Impressions and reactions from IGI Worldwide
In the normal diamond color range 'Z' is classified as most tinted while 'D' is classified as most colorless. So what happened to A, B and C? Are they reserved for new diamond discoveries? Extraterrestrial diamonds? What could possibly be more colorless than most colorless? If there are 23 classifications why not start with 'A' and end with 'W?'
Petra Diamonds, owner of the legendary Cullinan diamond mine, is looking to sell their Koffiefontein mine, a sister operation acquired from DeBeers' in 2007. Established in 1870, Koffiefontein is one of South Africa's oldest diamond mines, located just 50 miles south of Kimberley.
Round brilliant, cushion, and other shapes with depth are historically most popular because they're both aesthetically pleasing and economically practical. Flat shapes are not as common, which is why we wanted to spotlight these creative, rarely seen shapes.
The Red Cross invests 93.5% of dollars they spend on people in need and, according to Christie's, a “significant” cut of the $11 million dollars this diamond is expected to bring in on May 11 will, again, be donated to its namesake organization.
A team of international researchers have discovered a fast-moving exoplanet, nearly 13 times larger than Earth, with vast clouds of liquid metal and corundum - the mineral which forms rubies and sapphires - blowing across the planet.
Fancy colored diamonds are very rare to find in nature. They represent less than 0.01% of diamonds mined in the world - or, about 1 in 10,000. Furthermore, nature produces some colors with far more frequency than others, so a diamond transmitting your favorite color might be, literally, 1 in a million.
The Zoe Report (TZR), one of BDG's brands which collectively reach over 100 million readers per month, recently cited input from IGI on sustainability in the diamond and jewelry industry.
Gold and gemstone prospectors work the streets of New York's illustrious diamond district, but you might not recognize them at first. Kneeling, gloved, scraping and brushing, they could be mistaken for pedantic street cleaners but don't be fooled. Historically some Big Apple prospectors have claimed over $300 per day in "paydirt."
Most of Earth's diamonds formed billions of years ago, during the supercontinent cycle, as carbon fragments around 100 miles deep were crystallized by unimaginable forces of heat and pressure. But diamonds can also flash-form due to meteorite impact.
Creativity in diamond design continues to expand, thanks to the expanded possibilities offered by the CVD growth process. IGI recently graded another groundbreaking creation, an 8.96 carat Fancy Intense Green cannabis-inspired lab grown diamond.
Christian Dior founded his business on the 8th of October in 1946. Located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, his atelier included 8 studios from an 8 story building situated on Avenue Montaigne. Now Christian Dior's favorite number has been "written in stone," to celebrate a historic reopening.
This International Women's Day, as we work to #BreakTheBias and build a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, I'd like to elevate the visibility of creative and influential women in the world of fashion and jewelry.
This Hamsa-inspired pendant, recently graded by IGI, features a single 13.28 carat Fancy Vivid Blue lab grown diamond as the star of the show. Classified as a free form modified…
Many things have evolved or changed since the turn of the century, and especially in the last 2 years. These changes have impacted many aspects of life, including how we interact and how we buy things.
Winifred Mason created her first piece of jewelry in 1940, a pendant made of bronze, copper and silver. In the years that followed she began filling orders for prestigious Fifth Avenue stores in New York, including Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdales. She is considered by many to be the first commercial black jeweler in the USA.
Five centuries ago Mary, Queen of Scots, and Cardinal Richelieu of France helped heart shaped diamonds become recognized as symbols of friendship and goodwill. For some, heart shaped diamonds are at their loveliest when they occur in fancy colors.
Art Smith was a visionary jewelry artist who pioneered many innovations in the mid 1900s, including bold geometric pieces that both cover and reveal the body. Today we spotlight this 11 minute video, celebrating Art Smith.
Town & Country's Lynn Yaeger, who also pens for Vogue and the New Yorker, has offered refreshing perspective for jewelry lovers, portraying the act of self-gifting as "self-care."
In Diamond 4Cs analysis, clarity evaluates a gemstone’s relative freedom from inclusions and blemishes. There are 11 different clarity grades which descend gradually from flawless. However, nuanced gemological analysis notwithstanding, many buyers just want to know, is it "eye-clean?"
The legendary Mir Diamond Mine, built at the order of Joseph Stalin, had a surface operation which lasted 44 years. The recent discovery of an estimated 38 million carats of diamond reserves at Mir have now led to optimism from Mining giant Alrosa about its restoration and further development.