Rough Diamond Find & Fashion Week for Watches

 What would be better for Valentines Day than your own personal 95 carat rough diamond?  Well you're in  luck! The Lucapa Diamond Company has just found a 95 carat rough diamond in Angola. Lulo is situated about 750km from Angola’s capital city of Luanda and ~150km from Catoca, which is ranked the third biggest kimberlite diamond mine in the world.  The stone has been classified as a D color diamond. Which will add additional zeros to the auction price of this stone. This is the second large rough diamond that has been mined at this location. The first rough diamond was 131.45cts and a type ll a mined in 2012.   By the time is cut and polished the whole process can take 2 years or more. I'm looking forward to seeing the new ownerset this stone in a piece of jewelry~

95 carat rough diamond, Lucapa Diamond Company, Angola

Compilation of rough diamonds that have been mined at Lulo, Angola

   Timepieces have come a long way since Charles Lindbergh had sent his friend a letter who also happened to be a director at the Longine watch company.  Charles had an idea for a watch that would help a pilot navigate with longitude.  He successful flew from Roosevelt Field,  long island New york to Le Bourget Paris in May 20-21 1927. he was the first people to be in new York City one day, and then Paris the next. It was the first transatlantic solo flight on a single seat plane. His design was created in  the exact detail Charles had described.  Its a watch design that they still make to this day. 

Charles Lindbergh and a copy of the Longine watch he created

 Watches have long been a form of expression for men and women. Last week the 24th Salon International de la haute Houralagie was held in Geneva and 16 designers revealed their timepiece collections. Watchmaking just like jewelery making is such an amazing talent and skill that has improved with technology thru the years.  Here is a list of the 16 designers~

  Vacheron Constatine has unqiue and highly decorated and blinged watches. The Métiers d’Art – Fabuleux Ornements watches now invite women to rediscover the beauty of the ornaments of the world, beating to the rhythm of a precious calibre. China and its ancient embroideries, India and its colorfully illustrated manuscripts, the Ottoman Empire and its architecture, France and its famous lace: all are sources of inspiration.

The Patrimony Traditionnelle Haute Joaillerie petit modèle watch  in a shiny satin wristband and 10.06cts of diamonds, this is a fav already!

  Ralph Lauren a name synonymous with American style and culture is getting involved in the luxury watch business.  His watch is reminiscent of an art deco watch from the 20's. Beautiful design with diamonds.  His home goods and clothes are incredible but a little difficult to justify paying for a Ralph Lauren watch, I associate his name with towels and linens.

 Cartier had a spellbinding watch with a glorious 106 carat stone tat serves as the watches crystal ( just brilliant!)  It took 1700 man hours to create this watch  But its truly a work of art and makes a statement.

The L’Heure Envoûtée de Cartier collection

 And speaking of watches a sad bit of news , Mr. Raymond Weil a well known Swiss watchmaker and jeweler passed away on January 26th at the age of 87. He was a pioneer in the 70's stating that watches could be a luxury item. The luxury brand that bears his name is still run by his two sons and is one of the last independent brands in the Swiss watch industry.

 Valentines Day is just around the corner and the Super Bowl was last weekend, the relation? if you are a woman and were watching the game you more than likely saw an ad for Alex and Ani.  Alot of people asked after the game who exactly are Ani and Alex and why do they have a commercial.  Who they are is a Rhode Island based jewelry store that is targeted the core audience of 20 -30 somethings with a main stream style of more is more. The jewelry is fun and they try to pass on a message of peace, goodwill, and positive energy. They have quit the following now.  The prices are low ranging mostly in the 20- 30's with nothing over $350 ( a silver plated stack of bracelets) and their items are silver and gold plated.  Here is the link to their website, but be careful 30,000 people crashed their site during the game~ http://www.alexandani.com

                                                       Keep sparkling until next time!