Marjorie Meriiweather Post & Fabrege Collection "Master of Dreams" Documentary

  I used to think the happiest place on earth was Disney but now I have been proven wrong!  It's apparently the Crater of Diamonds state in Apex  Park in North Carolina.  One lucky 12 year old boy scout by the name of Michael Dettlaff unearthed a 5.16ct rough brown diamond approximately the size of a jellybean . AND he found the stone after only digging for 10 minutes. No word for how much the stone will sell for, but what a great day he must of had!

Michael Dettlaff holding his find, a 5.16cts rough brown diamond 

 

5.16cts rough brown diamond about the size of a jellybean

   In 2011 the US produced $11.0 million of the worlds productions of gemstones. That's not alot considering that the United States imported about $23.5 billion dollars of gemstones. A majority of those stones are from Brazil. Small drop in the bucket, literally!  But there are many mines in the US to take your family to go prospecting too. I have been a gem and mineral collector since I was 2 and spending the day looking for stones is a great way to a spend the summer.  Here's a link to some of the many varieties of gems and minerals for prospecting mines that are available, all different kinds too! http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/history/articles/top-10-treasure-hunting-hot-spots  And if you notice there is only ONE mine in the US that produces emeralds, Hiddenite, North Carolina. The color doesn't compare to Colombian emeralds, but they can be amazing~ 

  There is a new documentary about the hushed and exclusive jewelry houses. The title is "Master of Dreams".  It features 4 episodes and takes place in Italy, France, South Africa, UK, America. The documentary focuses on 13 iconic jewelers and the design process, from start to finish. The different jewelers being highlighted are" Boucheron, Buccellati, Bulgari, Chaumet, Chopard, Damiani, De Beers Diamond Jewellery, Forevermark, Graff Diamonds, H. Stern, John Hardy, Stephen Webster and Verdura, with interviews from the original founders, the brands’ designers and ambassadors."

From inception~

To creation~

What a massive diamond!

  

Christies auction of the Elizabeth Taylor Collection

     Also covered in the documentary is Christies Elizabeth Taylor Collections, the London Masterpiece Fair and Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris ( which is to fabulous for words!) The 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival.  You can purchase the 2 dvd set on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Masters-Dreams-OSullivan-Guillaume-Ginestel/dp/B00D7EDC06/ref=sr_sp-atf_image_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372175634&sr=8-1&keywords=masters+of+dreams+french+connection

   Fairtrade when it comes to jewellery has been gaining more popularity as people are becoming more conscious as to where their jewels, gold and gems are being mined.  One sector that has not been mentioned is the pearl industry. There is a company called Kamoka Pearl Farm in Tahiti that creates Tahitian pearls. John Humbert has been pioneering a new method of growing Tahitian pearls that supports aquatic life. Instead of leaving the sea as a desert, he urges pearl farmers to modify their methods of harvested pearls.  He is also a national geographic photographer. Here is the link to their website and their beliefs, love the cover photo on the home page~ http://www.kamokapearls.com/

Kamoka Pearl Farm at Sunset

  The rumor mill has been going crazy with the talks of Apple creating a smart watch. And some are thinking that this will take business away from watch brands. It basically does everything that your cell phone does currently, but its on your wrist. The prices are not cheap and start at $399. The major about this watch? People cant see you've spent a few hundred dollars on technology when its in your pocket or in your purse, it'll be a status symbol. The project is shrouded in secrecy and might be released in 2014 if at all! Apple did file for Japanese  trademark for i watch.  But it looks like Samsung might actually beat Apple to the punch with the release of a smart watch that will be unveiled on September 4th. Tech websites have been teasing of new product to be released on that date. The talk is that the Samsung smart watch will have a flexible screen like the Emopulse watch and will be a companion to the Samsung Galaxy phone. These watches will have all tech savvy people wanting one!

Emopulse watch 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mock up of what the i watch might resemble, along with the competition

   Faberge has been making been making jewelry since 1842 and was started by Gustav Faberge. They became well known for creating jewelry and objects de art for the Russian Imperial family. One of the items being the intricate detailed eggs that were created for the Russian Tzars. Peter Carl Faberge took over the family business in 1924.  The first Fabergé Imperial egg presented by Tsar Nicholas to his mother Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1895.The company had been sold a few times and had lost the right to produce and market their own deigns in 1951 ( who drew up that contract? that would be horrid!) But in 2007 the family has been reunited with the Faberge name. They have introduced a new line called Les Danses Fantasques based on the beauty of the Russian Ballet. Here's a few pictures of the some of the glorious new designs. Its good to know that the family will be able to create these fabulous designs again! 

 

Fabrege Danses Fantasteques Emerald and diamond necklace

Diamond Fabrege Danses de Fantasteques necklace

Fabrege Emerald and diamond earrings

Faberge diamond and emerald tassel earrings 

  One of the largest collectors of the Faberge objects de art was the heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. It is the most comprehensive collection of Russian Imperial art outside of Russia. She has 90 items created by Faberge for the Russian Imperial family. She collected her first Faberge piece in 1926.  Even Queen Elizabeth has 2!

                               So there you go, keep sparkling until next time~