Thursday, April 9, 2009

RareColoredDiamonds.com featured on Business Television

RareColoredDiamonds.com has been featured on Business Television. Hosted by Taylor Thoen, Business Television airs on BNN, CNN, CBC Newsworld, and America One Television Network. You can view the interview online here:


http://www.b-tv.com/features/watch-now.html?id=326


Look for it on TV this weekend by checking the Business Television Broadcast Schedule.

© 2009 Rare Colored Diamonds.
www.rarecoloreddiamonds.com

RareColoredDiamonds.com featured on Business Television
posted by Rare Colored Diamonds on Thursday, April 09, 2009

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Levinson Jewelers 25th Anniversary

On Wednesday April 9, we celebrated Levinson Jewelers' 25th year in business... Levinson Style.



Harold and Harriet Seigel, Mark and Robin Levinson, and Jason and Katina Taylor.





Dan and Claire Marino with Harold and Harriet Seigel.





Mark and Robin Levinson, Harold Seigel and John D'Amico.

© 2009 Rare Colored Diamonds.
www.rarecoloreddiamonds.com

Levinson Jewelers 25th Anniversary
posted by Rare Colored Diamonds on Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Blue Diamond Fetches $30M at Auction

London, England - A grey-blue diamond sold for 16.3 million pounds ($30.3 million) at auction Wednesday in London, exceeding initial estimates significantly.

The 35.56-carat diamond, once owned by Spain's King Philip IV, had been expected to earn bids of up to nine million pounds ($16.7 million) at the Christie's auction.

The stone, known as the Wittelsbach diamond, is especially prized for its historic significance. Once passed down from King Philip IV to his daughter Infanta Margarita Teresa in the 17th century, it was later owned by the Wittelsbach family of Bavaria.

Christie's auctioned the diamond in 1931, and it re-emerged in the 1960s.

As posted on:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/12/10/diamond-auction.html?ref=rss

© 2009 Rare Colored Diamonds.
www.rarecoloreddiamonds.com

Blue Diamond Fetches $30M at Auction
posted by Rare Colored Diamonds on Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Exceptional Rarity....

Rare colored diamonds are the world's rarest diamonds and parallel in rarity with the world's most obscure and nebulous gemstones. Finding a large colored diamond is as easy as the old express "finding a needle in a haystack". With only 1 in every 10,000 diamond carats being colored, finding a large colored diamond is almost unheard of.

Consider the journey a colored diamond takes before it reaches the jeweler and the remarkable conditions under which it forms. Diamonds are formed approximately 150-200km below the earth's surface and are carried to the surface inside kimberlite stones in volcanic eruptions. All natural diamonds are over a billion years old and most of these volcanic eruptions occurred more than million years ago. In order to detract the diamond from the ore, the ore is crushed with care taken not to destroy large diamonds. Only a very small fraction of the diamond ore consists of actual diamonds. Approximately 20 % of colorless diamond carats are gem quality. Of that percentage 1 out of every 10,000 carat is naturally colored.

Colorless diamonds are made of 100% carbon. For a diamond to be naturally colored it must come in contact with another mineral which reacts to the carbon producing a colored hue in the diamond-this process is extremely rare.

Clarity is a large factor contributing to the rarity of a colored diamond. Almost all diamonds contain tiny, inconspicuous marks called inclusions. If the inclusion is not visible to the naked eye the clarity of the diamond improves the rarity and price.

The rarity of a colored diamond is affected by its size. A 1.00 carat colored diamond, although twice the size of a .05 diamond, is worth more than twice its value. This is because a 1.00 carat is statistically more difficult to mine than a diamond half its size. A large diamond (over 5 carats), because of the sensitivity required to ensure it is not damaged in the mining process, is much scarcer than a 1.00 carat. For this reason large colored diamonds are exceeding rare and valuable.

Red diamonds are one of the rarest colored diamonds. Currently it is believe that there are thirty-five flawless red diamonds known and most weigh under a carat. The largest is the Moussaieff Red at 5.11 carats found by a Brazilian farmer. *

The Steinmetz pink is internally flawless and the largest vivid pink diamond known weighing 59.60 carats. Because of its significance, experts from The Steinmetz Group took 20 months to cut it.*

After billions of years of formation which includes a fluke infusion of a foreign mineral, colored diamonds are propelled from under the the earth's surface in a volcanic erosion and then survive the crushing process of being procured from the ore. The percentage of colored diamonds that emerge from the entire process as flawless and weighing more than 1-2 carats is minimal. It is no wonder that these priceless diamonds are highly sought after by investors and Hollywood celebrities looking to invest in the most elite and exquisite diamonds in the world.

* Information taken from the Smithsonian Museum website.

© 2009 Rare Colored Diamonds.
www.rarecoloreddiamonds.com

Exceptional Rarity....
posted by Rare Colored Diamonds on Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Friday, September 19, 2008

Yellow Diamonds: An Overview

Yellow diamonds are showing up on the cover of celebrity magazines and the red carpet like splashes of nitrogen sunshine. Of all colored diamonds, yellow diamonds are most commonly encountered. Between 1998 and 2006 the GIA graded more than 100,000 yellow diamonds. Because they are more abundant they are also more affordable that other colored diamonds ranging from $1,500 per carat to $70,000 per carat depending on cut, color and clarity.

Although more common than the rarer fancy diamonds, today's yellow diamonds have an opulent and dazzling ancestry loaded with rich history.

Descriptions of sighting of yellow diamonds date back to 1676 by French traveler and gem-dealer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier while in India, but the first major discovery of yellows diamonds was in South Africa in the late 1860s. The earliest record was of a yellow crystal, which was cut into what is now the Eureka diamond. In 1878 a 287.45 rough piece was discovered in the Kimberly mine and subsequently cut into the world-famous Tiffany diamond.

Today yellow diamonds are found in mines throughout the world, and findings are so widespread that no one mine stands out as particularity plenteous, although the largest pieces of rough still originate in South Africa.

The cut of a diamond is very important and significantly affects the color and this is especially true for yellow diamonds. The cut of a yellow diamond often makes the difference between a colorless D-to-Z scale grading or a Fancy Yellow grading. The cut enhances the color making it appear darker and richer and therefore increasing the grading and value of the diamond. Square or near square shapes such as radiant and cushion yield the best color retention in yellow diamonds. The cut also effects the perceived distribution of color throughout the diamond. The yellow color may appear only in certain areas of the diamond and the GIA grading would describe the color as "uneven".

Yellow diamonds have gained public attention through the notoriety of a few historic diamonds including the 128.54 ct Tiffany, the 101.29ct Allnat or the 407.48 ct Incomparable Diamond.

The Tiffany diamond is perhaps the most famous yellow diamond. Discovered in South America, the 128.54 ct diamond has been in the Tiffany collection since 1879 and is now displayed at Tiffany & Co. in New York as part of the Jean Schlumberger's jewel, "Bird on a Rock". It was graded by the GIA in 1984.

The 101.29 Allnat(t) a Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond, named after one of its previous owners Alfred Ernest Allnatt, origins are unclear, but it is presumed that it was found in what is now De Beers Premier Diamond mine. Allnatt purchased the diamond in the early 1950, commissioned a setting made of platinum and diamonds and sold it at a Christie's auction for $3,043,496 US in 1996.

Found in Mbuji Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo by a young girl in 1980, the 407.48 ct Incomparable Diamond is the third largest gem-quality faceted diamond in the world. The diamond passed through many hands and took over four years in the cutting process before it was graded by the GIA in 1988 as Internally Flawless. Strangely, the giant gem was put on eBay in November of 2002 at at starting bid of 15 pounds sterling. The gem was never sold and it is believed to still be owned by Louis Glick, one of the original owners.

The Moon of Baroda is a 24.04 Canary yellow diamond from India. It was part of the Maharajah of Borado lineage and was last displayed in 1944. The diamond was lent to Marilyn Monroe to promote "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". Recently the diamond was part of a 2008 Diamond Divas exhibit.

Yellow diamonds may not command the sky-high prices of the rarer colored diamonds, but their significance in the world of fancy diamonds is marked by some of the most distinguished diamonds in the world.

© 2009 Rare Colored Diamonds.
www.rarecoloreddiamonds.com

Yellow Diamonds: An Overview
posted by Rare Colored Diamonds on Friday, September 19, 2008

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Rare Diamonds Equal Giant Returns

In 1987 the "Hancock Red" diamond sold for over $926,000 per carat at Christie's Auction in New York setting a new world record for the highest per-carat price paid for a colored diamond at an auction. The 0.95 carat diamond had been mined in Brazil and was put up for auction by heir of a Montana collector, Warren Hancock. It is believed that he purchased it in 1956 for $13,500. For the last twenty years, the Hancock Red diamond held the title as the world's most expensive colored diamond sold at an auction.

According to some stats, the same diamond could now be worth approximately $7 million. For the last 35 years the value of diamonds has doubled every six to seven years, and as the demand for colored diamonds increases the per-carat price continues to soar. With every 1 out of 10,000 diamonds mined being colored, the demand greatly outweighs the available supply of these rare diamonds.

In the last five years colored diamonds have become popular among newly engaged Hollywood stars. As more and more celebrities flaunt the spectacular colored diamond engagement rings, the trend for these diamonds continues to grow.

Since the sale of the Hancock Red, colored diamonds have fetched exorbitant prices although coming close, none have topped the record-breaking red diamond. In 1999 a 0.90 carat Fancy Vivid green was sold for $736,111 per carat and a 3.95 carat Fancy Deep blue sold for $420,557 per carat in 2001. In June of 2005 a 4.24 carat Fancy Vivid blue was sold for $426,415 per carat.

After twenty years the legendary Hancock Red diamond recently surrendered its title to a stunning six-carat blue diamond that sold for $1.32 million per carat at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong late last year breaking the long-standing price-per-carat record for an auctioned diamond. The total value of the diamond was nearly $8 million.

Investing in rare colored diamonds has been one of the best kept secrets in the diamond industry. Based on the history of the continual increase in value, investing in even the smallest diamonds is proving to have giant rates of return. With the demand for top quality diamonds, both Christie's and Sotheby's anticipate the price of colored diamonds to continue to rise in the following year.

© 2009 Rare Colored Diamonds.
www.rarecoloreddiamonds.com

Rare Diamonds Equal Giant Returns
posted by Rare Colored Diamonds on Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Fancy Colored Diamonds

The majority of diamonds are colorless stones, but they often have a very faint shading of color-typically yellow or brown-that lowers their quality. When that shading is intense and vibrant, however, the stones become sought after and valuable, and the diamond industry grades them as "fancy" diamonds. Red and pink shades are the most rare, though any vivid color is unusual-less than two percent of diamonds can be classified as colored.

Yellow diamonds are created by trace amounts of nitrogen in the crystal structure. Shades of color vary from a bright canary yellow to a deeper, darker marmalade hue, though the key qualities of diamond color relate to the intensity and evenness of the coloration. Marbled shades or those that appear washed-out are less valuable.

Natural yellow diamonds have been mined in Africa, South America, and Australia. Fancy colored stones tend to be small, and they make elegant accents to colorless diamonds for unique engagement rings and other pieces of jewelry.

Because of the popularity of colored diamonds, treated stones are an alternative to natural gems. High pressure, high temperature treatments can enhance the existing yellow tones of low quality diamonds, creating vivid shades and more desirable, intense colors suitable for yellow diamond engagement rings. Diamonds may also be irradiated to create an artificial coloration. If a diamond has received any such enhancements, the details of the treatment should be disclosed either on the gem's certificate or by the jeweler.

Designs for Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings
There are limitless possibilities to create stunning engagement rings with yellow diamonds. Because of the stone's coloration, however, not every style will be as complimentary, and couples should consider the stone's individual characteristics and precise color when choosing a setting and design.

Stones
To preserve the intense coloration of a brilliant yellow diamond, the stone’s cut and shape must be appropriate. A poor cut can reduce the sparkle and brilliance of the gem, making it appear more opaque than it truly is. Furthermore, because fancy colored diamonds vary widely in hue and intensity, it is best to use only a single colored gem rather than attempting to match shades. This will allow the solitary colored gem to be the focal point of the ring, though it may be accented with smaller gems.

Metals
Depending on the richness of the color, yellow diamond engagement rings are often most attractive when set in yellow gold. This can subtly enhance their unusual color, though take care that the gold's tone does not overpower a light yellow diamond. If the shade is very light, using white gold or platinum may inadvertently diffuse the stone's color and make it appear to be more of a low-quality.

Settings
The best settings for yellow diamond rings are ones that ultimately enhance the stone. Prong or other elevated designs subtly separate the colored gem from integrated accents, drawing the eye toward the unique gem rather than blending it in with other stones. An unusual setting will also help draw the eye toward the yellow diamond.

Famous Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings

In recent years, more and more interest has been paid to celebrity styles, and the scrutiny of engagement rings is no different. Paris Hilton's engagement ring (reported to be a total of 24 carats and costing $5 million) is perhaps one of the most famous using fancy yellow gems, though musician Seal and supermodel Heidi Klum supposedly sealed their intentions with a yellow gem, and yellow diamond engagement rings have been seen in the possession of actor Dennis Quaid, model Veronica Varekova, and producer Rodney Jenkins.

As published on
http://engagementrings.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Yellow_Diamond_Engagement_Rings

© 2009 Rare Colored Diamonds.
www.rarecoloreddiamonds.com

Fancy Colored Diamonds
posted by Rare Colored Diamonds on Wednesday, July 09, 2008