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.
SourcingAug 03, 2017
Alrosa Creates a ‘Dynasty’ Out of 179-Carat Diamond
The highlight of five-stone collection is a 51.38-carat round brilliant D VVS1 diamond.
This is a computer-generated image of the 179-carat “The Romanovs” rough diamond. Its name is a nod to Romanov-era ruler Peter the Great, who launched the development of the country’s diamond deposits and ordered the creation of Russia’s first diamond cutting and polishing factory in the early 18th century.
Moscow--In Russia, The Romanovs have become a dynasty again, so to speak.
This week, Russian diamond mining company Alrosa unveiled the diamonds it cut from a 179-carat piece of rough it unearthed in 2015 and dubbed “The Romanovs.”
All told, the big stone produced five diamonds totaling 76.22 carats, a yield of about 43 percent.
They are slated to be sold individually at a special online auction this fall.
Pavel Vinikhin, director of Diamonds Alrosa, the company’s cutting and polishing division, told National Jeweler on Thursday that Alrosa places the value of the five-stone collection, called “The Dynasty,” around $10 million but might change this following upcoming auction previews in Hong Kong and Israel.
The crowning glory of the collection, a diamond also dubbed “The Dynasty,” is a 51.38-carat round brilliant that is the highest-quality diamond of its size ever cut by Alrosa.
The Gemological Institute of America graded The Dynasty as a D color, VVS1 clarity diamond with a triple excellent cut.
Alrosa has cut and polished diamonds that are bigger.
The largest 57-facet round brilliant diamond cut by Alrosa was 52.26 carats, and the mining company also cleaved the pear-shaped 80.59-carat Star of Vilyuisk.
But neither diamond was of the same color and clarity as The Dynasty.
Alrosa created the five diamonds in the collection at its cutting and polishing facilities in Moscow.
The company said its most experienced cutters worked on whittling down the 179-carat Romanovs diamond, discovered at the Nyurbinskaya kimberlite pipe in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) two years ago.
Because of the high-pressure nature of the job--one mistake on a large, valuable stone like The Romanovs could be very costly--the cutters were put on a week-long leave several times, Alrosa said.
Commenting on the creation of the 51.38-carat diamond specifically, Vinikhin said in a press release: “This stone gives a start to a new stage in the development of Alrosa’s cutting division that will actively develop polishing of extra-large and colored diamonds. The Dynasty demonstrated that we can do it at the highest level. We work a lot on the technique, combine modern technologies with the secrets of jewelers of the Russian Imperial Court.”
The other four stones cut from the rough are named for individuals who played a crucial role in the development of the jewelry industry in Russia.
The Orlovs diamond, a 5.05-carat oval
The second-largest stone in the collection, the 16.67-carat round brilliant Sheremetevs diamond
The 1.73-carat pear-shaped Vorontsovs diamond
The 1.39-carat oval-shaped diamond called The Yusupovs
The second-largest stone is
the 16.67-carat round brilliant Sheremetevs diamond, named for Count Pyotr Sheremetev, a companion of Peter the Great and a senator under Catherine the Great who was a customer of the Russian jewelry houses of his time.
There is also the 5.05-carat oval-shaped Orlovs diamond, named for Count Grigory Orlov, the senator who gave the famous 189.6-carat Orlov Diamond to Empress Catherine II.
The 1.73-carat pear-shaped Vorontsovs is named for the one-time chancellor of the Russian Empire, Count Mikhail Vorontsov, while The Yusupovs, a 1.39-carat oval, is a nod to Prince Nikolai Yusupov, who started his family’s massive jewelry collection.
All four are D color and VVS1 clarity.
The online auction of the Dynasty collection is slated to take place in November. Terms of participation are available on Dynasty.Alrosa.Ru.
There is also the 5.05-carat oval-shaped Orlovs diamond, named for Count Grigory Orlov, the senator who gave the famous 189.6-carat Orlov Diamond to Empress Catherine II.
The 1.73-carat pear-shaped Vorontsovs is named for the one-time chancellor of the Russian Empire, Count Mikhail Vorontsov, while The Yusupovs, a 1.39-carat oval, is a nod to Prince Nikolai Yusupov, who started his family’s massive jewelry collection.
All four are D color and VVS1 clarity.
The online auction of the Dynasty collection is slated to take place in November. Terms of participation are available on Dynasty.Alrosa.Ru.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
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.
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.
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.
Weekly QuizNov 14, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
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.
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.
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.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
MajorsNov 14, 2024
Saks Fifth Avenue Cancels Holiday Light DisplayInstead of its usual elaborate display, the store will illuminate its façade and frame the windows to highlight its flagship’s architecture.
WatchesNov 14, 2024
Grand Seiko Partners With Ben Bridge on First Hawaii Store The new Grand Seiko boutique is located in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
Aga Khan Emerald Sells for $8.8M, Sets RecordThe emerald brooch-turned-pendant returned to auction after 55 years, setting a world record for most expensive emerald sold at auction.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
‘Exceptional’ Burmese Ruby Ring Tops $5M at Auction Phillips also sold a 1.21-carat fancy red diamond dubbed the “Red Miracle” for more than $1 million at its jewelry auction in Geneva.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy Star in Holiday Jewelry CampaignsFrom Swarovski to Tiffany & Co., jewelry retailers are enlisting celebrities to highlight their holiday offerings.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Royal Chain’s New Catalog Is Out NowThe 2024-2025 book introduces hundreds of new designs.
FinancialsNov 12, 2024
Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels Continue to Shine for Richemont Richemont’s jewelry sales ticked up 2 percent in the first half of the year, while watch sales plummeted 17 percent.
