Royal Asscher and CoutureLab to Support the Seven Bar Foundation

This Shining Stars ring is among the Royal Asscher jewelry that will be available on CoutureLab. Photo credit: Royal Asscher

Royal Asscher said Thursday that it is selling jewelry from its Stars of Africa and Shining Stars collections on the website CoutureLab to benefit the Seven Bar Foundation.

CoutureLab is a luxury gift website that sells fine and rare products that focus on quality, heritage and craftsmanship. Seven Bar Foundation is a social enterprise that empowers women in the developing world by providing microfinance opprtunities that fuels local businesses that enrich communities.

A total of 20 percent of retail profit from sales of Royal Asscher jewelry on CoutureLab will benefit the Seven Bar Foundation and help extend ladders to women out of poverty.

Royal Asscher’s Stars of Africa and Shining Stars collections consist of diamonds encased within fluid-filled sapphire domes, which allow the diamonds to float freely like snowflakes in a snow globe. The result is cascading diamonds that emit light, fire and beauty. Each piece is handcrafted by expert craftsmen in Florence, Italy.

The idea behind the Stars of Africa and Shining Stars jewelry lines has always been to raise funds and awareness for children’s programs in Africa through its Star of Africa initiative. This is just another way for the company and priduct to achieve this goal, said. Renata Black, founder of the Seven Bar Foundation says, “We are honored to call the Royal Asscher.
 
In addition, Royal Asscher, founded in 1854 and known for cutting some of largest and most famous diamonds in history, fits right in with a website that focuses on heritage.

“Royal Asscher supports CoutureLab founder Carmen Busquets’ vision for her website as a place where the stories of the products and the people behind them would be celebrated—where clients could not only learn about the heritage and see the true value of it, but also fall in love and own a piece of it,” said Lita Asscher, president of Royal Asscher of America.

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40th Anniversary Auction Of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watches

Audemars Piguet Grand Complication, Piece Unique

Antiquorum Auctioneers’ May 13 sale of Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva will include a special collection of Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks in honor of the iconic model’s 40th anniversary.

The Swiss luxury watch brand collaborated with Antiquorum on this sale by having each timepiece in this section sent to the manufacture in Le Brassus to be checked for authenticity. They will be delivered with an Audemars Piguet certificate of origin.

Highlights of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak sale include the following:

Royal Oak Jumbo “A Series,” No. 88. Produced in 1972, this example is a rare and octagonal, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Audemars Piguet bracelet. The Royal Oak A series is the earliest serial number ever to be offered at auction. Estimate: $16,000 – $20,000.

Royal Oak Jumbo Skeleton. This watch, produced in 1991, is a rare, water-resistant, tonneau shaped, 18K yellow gold self-winding wristwatch with 18K yellow gold Audemars Piguet bracelet accompanied by the original warranty, instruction booklet and fitted box, and an Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin. Estimate: $22,000 – $33,000.

Grand Complication, Piece Unique No. 1/1, 18k White Gold and Diamond (top picture). Produced as a unique piece in 1994, this timepiece is a large minute-repeating, water-resistant, self-winding, 18k white gold and diamond set wristwatch with co-axial round button split-seconds chronograph, register, perpetual calendar with indication of the weeks, moon phases, and an integrated 18k white gold and full diamond – set Audemars Piguet link bracelet. It is accompanied by an Audemars Piguet Certificate of Origin. Estimate: $650,000 – $1.1 million.

Other Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches as part of the sale include:

* “Royal Oak Offshore, Automatic – End of Days,” No. 343/500. Estimate: $27,000 – $38,000.

* Royal Oak Chronograph, Giorgio Armani, No. 001, White Gold. Estimate: $45,000 – $65,000.

* Royal Oak Jumbo retailed by Bulgari, Former Property of President Venezuela Carlos Andres Perez. Estimate: $33,000 – $45,000.

* Royal Oak, Paris Boutique, Limited Edition of 50 pieces. Estimate: $27,000 – $38,000.

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Royal Asscher to Open Pop-Up Store Thursday in Las Vegas

Royal Asscher pop-up store will be in the Shoppes at the Palazzo.

Pop-up stores are now fairly common occurrences. However, in the jewelry industry trends come a bit slower than most other fashion and retail related industries. Royal Asscher Diamond Company, the 158-year-old company known for cutting some of the world’s largest and most valuable diamonds, is now being managed by Lita and Mike Asscher, the sixth generation heirs to the venerable company. It would make sense that this brother and sister team, both in their early 30s, would be leading the way for the industry.

Royal Asscher will open its pop-up store in Las Vegas from May 17 till June 4. The 1,200-square-foot store will be in the Shoppes at the Palazzo adjacent to the “Cut” Steakhouse. Hours of operation  will be Sunday – Thursday from 10:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. and Friday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. till midnight. 

The “one-off” experience will include the launch of new lines of its Shining Star collection. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to pose with a diamond tiara (pictured above) designed for the Royal Wedding of Catherine Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William. The 85-carat tiara designed by Reena Ahluwalia, a Toronto-based jewelry designer, was one of the few considered for her wedding day, Royal Asscher says. It’s a privilege usually exclusively reserved for private clientele of Royal Asscher spending $250,000 and above. The general public will be able to pose with the tiara from noon till 2 p.m.

The dates are significant because it also coincides with Las Vegas Jewelry Week, a series of jewelry industry tradeshows that run roughly from May 28 till June 4.

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Royal Asscher Participates in HIV/AIDS Event Honoring Elton John and Hillary Clinton

Lita Asscher between Sharon Stone and Elton John.

Lita Asscher, America’s president of the Royal Asscher diamond company, was part of a star-studded event held July 23 in Washington, D.C., that honored U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Elton John for their efforts battling HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Lita Asscher with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The event, hosted by The Human Rights Campaign, was held to raise awareness for the Global Equality Fund, a U.S. State Department program, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Sharon Stone hosted the event held at a private residence in Georgetown.

Lita Asscher volunteered to have her personal one-of-a-kind Stars of Africa floating diamond ring auctioned to benefit the foundations. The ring, containing 0.60 carats of tiny diamonds floating inside a sapphire globe, sold for $16,000 among the crowd of bidders.

Stars of Africa ring that sold for $16,000.

“As a family and as a company we at Royal Asscher consider it of paramount importance to support important causes that benefit all of humanity,” she said.

Human Rights Campaign is a civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

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Royal Asscher Plans China Expansion through Alliance with Sparkle Roll Group

Royal Asscher has begun a strategic alliance in China and Macau with the Sparkle Roll Group Ltd., a distributor of top-tier luxury goods in China.

The alliance is for a period of 10 years, with an option to be renewed for another 10 years and will focus on the promotion and sales of several Royal Asscher diamonds and jewelry lines, most notably Royal Asscher Cut Diamonds the Stars of Africa Collection

“We have established a firm foothold in the Japanese market for 45 years where we supply 125 jewelers,” said Edward Asscher, President of Royal Asscher. “Next to the U.S. and European markets, the People Republic of China (PRC) is the fourth greatest market for our 159 year-old Asscher family company. We believe that Sparkle Roll's market leadership and extensive distribution network will help expand our reach across the broad spectrum of target audiences in the China and thus reinforce our presence in the market.”

Ivan Tong, chairman of Sparkle Roll added, “We began this exclusive distributorship in March 2011 and we are confident that Royal Asscher will be one of the most successful jewelry brands in the PRC.” 

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Cindy Chao’s Masterpiece Royal Butterfly Added to Smithsonian Gem Collection

Masterpiece Royal Butterfly, front view.

Cindy Chao has made a bit of history by becoming the first Taiwanese jewelry designer to have a work included into the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of Natural History.

Chao’s Masterpiece Royal Butterfly will be added to the museum’s celebrated gem collection on March 5 in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals. The 2009 creation, part of Chao’s Black Label collection, was gifted to the museum by the artist.

The Royal Butterfly is composed of 2,328 gems, totaling 77 carats. The brooch is set with fancy-colored and color-changing sapphires (16.64cts.), rubies (8.74cts.), diamonds (19.67cts.), rough diamonds (16.63cts.), emerald-cut diamonds (1.64cts.), yellow diamonds (4.75cts.), fancy-colored diamonds (4.75cts.), and tsavorite garnets. The centerpieces of the butterfly’s wings contain four large faceted diamond slices stacked atop a pave layer of faceted diamonds, creating a pattern resembling the microstructure and scale of a living butterfly’s wings.

Masterpiece Royal Butterfly, back view.

When viewed under ultraviolet light, the brooch evokes what the Smithsonian describes as a “surreal quality,” with many of the gemstones appearing fluorescent and animate through an array of bright colors and reflected light. While some gems may appear colorless in daylight, under ultraviolet light they can burn a bright blue or green. Others burn a fiery orange or red.

Since the piece will be viewed by daylight, images of the Royal Butterfly under ultraviolet light will be featured on the museum’s website.

“The awe-inspiring array of colorful and glistening gems are indicative of Cindy Chao’s masterful designs,” said Jeff Post, curator of the museum’s Gems and Minerals collection. “She has artfully combined design, gem and setting to create a unique, exquisite jeweled butterfly.”

Chao’s artistry, her attention to detail and her architectural understanding is gained from her father who is a sculptor and her grandfather who was a noted Taiwanese architect.

She founded her company, Cindy Chao The Art Jewel, in 2004. In 2007, she became the first Taiwanese jewelry artist to take part in a Christie’s New York fine jewelry auction. Chao’s Black Label Masterpieces consist of one-of-kind jewelry artworks, limited to 36 pieces per year. Each Masterpiece is handcrafted over a period of at least two years, working from an original sketch and a wax mold and with rare, fine gemstones, which ultimately forges the three-dimensional works of art. Chao is considered by many to be one of the world’s most outstanding contemporary jewelry artisans, whose collections are pursued globally by influential and expert art connoisseurs.

“I believe that a piece of jewelry can reflect the history of an era, and being inducted into a leading institution like the Smithsonian is a dream for any artist, Chao said. “It is humbling to know that millions of visitors will be able to experience the Black Label Masterpiece Royal Butterfly brooch and be exposed to my art of high jewelry craftsmanship and creativity.”

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Royal Asscher Targets Young Consumers with Lab-Made Diamond Brand

Rebel Chique diamond engagement ring, 18k white gold with o.cc-carat pink man-made diamond brilliant cut, VVS1 clarity, set in white pave. The prices is listed on the website at $8,445.

The Royal Asscher diamond company has introduced a man-made diamond brand it calls, “Rebel Chique.” The name represents a break from the traditional view of a diamond as once-in-lifetime heirloom to a fashion accessory that offers a more personalized diamond experience, the company said. 

To bring this point home, the opening page of the brand’s e-commerce enabled website and accompanying advertising campaign features a picture of the ring on a women’s middle finger in what the company describes as a “wink of rebellion.”

The diamond industry is largely a stodgy, old place where innovation comes slowly. Royal Asscher, even though it's history spans nearly 160 years, is attempting to break this mold with this new brand.

“Diamonds have traditionally been an expression of purity and beauty,” Mike Asscher, Royal Asscher, vice president, sixth generation to work at the family-owned company. “We want them to be also about confidence and independence.”

Laboratory grown diamonds use heat and pressure to recreate how a diamond is created beneath the earth’s surface, turning a natural process that stakes more than 1 billion years to something that could be done in a laboratory in less than a week. Man-made diamonds have traditionally been used for manufacturing process such as cutting and polishing tools. In recent years the technique to create these diamonds has grown to the point where it can produce gem-quality products. These stones currently makeup a tiny portion of the gem-quality diamonds in the marketplace and have until recently been limited in terms of size and color. But as the process continues to progress more of these diamonds are appearing in stores in more varieties.

The Rebel Chique brand is available in at least six colors (including colorless) and a variety of cuts and sizes for rings pendants and earrings. Browsing the website, prices range from about $2,000 to $13,000, depending on size and quality of the diamond. There is also a pure bespoke category.

Mike Asscher, who is in his 30s, is making it clear that the brand is targeting a younger audience.

“We have grown up in an on-demand, made-to-order culture. We are a generation that wants to create our own icons,” he said. “Rebel Chique opens a new world for a next generation of diamond lovers, tapping into an entirely new mentality and experience.”

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From A Diamond-Covered Gun to Royal Adornment at Las Vegas Antique Jewelry Show

Diamond covered six-shooter with matching bullets from Ely & Co.

Between the group of tradeshows under the JCK banner at the Mandalay Bay Resort on the South end of the Las Vegas Strip and the Couture Show at Wynn Las Vegas toward the North end, there were seven jewelry- and watch-related tradeshows going on in what is now known as “Las Vegas Jewelry Week.”

Inside the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show

One of those shows was the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, held May 30 – June 2 at the Paris Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s a low-key event compared to many of the other tradeshows. Decorations are few, exhibitor booths are as simple as can be. But the true excitement and value of this event is in the cases and displays. Everything from a diamond-covered six-shooter with matching bullets to objects belonging to the Sultan of Brunei were on display. Tiaras fit for a queen shared spaces with rare objects of adornment from Bulgari, Boucheron, Tiffany and Graff.

18k yellow gold Victorian Bow Pin with 30 cts. of natural blue sapphires and 5 cts. of rose cut diamonds from Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry.

Rare colored diamonds and gemstones set in platinum and works by some of the world’s best-known independent jewelry designers were in abundance. These are pieces that are not only rare and beautiful but have provenance and stories that add even more value and intrigue to what was already seen as extremely valuable.

Fully Hinged 18k Yellow Gold Bangle by late 19th Century jewelry designer, Carlo Giuliano. The piece is set with square sapphires, rubies and trimmed in diamonds. There’s also a pair of shell like images set with mine cut diamonds and a square ruby curl. White enamel with powder blue enamel Etruscan forms also adorn the bracelet along with a touch of black enamel to remind the wearer of Queen Victoria's loss of her husband, Albert. Giuliano was a personal friend and private jeweler to the Queen. The piece is available through Joden World Resources.

The selected group of images shows just some of the highlights of this event.

Graff Diamond Necklace from Eric Originals & Antiques.

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A 6.23-ct. Fancy Colored Diamond and Platinum Necklace with a 2.04-ct. fancy yellow pear-shaped diamond and a 0.52-ct. fancy intense orangy pink diamond and 3.67 carats of white round brilliant and marquise-shaped diamonds from Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry. This item was sold at the show.

Heart formed hair locket by Carlo Giuliano. The face of the cherub is created with powder blue and pink enamel surrounded by a pattern of complex blue and white enamel in the revival style of the Art of Hans Holbein. Threads of gold run through the hair of the cherub. The piece is available through Joden World Resources.

A 9.89-ct. Diamond and Platinum Bracelet with 5.98 carats of mixed shaped fancy yellow diamonds and 12 pear shaped diamonds (1.92-cts.) surrounded by 1.3 cts. of round brilliant cut diamonds. A 1-ct. fancy brownish orangy pink-shaped diamond is on the center stone of this piece from Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry.

A display case showing various pieces belonging to the former Sultan of Brunei from Ely & Co.

A 7.41-ct. Set of Fancy Colored Diamond Earrings with two pear-shaped fancy deep yellowish orange diamonds weighing 2.75 cts. accented by D S12 Marquise-shaped diamonds weighing 3.12 cts. and 0.50 cts. of round brilliant cut diamonds from Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry.

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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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Royal China for the Royal Baby Available for Purchase

The official trust of the royal family has released a set of china commemorating the new son of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Royal Collection Trust presented the official range of china Wednesday and has made it available for preorder. The items are decorated with scrolls incorporating the name and birth date of their son (who has reportedly been given the title of Prince of Cambridge), with the lion and unicorn from the Royal Arms supporting the coronet of the duke and duchess of Cambridge, surrounded by oak leaves from the Middleton coat of arms.

The four-piece set was be made in Stoke-on-Trent, a pottery center in Staffordshire, England, by the same potteries that produced the official china celebrating the marriage of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, and marking The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the 60th anniversary of the Coronation this year. Using methods and techniques that have remained unchanged for 250 years, every item is hand-made from fine bone china and gilded in 22K gold before being gift-wrapped in tissue paper and boxes designed for the occasion.

The items include a pillbox for 30 British pounds ($46), a small loving cup for 39 pounds ($60), a dessert plate for 45 pounds ($70) and a limited-edition loving cup for 195 pounds ($300), of which 2,013 will be produced. Three of the items are pictured above.

All profits from the sale of the china are dedicated to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important art collections in the world, and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact. It is held in trust by The Queen as Sovereign for her successors and the nation. It is not owned by her as a private individual. The aim of The Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, which receives no public funding, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational programs.

“The range is contemporary in style, while maintaining the traditional formality of royal commemorative china,” said Nuala McGourty, Royal Collection Trust’s retail director. “The design also makes reference to the heritage of both parents.

The china can be preordered online by following this link.  

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Mouawad Designs $10M Victoria’s Secret Royal Fantasy Bra

Candice Swanepoel models the $10 million bra.

The $10 million Victoria’s Secret Royal Fantasy Bra and Belt designed by Mouawad will be worn by Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel. The bejeweled bra will be unveiled in the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Dreams & Fantasies Catalogue as well as at The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show airing December 10 on the CBS television network.

The Royal Fantasy Bra and Belt features more than 4,200 precious gems from around the world including rubies, diamonds, and yellow and blue sapphires. Handset in 18k gold, the bra is completed with a 52-carat, pear-shaped center ruby.

The luxury jeweler said it was inspired by the “colorful, wild and trend-setting” 1960s “when models like Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton and Patty Boyd ruled the runways and dominated the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harper's Bazaar.” The jewelry on the Royal Fantasy Bra and Belt also used the British Royal Crown Jewels as an inspiration with diamonds, rubies and sapphires in a patriot display of red, white and blue. 

This will be the first time Swanepoel will wear the bra. Since 2001 when Supermodel Heidi Klum wore the first Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra, it has been a tradition for the lingerie and beauty products retailer. Other supermodels that have worn fantasy bras over the years include Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Selita Ebanks, and Gisele Bündchen.

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The Royal Jeweler Speaks

Above the entrance at Wartski is the Coats of palms of Queen Elizabeth II, which serves as the logo for the royal warrant of appointment, in this case serving as the royal jeweler. picture credit score: Anthony DeMarco

LONDON — Geoffrey Munn is one of Britain’s gold standard authorities on antique jewelry with a particular emphasis on 19th-century treasured metalwork and the house of Fabergé. he is absolute best recognized within the U.k. as one of the experts on the BBC Antiques Roadshow. He has authored four books and curated a couple of exhibitions.

Geoffrey Munn, managing director of Wartski, discusses the provenance Faberge objects within the display case. picture credit score: Anthony DeMarco

Munn, 59, is a particularly engaging particular person and a grasp storyteller with a speedy-fire talking style who can consult with ardour, empathy and a sprinkling of humor, the human tales (incessantly tragic) at the back of finely crafted vintage pieces. then again, there is one topic he received’t speak about: His relationship with the royal domestic. You see, Munn is managing director of Wartski, an antique dealership with a “royal warrant of appointment.” In different phrases, he and the shop serve as one of about 850 firms and folks and one among a handful of jewelers that offer goods and services and products to the royal domestic.

“Mums the phrase,” he said from behind the counter at Wartski, where he has worked due to the fact that he used to be 19.

A Fabergé assortment of about 10 gadgets made from Siberian jade, recognized for its dark inexperienced coloration with black markings. photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

When it was once time for Kate Middleton to have her marriage ceremony ring normal from the royal supply of Welsh gold, it was once Wartski that did the job. the shop additionally supplied the engagement and marriage ceremony rings to Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, Viscount Linley, when he married Serena Stanhope in 1993. It made the marriage rings (additionally of Welsh gold) for The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles for his or her 2005 wedding.

the store, situated just off of the Bond boulevard luxury purchasing boulevard, specializes in Fabergé and other objects of royalty. The façade is neat and fairly brand new for a place that deals with antiques. dark slate surrounds massive show windows with items neatly in place. Above the doorway is the Wartski identify and the Coats of hands of Queen Elizabeth II, which serves as the symbol for the royal warrant of appointment.

among the many items within the display case at Wartski is an antique jeweled humming hen brooch in mid flight with its wings, pave set with cushion formed rubies and old brilliant cut diamonds. The beak and toes are fabricated from yellow gold, its single eye set up with a cabochon emerald. photograph credit: Anthony DeMarco

despite containing the uncommon and pricey valuables of royalty—along with the triumphs, loves and tragedies of their former homeowners—the store is a picture of understatement. jewellery and other antiques are neatly saved in an extended glass display case that serves as a counter on one aspect of the room or along gentle-coloured wood wall shows.

Objects of artwork neatly organized in wall shows. photograph credit: Anthony DeMarco

in the retailer on this specific day, June 15, was a set of about 10 Fabergé items made from Siberian jade, recognized for its deep inexperienced hue and black markings, in one wall show. in the glass case standing out among the pieces used to be an vintage jeweled humming fowl brooch in mid flight with no-swept wings, pavé set with cushion formed rubies and previous sensible reduce diamonds. The beak and feet are made from yellow gold, its single eye mounted with a cabochon emerald. also standing out within the glass amongst a couple of sparkling diamond items used to be a diamond set “Comet” brooch fabricated from platinum, round brilliant cut diamonds and step cut diamonds.

Faberge Siberian aquamarine and diamond brooch used to be a present from Tsar Nicholas II to princess Alix of Hesse. They had been performed July 17,1918, and she used to be wearing the jewel proper up unless the time of her loss of life. picture credit: Anthony DeMarco

He confirmed our workforce several pieces of rare objects with special stories, together with a brooch with a big translucent aquamarine stone surrounded by means of diamonds. right here’s how he tells the story at the back of the brooch.

In here now we have a Fabergé brooch, a Siberian aquamarine surrounded by using diamonds. That’s all we knew for a while. It’s an exemplary aquamarine and it’s of phenomenal color. (ladies in the crew gasp with amazement). i know, I know it’s extraordinary. (but) it’s best the start of the difficulty. as a result of this in point of fact is going to wreck you and also you’ll desire a stiff drink afterwards. It’s an exemplary aquamarine and it’s a Siberian one and they don’t in point of fact are available in that colour until they do come from Siberia.… The story of this is in point of fact moderately awe inspiring since the coloration blue within the lore of lapidary stones stands for love and then there’s sort of the interlock of two lives with diamonds eternally. And that’s all we knew for an extraordinarily long time except my colleague sent off the quantity to Russia and again got here the provenance and it mentioned that it was once offered through the Supreme Autocrat of all the Russias—a lovely sizzling title—and there’s a observe beside it announcing it was the engagement present from (Russian Tsar) Nicholas II to princess Alix of Hesse. and that's type of stratospheric. however then what occurs later is even more heartbreaking because when they have been taken to jail in Siberia (all the way through the Bolshevik Revolution), they went to a spot referred to as the house of special goal—an extraordinarily menacing title—and what happens next but this (the jewel) used to be together with her simply prior to she was taken to the basement and riddled with gunfire. It used to be confiscated and it isn’t in truth open to debate as a result of it was a civil provider theft and so they made a listing of what they’ve taken from her they usually photographed it on the table so you don’t hear any fanciful stories. i think probably that’s as far as jewellery will ever take you.

Munn, who has spent most of his existence at Wartski, is within the technique of writing a history of the shop with insider stories of the many of celebrities and royalties who have handed through its doors. along with his knack for storytelling, it should be an interesting learn.

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Royal Asscher Releases Diamond Jubilee variation of Stars of Africa jewellery

The Royal Asscher Diamond firm released a restricted adaptation model of its Stars of Africa jewellery line in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s yearlong Diamond Jubilee occasion. 

The “Diamond Jubilee Stars” is in response to the same design offered in 2009 that comprises a clear 1/2-sphere or full-sphere manufactured from sapphire crystal filled with tiny diamonds. The crystal shells are full of a clear silicone, which permit the diamonds to glide within the sphere jewelry in the same method that paper confetti floats inside of a snow globe.

the most recent collection includes a ring and pendant fabricated from 18k rose gold. The half-sphere of the ring comprises a total of two.12 carats of white, blue and fancy crimson floating diamonds. the entire sphere of the pendant incorporates 4.91 carats of white, blue and fancy red diamonds. the colors of the diamonds resemble the three colours of The Union Jack, the British national Flag.

The Diamond Jubilee Stars are on hand in an extraordinarily unique version of six pieces, each with its personal serial number and certificates and are only to be had at Harrods, London.

There are few in the jewelry and diamond trade that has had as lengthy or as close of a relationship with with the British Monarchy as Royal Asscher. It started in 1908 when the Asscher brothers of Amsterdam minimize the most important diamond on this planet: the Cullinan. The Cullinan I (530 carats) was hooked up in the head of the Scepter with the cross. the Cullinan II (317 carats) was once set up in St. Edward's Crown. each are a part of the Royal Crown Jewels and on everlasting display in the Tower of London. 

On the fourth day of the nationwide Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Queen Elizabeth wore the brooch set with the Cullinan III and IV in entrance of a world target market on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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