Pictured to the left one of my favorite artists Hratch Babikian. You can find Hratch's work for sale at any of the online sites listed above. Pendant in photo has a 2 inch in diameter.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
New York--The Annenberg Diamond, a 32.01-carat, emerald-cut, flawless, D-color stone boasting the impressive provenance synonymous with the Annenberg name, will be the highlight of Christie's Jewels: The New York Sale on Oct. 21.
Friday, July 24, 2009
London--De Beers saw rough-diamond sales plummet 57 percent in the first half of 2009 as sightholders took less goods in an effort to clear out the pipeline and increase liquidity. In my opinion the value of diamonds is too volatile to consider for investment or collection purposes. I suggest you buy sculptural jewelry from artists that produce quality collectible jewelry. To find these jewelers peruse galleries and museums for the art jewelry that fits your style. An example of quality collectible art jewelry is the work of Shana Kroiz. Shana's work is shown at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. Pictured above are earrings from Shana's Peeciz collection.
Price-point friendly, eco-chic and utterly original, alternative materials such as wood, drusy and the occasional moose antler are making inroads in the fine-jewelry arena. Check out recycled jewelry from left to right: Gentle Current Bracelet by Julie Jerman-Melka, gemstones, Lake Superior Pebbles and Sterling Silver. Hemidrachm by Lauren Schott, recycled gold and ancient coin. Creamy Mink Ring by Gayle Friedman, reclaimed mink and sterling silver.
I have included an excerpt from an article in National Jeweler. As you can see some poor resident of Baltimore sold what they thought was a mediocre diamond for a lot less than it is worth. Don't be to eager to cash in on the sell your jewelry for cash frenzy without an objective appraisal of your jewelry from a reputable source.
(Photo...Black Diamond Bracelet from Jeweler Shana Kroiz.)
NJ Article
Baltimore--Last year, Ron Samuelson, chief executive of Samuelson's Diamonds in Baltimore, bought an 8.5-carat brownish-yellow round diamond mounted in a men's nugget ring from a customer who was seduced by the "sell your jewelry" offer on the store's Web site.
"It was a big, ugly stone," Samuelson recalls. "When we showed it to our cutter, he said, 'Yeah, I could make this into a fancy yellow.'"
The resulting diamond, a 6.86-carat fancy-yellow radiant, is now part of the store's inventory, and Samuelson is confident that when he eventually sells the stone, it will net him a tidy profit.
"I've almost eliminated my need for diamond dealers," Samuelson says. "For every one person who wants to buy a diamond, 20 want to sell."
As a comment on supply and demand in the high-end diamond trade, the Samuelson's transaction is fitting though hardly anomalous. On Manhattan's 47th Street, it happens countless times a day.
I have been talking to the owner of a new online gallery named Soleyne. Susan is promoting her sight as "more art than craft". I am pleased with the caliber of artists that she has brought on board in such a brief time. If you have a chance to stop by please do so and let me know what you think. Pictured to the left is an item from their store. Limited Edition Lace Cuff Bracelet by Janet Huddie.
Cloisonne is one of those mediums that offer a painterly quality to 2 and 3 dimensional objects. Fine jewelry cloisonne artist Sheila Beatty best describes cloisonne as:
The ancient and elusive medium of cloisonné is slow and painstaking in its creation. The design of each piece is defined by fine ribbons of silver or gold, which I shape by hand and place on a fine silver backing. The compartments thus created are filled with thin layers of enamel - glass ground into a powder - in vibrant colors. Each layer is fired in a kiln at a high temperature.
I found an interesting article online that discusses the pricing and characteristics of authentic cloisonne jewelry. They suggest that buyers should be wary of imported cloisonne that tries to pass as an older piece. You may view it at http://www.antiqueshoppefl.com/archives/agilbert/cloisonne.htm. I personally prefer the cloisonne jewelry of contemporary American artists such as Sheila Beatty, Carly Wright and Anne Havel. Their work was featured in the June issue of the Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine. Cloisonne History
Among the earliest examples of cloisonné are six Mycenaean rings of the 13th century bc. The great Western period of cloisonné enameling was from the 10th to the 12th century, especially in the Byzantine Empire. In China cloisonné was widely produced during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911/12) dynasties. In Japan, it was especially popular during the Tokugawa (1603–1868) and Meiji (1868–1912) periods.. "
Jewelry appearing in this article is the handcrafted work of Sheila Beatty.
