MONTH IN REVIEW
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AUCTIONS
Christie’s Geneva
auction to feature
largest fancy vivid
pink diamond
worth $50m
Christie’s Geneva
auction will
present the
largest and finest
fancy vivid pink
diamond ever
offered at auction
by the company
with a price estimated between $30m
to $50m (£22.8m to £38m).
Weighing just under 19 carats (18.96
carats), the rectangular-cut gem,
named the ‘The Pink Legacy’,will lead
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction,
held at the Four Seasons Hotel des
Bergues in Geneva.
Rahul Kadakia, international head of
jewellery said: “The discovery of this
previously unrecorded and remarkable
diamond will cause immense excitement
with collectors and connoisseurs of
diamonds around the world.
“The Pink Legacy will be exhibited on
a global tour prior to being auctioned
on 13 November at the Four Seasons
Hotel des Bergues. Its exceptional
provenance will no doubt propel it into
a class of its own as one of the world’s
greatest diamonds.”
The Pink Legacy has been awarded
the highest diamond color grading of
‘Vivid’ by the Gemological Institute
of America. Vivid coloured diamonds
are the most strongly saturated gems,
displaying the optimum hue of the
stone. It is a classic rectangular cut
diamond, a cut that is traditionally used
for white stones.
Tom Moses, executive vice president
at the GIA, said: “Pink diamonds of any
size and depth of colour have always
had a special allure even amongst
knowledgeable industry members. The
18.96 carat emerald cut pink diamond is
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JEWELLERY FOCUS
amongst the rarest of all gemstones.”
In addition, it classifies as a Type IIa
diamond, which contains little if any
nitrogen and accounts for less than two
percent of all gem diamonds. Type IIA
stones are some of the most chemically
pure diamonds.
One of the most celebrated pink
diamonds is the Williamson found in the
Williamson mine situated near Tanzania in
1947. It was gifted as a wedding present by
John Williamson, the owner of the mine, to
the queen, then Princess Elizabeth.
HATTON GARDEN
Hatton Garden
launches first
privilege scheme
in 400 years
London’s historic diamond district,
Hatton Garden, launched its first
privilege scheme in over 400 years on
27 September 2018.
Initiated by the Hatton Garden
Business Improvement District (BID),
the new ‘Garden Card’ will give local
employees, visitors and residents alike
access to exclusive offers from the various
businesses situated in Hatton Garden.
Individuals can register for free and
enjoy opening offers at Anglo Restaurant,
the Bleeding Heart Tavern, Dynasty
Jewels, Harmony Jewels, Holts Gems,
Konditor & Cook, Mediterranean Food
Bar, Regency Jewels, The Office Group
and Tresor Paris, with more businesses set
to join the scheme in the coming months.
Commenting on its decision to
participate in the privilege scheme,
Holt Gems said: “We believe bringing
local businesses together will create
an exciting community feel and help
Hatton Garden thrive as the go-to
bespoke jewellery destination.”
BID chairman Gary Williams added:
“The BID is working hard to create a
brilliant future for Hatton Garden. The
Garden Card is a fantastic opportunity
for us to collaborate with the
businesses we represent and to help
engage even more people in all this
peerless London gem has to offer.”
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PEOPLE MOVES
Executive
director Andrew
Bone steps down
from RJC
The Responsible Jewellery Council
(RJC) has announced Andrew Bone
will be stepping down as its executive
director, effective 27 March 2019.
Bone has been in the role since the
spring of 2015. Under his leadership,
RJC membership doubled and the
organization said it has “laid the
foundations for sustainable growth in
the future”.
Bone said: “It has been a pleasure
and a rare privilege to have served
this unique organisation as executive
director. We have undertaken the
review of our standards and laid the
ground for the inclusion of coloured
gems and silver. In addition, we have
grown the management team and
provided them with the resources to
build on past success as we look ahead
to a successful future.”
David Bouffard, chair of the RJC,
added: “We are grateful for Andrew’s
leadership at the Responsible Jewellery
Council in supporting the continuous
improvement in the integrity of the
global jewellery supply chain. His vision
has further established the Responsible
Jewellery Council as the standards and
certification organization for the global
jewellery industry. The Board offers
our sincere thanks to Andrew for his
commitment and service.”
The RJC board of directors said it has
begun a global search to identify the
best possible successor “to ensure a
smooth transition”.
The price of gold
rose by
£47
to £958/oz in October
November 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk