Trust’s colored diamond series is the yellow diamond , which has long been celebrated for its lively hue but has become even more vogue lately thanks to celebrities such as Heidi Klum , Jennifer Lopez and Michelle Mangan. Here’s everything you need to know about the yellow diamond. What are some famous yellow diamonds? The Tiffany Yellow Diamond When most people think of the yellow diamond, the Tiffany Yellow is the first gem that comes to mind. Discovered in 1877 at South Africa’s Kimberley mine, the Tiffany Yellow has a stunning, rich saturation. It was a magnificent 287.42 carats when discovered, but was later cut into an awe-inspiring 128.51 carat cushion cut. One of the most recent yellow diamonds to go up for auction is the 110-carat Sun-Drop Diamond . The fancy vivid yellow diamond , found in South Africa and cut in a beautiful pear shape, fetched $11.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in late 2011. It’s the latest indication of the yellow diamond’s strong popularity. Other famous yellow diamonds include the 407.48 carat Incomparable Diamond, the 205.47 carat Red Cross Diamond, the 137.37 carat Florentine Diamond, and the 132.43 carat cushion cut Sarah Diamond How rare are yellow diamonds? One in 10,000 diamonds mined is a color other than white. Within the spectrum of colored diamonds , the yellow diamond falls in the middle of the road: it’s more rare than brown or black diamonds, but a bit more common than red or blue diamonds. But even though the yellow diamond isn’t the rarest of the colored diamonds , it is still exceptional to find one with a natural yellow hue: a mere .1 percent of all diamonds mined have an intense fancy yellow color. How do yellow diamonds get their color? A fancy intense yellow diamond Yellow diamonds get their gorgeous, lively hue when there’s a surplus of nitrogen available while a diamond is forming. The more nitrogen trapped within a diamond’s carbon molecules, the more intense the diamond’s yellow hue. When you’re determining the worth of a yellow diamond, remember that a more vibrant hue is generally more valuable. Canary yellow diamonds, which are typically pale in color, are worth less than the darker, richer intense fancy yellow diamonds (although both lately have been commanding much higher prices than white diamonds !) It’s also important to remember that naturally enhanced (heat treated) yellow diamonds are far less valuable than yellow diamonds with a natural yellow color. Be sure to check a GIA certification to make sure the yellow diamond you’re considering hasn’t been artificially treated to achieve its color. What cuts and shapes are best for yellow diamonds? Yellow diamonds are typically seen flanked by white diamonds , which provide contrast that brings out the beauty of the yellow diamond’s hue. Fiery cuts such as the radiant, princess and brilliant cuts are preferred for yellow diamonds, as these cuts have striking facets that amplify a colored diamond’s color and depth. Which celebrities wear yellow diamonds? Marilyn Monroe and the Moon of Baroda Heidi Klum made fashion waves when she selected a large, cushion cut fancy light yellow diamond ring for her engagement to then-husband Seal. Hillary Clinton wore the gorgeous Kahn Canary Diamond to Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration in 1993, and Carrie Underwood wears a 5 carat round brilliant yellow diamond engagement ring. Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, and Penelope Cruz have recently chosen yellow diamonds to complete their Red Carpet looks. And we can’t forget to mention Marilyn Monroe: the jewelry icon wore the famous Moon of Baroda yellow diamond to the premier of her film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes . Yellow diamonds and Diamond & Estate Trust Diamond & Estate Trust has an exquisite collection of colored diamonds of every hue imaginable. And when it comes to yellow diamonds, this stunning custom piece in our collection takes the prize. Called the Aurora , this show-stopping custom piece featured a gorgeous .72 carat GIA certified fancy intense pink diamond bordered by round white diamonds and 7 carats of perfectly matched natural fancy yellow pear shaped diamonds that complete its lustrous look. A buttery 18K gold setting complements the striking color of this ring’s yellow diamonds and ensures that once you slip it on, your hand will glow from every angle. It’s not every day you come across a yellow diamond ring, let alone one with this many gorgeous fancy color graded yellow diamonds. Diamond & Estate Trust is the premier buyer and seller of diamonds, gems, vintage jewelry and luxury watches in Los Angeles and Southern California. For the ultimate statement piece, look no further than our exquisite collection of colored diamonds . Visit link: Yellow Diamond Guide – Celebrity Jewelry Trends 2012
