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.

Brangelina's "Protector Collection" For Asprey To Benefit Charity.

Photo of brad and angelina: © Rex; photo of snake cuff, Asprey, composite by if It's Hip, It's Here


The 'Protector Collection' is a series of fine jewelry for both children and adults as well as sterling silver baby gifts, all incorporating a snake motif.



According to Asprey, during Jolie's first pregnancy with Shiloh in 2006, she was given a snake ring, intended to guard her and her unborn child. The symbol has become a family guardian to the Jolie-Pitts, and in the Protector Collection, it appears in everything from fine jeweled bracelets to rings, earrings and pendants available for both children and adults.



The collection, all of which is shown here, has been meticulously created with Asprey by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to benefit a charity close to their hearts. The limited collection of fine jewels and silver objects was inspired by Angelina's reflection on the snake as an iconic guardian, a cultural symbol of family protection. All net proceeds will be donated to the Education Partnership For Children of Conflict (EPCC).



The child's Protector bangle bracelets come in yellow, white or 18k rose gold and feature two snakes with emerald cabochon eyes. Available with either two emerald cabochon eyes totalling .06 carats only or the more ornate style set with 0.76ctw of diamonds and 0.22 ctw of emeralds.


above: Child's bangle bracelet in 18k yellow gold with diamonds totaling 0.76 carats and emerlads totalling .022 carats


above: Child's protector bangle in yellow or rose 18k gold an set with 2 emerald cabochon eyes, each .03 carats.

The Child/adult gem sprinkled pendants and rings feature 104 fully faceted cut stones as small as one millimeter each, set in white, yellow or rose 18k gold.





Two adult-sized fine diamond and emerald gem encrusted snake bangle bracelets are set in platinum. The single curled snake opens with a hinge clasp, the two entwined snakes bangle is solid but flexible.




The Child/ Adult earrings are set with 154 individual stones and use the snake's tail as both a design element and the fitting that secures the earring:


The rings are flush set with emerald cabochon eyes and black or white diamonds portray the 'scales':


In addition to gem encrusted versions of the rings, pendants and earrings, styles are available with just emerald eyes and in 18k yellow, rose or white gold:



The Protector Collection also includes a sterling silver baby spoon, egg cup, birth certificate holder and tooth box, all with the snake motif. According to some reports, a silver snake photo frame is also part of the collection, but it's not yet on the Asprey site.

Sterling silver baby spoon:


Sterling silver egg cup:


Sterling silver birth certificate holder:



This is not the first time Brad has taken a whack at being a jewelry designer. You may recall that years ago, when he was married to Jennifer Aniston, he designed their supposedly 'one of a kind' wedding bands with Damiani who then continued to sell the band style, were threatened with a $50 million dollar lawsuit by Pitt and Aniston, and settled by selling a line designed by Brad that including an inscription explaining that they were designed with Brad Pitt:



The individual pieces in The Protector Collection are limited editions and handcrafted at the Asprey London flagship store, 167 New Bond Street. Each silver piece carries the 5 quality hallmarks applied by the London Assay Office. The pieces were be available beginning 17th November 2009.



Brangelina has been very generous to the EPCC. which Angelina co-founded in 2006. In June of 2008, the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict announced that the Jolie-Pitt Foundation made a $1 million contribution to support the education of 8,000 young people from both the United States and Iraq impacted by the recent conflict. The donation supported four organizations who work to help provide education and support to both children who have lost parents, homes, and schooling opportunities in Iraq as well as young people in the United States who are coping with the long deployment, injury, or even the death of a parent serving in the United States Armed Services.

all images and info courtesy of Asprey , the National Jeweler's Network and WWD

Asprey

Wear Your Dream House On Your Finger. The Villa de Reve Collection from Philippe Tournaire.

Villa de Reve Collection from Philippe Tournaire
Inspired by the first known architectural rings discovered during the Merovingian age (500 to 752 AD), French jeweler Philippe Tournaire has created a collection of mini architectural bejeweled and gold wearable masterpieces in the form of rings and cufflinks.

Victoire de Castellane for Dior: Rings To Write Home About

The Coffret de Victoire Collection for Dior has some of the most unusual and original rings crafted from the finest gems, ores and materials. Created by designer Victoire de Castellane, the collection includes rings with skulls, cameo rings, floral rings and even a food dog on a pillow as well as an angler fish.













These aren't just pieces of jewelry, they are pieces of art. To see the entire collection of Dior's fine and couture jewelry, visit here.