Remember That "World's First All Diamond Ring" ? I Do, So Here's Some New Photos.

When the news broke in March during Basel 2011 that Shawish Jewelers of Geneva had created the world's first entirely all diamond ring (a ring that would have no setting, no metal, but instead have entire ring and shank cut from the stone), the story of the unusual piece of precious jewelry was featured on blogs and news sites all over the world.

A $5 Million Dollar Watch? Yep. Hublot Unveils The World's Most Expensive Watch.

BASEL, Switzerland (AFP) - Swiss watchmaker Hublot unveiled on Wednesday, preview day of the Baselworld Watch & Jewellery Show, the Swiss watch show's most expensive watch, which carries a price tag of US$5 million and is inlaid with with 1,292 diamonds - including six stones each weighing more than 3 carats.

Cartier Premieres Gorgeous Short Film, L'Odyssee de Cartier, A Visual History of The Brand.

Carter has been airing this three and a half minute commercial, L'Odyssée de Cartier, which is a beautiful three and a half minute film consisting of seven chapters, shot by Bruno Aveillan for the luxury brand.



The new Cartier film, which took two years to make, is a journey between dream and reality and the very first time Cartier has decided to create a cinema epic focusing on its 165 year history, its values and inspiration, its artistic and universal scope. The lush visual story features the Panther, the historical icon of the House of Cartier.








The dedicated website features the seven chapters of the brand's Odyssey film, the making of, information about the musical score and other bonus features. Learn how they trained the three panthers and other interesting information at their site.



L'Odyssee de Cartier

New Architectural Rings From Philippe Tournaire - Archipolis, Paris, Moscow, New York & More.

above: Philippe Tournaire's New York Ring in white gold with an aquamarine representing the Chrysler building

One of my favorite posts of all time was the one in which I featured the amazing Villa de Reve Collection (dreamhouse rings) by jeweller Philippe Tournaire. The miniature custom hand crafted replicas of personal residences, mansions and villas in rose, yellow, white gold and platinum, some accented with gemstones are still on my "If-I-Ever-Win-The-Lottery" list.

Fancy Footwear. Kickbars Are Diamond Jewelry For Your Sneakers.

Baller bling, baby.
It's not enough to have diamond earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, body jewelry, belt buckles and even grills. Now, your athletic shoes must be adorned with ice as well.





KickBars' designer, Robert B. Martin Jr., used to put his mom's rings on his fat shoelaces in the 1980s. He took that same concept and turned it into real diamond and colored gemstone encrusted 14k bars that lace onto your kicks.





Three versions are available. The rectangular Kickbars come in two sizes; regular and junior. The full sized Kickbars average 2 carats total diamond weight and are set with approximately 54 full round cut stones. The Jr. Kickbars average 1.5 carats total weight and have approximately 37 full round cut stones.


above: brilliant cut Kickbar and princess cut diamond Custom Kickbar in 14k white gold

The Custom Kickbars are invisibly set princess cut (square cut) diamonds and have a total carat weight of a whopping 6 carats with approximately 30 stones in each.


 
Colored gemstones:
black diamonds and emeralds:

mixed gems:

rubies and pink sapphires:


Since launching the company in 2006, they also offer the rectangular diamond and gemstone studded pieces as bracelets and necklaces.

Necklaces:


Bracelets:





For those who don't want to cough up the minimum price of approx $6,500 a pair, they have also launched Sneakerbars.com, rhinestone versions of the same.

more pics for you:






You can order Kickbars here.

Royal Asscher's Stars Of Africa, 18k And Diamond Snowglobe Rings

I promise this is the last snow dome-related post until next holiday season, but I simply couldn't ignore these. These unbelievable lust-worthy 18k gold and real floating diamond rings work like little snowdomes! By Royal Asscher, the collection is for their fundraising initiative Stars Of Africa.



The Stars of Africa by Royal Asscher™ jewelry collection was launched in November. The project’s name represents the largest diamond ever found, at 3,105 carats, which the Asscher family cut in 1908.

This collection of 18 rings is distinguished by floating diamonds, which are encased in a fluid-filled sapphire dome that allows them to fall freely.



The result of floating diamonds is that the stones emit light, fire and beauty as they move, similar to twinkling stars, according to the designers. The ring collection is available in white, yellow and rose gold in two sizes, with retail prices ranging from $4,950 to $7,900.



Lita Asscher, shown above, first introduced the Star of Africa program in New York during November of 2008. A year later, she explained that in partnering with charities and businesses, she could show the industry how it can have a positive impact on Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, which she visited in 2008. Asscher came away with a strong belief in "diamonds for development" and that became the main goal of the Star of Africa initiative. A portion of each ring purchase goes back to Africa.




To enquire about purchasing contact starsofafrica@royalasscher.com

Love Diamonds?

Check out this post on the biggest diamonds ever found.

A Mountain of Gold, Literally. Ginza Tanaka Creates Solid Gold Mt. Fuji

Made of 3 kg (6.6 lbs) of gold, the 6 cm (2.3 inch) high reproduction of Japan's sacred dormant volcano was made by jewelers Tanaka Kikinzoku of Ginza Tanaka and put on display on Tuesday, the day before it goes on sale in Tokyo.



And despite the steep price tag, which comes as Japan's economy tries to stave off another slide into recession, the upmarket jeweler believes there will be buyers.

"We tried to make something that can be enjoyed as an art work as well as a valuable asset with this golden Mount Fuji. It is also a subject that has a special meaning to Japanese people," Naoto Mizuki, general manager of the Ginza-based company told Reuters.




Mount Fuji (above) at 3,776 meters (12,388 ft) is Japan's highest mountain. It is believed to be sacred and is seen as a symbol of good luck, especially for the New Year period.

Mizuki said he believed the gold mountain would also hold a special appeal for investors looking to put their money into safe-haven commodities after plunges on the stock market and in real estate.



"The price of gold is rising dramatically, and the economic crisis forces capital to move from paper assets, which are losing their charm, to material assets," Mizuki said.

Gold prices hit a record high of $1,226.10 per ounce earlier this month.

Mizuki said the design costs of the replica were kept down to about 15 percent of total costs -- a marginal amount compared to the usual 50 percent designers' fees -- to increase the product's investment appeal.

Tanaka Kikinzoku has two Mount Fuji's in stock and more will be made as orders are received.


above: Ayako Kikuchi, a public relations officer of precious metals and jewelry shop Ginza Tanaka shows off the company's gold handiwork of Mount Fuji during its press preview in a Tokyo hotel on December 15, 2009.

Ginza Tanaka will sell the 22-centimetre wide and 6-centimetre-high 3-kilogram gold Mount Fuji model from December 16 this year with the price of 11.73 million yen ($132 000 USD) with the gold price currently at 3,400 yen per gram. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

images via Ginza Tanaka and Akihabara news
info via Reuters and brought to my attention via Bornrich

Pure Gold Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Ginza Tanaka jewelers make many wild things in all gold from bathing suits to pagodas. And last month launched a sold gold Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in in celebration of the release of the “Snow White Diamond Collection” in Blu-ray this month.



The pure gold “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” figurines took for 15 artisans, around 1.6 kg. pure gold and 6 months to sculpt this precious piece which already ranks as first of its kind in the World. Worth 30 million yen, it is not for sale, but is to be displayed in Ginza Tanaka headquarters and has been scheduled to travel to Nagoya, Sendai and Fukuoka branches of Tanaka until December 25 of this year.