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Sotheby’s to Accept Cryptocurrency as Payment for 101.38-Carat D-Flawless Diamond

by Howard Cohen on Jun 28 2021

In an unprecedented move, Sotheby’s will be accepting cryptocurrency as payment for the 101.38-carat, pear-shaped, D-flawless diamond that will be hitting its auction block in Hong Kong on July 9. The rare gem — dubbed “The Key 10138” — carries a pre-sale high estimate of $15 million and is only the second pear-shaped D-flawless diamond... The post Sotheby’s to Accept Cryptocurrency as Payment for 101.38-Carat D-Flawless Diamond appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Music Friday: Meghan Trainor Dreams in Silver and Gold in 2015’s ‘Like I’m Gonna Lose You’

by Howard Cohen on Jun 25 2021

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today we feature Meghan Trainor performing “Like I’m Gonna Lose You,” a chart-topping, jazzy ballad about never taking loved ones for granted and always making the most of life’s precious moments. The song’s official... The post Music Friday: Meghan Trainor Dreams in Silver and Gold in 2015’s ‘Like I’m Gonna Lose You’ appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Lucara’s 1,174-Carat Rough Diamond Was Originally Part of a 2,000-Carat Stone

by Howard Cohen on Jun 24 2021

Lucara’s Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana continues to rewrite the record books. On Tuesday, the mining company revealed a 1,174-carat rough diamond, the third-largest in history and the fourth diamond from Botswana to tip the scales at more than 1,000 carats. The mining company believes the stone is actually the largest fragment from a rough... The post Lucara’s 1,174-Carat Rough Diamond Was Originally Part of a 2,000-Carat Stone appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Crystals That Sparked South African ‘Diamond Rush’ Are Identified as Quartz

by Howard Cohen on Jun 23 2021

In the world of fine gemstones, looks can sometimes be deceiving. This was the hard lesson learned by 3,000 fortune seekers who descended on Ladysmith, South Africa, early last week after a cattle herder stumbled upon a large clear crystal that appeared to be a diamond. The resulting “diamond rush” was supported by the fact... The post Crystals That Sparked South African ‘Diamond Rush’ Are Identified as Quartz appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Pacific Beach Community Comes Together to Reunite Woman With Lost Engagement Ring

by Howard Cohen on Jun 22 2021

The close-knit community of Pacific Beach, just north of San Diego, came together recently to reunite a woman with her cherished diamond engagement ring. Lee Miller had been on a mission to purchase a gift certificate from a popular Italian restaurant on Cass Street when she realized her engagement ring was missing. Earlier, she had... The post Pacific Beach Community Comes Together to Reunite Woman With Lost Engagement Ring appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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This 1,098-Carat Gem-Quality Rough Diamond Ranks Among the Largest of All Time

by Howard Cohen on Jun 21 2021

Debswana unveiled on Wednesday a three-inch-tall, 1,098-carat, gem-quality rough diamond discovered at its Jwaneng mine in Botswana. Estimated to be worth more than $55 million, the gem ranks fourth on Wikipedia’s list of the largest rough diamonds of all time. Debswana’s acting managing director Lynette Armstrong presented the stone to Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi on... The post This 1,098-Carat Gem-Quality Rough Diamond Ranks Among the Largest of All Time appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Music Friday: ‘California Gold’ Makes a Cameo in Lady Gaga’s ‘Always Remember Us This Way’

by Howard Cohen on Jun 18 2021

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you amazing songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Lady Gaga performs her breathtakingly beautiful masterpiece, “Always Remember Us This Way,” from the blockbuster 2018 motion picture A Star is Born. Gaga plays Ally, an aspiring singer/songwriter, whose career is set into... The post Music Friday: ‘California Gold’ Makes a Cameo in Lady Gaga’s ‘Always Remember Us This Way’ appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Lucara Unveils 470-Carat Diamond From Botswana’s Prolific Karowe Mine

by Howard Cohen on Jun 17 2021

And the gigantic diamonds just keep coming… Lucara just released details about a 470-carat top light brown diamond — the latest high-profile discovery from its prolific Karowe Mine in Botswana. The diamond ranks #36 on the list of the largest rough diamonds of all time. During the past six years, the Karowe Mine has made an... The post Lucara Unveils 470-Carat Diamond From Botswana’s Prolific Karowe Mine appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Gold Coin That Shouldn’t Have Seen the Light of Day Fetches $18.9MM at Sotheby’s

by Howard Cohen on Jun 16 2021

A Depression-Era $20 gold coin that wasn’t meant to see the light of day became the world’s most valuable coin last week when it was scooped up by an anonymous bidder at Sotheby’s New York for a cool $18.9 million. Although 445,500 Double Eagle gold coins were struck by the Philadelphia Mint in 1933, none... The post Gold Coin That Shouldn’t Have Seen the Light of Day Fetches $18.9MM at Sotheby’s appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Smithsonian’s Hope Diamond Display to Reopen June 18 After Being Shuttered for 461 Days

by Howard Cohen on Jun 15 2021

The gallery housing the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, will finally reopen to the public Friday, June 18, after being shuttered for 461 days. The Hope Diamond is the museum’s most popular exhibit, as more than 100 million visitors have marveled at the 45.52-carat blue gem since... The post Smithsonian’s Hope Diamond Display to Reopen June 18 After Being Shuttered for 461 Days appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Celestial Bling: Here’s Why Solar Eclipses Sometimes Look Like Bridal Jewelry

by Howard Cohen on Jun 14 2021

In August of 2017, the “Great American Eclipse” introduced astronomy enthusiasts to a phenomenon called the “Diamond Ring Effect.” On Thursday of last week, a breathtaking “ring of fire” solar eclipse — also known as a wedding band in the sky — dazzled viewers in Canada, Greenland and the Arctic. Here’s why a solar eclipse... The post Celestial Bling: Here’s Why Solar Eclipses Sometimes Look Like Bridal Jewelry appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Tampa Treasure Hunters Recover Engagement Ring Lost in the Surf for Six Days

by Howard Cohen on Jun 10 2021

After six days of scouring the surf at Egmont Key on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a brokenhearted Isliany Rawshdeh was nearly ready to give up her quest to find her cherished engagement ring — an irreplaceable custom keepsake that was lost on Memorial Day. But, instead of throwing in the towel, the St. Petersburg, FL, resident... The post Tampa Treasure Hunters Recover Engagement Ring Lost in the Surf for Six Days appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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54-Carat ‘Chrysler Diamond’ Edges Out ‘Dancing Sun’ As Top Lot at Christie’s NY

by Howard Cohen on Jun 09 2021

Framed by an oversized graphic of New York City’s iconic Chrysler Building, auctioneer Rahul Kadakia slammed his hammer down to close out the bidding on the top lot at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels event on Tuesday. It was 1:25 in the afternoon, and the 54.03-carat “Chrysler Diamond” — Lot 136 — had just fetched $5.07 million,... The post 54-Carat ‘Chrysler Diamond’ Edges Out ‘Dancing Sun’ As Top Lot at Christie’s NY appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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39-Carat Blue Diamond Is the Latest ‘Exceptional’ Gem From the Celebrated Cullinan Mine

by Howard Cohen on Jun 08 2021

Classified as “exceptional” for both its color and clarity, a 39.34-carat blue diamond recently recovered at the celebrated Cullinan mine in South Africa is likely to yield upwards of $1 million per carat when it is sold by Petra Diamonds via special tender on July 12. What happens to the rough stone after it is... The post 39-Carat Blue Diamond Is the Latest ‘Exceptional’ Gem From the Celebrated Cullinan Mine appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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San Diego Padres’ ‘Swagg Chain’ Honors Home Run Hitters and Player of the Game

by Howard Cohen on Jun 07 2021

Borrowing an idea from college football’s Miami Hurricanes, the San Diego Padres recently unveiled the “Swagg Chain,” a 10-inch tall, two-inch thick pendant emblazoned with 8,000 yellow and brown semi-precious stones. A player gets to wear the pendant if he hits a home run or is chosen as the Player of the Game. The piece... The post San Diego Padres’ ‘Swagg Chain’ Honors Home Run Hitters and Player of the Game appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Music Friday: A Polished Diamond Is Feeling Kinda Rough in Heart’s ‘There’s the Girl’

by Howard Cohen on Jun 04 2021

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today we feature the incomparable Wilson sisters — also known as Heart — performing “There’s the Girl,” a song about a “diamond” of a guy who keeps returning to a toxic relationship. The first... The post Music Friday: A Polished Diamond Is Feeling Kinda Rough in Heart’s ‘There’s the Girl’ appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Largest Diamond Ever Mined in North America to Hit the Auction Block at Christie’s NY

by Howard Cohen on Jun 03 2021

We were there when the largest rough diamond ever mined in North America — the “552” — made its final public appearance at Phillips auction house in New York City in February of 2019. Next Tuesday, the 204-carat Fancy Intense Yellow diamond cut from that 552-carat rough will be auctioned at Christie’s New York. It... The post Largest Diamond Ever Mined in North America to Hit the Auction Block at Christie’s NY appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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June’s Birthstone: These Pearls Were a 1840 Presidential Gift From the Imam of Muscat

by Howard Cohen on Jun 02 2021

Back in April 1840, the ship Sultanee arrived in New York Harbor loaded with exotic gifts for President Martin Van Buren. The valuable offerings included two magnificent Arabian horses, a case of rose oil, five demijohns of rose water, four Cashmere shawls, ivory, wild animal skins, Arabian dates, a bale of Persian rugs, a gold-mounted... The post June’s Birthstone: These Pearls Were a 1840 Presidential Gift From the Imam of Muscat appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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73-Carat ‘Sienna Star’ Earns Top Billing at Sotheby’s Upcoming Magnificent Jewels Sale

by Howard Cohen on Jun 01 2021

“The Sienna Star,” a 73.11-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond, is being promoted as the top lot at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York City on June 9. Characterized by the Gemological Institute of America as “a standout item in the extraordinary world of gemstones,” the cut-cornered square, step-cut diamond boasts a VS2 clarity rating... The post 73-Carat ‘Sienna Star’ Earns Top Billing at Sotheby’s Upcoming Magnificent Jewels Sale appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.

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Music Friday: Engagement Ring Falls Into Spaghetti Plate in Kenny Chesney’s ‘The Good Stuff’

by Howard Cohen on May 28 2021

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you chart-topping songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we have Kenny Chesney singing the #1 country music single of 2002, “The Good Stuff.” In the song, a young man learns some critical life lessons from a middle-aged barkeep who recently lost... The post Music Friday: Engagement Ring Falls Into Spaghetti Plate in Kenny Chesney’s ‘The Good Stuff’ appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.