SourcingNov 26, 2024
De Beers Stays With ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ for 2024 Holiday Campaign“Forever Present” highlights gifting opportunities for natural diamonds, celebrating familial, friendship, and romantic relationships.
GradingMay 14, 2019
SSEF Figured Out How Old The ‘Ana Maria Pearl’ Is
The Swiss gem lab has, for the first time, radiocarbon age-dated a historic natural pearl.
SSEF age-dated the “Ana Maria Pearl,” set as a detachable drop on this carved emerald and diamond brooch with an Audemars Piguet watch on the reverse, which the lab said is a first for a historic natural pearl.
Basel, Switzerland—The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF said it has, for the first time, radiocarbon age-dated a historic natural pearl.
The Swiss lab said it used carbon-14 to determine the approximate formation date for the “Ana Maria Pearl,” which is set to go up for sale at Christie’s May 15 jewelry auction in Geneva.
Once owned by Ana María de Sevilla y Villanueva, XIV Marquise of Camarasa (1828-1861), the pearl is presumed to have been discovered during the Spanish conquest of the Americas in the 16th century.
According to SSEF, data from the radiocarbon analysis puts the formation age for the Ana Maria Pearl between the 16th and mid-17th century, which aligns with its documented historic provenance.
Jean-Marc Lunel, senior jewelry expert at Christie’s Geneva, said the SSEF’s age-dating was “a critical addition to the extensive work” the auction house does to document provenance and origin of exceptional items before sale.
SSEF offers the carbon-14 research and services in partnership with the Ion Beam Physics Laboratory at leading university ETH Zurich.
“We are honored to be able to provide additional scientific evidence to the historic provenance of this important natural pearl,” SSEF Director Michael S. Krzemnicki said. “We are in the process of further developing radiocarbon analysis and other scientific techniques to verify the historic provenance of antique jewelry and iconic natural pearls.”
The natural saltwater “Ana Maria Pearl” is a slightly baroque drop shape, weighs 30.24 carats and is set as a detachable drop on a carved emerald and diamond brooch that has an Audemars Piguet watch from the 1960s on the reverse side.
The piece is expected to sell for between $800,000 and $1.2 million when it hits the auction block Wednesday at Christie’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale.
The jewelry auction also features an emerald and diamond sautoir that can be traced to Catherine the Great of Russia and an aquamarine and diamond Fabergé tiara given by a German royal to his bride in the early 1900s.
More on Grading
The Latest
AuctionsNov 26, 2024
Christie’s To Auction Collection of Suzanne Belperron JewelsIt’s one of the most impressive assemblages of the French designer’s pieces ever to come to auction, Christie’s said.
ColumnistsNov 26, 2024
The Smart Lab: 7 Strategies for Refining Your Holiday Email Marketing CampaignsSuccessful email marketing campaigns are all about timing, personalization, and compelling CTAs, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
MajorsNov 26, 2024
GIA’s Board of Governors Adds 2 New MembersRetail leader Lisa Bridge and geology professor Dr. Wendy Bohrson joined the organization’s board.
Weekly QuizNov 26, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 26, 2024
Ben Bridge Jeweler Unveils This Year’s ‘Benny Bear’ Look out for a black bear wearing a purple Santa hat and its zippered tummy pouch made for holding a holiday gift from Ben Bridge Jeweler.
SourcingNov 25, 2024
William Goldberg Celebrates 2 Major Milestones With New Book“The William Goldberg Way” was released in honor of the company’s 75th anniversary and 25 years of its proprietary Ashoka diamond.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
Lab-GrownNov 25, 2024
Lab-Grown Co. Lusix Sold to 2 Companies for $4M Fenix and Dholakia Lab-Grown Diamonds have jointly acquired the Israel-based company, which grows diamonds using solar power.
IndependentsNov 25, 2024
Sophie Bille Brahe Opens First US StoreThe Danish brand has opened an appointment-only location on Madison Avenue in New York City.
Events & AwardsNov 25, 2024
The Original Miami Beach Antique Show Panel to Feature Fred SavageThe actor and watch enthusiast will be part of the show’s education lineup.
EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
