Valentine’s Day Jewelry Gifts

The 1 million pink Prosperity Diamond

There is nothing like seeing the person you love smiling because of something you did for her. If you want to see that smile on Valentine’s Day, take some time to get her a gift that really expresses how you feel about your relationship. Below are a range of jewelry gifts from rarities to the easily accessible. What they share is that they are all guaranteed to make your loved one beam.

The $1 Million Pink ‘Prosperity’ Diamond

As rare as true love is the Argyle pink diamond. They are mined from a single source, the Argyle Mine in Western Australia. The mine has an estimated 10-year supply left of these pinks then they will be gone forever. The most exceptional and rare diamonds from the mine are sold at an annual tender held in major cities around the world. A select group of diamond dealers are invited in each city where they view the diamonds and place silent bids on the ones that catch their fancy. They learn months later if their bid, or bids, won. At the last tender, Leibish & Co. won six diamonds. One of those was a radiant cut 1.71-carat vivid pink diamond. A skilled diamond cutter removed 0.03 cts. (less than 1 percent) and the color changed to a fancy vivid purplish pink and the value dramatically increased. “We just touched it,” said Leibish Polnauer, the Israeli-based company’s founder and CEO. “But you have to touch it the right way.” If that’s not enough, the now 1.68-carat diamond has a number that is considered extraordinarily lucky in China. Thus, the Prosperity Diamond was born. The diamond is now mounted on a double halo platinum ring and complimented with 0.82 carats of diamonds that adorn the halos and shank, with additional pave set round brilliants on the side of the head. It is available for $1 million and can be purchased at http://www.fancydiamonds.net.

The Jewelry Timepiece

Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch manufacture, has added to its Kalla family with the Kalla Haute Couture à Pampilles. This couture timepiece revives the tradition of “secret” watches that enabled 19th century watch wearers to check time in an exquisitely discreet manner. Set with a combination of brilliant, princess and flame-cut diamonds, the precious stones conceal a diamond-paved dial. With the subtle motion of four delicate mobile strands, the dial of the Kalla Haute Couture à Pampilles reveals itself on the wrist. The clasp, bracelet and dial are all made of white gold. The bracelet is composed of two diamond-studded ribbons that close delicately on the wrist like a precious jewel. The mechanical movement with caliber 1005 is manually wounded. It retails for $735,000 and is available at authorized Vacheron Constantin retailers.

One-of-A-Kind

There isn’t a woman on earth who doesn’t dream about owning a one-of-a-kind piece of highly crafted and stylized jewelry. Alexandra Mor makes these dreams come true. An example is this 68-carat emerald-cut amethyst ring that’s set with Mor’s signature details of 1mm knife-edged wire and 1.40 carats of 1mm “floating” diamond melee. The platinum mount is set on a 1mm 18k yellow gold band. It is signed by the artist and is priced at $22,000. To purchase go to www.AlexandraMor.com. For any sales inquiries, contact Alon at Alon@alexandramor.com. To make an appointment to visit the New York-based firm, contact Laura@alexandramor.com.


Flowery Timepieces from France

The Swiss are the undisputed kings of watchmaking. However, across the border is the Doubs region of France where the country’s watchmaking industry is centered—often using the same people, technologies and techniques as their Swiss counterparts. One company from the region, Damoiselle D, specializes in ladies fashion watches. The company calls its creations jewelry watches. They feature elaborate, circular shapes that start at the dial and work their way outward along with the liberal use of precious materials and diamonds. The watches are adorned with eight petals meant to symbolize happiness, luck and prosperity The one pictured is from the company’s Rosa line and is made with pink gold with a green translucent “sun” design on the dial, made from enameling. The color symbolizes love, divine wisdom, beauty and immortality. It retails for $20,500 and is available at Place Vendome in Pasadena, Calif.

The Flower Pendant

It’s a classic look that when done well still excites. This delicate flower pendant, known as “Gossamer,” is made with fine natural colored diamond rose cut slices and burnt orange diamonds in the center. It was crafted by YNY Jewels, established in 2006, which focuses on creating a wearable, beautiful line of jewelry that showcases the company’s appreciation for color, design and quality. The Gossamer retails for $12,000. Contact YNY Jewels directly to get a name of a retailer at 212 302 3130 or go to www.ynyjewels.com.

Stackable Marquise Rings

It’s safe to say that anyone who ends all their written correspondences with the word “Love,” has an in depth understanding of the meaning of Valentine’s Day. The jewelry designer who goes by the name, JJ, creates refined, colorful jewelry made from a variety of gemstones matched with precious metals. Her company is JJ Number 8 (the good luck number). Her latest creation is the stackable Marquise Rings made with peach moonstone, orange carnelian, turquoise and of white topaz. The three rings pictured are the orange carnelian and 18k yellow gold ($2,360); the peach moonstone and 18k yellow gold ($2,150); and the turquoise and 18k yellow gold ($2,070). They can be purchased through the company’s website where you can also find retailers that sell the items.

Valentine’s Bead Bracelet

This bracelet is not only a symbol of love and a personal treasure, but it is intended to bring luck and joy to its owner, according to Montblanc. The talisman, made of shining silver beads on a black thread features a single red gold-colored heart. It’s designed to be worn daily. The use of two contrasting materials means that it can be matched to many different outfits and appeals to women who favor gold or silver shades. The Montblanc Valentine’s Bead Bracelets retails for $465 and are limited to 500 pieces with each piece numbered. It is available in Montblanc boutiques worldwide.

Double Heart Beat Black Beauty

With a deep black mother of pearl dial and diamonds in and outside the dial, the Double Heart Beat Black Beauty is the latest from the Frederique Constant Heart Beat collection of ladies watches. Two intertwined hearts form an aperture in the dial revealing the “heart beat” of the movement. The Heart Beat was developed in 1994 to show the mechanical nature of these Frederique Constant watches by having an aperture at the position of the balance wheel. And there’s the symbolism of the twin hearts that represent a shared love on Valentine’s Day. It retails for $3,995 and is available at the Wynn resort and casino in Las Vegas. However, if you can’t make it to the Wynn, the other Heart Beat watches are available at Frederique Constant boutiques worldwide as well as other authorized retailers.

Colorful Resin Creations

Angélique Knafo, creative director and designer for her namesake collection, Angelique de Paris, creates what she calls wearable art. All of her creations are made of resin and incorporates bright colors and intricate designs based on her broad background in art, her 13 years living in Paris and her world travels. For Valentine’s Day, she unveiled the JE'TAIME bracelets in five tonal compositions of mauves, pinks, aquas, caramel and silver--adorned with charms. It retails for $210. Go to www.AngeliqueDeParis.com to find a retailer near you.

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Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade Gifts Teammates with Hublot Big Bang Watches

Hublot White Big Band,  designed for the Miami Heat.

During the Miami Heat’s celebration of its 2012 NBA Championship, Hublot brand ambassador, Dwyane Wade, honored his teammates and leaders in the organization with a specially designed White Hot Hublot Big Bang at AmericanAirlines Arena, its home court.

Special engraving on back of watch to commemorate NBA Championship.

The Miami Heat celebrated its championship Monday with a victory parade followed by a rally at the arena.

The watches, which reportedly cost at least $10,000 each, are engraved with a special team championship logo on the back of the case. Rick de La Croix, president of Hublot Latin America, attended the presentation and festivities. Hublot is the Official Watch and Timekeeper of the Miami Heat. 

Dwyane Wade (left) and Udonis Haslem wearing the Hublot White Big Bang while holding the NBA Championship Trophy.

The Heat won the championship on June 21 with a 121 to 106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning the best-of-seven series four games to one.

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Jewelry and Watch Gifts for Valentine’s Day

Miiori 'Flash Set' heart pendant

Below are a variety of jewelry and watches at various prices that should make exceptional gifts for Valentine's Day. The big day is Thursday, which gives you just enough time to buy something special and thoughtful for the person you love.

‘Flashy’ Heart Pendant
The Miiori heart pendant with diamonds and pink sapphires in 18k white gold (top photo). The jewelry employs the company’s patented “Flash Set” technique, where diamonds and colored gems are cut in a way that creates two different images (like a holographic image) as the piece of jewelry is moved. For more information on where to purchase the item contact the company at info@miiori.com.

Pink Diamond Heart
This 0.30-carat fancy intense pink SI1 diamond is rare in several ways. First the heart-shaped cut is something you don't see every day. Then there's the rarity of color. This pink diamond is from the Argyle mine in Western Australia, the primary source of pink diamonds throughout the world. About 55 to 60 of these diamonds are sold each year in a private tender at secret locations throughout the world to invited dealers and collectors. Their rarity is increased because the mine is estimated to have a lifespan of about 10 years. It is available for purchase on the Leibish & Co. website for $14,774. The specifications may be found here. The only drawback is that the unusual shape of the diamonds makes it difficult to set to create a jewelry piece. 

Valentine’s Day Necklace
Montblanc’s Valentine’s Day necklace in pink-gold color and steel is designed to symbolize the eternal bond shared between two souls. A large heart in warm pink-gold is paired with the Montblanc star in stainless steel. Overlapping, the heart is the universal symbol of eternal love, while the Montblanc star logo represents the luxury brand’s enduring passion for the finest European craftsmanship and design. The layered pendants are firmly tied together at the end of an adjustable leather cord that can be adjusted to deliver dramatically different looks. The necklace is available in Montblanc boutiques worldwide.

Valentine's Day Timepiece
The Saint-Valentin 2013 from Blancpain features a white mother-of-pearl dial enhanced by diamond hour-markers and five red-lacquered mother-of-pearl hearts. There also is a date display. The 34 mm steel case is topped by a bezel set with two rows of full cut-diamonds, while the case middle is adorned at 9 o’clock with five liquid ceramic hearts. This three-hand model, on which the seconds hand counterweight takes the shape of the Blancpain logo, is equipped with mechanical self-winding Calibre 1150 with a 100-hour power reserve. Even the rotor is decorated with hearts. It is available in a 99-piece limited edition and is delivered in a white wooden presentation box encrusted with white hearts evoking the dial design. Fort availability, contact the Montblanc New York boutique, 212-396-1735. 

Rose Gold Heart Chain
Designer Lisa Nik specializes in colored gemstone jewelry but she can also deliver quality designs in precious metal as with this 18k rose gold chain, decorated with little rose gold hearts. It retails for $1,260. For retailers who carry the item, visit www.lisanik.com. 

Floral Earrings
A pair of floral earrings ($148,500) paved in 20 carats of fancy pink diamonds by the famed jewelry designer Fred Leighton whose jewelry continues to be worn by Hollywood A-listers at awards shows and on the red carpet. Each earring boasts seven fancy pink diamonds at its center, with five petals encrusted in additional fancy pink diamonds. They are available at M.S. Rau Antiques in New Orleans. If you want to purchase them you’d better act fast as these earrings wLisa Nikill be offered at the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show taking place February 16-19. For more information, visit www.rauantiques.com.

Egg Pendants
Fabergé just released its Les Palais collection of signature Fine Jewellery egg pendants in opalescent pastels. Inspired by the summer palaces of Imperial Russia, each jewel is hand-crafted in 18k gold and guilloché enamel creating an iridescence which lends light and three-dimensional depth to each of the distinctive colors. The designs are overlaid with a refined gold embellishment, echoing the baroque motifs of the legendary Tsarskoye Selo summer palace. The collection is available at Fabergé flagship boutiques in New York, London and Geneva as well as at concessions within Harrods in London, Lane Crawford IFC in Hong Kong and other exclusive retailers. Selected items are also available via Fabergé’s online boutique at Fabergé.com.

Leopard Watch
The Hublot Big Bang Gold Leopard chronograph timepiece is set with a leopard-print dial and andalusite stones, dark smoked quartz and transparent quartz baguettes. The wild timepiece is available at Hublot’s Madison Avenue boutique.

Colorful Gold Collection
The Garavelli Dune collection uses shapes created with hammered 18k gold then covered with diamonds of various size. The line includes rings, bracelets, earrings and pendants. For more information on where to purchase the items contact Garavelli at garavelliusa@garavellialdo.it. 

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Royal Gifts For Royal Babies Past

The Portland Font, a private christening basin commissioned by William Bentinck, third duke of Portland , for the birth of his first grandson in 1796. Photo credit: British Museum

Tradition is very much a part of Britain’s Royal Family but when it comes to newborns the practice of gift giving has a lot of leeway, said Geoffrey Munn, one of Britain’s foremost authorities on antique jewelry.

“In the past there’s been a whole range of things given to high ranking royal babies,” Munn said Monday from Wartski, where he serves as managing director. The antique dealership has a “royal warrant of appointment,” making it one of a handful of jewelers that supply goods and services to the royal family.

From the beginning of the royal monarchy to the early part of the 20th Century, baby deaths were a common occurrence, even among royal families. Because of this, a popular gift to a royal newborn in past centuries was a gold rattle with a handle made of red coral.

“The coral was used as a talisman to keep away evil spirits,” Munn said. “Some people adhere to it now with the use of a red silk, but it’s a very, very, ancient thing.”

Gifts to newborns are often conservative, Munn said. A small string of pearls for a girl and cufflinks for a boy were common gifts. The more elaborate gifts were reserved for the christening, the most important moment in a royal infant’s life. Again, in the past baptisms were done as quickly as possible because of the high chance of infant deaths. Of course, they are still done while the baby is an infant.

“The baptismal is a crucial part of an existence of a child and a royal child even more so,” Munn said. “Until the 17th Century its offspring was thought to be there by divine right, and thought to be chosen by God. Then the baptism was even more crucial.”

For the royal baby who has everything probably the most elaborate christening gift is the personal baptismal font (basin). They were often kept in the possession of families to be used for generations. The only known example of a private basin is on view at the British Museum: The Portland Font (top photo). It was commissioned by William Bentinck, third duke of Portland (1738-1809) for the birth of his first grandson in 1796.

The detachable bowl of the gold and marble basin rests on four winged cherub feet, surrounded by three free-standing sculptural figures representing the Cardinal Virtues. These are: Faith (standing with a cross and her hand held over the bowl in the act of benediction), Hope (seated, holding a symbolic anchor) and Charity (seated and shown comforting children). It was designed by Humphrey Repton and built by Paul Storr, one of the best known goldsmiths in London.

Christie’s London held an auction in November 2009 of “Property From the Late Duke and Duchess of Kent and Families,” which gave other examples of the types of gifts given at christenings. 

Austrian-made silver gilt service was given in 1907 to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, who would become the Duchess of Kent. The gift was from Princess Thayer of Hanover and Duchess of Cumberland. Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2013

For example, a tasteful Austrian-made silver gilt service was given as a christening gift in 1907 to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, who would become the Duchess of Kent. The gift was from Princess Thayer of Hanover who was also the Duchess of Cumberland. The tapering on the beaker and the flatware are stamped with husks and shells. The set consists of a tablespoon, teaspoon, fork, a knife with silver-gilt blade, and a knife with steel blade. Each piece is engraved with the initial M below a Royal crown. The leather covered case was marked with J.C. Klinkosch, Vienna, dated 1907 with Imperial Warrant. The inscription reads “from Great Aunt Thyra 1907.” 

George VI silver flatware set given in 1942 to Prince Michael of Kent. Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2013

An even more modest example of a christening gift was given in 1942 to Prince Michael of Kent. It was a George VI silver flatware set of a fork, knife and spoon with facetted plain handles in a fitted case with an inscribed note. It was made by London silversmiths, Wakely and Wheeler. It sold at auction for 525 pounds ($806).

A personally inscribed Victorian silver gilt cup and cover from King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1903 for their grandson, Prince George, Duke of Kent. Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2013

A more elaborate christening gift came from King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1903 for their grandson, Prince George, Duke of Kent. It was a Victorian silver gilt cup and cover with an inscription that reads: “To George Edward Alexander Edmund 4th Son of George, Prince of Wales and Victoria Mary, Princess of Wales from his Grandparents and Sponsors King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at his Christening at Windsor Castle January 26th 1903.”

Shaped like an inverted bell, it is adorned with scroll handles and a detachable cover with baluster finish. A silver medallion depicts King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. It has the mark of Elkington and Co., London, 1900.

Munn said that engravings that appear handwritten, such as what is on the gilt cup, are popular among royalty and is a common service of jewelers used by the royal family, including Wartski.

“What we usually do is engrave small cups of silver and that can be done in the facsimile of the parents handwriting,” he said. “Every generation of royalty has enjoyed facsimile of handwriting. It’s a very interesting procedure, taken up by the great jewelers. They all know how to do it.”

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