Dillon Pearl Corp.

Christie's Jewels Sale Nets Almost $7M

2010-06-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Christie's Jewels: The London Sale realized $6.6 million and was 79 percent sold by lot. The top lot was a 14.85-carat, rectangular-cut D, VS1 diamond ring by Bulgari, which sold for almost $1.1 million, or $73,800 per carat. A 7.07-carat, E, VS2 diamond ring by Cartier sold for $487,326 and a pair of heart-shaped, diamond ear studs by Boucheron sold for $331,266.

Christie's Jewels Sale Fetches $60M in Hong Kong

2010-06-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

Christie's Hong Kong Sale realized $60.4 million and was 89 percent sold by lot. The top lot of the sale was a magnificent, single-strand jadeite bead necklace, which was sold to a private Asian buyer for $7.3 million. Other top lots included a 49.61-carat Kashmir sapphire and a diamond bracelet, circa 1960, by Cartier, which sold for $7 million, setting a global auction record for a bracelet. Another 17.45-carat Kashmir sapphire sold for $1.7 million.
A heart-shaped, fancy vivid blue, 5.01-carat, VS2, diamond garnered $935,000 per carat and was sold to a private Asian buyer for $4.7 million, while a pair of fancy, deep blue, heart-shaped diamonds weighing 2.48 carats and 2.03 carats, suspending a pair of 10.12-carat and 9.64-carat, pear-shaped diamonds, sold for $4.4 million.

Rapaport Weekly Broadcast

2010-04-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale, which was held on April 20 in New York, generated $34,662,338, sold 84 percent by lot and featured a number of rare diamonds. which you can view in this video.

Highlights from the sale include a fancy vivid yellow necklace of 100.17 total carat weight that sold for $3,554,500; a beautiful, 7.67-carat, fancy intense pinkish orange diamond ring that sold for $3,106,500, a panther-themed wristwatch, an 8.66-carat ruby and more.

Preview the centerpieces from Christie's Jewels: The New York Sale held on April 22 -- the Catherine the Great emerald brooch and the Emperor Maximilian diamond ring -- and be sure to check diamonds.net on April 23 for the results of this auction.

Sotheby's Geneva to Auction 52.82-Ct.

2010-04-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

Diamond Sotheby’s Geneva will hold its spring 2010 sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels at the Beau-Rivage Hotel on May 11, 2010. At the heart of this sale will be an emerald-cut diamond weighing 52.82 carats, as well as a pear-shaped, fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 5.02 carats, both of which are set as rings.

The extremely rare 52.82-carat diamond was determined to be a type IIa, D, flawless with excellent polish and symmetry by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Sotheby's estimated that the ring would fetch over $7 million.

The 5.02-carat blue diamond is set in the form of a toi et moi ring (pictured), which was designed and created by Alexandre Reza. The blue stone is mounted alongside an exceptional 5.42-carat diamond with the same shape. Its estimated sale price ranges from $4 million to $7 million.

Source: Rapaport TradeWire Apr. 16, 2010

Christie's 39-carat 'Star' shoots off at $5.4M

2009-12-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

The pear-shaped, D color "Evening Star" diamond weighs in at 39 carats and is from India's ancient Golconda mines. An anonymous buyer paid $5.4 million for the stone at Christie's on Thursday.

New York--A 39-carat, D color diamond from India's famed Golconda mines called the "Evening Star" fetched $5.4 million at Christie's, the latest in a line of remarkable diamonds to dazzle at auction. According to a press release from the auction house, an anonymous buyer snapped up the stone, paying $138,000 per carat for the diamond dubbed the "Evening Star" because its previous owner liked to wear it out at night.

It was part of Christie's "Magnificent Jewels from a Distinguished Private Collector" sale, held Thursday in New York.The sale of the "Evening Star" comes on the heels of the record-setting $10.8 million sale of "The Vivid Pink" diamond Dec. 1 in Hong Kong and the $7.7 million sale of the 32.01-carat D-flawless Annenberg Diamond in October."The diamond market continues to show remarkable strength despite the volatility of the financial world," Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry at Christie's New York, said in the release. "Just two weeks after a very strong sale of jewels at Christie's Hong Kong--where a 5-carat pink diamond went for $10.8 million--the exceptional Evening Star Golconda diamond of 39 carats sold at Christie's New York for $5.4 million.

It was a fitting grand finale to a year that saw over $100 million in jewels change hands under our gavels in the U.S." The combined total for Christie's "New York Jewels" and the "Magnificent Jewels" sales was $25.18 million, with 85 percent of the goods sold by lot and 97 percent sold by value, according to the release.Other notable lots include a modified rectangular-cut fancy intense blue VS1 diamond of 7.02 carats, which went for $3.89 million to an anonymous buyer, and a 36.78-carat, D color internally flawless diamond, purchased by a member of the U.S. trade for $3.39 million.

In addition, a pair of D-VVS pear-shaped diamonds of 10.21 and 10.51 carats garnered nearly $2.1 million, while a modified cushion-cut fancy intense yellow diamond of 40.92 carats was auctioned off for $1.11 million.

Source: National Jeweler

Bubblegum-colored diamond pops records

2009-12-09T08:40:00.001-08:00

December 02, 2009

The $10.78 million sale of "The Vivid Pink," a 5-carat cushion-cut fancy vivid-pink diamond, broke two records in the auction world: price paid for a pink diamond and per-carat price paid for any diamond at auction.

Hong Kong--A dazzling, 5-carat pink diamond dubbed "The Vivid Pink"--the largest pink diamond ever offered at auction--sold for $10.78 million at Christie's Hong Kong on Tuesday, setting a new world-record price for a pink diamond sold at auction.A private Asian buyer snapped up the cushion-cut, potentially flawless, Type IIa fancy vivid stone, paying $2.1 million per carat, a new per-carat record price for a diamond sold at auction, according to a news release from Christie's.

"The Vivid Pink was the glittering star of Christie's Hong Kong, where record prices were achieved across all categories throughout the week," Vickie Sek, director of the Jewellery and Jadeite Department at Christie's Asia, said in the release. "$2.1 million per carat is by far the highest price per carat achieved for any diamond worldwide and, at $10.8 million, The Vivid Pink is the most expensive jewel sold at auction in 2009.

The saleroom showed immense depth at all levels, with sensational results realized all through the day. Eight out of the ten most expensive jewels were acquired by discerning Asian private collectors, confirming once again Hong Kong's position as a major market for the finest gemstones."Overall, Christie's fall 2009 Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong garnered $48 million, with 89 percent sold by lot and 92 percent sold by value.According to the release, other sales included a 16.09-carat circular-cut diamond with D color and flawless clarity, purchased by a private Asian buyer for $2.9 million.

A cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 16.65 carats sold for $2.4 million, or $144,000 per carat, setting a new world-record price per carat for a sapphire sold at auction.A European private buyer paid $1.6 million for an 11-carat pear-shaped diamond pendant.A private Asian buyer paid $1.53 million for a 9.03-carat fancy vivid-yellow diamond with an oval shape and VVS1 clarity, while a 3.02-carat fancy intense-blue diamond with a rectangular cut and VSI clarity, garnered $1.16 million.

Source: National Jeweler

'Bonhams to auction five-pound 'Princess' pearl'

2009-12-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

Jewelry Auctions
'Bonhams to auction five-pound 'Princess' pearl';

Bonhams to auction five-pound 'Princess' pearl

November 25, 2009

The "Palawan Princess," a five-pound, 11,339-carat blister pearl found off the coast of the Philippines, valued at between $300,000 and $400,000 will be for sale at Bonhams and Butterfields' Dec. 6 auction.

Los Angeles--Bonhams and Butterfields will auction off what is believed to be the world's second-largest documented pearl, a five-pound gem found off the coast of the Philippines that has been dubbed the "Palawan Princess."The natural non-nacreous pearl was found in saltwater near the Philippines' Palawan island and "bears an uncanny resemblance to a human brain," the auction house said.

Both rare and immense, the gem is thought to be surpassed in size only by the 14-pound "Pearl of Allah," an approximately 14-pound, 31,893.5-carat pearl that, like the Palawan Princess, was the product of the giant clam shell Tridacna gigas and was also found off the coastal waters of the Philippines.The approximately 11,339-carat Palawan Princess is a blister pearl measuring six inches in diameter and accompanied by the lower half of its original giant clam shell, which shows the point of attachment where the pearl formed.

The pearl, which will be on the auction block at Bonhams and Butterfields' Dec. 6 holiday auction of Natural History in Los Angeles, is valued at $300,000 and $400,000. "This is an once-in-a-lifetime look at one of nature's most unique treasures," said Mitch Jacubovic, director of EGL USA, one of the labs that was asked to examine the pearl, in a media release. "A pearl this size is not only one of the largest ones we've ever seen, it is among the largest pearls ever seen anywhere

'Vivid Pink' up for sale at Christie's

2009-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

'Vivid Pink' up for sale at Christie's

Christie's Fall Sale of Magnificent Jewels, to be held in Hong Kong on Dec. 1, will feature "The Vivid Pink," a 5-carat fancy vivid-pink diamond with potentially flawless clarity set in a ring by Graff. It is estimated to fetch between $5 million and $7 million.

Hong Kong--Christie's annual Fall Sale of Magnificent Jewels will feature more than 250 gemstones and pieces of jewelry valued in excess of $33 million.Taking place on Dec. 1 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the sale will be a showcase of important diamonds, fine colored gemstones, top jadeite jewels and signed creations from the likes of Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, Van Cleef and Arpels and Wallace Chan.The sale will also include four magnificent jewels from an esteemed private collection, including "The Vivid Pink," a 5-carat fancy vivid-pink diamond with potentially flawless clarity set in a ring by Graff. It is estimated to fetch between $5 million and $7 million.

The collection also includes a second ring set by Graff, this one featuring a 9.03-carat oval-shaped fancy vivid-yellow diamond with VVS1 clarity, estimated between $900,000 and $1.2 million.The remaining two items from the private collection, a 16.65-carat cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire ring by Van Cleef and Arpels, and "The Cartier Diamond Love Cuff," a custom, one-of-a-kind creation studded with high-quality diamonds, are estimated between $700,000 and $1 million, and $250,000 to $350,000, respectively.Additional diamonds from the Magnificent Jewels sale include an unmounted, 16.99-carat brilliant-cut Type IIa diamond with D color and flawless clarity ($2.2 million-$3.2 million), as well as an 11-carat pear-shaped Type IIa diamond with D color and flawless clarity set into a pendant necklace ($800,000-$1.2 million).

Aside from The Vivid Pink, fans of colored diamonds will find a rare, rectangular-cut fancy intense-blue diamond weighing in at 3.02 carats ($940,000-$1.28 million), a 0.84-carat rectangular-shaped fancy red diamond ($250,000-$375,000), and a pair of 8.52-carat and 8.39-carat pear-shaped fancy yellow internally flawless diamond ear pendants ($400,000-$600,000).In terms of colored gemstones, auction highlights include a 25.04-carat pear-shaped Burmese sapphire and diamond pendant necklace ($600,000-$800,000), an emerald and diamond necklace from Bulgari ($80,000-$120,000) and a ruby and diamond Art Deco bracelet by Cartier ($625,000-$1 million).

Christie's said in a media release that natural pearls and jadeite are among additional strong draws for collectors in Asia. The Magnificent Jewels sale will feature a pair of diamond and natural-pearl ear pendants from Chaumet ($230,000-$350,000), a multicolored, graduated natural-pearl necklace ($150,000-$230,000) and a rare pair of natural-pearl and diamond ear clips from Cartier ($160,000-$230,000).The standouts among the jadeite pieces are a carved jadeite Guanyin, estimated between $1 million and $1.5 million, and a carved jadeite figure of Metteyya Buddha, commonly referred to as the "Laughing Buddha," estimated between $750,000 and $1 million.

Source: National Jeweler: November 05, 2009

Scientists hail queen conch's cultured pearls

2009-11-10T07:54:00.001-08:00

Scientists hail queen conch's cultured pearlsNovember 09, 2009

Conch pearls have a porcelain finish and luster like the interior of the conch shell and come in a wide variety and combination of colors, including white, red, pink, orange, yellow and brown.

Boca Raton, Fla.--Scientists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have announced the development of the first-ever technique to produce beaded (nucleated) and non-beaded cultured pearls from the queen conch.Scientists at the university say their novel and proprietary seeding techniques have successfully coaxed conch pearls from the queen conch--pearls that would be extremely rare if they occurred naturally. Ordinarily, it takes opening about 10,000 queen conch to find one conch pearl, and only one in 100 of those rare finds would be of gem quality, according to a press release from the university."Prior to this breakthrough, no high-quality queen conch pearl had been cultured," the release, issued on Nov. 4, said. "This discovery opens up a unique opportunity to introduce a new gem to the industry.

This significant accomplishment is comparable to that of the Japanese in the 1920s when they commercially applied the original pearl-culture techniques developed for pearl oysters."For more than 25 years, all attempts at culturing pearls from the queen conch--also known as Strombus gigas and found in the shallow sea grass beds of Florida, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean Islands and the northern coasts of Central and South America--have been unsuccessful. With less than two years of research and experimentation on the queen conch, however, Hector Acosta-Salmon and Megan Davis, co-inventors of the process, were able to produce more than 200 cultured pearls using the techniques they developed.

The Boca Raton, Fla.-based researchers have been working with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to conduct extensive laboratory testing of the queen conch cultured pearls. In its independent analysis, the GIA used techniques that included conventional gemological examination, chemical composition, spectroscopy, spectrometry and microscopy, and thus far, gemologists are giving the cultured conch pearls a thumbs up. "This is a significant development for the pearl industry, and we were very excited to have the opportunity to closely examine these unique conch cultured pearls in our laboratory," Tom Moses, senior vice president of GIA Laboratory and Research, said in the release. "Several of the pearls we examined are truly top-quality gems."The lab is using its equipment and expertise to compile identification criteria that would separate queen conch cultured pearls from their natural counterparts, he added.

The oceanographic institute and the GIA plan to jointly publish the results of these trials in an upcoming issue of the GIA's scientific journal, Gems and Gemology. Scientists believe that previous efforts to culture queen conch pearls were likely unsuccessful for two reasons: the animal's sensitivity to traditional pearl seeding techniques and its complex, spiral-shaped shell, which makes it virtually impossible to reach the gonad, one of the pearl-forming portions in pearl oysters, without endangering the animal's life. "Perhaps the most significant outcome from our research is that the technique we have developed does not require sacrificing the conch in the process," Davis said in the release.

"The 100 percent survival rate of queen conch after seeding and the fact that it will produce another pearl after the first pearl is harvested will make this culturing process more efficient and environmentally sustainable for commercial application."Survival of the animal is critical because commercial fishing has depleted the once-abundant wild populations of queen conch, and they are now considered a commercially threatened species in Florida and throughout the Caribbean, according to the release.

There are basically two types of cultured pearls: nucleated (beaded) and non-nucleated (non-beaded). Nucleated cultured pearls are produced by inserting a piece of mantle tissue from a donor mollusk and a nucleus, usually a spherical piece of shell, into the body of a recipient mollusk. Non-nucleated pearls are produced by grafting only a piece or pieces of mantle tissue, and no bead is inserted.

The researchers used two different seeding techniques to induce pearl formation in the queen conch. One was a modification of the conventional technique used to produce cultured pearls in freshwater mussels, and the other was a modification of the conventional technique used in marine pearl oysters.Conch pearls are formed by concentric layers of fibrous crystals, which create a "flame structure" characteristic of conch pearls.

The pearls have a porcelain finish and luster like the interior of the conch shell, and come in a wide variety and combination of colors including white, red, pink, orange, yellow and brown. Queen conch pearls are measured in carats like traditional gemstones.The size of the cultured pearls produced by Acosta-Salmon and Davis is controlled by the size of the bead and the culture time. The researchers have experimented with culture times from six months to two years; longer culture times might produce larger pearls.

The queen conch is farmed in aquaculture tanks, and the queen conch cultured pearls in the initial harvest were grown in an aquaculture facility at the university. Queen conch achieve their full size at about three years and have a life span of up to 40 years.

Source: National Jeweler: November 09, 2009
www.dillonpearl.com

Pearl prices, supplies adjust with recession

2009-10-23T08:04:00.001-07:00

By Catherine Dayrit with National Jeweler

Pearl prices fell earlier this year amid poor economic conditions, but experts say both prices and demand are rising as supply adjusts and the category gains fashion fans.Design Trends: A new generation is eyeing pearls, thanks to the emergence of boldly colored pearls, which began with "chocolate" pearls and moved on to vivid green and blue "peacock" hues, says Kathy Grenier of the Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA), also citing sterling silver with pearls and long, versatile strands.Supply and Demand Issues: While the prized Japanese akoya enjoys greater demand than its Chinese counterpart, supplies of both have suffered. Chinese akoya farms were hit hard by typhoons, including Typhoon Pabuk in 2007, resulting in tremendous losses, says Peter Bazar, vice president of the CPAA and president of Imperial. And while Japanese akoyas continue to be dogged by pollution, the industry is paying attention to Mikimoto, which announced in August that its new successful akoya farming venture in Ainoshima, Japan, heralded a new advance in Japanese pearl production. Production is limited, but if the process is deemed an improvement, it will be adopted, Bazar says.Interest remains in Tahitian and South Sea pearls, but the volume demand is less, says pearl purveyor Betty Sue King of King's Ransom.Price Points: While poor demand led farm levels to plummet precipitously over the first half of this year, prices are now rising fast as supply adjusts to the market, says Bazar.At the entry level, freshwater pearls remain a major option. Pollution and overproduction have led to a proliferation of low-quality freshwaters on the market. Yet high-quality versions, competing in size with akoyas and even South Sea varieties, provide value for those seeking a big look for less, says Sea Hunt Pearl owner Jack Lynch, adding that Tahitian pearl prices decreased earlier this year and that the sector saw a few Tahitian pearl farmers go out of business. With limited supply, both demand and prices for Tahitians are expected to increase.

Source: National Jeweler
www.dillonpearl.com

32-carat Annenberg astonishes at auction

2009-10-23T07:59:00.001-07:00

An anonymous buyer paid $7.7 million for the 32.01-carat Asscher-cut Annenberg Diamond at Christie's on Wednesday. The stone features D color and flawless clarity.

New York--In an event Christie's is terming "an auction to remember," an anonymous buyer paid $7.7 million for the 32.01-carat D-flawless Annenberg Diamond on Wednesday, well surpassing the stone's estimated sale price of $3 million to $5 million.The diamond, owned by philanthropist Leonore "Lee" Annenberg, who died in March at the age of 91, was mounted in a ring by Manhattan jeweler David Webb.Its sale set a new, world-record auction price of $240,000 per carat for a colorless diamond, according to Christie's.
Overall, Christie's "Jewels: The New York Sale and the Annenberg Diamond" and "Rare Jewels and Objets d'Art: A Superb Collection" held on Wednesday in New York City, totaled $46.5 million and achieved a combined sell-through rate of 85 percent by lot and 94 percent by value.In a press release, Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry at Christie's New York, said the activity at the auction defied these recessionary times."For three-and-a-half hours, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Christie's, it was as if the recession never happened," he said.
"Virtually every lot exceeded its estimate, and the $7.7 million Annenberg Diamond astonished even the most seasoned diamond dealer. It was an auction to remember. And if this were not enough, the sale started again at 2:30 p.m. and continued until 7:00 p.m., giving collectors opportunity to acquire exceptional masterpieces from the superb collection of Rare Jewels and Objets d'Art."Also sold on Wednesday was a 16.33-carat circular-cut diamond with E color and flawless clarity, purchased by a private Asian dealer for $1.6 million, or $97,000 per carat.
Among the pieces exceeding estimates were a belle epoque diamond and rock crystal bow brooch by Cartier, which was expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000, but was purchased by a member of the U.S. trade for $1.1 million, and a Harry Winston emerald and diamond necklace, circa 1956, expected to fetch between $500,000 to $700,000 that sold for $950,500.

Source : National Jeweler, October 22, 2009
www.dillonpearl.com

Rare Diamonds from Argyle, Annenberg Go Up For Auction

2009-07-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Forty-three pink diamonds from the Argyle mine will hit the road as part of a worldwide tender tour. Argyle Diamonds are usually bought by jewelry connoisseurs, private collectors and celebrities. Meanwhile, the Annenberg Diamond is scheduled to be auctioned during Christie's Jewels: The New York Sale on October 21, 2009.
The square emerald-cut diamond is described as a 32.01-carat, D color, flawess stone, mounted as a ring and flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds of 1.5 carats and 1.61 carats. The ring, part of the collection of Leonore Annenberg, was designed by David Webb. Christie's estimated its value between $3 million and $5 million.

Another Success for Christie’s

2009-06-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

Another Success for Christie’s

NYChristie’s New York's small, 184-lot, end of season sale on June 11 sold 91 percent by lot and 86 percent by value. The auction tallied up $11,367,875, with diamonds making a strong showing. The top lot — a pear-shaped fancy intense internally flawless 6.29-carat blue diamond — sold for $3,554,500. The highly touted blue diamonds were the stars of the show, with a 3.28-carat modified rectangular-cut fancy dark gray-blue diamond selling for $386,500, the fifth biggest lot. Two blue rose-cut diamonds, however, failed to sell.

Rapaport TradeWire - Friday, June 19, 2009

Christie's London Jewels Sale Tops $6M

2009-06-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

Christie's London Jewels Sale Tops $6M

Christie's Jewels: The London Sale was 84 percent sold by lot and garnered a total of $6.1 million (GBP 3.7 million). The top lot was a 44.14-carat circular-cut, fancy yellow, SI1 diamond set in an art deco mount, which fetched $865,324, or $19,600 per carat. A 10.09-carat, cushion-shaped, F, VS2 diamond sold to an Asian private for $414,064, and a 4.99-carat brilliant-cut, F,VS2 diamond sold to a member of the U.S. trade for $135,460.

Rapaport TradeWire - Friday, June 12, 2009

Christie's Hong Kong Jewels Sale Tops $33M

2009-06-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

Christie's Hong Kong jewelry sale reported strong results, with 90 percent of the lots sold for a total of $33,067,728. The top lot, a diamond pendant set with two pear-shaped, D, flawless, type IIa diamonds of 20.7 carats and 10.02 carats, sold for $3,328,182 to an Asian private. Other diamond highlights included a number of lots that sold for more than $1 million apiece. A rectangular-cut, 15.02-carat, D, flawless type IIa diamond sold for $1,670,526, or $111,200 per carat.

Rapaport TradeWire - Thursday, May 28, 2009

7.03ct Blue Diamond Sells for More Than $1M per Carat

2009-05-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Sotheby’s sale of a 7.03-carat, fancy vivid blue, flawless cushion-shaped diamond fetched almost $9.5 million, or $1,349,752 per carat in Geneva. The winning bidder wished to remain anonymous. Sotheby's noted that this blue diamond beat out the previous most expensive fancy vivid blue diamond sold at auction, and that the sale was a world record for the sale of any diamond at auction in terms of value per carat. Sotheby's total sale of magnificent jewels in Geneva was $35,762,327 and was 76.9 percent sold by lot.

www.dillonpearl.com

Christie's Dubai Jewels Sale Tops $4M

2009-05-04T12:36:00.001-07:00

Jewelry belonging to Umm Kulthum, a legendary Egyptian singer, sold for $118,000 at a Christie's auction in Dubai on Tuesday night. The entire sale reached just over $4 million, with 76 percent sold by lot. The highlight of the sale was a kite-shaped, 5.01-carat, D, internally flawless diamond pendant, which sold for $194,500 to a Middle Eastern private collector. The number of Middle Eastern buyers at Christie's auctions globally has risen 400 percent since 2004.

www.dillonpearl.com

Christie's to Auction Kulthum Estate Jewelry

2009-04-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

Christie's will auction a few of Umm Kulthum's personal jewels on April 28, 2009, at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai. The sale will also include rare colored gemstones and exquisite natural pearls, alongside watches by Patek Philippe, Breguet, Cartier and Rolex. Kulthum, the great Arab singer, was known as "Kawab El Sharq," The Shining Star of the Middle East.

Source: Rapaport Tradewire
www.dillonpearl.com

Sotheby's NY Magnificent Jewels Sale Features Important Diamonds

2009-04-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sotheby’s New York spring sale of Magnificent Jewels will be held on April 23, 2009. The top lot is a fancy blue diamond ring set with a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut stone weighing 8.24 carats, which is expected to bring in excess of $2.5 million. A fancy vivid yellow diamond ring, signed Jacob & Co., is set with a 15.61-carat center stone and 2.55 carats of flanking half-moon white diamonds; it has a presale estimate of $925,000 to $1 million. A pair of fancy vivid yellow diamond earrings featuring matched emerald-cut stones weighing 7.47 and 7.32 carats has a presale estimate of $800,000 to $1 million. Also on offer at the Sotheby's sale are a cushion-shaped diamond ring of 15.4 carats, F color, VS1 clarity, with a presale estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million, and a diamond ring set with an emerald-cut 13.98-carat, G color, VS2 clarity diamond with a presale estimate of $450,000 to $500,000.

Source: Rapaport TradeWire 4/10/2009
www.dillonpearl.com

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Jewels Sale Garners $16M

2009-04-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

Strong demand for larger diamonds of 5 to 15 carats helped Sotheby’s generate $16 million in sales at its magnificent jewels and jadeite auction in Hong Kong. The auction was sold 67.6 percent by lot. The top lot was a pair of very fine, marquise-shaped D color flawless diamond earrings, weighing a total of 16.58 carats, which sold for $1.7 million. The second lot was a pear-shaped, 13.53-carat D color flawless loose diamond, which sold for $1.5 million. The headlining lot and a number of high-value jadeite lots, however, failed to sell.

Source: Rapaport TradeWire 4/10/2009
www.dillonpearl.com

Sotheby’s Geneva Sale Features a Rare 7ct Blue Diamond from Cullinan

2009-04-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sotheby’s Geneva Sale Features a Rare 7ct Blue Diamond from CullinanSotheby’s will auction a rare fancy vivid blue, IF diamond from the Cullinan Mine at its upcoming Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale in May. The 7.03-carat diamond was cut from a 26.58-carat rough stone mined by Petra Diamonds at Cullinan in South Africa. Sotheby's presale estimate for the diamond is between $5.8 million and $8.5 million.

Rapaport Tradewire 4/3/09

www.dillonpearl.com

Dubai Pearl Exchange Tender Nets Sales of $1M

2009-03-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Dubai Pearl Exchange Tender Nets Sales of $1M The Dubai Pearl Exchange held its first pearl tender in February, and reported that the sale generated more than $1 million. The invitation-only event attracted 40 companies. Highlights of the sale included an exceptionally rare drop-pair of Paspaley Pearls' natural pearls, which were purchased by Swiss Pearls of Switzerland, and a set of cherry-colored Robert Wan Tahitian pearls, strand and earrings, bought by Shafiian Gem.

Rapaport TradeWire 3/27/2009
www.dillonpearl.com

Historic Diamond Sells for $24.3 Million in Auction

2009-02-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

The Wittelsbach Diamond was fetched last month for a record price at auction in London by famous diamond retailer Laurence Graff.
In spite of a global economic slump, the 35.6 carat, 17th century diamond sold on Dec. 10 for $24.3 million at King Street, Christie's reported. This is the most any jewel has ever fetched at auction. The record was previously held by a 100 - carat diamond sold in 1995 in Geneva. This record-breaking price tag equates to an average per-carat price of $683,667.
Spain's King Philip IV bought the Wittelsbach diamond in 1664 and included it in dowry for his teenage daughter. Her husband, Leopold I of Austria, passed the gem along through the generations. It earned its official name almost 80 years later in 1722, when Leopold's granddaughter wed Charles of Bavaria- a memeber of the Wittelsbach bloodline. The Wittelsbach Diamond was offered for auction in 1931, but didn't sell.
The Wittelsbach Diamond's color and clarity have been linked to the Hope Diamond. Graff bid against several Russian professionals for the cushion-shaped gem, notably Aleks Paul of Essex Global Trading in New York. The price was almost double the diamond's pre-sale estimate.

Source: Diamond District News, January 2009

www.dillonpearl.com

Christie's NY Auction

2008-12-22T07:58:00.000-08:00

---Christie's NY Sale Garners $16M, 84% Sold by LotChristie’s latest New York jewelry auction generated $16.62 million insales, with 84 percent of the items sold by lot and 83 percent byvalue. The highlight of the sale was a pair of pear-shaped D-colorflawless Forevermark 17.01- and 17.79-carat stones, which sold for$3.55 million, or $102,000 per carat, to an unnamed private buyer.

www.dillonpearl.com
source: Rapaport Trade Wire
12/19/08

Kwiat Opens First Boutique

2008-10-20T08:24:00.001-07:00

Kwiat celebrated the opening of its first store with a party at the location at 725 Madison Ave. The 1,000 square foot store opens on the 100th anniversary of the formation of family-owned business.

Source: Diamond District News
September 2008

www.dillonpearl.com

---Cartier Opens in Seoul

2008-10-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

Cartier opened its first store in the fashionable Cheongdam-dongdistrict in southern Seoul. French architect David-Pierre Jalicondesigned the boutique that was inspired by the Korean wrapping clothor bojagi. Cartier decided the timing was right to open in Seoul asthe luxury market is growing rapidly in the South Korean capital.

Source: Rapaport TradeWire
www.dillonpearl.com

Bulgari Opens in Paris

2008-10-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

Bulgari opened a new store in Paris at the corner of Avenue George Vand Rue Francois 1er. The luxury retailer's CEO Francesco Trapanicalled Paris a lucrative market not just because of the Frenchclientele, but also the hordes of tourists and the presence of majorflagship boutiques.

Source: Rapaport TradeWire
www.dillonpearl.com

4 Carat Diamond Found

2008-08-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

---Visitor Finds 4ct+ Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State ParkOne visitor to Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park found arectangular shaped 4.42 carat rough diamond, but it was even moreremarkable that he dug-up the gemstone only 30 minutes after hissearch began. According to park officials though, the lucky guy,Dennis Tyrrell of nearby Murfreesboro, searches for diamonds on aregular basis at the park. This new find was Tyrrell's largest diamondto date.

www.dillonpearl.com

Jacques Cartier

2008-02-06T11:45:00.000-08:00

"The iridescent baubles were in fact so rare that according to legend, Jacques Cartier bought his Fifth Avenue flagship store in 1917 by plunking down $100 in cash, plus a strand of perfectly matched natural pearls."

Types of Oysters

2008-01-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

South Sea Cultured Pearls- Pinctada maxima: Produces 1 pearl pear shell.
Black Tahitian Cultured Pearls- Pinctada margaritifera: Produces 1 pearl per shell.
Akoya Cultued Pearls- Pinctada fucata martensii: Produces an average of 4-5 pearls per shell.
Freshwater Cultured Pearls- Grown in varieties of freshwater mussels. Produces up to 100 pearls per shell.

Source: Paspaley

www.dillonpearl.com

Baroda Pearls

2008-01-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

Christie's Magnificent Jeweles Auction on April 25, 2007

Reported by Gary Roskin, G.G. FGA

In a third case was a jaw-dropping diamond and pearl necklace created by the 100-yearl old Indian design firm Bhagat. Its center was an old-style-cut pearl-shape diamond weighing 13.31 cts., and it was accented by diamonds in rose cuts, briolettes, and faceted beads as well as a seed-pearl tassel.

The highlights were the Baroda Pearls-a suite of large natural pearls including a double-strand necklace, earrings, brooch, and ring-and a 22.66 ct. Kashmir sapphire.

The suite of natural pearls, once owned by the Indian Maharajas of Baroda, sold for $7,096,000. The centerpiece is a double-strand graduated pearl necklace strung by Cartier using 68 natural pearls from the Maharajas' colletion. The pearls measure from approximately 9.47 mm in the back to 16.04 mm at the center.

The $7 million hammer price is reportedly the largerst ever paid for a suite of natural pearls of the size and quality. The sizes of these oriental pearls were impressive, especially in the necklace's 16 mm center pearl. That pearl, an important piece in its own right, has a hammered appearance, as if the nacre had been worked by an oyster with bench training. Also noteworthy were the nace quality and luster of the earring drops.

Rarity was an important factor in the final sale. Many of the pearls were noticeably off-round, and all were more creamy than off-white. This is not unexpected for natural pearls, but the building up to the auction created an expectation of something even more impressive.

At the back of the necklace, Cartier added a platinum clasp with a substantial old-mine-cut round brilliant diamond weighing approximately 8.57 cts. Along with the necklace was a pair of ear pendants, so called because each earring highlighted a drop-shape natural pearl, each measuring approximately 13-15 mm wide by 22 mm long, enhanced by old-European-cut and old-mine-cut diamonds, with a button-pearl top, each measuring approximately 12.5 mm wide by 10 mm thick. A brooch set with an oval natural pearl, measuring 17 by 19 by 15 mm, and a natural button-pearl ring rounded out in the suite.

Originally printed in JCK July 2007 by Gary Roskin, G.G., FGA

http://www.dillonpearl.com/

Diner Finds Pearl in Plate of Clams

2008-01-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

AP
Posted: 2007-12-31 23:06:55
Filed Under: Nation News, Weird News

LAKE WORTH, Fla. (Dec. 31) - A Florida couple could be having an extra happy new year after finding a rare purple pearl while eating a plate of steamed clams. George and Leslie Brock stopped into Dave's Last Resort & Raw Bar on Friday during a day at the beach. George Brock was about halfway through a dozen clams when he chomped down on something hard - a rare iridescent purple pearl.

www.dillonpearl.com

Fashion Tips

2007-11-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

Fashion Tips
Collar -- 12 - 13 inches. Pearl collars are usually made up of three or more strands and lie snugly on the middle of the neck. Very Victorian and luxurious,pearl collars go best with elegant V-neck, boat neck or off the shoulder fashions.
Choker -- 14 - 16 inches. A pearl choker is perhaps the most classic and yet versatile of all the single strand lengths. A simple pearl choker can go with virtually any outfit from casual to fancy evening wear, and just about any neckline imaginable.
Princess -- 17 - 19 inches. The princess length neck-lace is best suited for crew and high necklines. It also compliments low plunging necklines. Hint- it's perfect support for a pendant or pearl enhancer.
Matinee -- 20 - 24 inches. Longer than the choker, and just a bit shorter than an opera length, the matinee necklace is the right choice for casual or business dressing.
Opera -- 28 - 34 inches. The opera necklace is the queen of all lengths. When worn as a single strand, it is refined and perfect for high or crew necklines. When doubled upon itself, it serves as a versatile two strand choker.

Rope -- Over 45 inches. Dripping with elegance and sensuously sexy, the pearl rope was a favorite of Coco Chanel. Ask your jeweler bout mystery clasps placed in strategic locations around the necklace that will enable you to break it down into multi-strand necklace and bracelet combinations. For those looking for the complete pearl wardrobe, this length is a must.

http://www.dillonpearl.com/

Source: Cultured Pearl Information Center

Quality

2007-11-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

Surface: Cleanliness refers to the absence of disfiguring spots, bumps or cracks on the surface of a pearl. The cleaner the surface of the pearl, the more valuable.

Shape: Since cultured pearls are grown by oysters in nature, it is very rare to find a perfectly round pearl. However, the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is. Baroque pearls, which areasymmetrical in shape, can be lustrous and appealing, and often cost less than round pearls.

Color: Cultured pearls come in a variety of colors from rose to black. While the color of a pearl isreally a matter of the wearer's preference, usually rose or silver/white pearls tend to look best on fair skins while cream and gold toned pearls are flattering to darker complexions.

Size: Cultured pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. They can be smaller than one millimeter in the case of tiny seed pearls, or as large as twenty millimeters for a big south sea pearl. The larger the pearl, other factors being equal, the more valuable it will be. The average sized pearl sold today is between 7 and 7-1/2 millimeters.

http://www.dillonpearl.com/

Source: Cultured Pearl Information Center

Learn Pearl Variety

2007-11-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

Learn Pearl Variety

Akoya (Grown in Japan and China) Akoya pearls are the classic cultured pearls of Japan. They are the most lustrous of all pearls found anywhere in the world. In recent years, China has been successful in producing Akoya pearls within their own waters. However, at this time they are unable to produce as brilliant a lustre as high quality Japanese Akoya cultured pearls.

White South Sea (Grown in Australia, Myanmar and Indonesia)White South Sea cultured pearls are grown in large tropical or semi-tropical oysters in Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia and other Pacific countries. They generally range in size from 10mm to 20mm and command premium prices because of their relative rarity and large size.
South Sea Black (Grown in French Polynesia)South Sea Black cultured pearls are grown in a variety of large pearl oysters found primarily in French Polynesia. Their beautiful, unique color and large size can command very high prices.

Freshwater (Grown in Japan, China, and The United States)Freshwater pearls can be found in bays and rivers throughout the world. They are easily cultivated from fresh water mollusks in China, Japan and the United States. Many are less lustrous than salt water cultured pearls but their low price, unique shapes and colors have made them popular jewelry items.

Mabe (Grown in Japan, Indonesia, and Australia) Mabe pearls are hemispherical cultured pearls grown against the inside shell of an oyster rather than within the oysters body. They generally are used in earrings or rings which conceal their flat backs.

http://www.dillonpearl.com/

Stringing and Blending

2007-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Stringing and Blending

Because no two cultured pearls are ever exactly alike, pearl dealers must cull through about 10,000 pearls to find enough that are so closely matched that they can be assembled together to make a single necklace. Here, closely matching pearls are blended to be strung into a beautiful necklace.

www.dillonpearl.com

Drilling

2007-11-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

Drilling

Drill holes must be made with care and precision. An inexperienced operator can split or ruin the pearls with careless handling. A hole drilled even slightly off-center can ruin a necklace or piece of jewelry that depends upon the symmetrical assembly of it's pearls. This stage in preparation of cultured pearls for jewelry is a very delicate operation.

Sorting

2007-11-29T08:53:00.001-08:00

Sorting

Unlike imitation pearls, no two cultured pearls are ever exactly like. Each has it's own unique combination of size, shape, lustre and color. The art of assembling pearls in a necklace, a pair of earrings or other jewelry calls for refined skills in blending similar looking pearls together so they look like they match. Here, pearls are sorted by experts with highly trained eyes and years of experience

www.dillonpearl.com

Varieties of Cultured Pearls

2007-11-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

VARIETIES OF CULTURED PEARLS

Traditionally grown in Japan, Akoya pearls are pure white, lustrous pearls generally ranging in size from 3 to 8 mm. These are extremely popular in the U.S. and large percentages are strung into simple strand jewelry. Today, these pearls also are grown in China.
White South Sea pearls are cultivated in Australia and Indonesia in tropical oysters. They range in size from 10 to 20 mm and command premium prices. Black South Sea pearls are grown in large oysters native to French Polynesia. Available in a range of dark, silvery colors, they are extremely beautiful and priced accordingly.
Freshwater pearls, which are grown around the world, exhibit less luster than salt-water varieties and are available in a range of unique free-form shapes. They are significantly more affordable than salt-water pearls.
Mobe pearls are hemispherical selections grown against the shell of oysters to create their flat back.These are generally used in earrings and rings.
Today, virtually all pearls are cultured—cultivated through natural processes with the aid of man.Natural pearls occurring with no human assistance are extremely rare. The culturing process involves surgically implanting a small polished shell bead and mantle tissue in each oyster. The oyster responds by secreting layers nacre, a crystalline substance that becomes the pearl. During this process, the oysters are returned to the sea and carefully cared for until the growing process is complete.

JUDGING PEARLS

“When judging quality in pearls, consider luster, color, color overtone, surface condition, shape and size,”says Dillon. “Luster, perhaps the most important consideration, is the glow of light reflecting back through the layers of the pearl nacre. Body color is the actual pearl color, while color overtone is simply a rose or greenish cast.”
Select pearls with smooth surface conditions, avoiding cracks, blemishes and pits. Bear in mind, however,that all pearls have minor imperfections. The best pearls are perfectly round. Larger pearls generally command higher price. However, the pearl’s luster and thickness of the nacre also are key.
David Dillon is extremely knowledgeable about pearl quality and artistry, having grown up in the pearl business. For the past fifteen years, his parents have owned a thriving pearl wholesale and retail business.Dillon and his mother travel to the pearl-growing capitals of the world—including Japan, Australia and Tahiti—to select only the highest quality merchandise for Dillon Pearl Corp. Since the successful young wholesaler opened his doors in 1996, business has almost quadrupled, as the company gained a reputation for offering a unique combination of high-quality, variety and reasonable price.

Dillon Pearl is located at 20 West 47th Street, suite 20R, New York, in the heart of Manhattan’s jewelry district. To learn more about pearls in general and the Dillon Pearl line, in particular, visit their website at http://www.dillonpearl.com.

Cordially,
Jeanne Marie Phillips
Jeanne-Marie Phillips
Marketing Director, Dillon Pearl Corp.

About Us & General History

2007-11-29T08:20:00.000-08:00

DILLON PEARL SHOWCASES
THE BEST IN FASHIONABLE
GIFTS FROM THE SEA

Innovative Wholesaler Offers Quality, Variety and Value in Magnificent Pearl Jewelry

Precious, lustrous, pure and magnificent! For thousands of years pearls have been prized for their unique beauty and have captured the imagination of fair maidens and warriors of yore, generations of fashionable women, as well as followers of today’s cutting-edge contemporary fashions.

Ancient Greek brides wore pearls on their wedding days, believing the gems would promote marital bliss.During the crusades, brave knights marched into battle emblazoned with pearls as a protector against harm and misfortune. A single strand of these lustrous gifts from the sea can transform even the most simple dress into special, memorable fashion statement. Perhaps pearls have long been a classic fashion accessory because their soft, warm glow helps the beauty of every woman shine.

“Today, look for pearls in unusual colors, sizes and shapes—as the focal point of a beautiful brooch featuring a thoroughly modern design, in earrings surrounded by gleaming diamonds and suspended from ribbons of white gold, clustered by the dozen in a fun fifties-inspired brooch with a sea foam motif,” says David Dillon, president of Dillon Pearl Corp., an innovative young wholesaler specializing in the handsome gems.

He adds that today pearls are enjoying burgeoning popularity. In fact, almost 89 percent of retailers reported an increase in pearl sales this year over last year, according to the Cultured Pearl Information Center in New York. The average jump was 18 percent, with retailers crediting heavy national pearl promotion for the gain. “And while a classic strand of pearls will continue to be a fashion staple, think of pearls in innovative ways—as the shining stars of a whole new breed of fashion accessories,” David Dillon adds.

Dillon should know because his company offers a large selection of unusual, beautiful and creative jewelry. A host of well-known and up-and-coming jewelry designers utilize his shop for its well-stocked drawers of carefully matched strands and special one-of-a kind gems to design their own magnificent creations.
“To many people,” notes Dillon, “traditional, beautiful Japanese Akoya pearls are synonymous with the highly prized fashion item. However, today South Sea pearls—which are significantly larger and more varied in shape—are inspiring a stunning array of new concepts in pearl jewelry. Especially popular are striking large silvery black Tahitian pearls, which are being grown in greater number, promoted with new enthusiasm and playing a major role in contemporary fashion. Designers also are taking innovative directions with Akoya pearls.

A look at the precious cache offered by Dillon Pearl offers a glimpse at the best of the new pearl fashion scene. Extremely popular are beautiful pendants featuring large opulent South Sea pearls—including white and Tahitian black. Settings range from simple diamond cups and floral inspired designs too ornate art deco styles.

Also look for an inspired array of pearl rings, again featuring South Sea pearls in both white and black and accented with diamonds or other attractive gemstones. “Often, the overall design is simple and elegant to showcase the natural good looks and quality of the pearls,” notes Dillon.
Extremely popular this year are earrings in all manner of shapes, colors and sizes. Dillon Pearl’s opulent hanging earnings include a wide range of selections, such as lustrous pearls suspended from diamond-encrusted hearts, chains and spheres. Also look for South Sea studs ranging from jumbo white pearls accented with diamonds and other precious gems to simple, tailored styles surrounded with yellow and white gold. Styling runs the gamut from spectacular special occasion jewelry to handsome choices for everyday wear.

Other earrings include large striking Mobe pearl designs as well as simple Akoya studs. Another Dillon Pearl specialty is single and multi-strand Akoya and South Sea pearl necklaces, which can be personalized with the attractive clasps of your choice. In fact, Dillon notes that the company carries many fashion clasps that are so uniquely handsome they become the focal point of the jewelry itself. Also adding interest to strands are accents of precious and semi-precious gemstones—used as spacers or suspended as drops to add color and dazzle. Pearl bracelets, also enjoying great popularity, feature similar styling.

“All our pearl strands are carefully matched for size, color and overall quality,” notes Dillon. “BlackTahitian pearl strands are particularly striking.”

VARIETIES OF CULTURED PEARLS

Traditionally grown in Japan, Akoya pearls are pure white, lustrous pearls generally ranging in size from 3 to 8 mm. These are extremely popular in the U.S. and large percentages are strung into simple strand jewelry. Today, these pearls also are grown in China.

White South Sea pearls are cultivated in Australia and Indonesia in tropical oysters. They range in size from 10 to 20 mm and command premium prices. Black South Sea pearls are grown in large oysters native to French Polynesia. Available in a range of dark, silvery colors, they are extremely beautiful and priced accordingly.

Freshwater pearls, which are grown around the world, exhibit less luster than salt-water varieties and are available in a range of unique free-form shapes. They are significantly more affordable than salt water pearls.
Mobe pearls are hemispherical selections grown against the shell of oysters to create their flat back.These are generally used in earrings and rings.

Today, virtually all pearls are cultured—cultivated through natural processes with the aid of man.Natural pearls occurring with no human assistance are extremely rare. The culturing process involves surgically implanting a small polished shell bead and mantle tissue in each oyster. The oyster responds by secreting layers nacre, a crystalline substance that becomes the pearl. During this process, the oysters are returned to the sea and carefully cared for until the growing process is complete.

JUDGING PEARLS

“When judging quality in pearls, consider luster, color, color overtone, surface condition, shape and size,”says Dillon. “Luster, perhaps the most important consideration, is the glow of light reflecting back through the layers of the pearl nacre. Body color is the actual pearl color, while color overtone is simply a rose or greenish cast.”

Select pearls with smooth surface conditions, avoiding cracks, blemishes and pits. Bear in mind, however,that all pearls have minor imperfections. The best pearls are perfectly round. Larger pearls generally command higher price. However, the pearl’s luster and thickness of the nacre also are key.

David Dillon is extremely knowledgeable about pearl quality and artistry, having grown up in the pearl business. For the past fifteen years, his parents have owned a thriving pearl wholesale and retail business.Dillon and his mother travel to the pearl-growing capitals of the world—including Japan, Australia and Tahiti—to select only the highest quality merchandise for Dillon Pearl Corp. Since the successful young wholesaler opened his doors in 1996, business has almost quadrupled, as the company gained a reputation for offering a unique combination of high-quality, variety and reasonable price.

Dillon Pearl is located at 20 West 47th Street, suite 20R, New York, in the heart of Manhattan’s jewelry district. To learn more about pearls in general and the Dillon Pearl line, in particular, visit their website at www.dillonpearl.com
(888) 869-6831

Cordially,
Jeanne Marie Phillips
Marketing Director, Dillon Pearl Corp.

Cultured Pearl Quality Inspection

2007-11-29T08:14:00.000-08:00

Cultured Pearl Quality Inspection

Nacre Thickness
All pearls will be inspected for thickness of nacre. Pearls with nacre so thin that the core nuclei can be seen through the nacre will be rejected.

Luster and Clarity

Pearls with low luster will be rejected. Pearls that are strongly permeated by calcite and organic matter,
resulting in muddy gray, brown or blue colors, will be rejected.

Surface Blemishes

Pearls that exhibit excessive amounts of blemishes, such as bumps, pits and scratches, will be rejected.

Nacre Damage

Pearls that exhibit visible cracks in the nacre or on the nuclei will be rejected. Pearls that display any signs of nacre peeling or chipping will be rejected.

Processing

Pearls exhibiting signs of damage form bleaching or dyeing or which are judged to unstable in terms of permanency of appearance and quality,
will be rejected. Pearls which display characteristics of uneven dye methods or over-dyeing resulting in excess dye residue on the surface of the pearl, will be rejected.

Source: JPEA: Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

2007-11-29T08:10:00.001-08:00

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEARL TYPES?

The world’s oceans contain many oysters, most of which can grow a pear of some form. Most relatively abundant oysters have no commercial value in a pearling sense because they do not produce mother-of-pearl nor do they produce pearls of significant value.

They key to understanding the different types of pearls available comes from understanding the differences between the various types of “mother shell” or “host oyster” which produces the pearl. Not all pearls are born equal, hence the wide variation in appearance and value of cultured pearls.

Mother-of-pearl oysters are one of nature’s true mysteries. The oceanic mother-of pearl oysters are members of the Pinctada family and are responsible for almost all the world’s great pearls. Just three species of the Pinctada oyster family produce the vast majority of oceanic pearls. These are the South Sea pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima), the Tahitian black pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) and the Japanese Akoya pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata). Varieties of freshwater mussel, including Hyriopsis and Cristaria produce Freshwater pearls.

It is important to note that while virtually all pearls sold in jewelry stores today are cultured, the quantity, size, shape and color each oyster species produces is up to Mother Nature. South Sea cultured pearls are the rarest, and therefore the most valuable. Tahitian cultured pearls are slightly more abundant, but rare as well. Akoya cultured pearls of good quality are more readily available compare to its cousins. Freshwater cultured pearls are the most abundant and therefore the least expensive of the pearls available from retailers today.

Source: Paspaley

Tahitian Quality Information

2007-11-29T08:10:00.000-08:00

Tahitian Quality Information:

A: Pearl has very good luster, and exhibits one visible imperfection or a few slight imperfections at the most, distributed over less than 10% of the surface.
B: Pearl has a good to medium luster, and exhibits some slight imperfections visible to the naked eye, distributed over 30% of the surface.
C: Pearl has a medium luster, and exhibits several slight imperfections visible to the naked eye, distributed over 60% of the surface.

Color Information:

Dark Grey Color: Medium Dark to Dark Grey
Medium Grey Color: Medium to Medium Dark Grey
Fancy Color: Overtones of pink, blue, gold, green, silver and reddish purple

Source: Paspaley

Freshwater Cultured Pearls

2007-11-29T08:08:00.001-08:00

Freshwater Cultured Pearls

Although originally produced in Japan, 90% of the world’s Freshwater Pearls now come from China. Most grow in sizes from 2.0 to 5.0 mm and are irregularly shaped. With improved farming techniques, however, China now produces round white Freshwater Pearls in sizes up to 9.5 mm. Many Freshwater Pearls are dyed in a variety of popular hues. Unlike other Pearls on the market, Freshwater Pearls typically do not come from an oyster at all. In China, most such pearls are farmed in varieties of freshwater mussels, including Hyriopsis and Cristaria. Each shell can produce up to 100 pearls simultaneously.

Freshwater Cultured Pearl Care

Pearl are not for everyday wear, and one should take care when wearing them. Avoid exposure to the heat and protect from scratches and harsh blows. Avoid contact with chemicals, especially perfumes, perspiration, and hair sprays. To clean, wipe gently with a moist cloth.

Source: Paspaley

Freshwater Cultured Pearls

2007-11-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

Akoya Cultured Pearls

2007-11-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

Akoya Cultured Pearls

Pearls have been an object of desire from the first days of human society. Throughout Asia and the Mediterranean, Pearls were treasured not only for their rare beauty but as symbols of harmony, purity, and wisdom. Down through the centuries, man’s desire for the perfection of Pearls has not waned. The exotic, lustrous skin of Pearls, smooth and silky to hand and eye, embodies all that is feminine.

Pearls are truly a gift of the sea. Born from the Pinctada fucata martensii oyster, Akoya Pearls are what people typically imagine when thinking of a pearl. Made famous by Kokichi Mikimoto, who helped perfect modern-day pearl culturing techniques, Akoya cultured pearls grow between 2.0 and 9.0 mm. They are primarily farmed in salt water through central and southern Japan and along the coast of China.

The overtones of the average Akoya Pearl range from a pale cream to a pinkish white, champagne and silvery grey. These overtone hues, when properly matched to the complexion of their owner, are what make Pearl jewelry a unique statement of perfection and grace.

No other jewel makes the transition from day to evening as smoothly as Pearls. In addition to the classic strands and stud earrings, creative new designs are helping to bring these alluring gems to the forefront of the fashion world. Either by themselves or paired with other colored gems, lustrous Akoya Pearls offer glamorous sophistication and timeless elegance.

Quality Information:

A: Color range- white, pinkish or creamy; lightly blemished; good shape; good luster
AA: Color range- white, pinkish or creamy; clean; good shape; good luster
AAA: Color range- white, pinkish, or creamy; clean; good shape; high luster
Black (dyed): Color range- grey to black with pink, green, or blue or purple overtones

Aokya Cultured Pearl Care

Pearl are not for everyday wear, and one should take care when wearing them. Avoid exposure to the heat and protect from scratches and harsh blows. Avoid contact with chemicals, especially perfumes, perspiration, and hair sprays. To clean, wipe gently with a moist cloth.

Source: Paspaley

Tahitian Cultured Pearls

2007-11-29T07:46:00.000-08:00

Tahitian Cultured Pearls, often called “Black Pearls” are found in the turquoise-colored lagoons of French Polynesia in the South Seas. A jewel of the sea and a living symbol of purity and perfection, Tahitian pearls have long had a reputation of exceptional value and rarity.

Tahitian Cultured Pearls are born from the black-lipped oyster, known scientifically as Pinctada margaritifera. These giant tropical mollusks can live for 30 years in the wild, can weigh up to 11 pounds and can grow to reach a foot in diameter. In the 19th century, free-diving Polynesians braved sharks, depths of up to 130 feet, and the bends to harvest the valuable mollusks. Although only one in 15,000 oysters produced a natural pearl, the inner shell was so popular with the Europeans button industry that the resource was eventually devastated.

Today, a complex cultivation process has resurrected the pear industry in French Polynesia. The French Polynesian Government has strict regulations on pearl production which assures quality and value.

Quality Information:

A: Pearl has very good luster, and exhibits one visible imperfection or a few slight imperfections at the most, distributed over less than 10% of the surface.
B: Pearl has a good to medium luster, and exhibits some slight imperfections visible to the naked eye, distributed over 30% of the surface.
C: Pearl has a medium luster, and exhibits several slight imperfections visible to the naked eye, distributed over 60% of the surface.

Color Information:

Dark Grey Color: Medium Dark to Dark Grey
Medium Grey Color: Medium to Medium Dark Grey
Fancy Color: Overtones of pink, blue, gold, green, silver and reddish purple

Tahitian Cultured Pearl Care

Pearl are not for everyday wear, and one should take care when wearing them. Avoid exposure to the heat and protect from scratches and harsh blows. Avoid contact with chemicals, especially perfumes, perspiration, and hair sprays. To clean, wipe gently with a moist cloth.

Source: Paspaley

The Birth of a Pearl

2007-11-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

At last, the oysters are ready for harvest. Those that have survived such perils of the sea as typhoons, suffocating red tides, and attacks from predators are brought ashore and opened. If everything has gone well, the result is a lovely and lustrous and very valuable pearl.

www.dillonpearl.com

Source: Cultured Pearl Information Center

Pampered Oysters

2007-11-22T15:56:00.000-08:00

Periodically, the pearl-bearing oysters are lifted from the sea for cleaning and health treatments. Seaweed, barnacles and other undersea growths that might impede feeding are removed from their shells. Then the shells are treated with medicinal compounds that discourage parasites from injuring the oysters.

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Pearl Rafts

2007-11-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

The nucleated oysters are suspended from rafts such as these in order to provide the best growing conditions. Pearl technicians check water temperatures and feeding conditions daily at various water depths and then move the oysters up or down to take advantage of the best growing conditions.

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Back to the Sea

2007-11-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

The nucleated oysters are returned to the sea. There, in sheltered bays rich in natural nutrients, the oysters feed and grow, depositing lustrous layers of nacre around their nuclei. In winter, the oysters are moved south to warmer waters.

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Enter the nucleus

2007-10-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

Enter the NucleusHighly skilled technicians open the live pearl oysters carefully, then surgically implant a small polished shell bead and a piece of mantle tissue in each. The shell bead serves as the nucleus around which the oyster secretes layer after layer of nacre, the crystalline substance that forms the pearl.

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Marie Antoinette Drop Pearl Necklace

2007-10-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

A neckalce owned by Marie Antoinette will be auctioned in London in December 12, 2007.

Marie Antoinette, the French queen, died by the guillotine in 1793.

The queen gave the pearls to Lady Sutheland before the emabassy pulled out of France in 1792.

Lady Sutherland was the wife of British Ambassador Goerge Levenson-Gower.

The necklace was made for an 1849 wedding of the Sutherlnad-Levenson-Gower family.

It has a fringe of 21 gray drop-shaped pearls hanging from a diamond collar, which is set with 12 button-shaped, gold mounter pearls.

Source: Christie's International

Source: Linda Sandler @ Bloomberg News

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