Tag Archive for 'Diamonds'

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Pink Diamonds – Coloured Levels Of Investments

Published on March 10, 2011 in Diamonds, Pink Diamond Investment and Pink Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Found mostly in Australia, pink diamonds have become an increasingly popular investment on every level, from personal collectors all the way up to the corporate world. Since a single pink diamond is worth 20 times more than the average white diamond, the value of pink diamonds is taken very seriously and not left for the inexperienced jewellery investors.

To paint a clearer picture on a pink diamond’s worth, Josephine Acher, Business Manager at Argyle Pink Diamonds, was quoted as saying, “We release  50 [pink diamonds] a year and every year they have outperformed white diamonds price indexes.”

Out of the 25 million carats mined from the Argyle Mine in the year 2000, only 10,000 of these carats were pink diamonds and of those, a mere 10% weighed more than 0.2 grams (1 carat diamond)! Only increasing in its rarity, pink diamonds have become the top notch gem market to put serious investments into, outranking all other gemmological investments.

Currently, the only source to have discovered these exquisite pink fancy-coloured diamonds being the Argyle Mine, depletion of its resources are imminent. Because of this impending reduction of pink diamonds, only the top, most experienced jewellers and markets are able to hold auctions or shows displaying nature’s exceptional work of art.

While all white diamonds are priced according to a price list, a pink diamond’s worth is much more detailed. Much like the snowflake analogy, there are no two pink diamonds alike, making it the rarest and most sought after of all coloured diamonds. With imperfection, ironically, being the sole reason that diamonds change colours, it factors in as the biggest influence on how some pink diamonds are deemed more or less valuable than other pink diamonds.

Unlike other fancy-coloured diamonds that have been chemically tested to understand their colour scheme (i.e. blue diamonds are formed by boron, green diamonds are formed by radiation, and so on), the true cause of what forms a pink diamond has yet to be fully understood or discovered. What can be concluded on is its clarity by determining whether or not pink diamonds include one or more secondary colours.

The most common secondary colours to its pink hue are brown, purple and orange; all contributing to the placement within the fancy-scale ratings of pink diamonds. This gives these diamonds a large range beginning with the faintest of the pink tones through the most intense pink colouring. The more intense the pink colour is, the more its value increases.

To be able to establish a cost based on any one specific pink diamond’s natural make-up along with its carat size and shape, the information listed below is used to indicate the colour grading scale and combined to identify the true cost of pink diamonds:

Pink diamonds’ hue (in order of rarity):

  • PP – Purplish Pink
  • P – Pink
  • PR – Pink Rose
  • PC – Pink Champagne

Intensity of pink diamonds:

  • 1 – Very Intense (Appears nearly red to the naked eye)
  • 2 – Intense
  • 3 – Strong
  • 4 – Medium
  • 5 – Medium Light
  • 6 – Light
  • 7 – Very Light
  • 8 – Blush (Appears very similar to the white diamond to the naked eye)

By combining merging all of the indicated factors above, an average dollar amount can then be revealed, as shown below:

Average pricing for a 1 carat pink diamond:
Colour Intensity Low-End Price High-End Price
Vivid $350,000/ct $700,000/ct
Deep $300,000/ct $600,000/ct
Intense $230,000/ct $460,000/ct
Fancy $125,000/ct $250,000/ct
Light $35,000/ct $70,000/ct
Faint $12,000/ct $24,000/ct

One look at these figures reinforces the seriousness of the fact that pink diamond investments are not only a fashionable trend set by celebrities – it’s the fiscal benefit of a lifetime!  It’s an extremely important liquid asset whose procurement is intended for dedicated and well-informed investors and jewellers.

For people who are highly motivated to begin such an investment, there are three levels of shareholders:

  • Personal Investors
  • Corporate Investors
  • Self-Managed Super Funds

As for those who fall within these categories, we hope you will join our amazing Pink Diamond Investment Opportunity to begin or expand your pink diamond investment!

Since diamonds have an extensive history in the ballpark of approximately four billion years in the making, it’s obvious that the heritage that comes from within each diamond – coloured or not – is priceless.

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Making The World’s Most Expensive Engagement Rings Affordable For Everyone

Published on February 6, 2011 in Coloured Diamonds, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Gold, Hand-made Jewellery, Jewellery, Platinum, Wedding Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

The 5 Most Expensive Engagement Rings In The World

Showing individuality has been the longest, ongoing trend with engagement rings as pointed out with our series on celebrity engagement rings and several of our other, more recent engagement ring related entries.

Wearing these one-of-a-kind engagement rings often comes with a price tag better left to millionaires due to the use of traditional white diamonds or large, coloured diamonds, sometimes using the combination of both.

To give you a little taste of designer creativity that knows no bounds, here’s an inside look at the five most expensive engagement rings in the world that have had a part in inspiring this trend:

With exquisite diamonds comes an exquisite name: Secret Kiss Of The Roses. This engagement ring holds the secret of a 4.18 carat white diamond wrapped encasing a 0.80 carat rose cut pink diamond – all set in platinum.[1]

Total Price: $545,000 (USD)

Internally Flawless is the name given to this, well, internally flawless 5.98 carat oval diamond with a total of 3.96 carat diamond surrounding to form a floral designed engagement ring – all set in platinum.[2]

Total Price: $1.3 million (USD)

Just in case it isn’t enough to just hide one finger under its enormous weight of 14.79 carats in one diamond, the Tiffany Oval Diamond engagement ring also comes with an additional ring complete with 12.3 carat diamond-shaped pillows. Both rings are placed in platinum settings.[3]

Total Price of the 14.79 carat diamond ring – $1.49 million (USD)

Total Price of the 12.3 carat diamond ring – $800,000 (USD)

Total Price: $2.29 million (USD)

Having a more traditional style of design to it, the De Beers Platinum engagement ring holds a massive 9 carat single white diamond set in what the title claims – platinum.[4]

Total Price: $1.83 million (USD)

And last, but as you’ll see, definitely not least, is the most expensive engagement ring in the world titled as The Chopard Blue Diamond Ring. The treasure that lies in this ring is – drumroll please – the extremely rare blue diamond that is 9 CARATS in size! This fortune of a rock sits in 18 carat white gold and therefore earns its title, by far, as the most expensive engagement ring in the world![5]

Total Price: $16.26 million (USD)

And This Is Affordable To Me, How?

With all this talk about extravagant, customised engagement rings, some may look down and find that their current engagement ring could use a little updating or those still in the market may have decided to take a step away from the traditional look and have begun looking for a more modernised, trendy version.

The problem that many people will run into, however, is this question: How on earth would I ever be able to afford such an extravagant, multi-coloured, multi-diamond engagement ring?

Let’s start by taking a look at a few documented costs of the average engagement ring buyer:

  • In 2009, Americans spent an average of $3,150 on engagement rings[6] with the average diamond size being .38 carats[7]
  • In Australia, the average cost of engagement rings run $5,116[8]
  • In 2005, the average amount of money in the UK spent on engagement rings was £1,289[9]

Keeping these averaged budgets in mind, there are certainly limitations as to how extravagant one can go when purchasing a unique engagement ring, but there isn’t any limitation on how creative one can be.

When thinking with a resourceful mind, options become available to re-create the design and style of an engagement ring you’ve chosen in your mind long ago. Talking with your jeweller is the best way to begin your process of customising or designing your ultimate engagement ring. By incorporating this step right at the get-go, options such as coloured diamonds or types of precious metals can be discussed to change around carat sizes, integrating gemstones and having the stones placed in ways that make it more affordable for you.

PLEASE REMEMBER – that while you can experiment with the quantity of the material needed for your ring, the one thing you must never substitute for is the quality of your ring! This can’t be stressed enough. While it may look beautiful the first time you place it on your finger, it won’t last and is guaranteed for replacement within a handful of years.

This means, when thinking diamond, think diamond! Don’t consider replacing a diamond with cubic zirconium. Instead, if you love pink diamonds and yet it’s entirely out of your budget, converse with your jeweller about pink gemstones that will resemble a pink diamond but cut the amount of money required down to something you can afford.

Is it still difficult to see the end result? To paint a clearer mental picture of how you can make one of the most expensive diamond engagement rings in the world end up on your ring finger, let’s explore how to make the original price for the Secret Kiss Of The Roses engagement ring come down to an amount that fits your budget.

When talking with your jeweller, you can discuss which gemstone and carat size suits you and your future engagement ring better. While there isn’t a single stone out there that perfectly imitate a brilliant white diamond, there are genuine gemstones that, to the naked eye, will give a great resemblance of a diamond. Substituting gemstones such as white sapphires and white topaz instead of white diamonds can be a great choice for the big carat selection. In place of the pink diamond, embed a pink tourmaline gemstone in the centre to create the proper effect of this magnificent ring. The budget that’s been set aside for the biggest price of the engagement ring – the diamond – can then be placed in the sequential order covering the band.

Keep in mind that customised or designer engagement rings can rack up the price if you’re not careful so keep things realistically within proportion. Instead of going for 4.18 carats, you may find you’ll be just as happy with a 1 carat gemstone.

The end result? You’ll have a customised, designer engagement ring that doesn’t forgo on quality and yet, gives the fantastic look of a multi-thousand dollar ring!

While trends may come and go, engagement rings have been around for many centuries and aren’t going anywhere – so have fun with it, book an appointment with your jeweller and get trendy!

References:

[1] http://www.mostinterestingfacts.com/collectible/the-4-most-expensive-engagement-rings-in-the-world.html

[2] http://engagementring.org/the-reason-behind-extensively-expensive-engagement-rings

[3] http://www.theoddpics.com/2010/07/4-most-expensive-engagement-rings-in.html

[4] http://www.worldinterestingfacts.com/wealthy/top-6-most-expensive-engagement-rings-in-the-world.html

[5] http://buydiamondrings.org/most-expensive-diamond-rings-ever

[6] http://blog.learnvest.com/learnvest-daily/average-cost-of-an-engagement-ring/

[7] http://www.ringenvy.com/engagement-rings/fun-%28and-useful%29-engagement-ring-facts

[8] http://money-guide.com.au/2009/12/average-wedding-cost-australia/

[9] http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip-offs/article.html?in_article_id=397984&in_page_id=5

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The 5 Most Common Mistakes Brides Make When Choosing Bridal Jewellery

Published on January 30, 2011 in Bridal Jewellery, Coloured Diamonds, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gemstones, Jewellery, Wedding Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

With so many things to do before a wedding, it’s easy to overlook problems you may run last minute on your wedding day. Considering jewellery plays a crucial role in your big day, you’ll want to know the about most common mistakes brides make in order to prevent these unwanted disasters from happening to you!

Mistake #1:

Choosing An Ultra Trendy Engagement Ring

Trends come and go but engagement rings are designed to last a lifetime. Unless you’re having an engagement ring custom designed for you according to your own personal taste, you may want to think twice before choosing the next ‘It’ engagement ring.

For example, the latest trend in the engagement ring market is replacing the classic, white diamond with a birthstone. There’s no mistaking that this is a fantastic idea but remember to ask yourself if you want to be reminded of your birthday every day or your future husband.

Also keep in mind that your coloured birthstone may not match all of your clothing. If you were born in April (diamond birthstone) or June (pearl birthstone), then you can easily get away with this dilemma but if you were born in a colourful month like July (ruby birthstone) or August (peridot birthstone), your engagement ring may not flow as well with all of your pink or orange clothing.

Engagement rings can be an investment and the last thing you’d want to do is look back five years later and realize your wedding set has long gone out of style leaving you wanting a new set. It could possibly hurt your bank account as well as your spouse’s feelings.

The Fix:

If you’ve already chosen your trendy ring, enjoy it! If, however, in a couple of years, you decide that you’d like something more classic or updated, there’s always the option of having your jeweller make the changes necessary to keep you enjoying your ring forever.

For those who are 100% certain of putting colour into your engagement ring, think about opting for coloured diamonds instead of birthstones. Not only will they remind you of your most memorable day, they’re 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral on earth making them almost indestructible – that is, unless you plan on putting your ring into a fire of 1405 degrees Fahrenheit.[1]

If you’re still in the process of choosing your custom designed engagement ring or having it designed, the best selection would be a timeless wedding set that, 25 years later, you’ll never grow tired of admiring its beauty.

Mistake #2:

Picking The Bridal Jewellery BEFORE Picking The Wedding Dress

Once a woman receives her engagement ring, the frantic planning for the race to their dream wedding day begins. Because there is so much pre-wedding planning to do, it’s easy to lose order during the chaos.

Picking the wedding dress beforehand allows the bride-to-be to pick the bridal jewellery that emphasizes the gown rather than hiding under it or worse, clashing with it. The last thing any bride needs is to look just as chaotic as they felt when pulling together their wedding. By creating the wrong fashion statement with something as simple as the wrong choice of necklace, it will ensure that their wedding will be remembered for all of the wrong reasons!

The Fix:

The two most important considerations to notice before picking the bridal set is the neckline of the wedding dress and also, the embellishments that may or may not have been added. If your dress includes embellishments such as pearls or crystals, you’ll want to follow the theme accordingly with your jewellery.

For the neckline of your wedding gown, you’ll want to consider wearing your bridal jewellery the following ways:

  • Halter Neckline or Backless Dress – These are perhaps the most restricting gowns when it comes to jewellery choices. Wearing only stud earrings and a bracelet would be the perfect selection.
  • Square Neckline or Strapless Dress – These necklines are just the opposite, leaving many varieties open for most types of jewellery to be worn. The best choice would be to wear drop or chandelier earrings with a single or double stranded necklace. Another option that looks fantastic is wearing simple earrings with a fancy bridal choker.
  • V-Neck or Plunging Neckline – Since you’ll want to draw attention to your face, wearing stud earrings with a y-drop or a pendant necklace will do just that!

Finding your dress and picking bridal jewellery afterwards is the common sense approach to take; however, if you’ve already fallen in love with the jewellery that you’ve decided is a must-have for your wedding day, you can always opt to design your wedding around the jewellery. Just remember that that can get a little tricky since the philosophy behind wearing bridal jewellery is to enhance your overall wedding look while bringing your own personal style into play.

Mistake #3:

Not Styling Your Hair According To Your Bridal Jewellery

That sounds a little silly, doesn’t it? But think about it, if you’ve chosen to wear beautiful pearl stud earrings with a matching necklace and have left your hair down, you wouldn’t even see most of your bridal jewellery!

The Fix:

Before going to the salon to have your hair glammed up, check out a few bridal magazines or try your jewellery on while standing in front of a full length mirror to get a feel of how you want to look on your wedding day. Ask a close friend or family member for their honest opinion because most store employees will say anything to get a sale.

Unless your wedding dress is extremely embellished, you’ll most likely be wearing a full bridal set and it’s a safe bet to say that you won’t want to hide it under your hair. By keeping your own personal style, you can incorporate professional styles to elegantly pull your hair up off of your neckline and away from your ears. If you have short hair, sweep either one side or both sides up over your ears to show off your gorgeous bridal earrings.

If you’re unable to decide on your own, much like consulting with your jeweller to pick out the perfect bridal jewellery, you can consult with your hair stylist to pick the perfect up-do meant just for you!

Mistake #4:

Not Matching Your Bridesmaids

Every bride wants to stand out on her wedding day and looking unique is a sure way to do exactly that. Your wedding day should be all about you which means this is the one time it’s okay for you to be selfish about who wears what with of your friends without sounding catty. Much like buying the bridal jewellery set before the wedding dress, you must plan out your bridesmaids’ entire ensemble beforehand so there aren’t any last minute clashes.

The Fix:

Most women prefer to give jewellery as a gift to their bridesmaids but if buying complete jewellery sets are out of your budget, purchase just the earrings, bracelet or necklace for your friends to set the tone of the theme. By choosing the coloured gemstone and/or design for them, they’ll be inclined to follow suit that emphasizes you and doesn’t upstage you on your perfect wedding day!

Mistake #5:

Choosing Your Bridal Set From The Store At The Mall (Gasp!)

Sure, bridal jewellery sets can be costly and after purchasing the wedding gown, wedding ring set, bridesmaid dresses, facility rental, DJ (the list goes on and on), you’ll be feigning to save money when you can. However tempted you may be, jewellery is one area you should never forego quality on.

Bridal jewellery is not always necessarily worn after the wedding day but it either already is or will be a future heirloom to pass down to worthy family members. In other words, bridal jewellery is meant to last not just your lifetime but generations to come.

The Fix:

You can cut down on extravagance to save some dollars but you should never wear cheap jewellery on your wedding day. You’ll want every little detail to be stunningly perfect and guess what? Cheap jewellery can tarnish even the most beautiful of all wedding dresses, not to mention the greenish marks left behind on your skin. To make sure you don’t fall victim to committing this wedding faux-pas, talk with your jewellery designer to use materials that work for your wedding day as well as your budget.

If you aren’t planning on holding onto your bridal set to pass down as an heirloom, discuss options to make your jewellery a part of your life that you can wear to fancy occasions or wear as an everyday piece.

Knowing what you now know to avoid falling into these common little traps, you can put your mind at ease and be rest-assured that you’ll not just look great on your wedding day; you’ll look above and beyond spectacular – you’ll be DAZZLING!

References:

[1] http://didyouknow.org/diamonds/

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Pink Diamonds Steal The Show

Published on January 27, 2011 in Coloured Diamonds, Diamonds, Eskae Private Jeweller, Pink Diamond Investment and Pink Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Diamonds are considered to be an extremely valuable asset since they maintain their sparkling looks and in turn, never depreciate in value. More valuable than any other gemstone or precious metal, investing in diamonds has only risen in market value making it a sure-fire way to increase capital gains while preserving wealth.

Although all natural diamonds are considered as rare, coloured diamonds are much rarer causing the appreciation value to skyrocket, more auctions to be held and more investments to be made. Of all coloured diamonds, pink diamonds have become the investment of choice ever since the Argyle Diamond Mine opened for production in 1985.

Located in Western Australia, the Argyle Diamond Mine has since produced nearly 15 million carats of diamonds since it’s unveiling and currently accounts for 90-95% of the world’s pink diamond supply!

Considering its rarity, this may sound like enormous amounts of pink diamonds are available but in reality, is quite the opposite. To help put the amount of pink diamonds available into better perspective, only 1 carat of pink diamonds will be found per every 100,000 carats of diamonds mined which is only 0.1% of all diamonds mined.

With a better understanding of its exclusivity, the need for this particular investment in pink diamonds has skyrocketed even more so with today’s failing economy. Since formal records were first kept at the beginning of the 1980s, prices for pink diamonds have increased in value by an average of 20% per year, which is 300% better investment than a rental property in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This has allowed for pink diamonds to become the most popular choice among diamond investors and traders/brokers at diamond auctions. Just recently in November, 2010, a pink diamond was bought at the Sotheby auction in Geneva, smashing the world record for jewels bought at an auction, for a total of $46,158,674!

Sold to a well-known top diamond trader, Laurence Graff, this 24.78 carat Fancy Intense pink diamond outsold its predecessor of an auctioned 35.56 carat blue diamond which had sold for $24.3 million dollars which just goes to show the incredible value of a pink diamond.

Pink diamonds, without a secondary coloring are considered to be the rarest and most expensive of all pink diamonds and as quoted by Sotheby’s head of the jewellery division, David Bennet, “I think this tells you a bit about the health of the market.”

This world record has brought much needed attention to the pink diamond market proving its value in the investment world. Ansar Ali, CEO of Elite Gems profoundly said, “The market for natural coloured pink diamonds is very strong at the moment and prices have risen by 35% within the last six months. If that pace continues, an investment in a natural coloured pink diamonds today could double in value in the next 12-18 months.”

Knowing this market is highly sought after, jewellery auctions are quickly becoming every investor’s dream! And why shouldn’t it? Being the most concentrated source of value on earth, analysts predict that the demand for coloured diamonds will outstrip supply for the next decade.

Jewellery auctions hold such high appeal for purchasing these rare diamonds because these diamond traders and brokers highly value the investment aspect and more importantly, they value their diamond treasures as a collectible. Because of this, traders and brokers have full knowledge of the history of each individual diamond, the value of it and the most up-to-date diamond market information.

With the spotlight on pink diamonds, attendance at jewellery auctions is at an all time high due to the fact that the Argyle mine is slowly being depleted of its natural pink diamonds. It is expected that within the next 10 years, these precious pink diamonds will be even rarer which is great news for investors but more costly for those not already in the pink diamond investment world.

As of right now, pink diamonds are achieving record prices currently above $100,000 USD per carat and it’s currently estimated that by the year 2018, prices will reach over $750,000 USD per carat! The appeal and its never depreciating intrinsic value for pink diamonds is obviously the investment of a lifetime. Investors who have already recognized this have gained immensely from the pink diamond market and those just learning about its invincible market are all too eager to get started.

There’s nothing to be lost by heading over to the next jewellery auction to learn from the best diamond investors in the world. Learning insider information about the history and the valuable worth behind these dazzling pink diamonds is sure to guarantee you the best investment of your life!

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50 Top Celebrity Proposals, Part V

Published on January 23, 2011 in Bridal Jewellery, Designer Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Fun Stuff, Jewellery, Platinum, Proposals, Wedding Jewellery and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Watching celebrities lives unfold can sometimes be interesting. They live their lives in the eyes of the public no matter what the circumstances are. At times these moments can be inspiring while other times can be humiliating. In this last in a series where I examined some of the breathtaking moments when celebrity women become celebrity brides, we’ll look at the last 10 in my list of 50.

1 Kara DioGuardi and Mike McDuddy

Kara DioGuardi is used to life in the public eye as a former judge on American Idol, so it comes as no surprise that her engagement to former school teacher and general contactor Mike McDuddy went public as well. While the two were on vacation in Mexico, Mike decided to pop the question while Kara sat in her thermal pajamas. With lit candles he presented a champagne citrine stone designer ring to Kara.

2 Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin

While True Blood costars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer were heating it up on screen, they were also secretly heating it up off screen. The pair managed to keep their relationship out of the public eye for quite some time before going public with their engagement. Stephen proposed to Anna in Hawaii on the beach while vacationing with friends.

3 Jeff Francoeur (Atlanta Braves) and Catie McCoy

The “beauty” Catie McCoy found true love with her “beast” when Jeff Francoeur proposed to her during a production of “Beauty and the Beast” in Atlanta. While in the theatre Jeff got down on one knee and gave Catie a diamond engagement ring. Hopefully this marriage ends just as the movie.

4 Nick Cannon and Selita Ebanks

Vitoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks and Actor/Musician Nick Cannon had a night of magic when he proposed to her on May 7, 2007. After leaving the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York, the couple headed to Times Square via limousine. On the JumboTron screen the words “Selita, will you marry me” appeared for her and the world to see.  After Selita answered with a yes the couple celebrated with friends and relatives at Butter. Unfortunately, the party may have lasted longer than the engagement. The couple broke up in October of 2007.

5 Tiffani Thiessen and Brady Smith

Former Saved By The Bell and Beverly Hills 90210 actress Tiffani Thiessen had a dream engagement to actor Brady Smith. Brady presented Tiffani with a scrapbook he handmade that showed their relationship step by step. Their wedding took place in July of 2005 in Montecito, California. Some of the celebrity guests included Jeannie Garth, Tori Spelling and Jason Priestley.

6 Travis Barker and Shannon Moakler

Tattooed rocker Travis Barker became engaged to actress Shannon Moakler on December 24, 2003 while on the Haunted Mansion ride in Disneyland. The couple got married in October of 2004 in California. Their wedding was inspired by the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and was full of Goth inspired décor’. Two kids and a reality series later, the couple filed for divorce in 2006 and reconciled in 2007. After officially breaking up again the couple reconciled for a second time. It sounds like their marriage is still on the Haunted Mansion roller coaster.

7 Brendon Fraser and Afton Smith

Funny man Brendan Fraser had big plans to propose to actress Afton Smith. While on a vacation to Paris the couple was having a Polaroid picture taken of them. Right before the camera snapped the picture Brendan opened his coat to reveal a note that read, “Will you marry me, Afton?” Once the picture was developed he realized the words were too small so he had to open his coat a second time to reveal the note. The couple married in late 1998 and now has two sons.

8 Faith Hill and Tim McGraw

“Spontaneous Combustion” was the title of the tour and has since become the headline of the lives of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The couple met on tour in 1996 and Tim proposed to Faith right before a performance. Since Tim didn’t have time to hear what her answer was she wrote her answer on a mirror for him to see when he came off stage. The rest has been made history. The couple and their children lead the picture perfect lives.

9 Neve Campbell and John Light

British actor John Light and actress Neve Campbell had a romantic evening when he proposed. John recited lines from Shakespeare while on bended knee. Neve said yes and the couple married in Malibu in May of 2007.

10 Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi

We’ve all probably watched “The Bachelor” at one point in time, but the engagement of Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi was beautiful. While on the island of Saint Lucia Jake presented Vienna a three carat, princess cut, Neil Lane diamond platinum ring. While in her one shouldered teal dress Vienna said yes to Jake as he knelt on one knee. We all had hoped their romance would be as breathtaking as the engagement ring but it seems already to be over.

Celebrity proposals are not always what we think they will be. Some are corny and some are romantic, but one thing is for sure; it is always fun to see how the lives unfold of those whom we see in the public eye.

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50 Top Celebrity Proposals, Part IV

Published on January 16, 2011 in Bridal Jewellery, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Eskae Private Jeweller, Fun Stuff, Hand-made Jewellery, Proposals and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Most celebrities have fabulous weddings that the public rarely gets to see, and proposals can be just as much fun. From the first date to the I-Do’s sometimes the relationships can be kept hush-hush. I have been reviewing the top proposals in a series of posts and here are 10 more that made the top 50.

1 Chris Bosh and Adrienne Williams

After dating for one year Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat and Adrienne Williams got engaged in Miami just outside of their home. After the proposal they partied with friends where Adrienne was seen sporting a large diamond ring.

2 Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Basset

Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Basset were atop the Space Needle when he popped the big question. Hank wasn’t originally going to propose that day but decided that it would be a huge surprise so he made the decision to do it anyway. After taking family pictures with both families Hank got down on one knee to propose. He presented her with a 2 ¼ carat diamond mounted with sixty diamonds and white gold. Sources say Kendra was extremely shocked and very happy.

3 Simon Cowell and Mezhgan Hussainy

American Idol’s former make up artist Mezhgan Hussainy and former judge Simon Cowell met on the set while filming episodes for the show. The couple starting dating in 2008 during filming. The engagement ring Simon presented her with is almost bigger than life. It is reported to be six carats and approximately $750,000. The age difference between the two (fourteen years) has not slowed them down.

4 David Walliams and Lara Stone

Finding your engagement ring in a hamburger may not be your idea of glamour; but if it was a $100,000 art deco ring from Tiffany’s you may think twice. This is how model Lara Stone found her ring from comedian David Walliams. Apparently David thought that since Lara always removed the top bun from her burger to remove items she didn’t want it would be a clever way to present her with the ring. After Lara accepted his proposal they went on a romantic vacation to Mexico.

5 Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush

With twenty bouquets of roses and five hundred candles on a tennis court, actor Chad Michael Murray proposed to actress Sophia Bush. The couple held an outdoor wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t burn as long as the candles and they were separated just five months later.

6 Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan

Channing Tatum proposed to Jenna Dewan on an island in Maui. Channing invited their closest friends to view the proposal without Jenna knowing anything was going on. The couple met during the filming of the movie “Step Up” but didn’t begin dating until after filming was completed. The engagement ring was purchased from Neil Lane but no other details of the wedding were being disclosed.

7 Bill Rancic and Giuliana DePandi

In a helicopter ride over Chicago with pizza and champagne, season one winner of The Apprentice, Bill Rancic popped the question to E! News co-host, Giuliana DePandi.  The couple who had been dating for one year returned to Bill’s apartment which was filled with roses and chocolate cake. Their wedding took place in Italy in 2007.

8 Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott

With a horse drawn carriage ride that leads to a Christmas tree farm in Canada, Dean McDermott proposed to Tori Spelling. Lights led the way to a table for two in the middle of the trees. The couple soon wed and could not be happier. On every anniversary Dean presents Tori with a new wedding ring. She says it reminds her of the day she first became his wife. She says she looks forward to the day when she can pass on her large wedding band collection to her children.

9 Howie Dorough and Leigh Boniello

Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough found that singing in front of 40,000 people was easier than proposing to his girlfriend Leigh Boniello in front of the family. Howie made sure to ask Leigh’s family for permission; included in this were her parents and grandparents. The couple met in 2000 while she was working as Webmaster for his band. The relationship was kept quiet at first but  they decided it was time to share the news with the world right before the wedding. The ring was one round diamond surrounded by two smaller round diamonds that Howie designed himself.

10 Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford

Superman Brandon Routh wasn’t so brave when he asked girlfriend Courtney Ford for her hand in marriage. While the couple was painting a mural for a charity he asked her to reach into his pocket for his chap stick. Instead, Courtney came out with an engagement ring. Brandon said he was afraid he would say something dumb so he chose to do things the easy way.

Join me next time when as I take a look at 10 more celebrity proposals.

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50 Top Celebrity Proposals, Part III

Published on January 9, 2011 in Diamonds, Eskae Private Jeweller, Fun Stuff and Proposals. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

The celebrity world of proposals is both interesting and intriguing. It is fun to see where these couples have gone and mourn those who couldn’t go the distance. Regardless of how they end, the beginnings – through the proposals – are always filled with excitement and beautiful jewelry. Here’s a look at the next 10:

1.  AJ McClean and Rochelle Karidis

The Backstreet Boy is now off the market as he has officially proposed to girlfriend, Karidis. The decision was made while McClean was celebrating his birthday. McClean made a very public proposal to Karidis at a band gig, asking for her hand in front of the crowd while on stage. McClean gave Karidis a princess cut diamond ring, surrounded by at least 20 princess-cut diamonds on the band.

2.  Karolina Kurkova and Archie Drury

While visiting Capetown on Table Top Mountain in South Africa, Drury decided it was time to propose to Kurkova. Drury hid the engagement ring in his sock and then convinced Kurkova – who is scared of heights – to go up the mountain with him. The heights nearly distracted Kurkova from what was happening and Drury had to ask four times before he secured a, “Yes!”

3.  Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert

The “hillbilly” singer put on his best manners to secure the hand of Lambert. The country music duo make a cute couple and Shelton leaned on tradition for his proposal. Before asking Lambert for her hand, he called her dad to get his blessing first. Shelton then selected an engagement ring to offer to Lambert in a surprise proposal in the woods near Lambert’s home. She readily said, “Yes!”

4.  Bret Michaels and Kristi Gibson

Michaels has been known as the ladies’ man and constant bachelor for years, but his recent brush with death appears to have given him the kick he needed to make a big decision. After his brain hemorrhage, Michaels decided to finally propose to on-again, off-again girlfriend – and mother of his two daughters – Kristi Gibson – after the 4th of July weekend at his ranch outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. Some say the proposal never happened and Gibson’s ring is simply a promise ring – either way, the engagement ring is beautiful.

5.  America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams

The girl with the unusual name is set to tie the knot. Boyfriend Ryan Piers Williams reportedly went all out for the proposal, presenting Ferrera with a $70,000 diamond engagement ring. The 4-carat, round-cut ring is set in platinum. The two seem to be tight-lipped on the actual proposal, but happy with the results!

6.  Pink and Carey Hart

Never one to do things the traditional way, Pink actually proposed to Hart. The event took place during the motocross champion’s third lap on the race. Pink picked up a pit board and wrote, “Will You Marry Me?” on it and held it up in front of the grandstands. As Hart continued another lap, Pink wrote another message on the board, “I’m serious!” At that point, Hart let his competitors pass him, pulled over to the side and picked Pink up to give her a “Yes!”

7.  Courtney Cox and David Arquette

Life may not be all sunshine and roses for Cox and Arquette right now, yet the proposal the two shared is still one for the books. Known as the constant funny man, Arquette was able to rely on his softer side to ask for Cox’s hand. He proposed to her on a Florida beach, arranging for fireworks to go off at the same moment he popped the question. How could a girl refuse?


8.  Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman

Music executive Bratman proposed to singer Aguilera while vacationing in Carmel, CA. Bratman had a hotel room filled with rose petals and gift boxes. Each of the boxes contained a present and a self-penned poem. After Aguilera opened the last box, she found a 5-carat engagement ring. At that point, Bratman got down on one knee and popped the question. She, of course, said, “Yes!”


9.   Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery

Known as a very laid-back couple, Ivery proposed to Pompeo on her 37th birthday. The two were at the home they share and it was just after breakfast. Pompeo had no idea and was both shocked and thrilled. Ivery presented Pompeo with a 3.5-carat emerald-cut diamond set in platinum, which she readily accepted.

10.  Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

This proposal was definitely one worth writing about as Brooks created an original proposal opportunity. The country legend popped the question during an unveiling of a bronze statue made of himself. The event took place at the Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace in front of 7,000 fans. When the statue was unveiled and he pointed to a wedding ring etched into “his” bronze hand, he then got down on one knee and asked Yearwood for her hand in marriage. Although completely overwhelmed, Yearwood said “yes” as she wiped away a tear.

Join me next time as I take a look at 10 more celebrity proposals.

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Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Corporate Beholder – 3/3

Published on December 5, 2010 in Designer Jewellery, Eskae Private Jeweller, Hand-made Jewellery, Jewellery and Pearls. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

We’ve now got a pretty good picture of what it means to be attractive or unattractive in the corporate world. It can be unfair, discriminating (although not legally so because who can make a lawsuit based on the claim: He thinks I’m ugly!), biased and more – but as with any saga, there are two sides to every story.

Since the last two thirds of this segment have been about how being unattractive and/or short in stature may have an ugly effect of lower salaries or opportunities, we’ll turn it around and see how being attractive can also be misconstrued within the workplace.

It’s what’s known as the beauty premium. Just to give you a little background on how this concept was created, Dr. Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle conducted a study in 1994 which indicated that workers of above-average beauty earn more than workers with below average looks.[i] Dr. Hamermesh took this data one step further stating that the ‘beauty premium’ exists in all industries, even those where beauty would not seem to matter.[ii]

This caused an uproar because what company wants to admit that they do, in fact, make a very quiet but very biased, not to mention, shallow decision when hiring a person? And as we all know, once any controversial study is completed, another must follow to negate such discriminatory data.

The logic coin gets tossed up in the air and the question then becomes: Is the beauty premium all it’s cracked up to be?

The answer is absolutely yes…that is, initially. As with anything that sounds too good to be true, this is certainly one of those instances. While beauty gets you in the door and offered a higher salary, it’s often quite a different story after the first couple of months.

An experiment completed by Markus Mobius of the Harvard economics department and Tanya Rosenblat of Wesleyan University where pretty people were asked to perform certain tasks, they found that employers overestimated the productivity of beautiful people. The economists estimated that about 15 percent to 20 percent of the beauty premium is a result of the self-confidence effect, while oral and visual communication each contributes about 40 percent.[iii]

According to a survey done by Newsweek, looks matter in every aspect of the workplace and they matter even more for women[iv] indicating that beauty can be a double-edged sword that can either make your career come to a halt or propel it forward.

There was a recent lawsuit filed against Citigroup (you’ve probably heard about it) by a woman who stated she was fired solely because her bosses thought she was too hot.[v] Awww, she must have it so rough, right?

While chances are this particular woman is probably milking publicity for fame (please note her photo shoot to back up her horrifying experience), the honest truth is when a woman is considered beautiful in the workplace, many times she loses credibility the higher up the corporate ladder she climbs. Then comes the famous, ‘Oh, she only got there because of her looks’ snub that’s heard ‘round the entire office.

So what’s a pretty girl to do?

The answer most professionals give is simply to dress more conservatively, which is just common sense but do you want to know the real trick? It’s adding a pearl necklace!

It may sound a little strange that an oyster can spit out one little pearl that can forever change your destiny. That may sound a bit dramatic; however, this tiny little accessory can make all the difference in a female’s professional appearance. Pearls make such a strong impression in the corporate environment because they’re timeless, old-fashioned but forever trendy, sentimental pieces that for some reason or the other, keeps a woman looking credible and trustworthy. Who knows the exact reason for this? Maybe it’s just the simple fact that because our mothers wore it, their mothers wore it and their mothers did, it carries a safe and comforting feeling.

To flawlessly pull off this look in a way that’s office savvy and at the same time, fashionable, the idea is to wear one set of pearls at a time. If you’re going to wear pearl earrings, then forego the necklace and bracelet. Maybe you’re a bracelet kind of person in which case, drop the earrings and necklace – so on and so forth. If opting for the necklace, remember to keep it collarbone level to draw attention upwards!

Remember that pearls are not just an accessory; they’re a means to bring focus to the professional side of you and trust me, pearls never let a girl down!

Sam Kritsotakis

Eskae Private Jeweller

References:

[i] http://www.cfoinnovation.com/content/do-looks-matter-getting-promoted-ceo

[ii] http://media.www.harbus.org/media/storage/paper343/news/2008/11/17/Viewpoints/The-Beauty.Premium-3547361.shtml

[iii] http://www.thirdage.com/career-transitions/the-beauty-premium-why-good-looks-pay

[iv] http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2010/08/10/business-school-research-finds-beautiful-women-face-discrimination.html

[v] http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-06-01/news/is-this-woman-too-hot-to-work-in-a-bank/1/

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Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Corporate Beholder – 2/3

Published on November 28, 2010 in Diamonds, Eskae Private Jeweller, Gemstones, Jewellery, Mens Jewellery, Pearls and White Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

People get older, women have children and accidents occur that sometimes permanently changes sizes and/or appearances. For some people, nature cruelly creeps into genetics on the day of conception – it’s an unstoppable force. You can love it, hate it or EMBRACE it!

Studies show attractive people tend to fare better in the corporate world because good looks appear to go hand-in-hand with self confidence which matters A LOT in the workplace. People are walking advertisements of themselves which is portrayed by the way they dress and present themselves.

When people aren’t confident about themselves, they tend to go into ‘hiding’, which instead, creates the opposite effect. Those who want to hide excess weight might wear baggy clothes making them appear even bigger than before. Men who miss long, lost strands of hair on top of their head may hide behind hats or a comb-over, which has yet to make the Top 10 Fashion list. Women who are self conscious of teenage acne scars might hide behind excessive makeup creating a clown-like resemblance. These are all ways that many people try to cover their flaws when, as you might have noticed, more attention is being drawn to them.

Appearing ‘corporately attractive’ (meaning tall, well dressed and good-looking) may sound discriminating and be a controversial subject to broach but you can’t change certain stereotypes. You can, however, create attractive illusions by learning how to subtly hide flaws by creating an overall balance.

While wearing the right type of jewellery won’t magically lose those extra pounds or gain those couple of inches, it WILL trick the human eye at first glance, helping you add a couple of beauty points overall.

Try applying these Jewellery Do’s and Don’ts to your business attire and see if you don’t feel more confident, look better and receive tons of compliments!

Jewellery Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s

  • Do think vertically - Perhaps the most famous rule of any fashion guru is to never wear stripes horizontally because it adds pounds. This applies to all aspects of apparel and isn’t limited only to stripes. Wearing jewellery that drapes downward rather than hugging your body can have a slimming effect. Make jewellery and accessories work for you, not against you!
  • Do use symmetry – The highest emphasis on what deems a person as good-looking is held within the facial features. Symmetry is more important in the face, rather than the body as a whole, because it gives the appearance of good and psychological health. Wearing single stud earrings or single pearl earrings adds to the overall effect of symmetry, oftentimes drawing attention out at evenly, rather than pinpointing specific areas of the face.
  • Do wear big jewellery if overweight – Chunky jewellery, big stone pendants or collarettes help balance weight without weighing the body down. While wide bracelets make wrists appear thinner, there is one exception to this is for people who carry extra weight on a small body frames. Because wrists are the dead giveaway of frame size, they’re the one area of the body that won’t pack on the pounds, in which case, nix the bracelets and stick to only earrings, necklaces and rings.
  • Do wear long jewellery to add height – When lengthening height, the last thing you want to do is bog it down with excessive amounts of jewellery and accessories. Keep jewellery long but keep it simple. Choosing long chain and opera necklaces with matching dangle or drop earrings will perfect your illusion of supermodel height!

Don’ts

  • Don’t wear loud jewellery – In an office, especially a small office, wearing loud, jingly jewellery is just as annoying as someone wearing excessive perfume to the point of knocking people unconscious. While it may be trendy, it’s certainly unprofessional and distracting, drawing ALL of the positive attention away from the amazing look you worked so hard to achieve.
  • Don’t over-accessorize – Sure, most people have many favourite pieces of jewellery or a lot of jewellery containing their favourite gemstones that they feel they must wear all at once but that doesn’t mean you should.. For those who insist on wearing a lot of jewellery, remember that in the office, it’s very distracting and even worse, others might actually perceive you as superficial. Choose either one matching jewellery set or keep it toned down to one pair of earrings, one bracelet, one necklace and one ring on each hand.
  • Don’t ‘over-match’ your jewellery – Jewellery should hold its own while emphasizing physical features and attire. If you’re wearing an all black business suit, why not create your own fashion trends by adding colourful gemstones that pop?
  • Don’t limit jewellery to just women – Men can also wear jewellery and accessorize in ways that show masculinity! Choosing the right wristwatch or ring can show power and stamina, as long as it’s not too flashy and matches body proportions.

While these tricks are great for boosting your confidence and enhancing your attractiveness, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to continue taking the utmost care of your body. Get enough sleep to get rid of your dark circles, stop drinking large amounts of caffeine and if you’re a smoker, stop smoking to rejuvenate your skin, get on a healthy diet to remove pesky zits and exercise to stay healthy.

When you feel great, you look great! Everyone CAN look attractive in their own way; it’s just a matter of emphasizing the nice parts and hiding the flaws so that you can put yourself on display in the corporate spotlight!

Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Private Jeweller

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Fancy Intense Pink Diamond – 24.78 Carat – to be auctioned by Sotheby’s

Published on November 2, 2010 in Diamond Certification, Diamonds, Eskae Private Jeweller, Pink Diamond Investment and Pink Diamonds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Now this is why I love Pink Diamonds so much…

When you can see a beauty like this – born of the earth and so intense and clean in colour – it makes me remember all of the reasons why I decided to become a private jeweller in the first place. I just received via email news of this magnificent pink diamond going to auction through Sotheby’s in Geneva this year.

This unbelievable diamond has not been seen on the market place for 60 years… Just to give you an indication of the importance of this particular pink diamond.

24.78ct Pink Diamond

Now look at that – can’t you just see it on YOUR hand? I know I would love to acquire this rock of a pink diamond for my beautiful wife, that’s for sure!

As you can see from the pictures this diamond displays the pure pink colour that everyone is after. It has a clean, crisp and even saturation of colour which makes it one of the most desirable pink diamonds to be seen for some time. Couple that with the fact that this diamond has been graded by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) as being a type IIa classification, which comprises less than 2 % of all of the world’s gem quality diamonds. This will make a very fine purchase for whoever the new owner will be.

24.78ct Pink Diamond

As I mentioned above this is the first time in 60 years that this pink diamond has been offered for sale, it is offered for sale with a pre-sale estimate of US$ 27-38 million, the diamond comes from a private collection and has not appeared on the market since it was purchased from Mr Harry Winston.

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