Georg Jensen — the ultimate in Scandinavian jewellery design
Jewellery DesignScandinavian Jewellery Design by Georg Jensen Georg Jensen was the son of a knife grinder in Copenhagen, who began his training as a goldsmith aged 14 in 1880. After a four-year apprenticeship, he returned to his first love, sculpture, and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. But since he could not make a living modelling … Continue reading Georg Jensen — the ultimate in Scandinavian jewellery design
The Timeless Jewels of Jean Schlumberger
Jewellery DesignJean Schlumberger Jewellery Australia Jean Schlumberger was born in 1907 in Mulhouse in Alsace, near the Swiss border. He loved sketching, but was discouraged by his parents, who wanted him to be a banker. However by the 1930s he was in New York creating buttons and costume jewellery for Elsa Schiaparelli. In the Second World … Continue reading The Timeless Jewels of Jean Schlumberger
The Al-Thani Collection
Jewellery DesignMughal Jewellery Australia The most outstanding collection, ranging from 17th-century Mughal Empire pieces to 21st-century Cartier, of royal Indian jewellery in the world belongs to Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani. The Mughals, descendents of Genghis Khan in Central Asia, arrived in India in 1526. By 1600 the Mughal Empire was the largest in the world. … Continue reading The Al-Thani Collection
Unforgettable pearls
Jewellery DesignPearls Sydney Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but pearls are her first choice! Natural or cultured, round or baroque, large or small, freshwater or seed, pearls come in every colour from white to gold, black to silver, and pink, grey and green too, and they are the easiest of accessories. Think Coco Chanel, … Continue reading Unforgettable pearls
Three magnificent sapphires auctioned at Christie’s
Jewellery Design, Jewellery IndustrySapphire Jewellery Sydney The Rockefeller Sapphire In 2001 Christie’s sold the 62.02 carat Burmese cornflower blue rectangular Rockefeller Sapphire. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. had bought it in 1934 from the Nizam of Hyderabad through the New York jeweller Raymond Yard. In the 1940s Rockefeller asked Pierre Cartier to recut the stone into this unique shape … Continue reading Three magnificent sapphires auctioned at Christie’s
The diamond paperweight of the Nizam of Hyderabad
Diamonds SydneyDiamond Jewellery Sydney In 1884 a rough diamond of over 400 carats was found in the Kimberley mines in South Africa and smuggled to London to avoid duty. A syndicate of dealers at Hutton Gardens bought it and sent it to Amsterdam to be cut and polished. The finished gem was a spectacular rectangular cushion … Continue reading The diamond paperweight of the Nizam of Hyderabad
The A, B, C of the Smithsonian Collection in Washington DC
Jewellery Design, Jewellery IndustryJewellery Appraisal Sydney Jewellery Valuation at Diamonds by Design A is the American Golden Topaz from Minas Gerais in Brazil, which has 172 facets and weighs almost 23,000 carats — that’s 4½ kilos, ¬ which makes it one of the biggest gemstones in the world. The almost 12-kilo piece of rough belonged to Dr Edgar … Continue reading The A, B, C of the Smithsonian Collection in Washington DC
Some famous opals and references from famous authors
Jewellery DesignOpal Jewellery Sydney Opals have been mined in Coober Pedy since the 1840s and Lightning Ridge since the beginning of the 20th century. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The hues of the opal, the light of the diamond, are not to be seen if the eye is too near.” In 1906 Charlie Dunstan found a 900-carat … Continue reading Some famous opals and references from famous authors
Three of Elizabeth Taylor’s Legendary Jewels
Diamonds SydneyJewellery Valuation Sydney Elizabeth Taylor never needed to borrow jewellery for the Academy Awards. Her husbands gave her gems for any and every occasion — even to celebrate the days of the week. Richard Burton used to joke that the only word she knew in Italian was Bulgari. “I’ve never thought of my jewellery as … Continue reading Three of Elizabeth Taylor’s Legendary Jewels
Some Smithsonian sapphires — stones with a great backstory
Jewellery Design, Jewellery IndustrySapphire Jewellery Sydney Diamonds by Design – Custom Sapphire Rings Design The Star of Artaban Have you ever read The Other Wise Man by Henry van Dyke? Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, was on his way to Bethlehem, but failed to meet up with the Magi. The Star of Artaban was the sapphire (together with … Continue reading Some Smithsonian sapphires — stones with a great backstory