New Auction Record Set by "Blue Moon Diamond"

On November 11, 2015, a new record for any diamond ever offered at auction was set, according to a Reuters report. The "Blue Moon Diamond" sold for 48.6 million Swiss francs — the equivalent of $48.4 million — at Sotheby’s in Geneva, Switzerland to a Hong Kong buyer, making it the world’s most expensive diamond. Surprisingly to those in attendance, the successful bidder renamed the diamond, “Blue Moon of Josephine.”

At 12.03 carats, the Blue Moon is the largest cushion-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction. It is mounted on a ring and has the top grading of fancy vivid blue. Sotheby’s gave the diamond a pre-sale estimate of $35 million to $55 million.

Auctioneer David Bennett called the Blue Moon the "highest price per carat" ever obtained for any kind of stone, and the diamond set a world record for any jewel at more than $4 million per carat.
The blue diamond stone was found in South Africa’s famed Cullinan mine in January 2014. The distinctive blue color in diamonds is attributed to trace amounts of the element boron in the crystal structure.

The Blue Diamond Tops the Graff Pink

Until recently, the auction record had been held for five years by the Graff Pink diamond, which British billionaire jeweler Laurence Graff bought for almost $46 million at another Sotheby’s auction in Geneva in 2010.

Graff paid 45.4 million francs — almost $46 million — for the diamond and quickly renamed it, the “Graff Pink.” The rare pink diamond is rectangular shaped, and weighs 24.78 carats. It is among less than two percent of the world’s diamonds categorized as “potentially flawless” because it needs repolishing.

Graff’s buying price of $46 million at the time topped a previous world record for the selling price of a jewel at auction.

In 2013, Sotheby’s auctioned a pink diamond called the “Pink Star” for $83.2 million, but the buyer ultimately defaulted on the payment. The stone remains in the auction house’s inventory.

Other Big Sales at Sotheby’s

At the November 11 Sotheby’s auction, royal jewels, colored gemstones, and designer pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Harry Winston were among 410 lots that found new owners, bringing in $139 million.

A fancy vivid purple-pink, pear-shaped diamond ring sold for 13.9 million Swiss francs — approximately $14 million — the second-highest lot of the night.

An 8.48 carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring that belonged to the late Maria-Jose, the last Queen of Italy reached just 5.2 million francs, surprising those in attendance that it failed to meet the reserve price set by the seller.

Of interest to history buffs, a Cartier diamond and pearl tiara that survived Germany’s sinking of the Lusitania cruise liner 100 years ago — along with its Canadian owner Marguerite Lady Allan — sold for $800,000 after heated bidding, doubling its estimate.

A 15.20 carat fancy orange-pink diamond pendant owned by former James Bond actor Sean Connery sold for more than 4 million francs, tripling its estimate.

'Tis the Season to Sell Some Jewelry

The holidays are coming quickly, and with them the added expense of food, gifts, and travel. If you need some extra income, consider selling some of your nice, but unwanted, jewelry at your local pawn shop. Here’s some expert advice to get top dollar!

Understand the process. You don’t have to know the exact value of the jewelry you are selling, but it’s a good idea to have a general and realistic idea of what your piece is worth, and how the transaction will take place. With gold jewelry, for example, an appraiser will quote you a price based on the weight of the gold content—indicated in karats—also taking into account the current market price, and minus a handling fee. Solid gold is 24 karats. Most gold jewelry is less than that because it is mixed with other metals. If it contains precious or semi-precious gems, that should increase the value.

Get it appraised in person. There are many online jewelry companies that advertise that they buy and sell online. Some are legitimate, and others are not. How they generally work is, you mail them jewelry you want to sell, they appraise it and mail you back a check. To ensure that you are happy with the appraisal and amount offered, it’s best to get your jewelry appraised in person by a reputable appraiser at an established jeweler.

Seek out several appraisals. It’s smart to shop around and get your jewelry or coins appraised at more than one location. Once you have some jewelry stores or pawn shops in mind, call ahead and make sure the appraiser is Gemological Institute of America (GIA) educated. The GIA is the industry standard for gem and precious metal appraisals. A GIA-educated appraiser will abide by the strictest industry ethics and methods to ensure that a seller is given the fair market price for the piece being sold.

Realize the market fluctuates. The price of gold and silver changes daily based on various factors, including market demand, manufacturing supply, and the financial markets. It’s important to understand that the price you are quoted for a piece applies to the day that the piece is appraised and is based on the market value in the industry at that time.

On appraisal day … Don’t be afraid to haggle, within reason, and make sure your jewelry never leaves your eyesight. A legitimate appraiser will make a point to explain the process, do the appraisal in front of you, and answer any questions. Finally, trust your instinct. If you feel comfortable with the appraiser and the price and are ready to sell, go for it. If not, politely decline and say you’re going to think about it. Remember, selling your gold, silver or estate jewelry is not just about getting the most money—it’s also about the transaction and being happy with the outcome.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for jewelry for a holiday gift, Adina has a lovely collection of estate, vintage and antique jewelry at true wholesale prices to help you help you make the perfect choice and save on your holiday budget. We have an extensive collection of fine jewelry necklaces, earrings, rings, pendants and more. Make sure you visit Adina by Empire Jeweler’s online store this season.

Know Your Gemstones? Citrine and Topaz True/False Quiz

Welcome to the November blog by Adina Jewelers! Think you know your gemstones? Test your knowledge of November’s birthstones, citrine and topaz, with our true or false quiz! Scroll down for the answers—but don’t cheat!

1. Citrines are quartz crystals commonly found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
2. The common color of citrines is blue and green.
3. The word citrine is derived from the French word, citrin, which means yellow.
4. Citrine is the gemstone for the zodiac sign of Scorpio, and the gemstone given for the 13th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
5. In ancient times, citrine was worn as protection against bad skin, evil thoughts, snakebites, and even the plague.
6. A gift of citrine is a symbol of flexibility and quick learning.
7. Some believe citrine began as amethyst, the purple quartz, with the heat from molten rock changing it to yellow quartz.
8. The presence of fluorine usually indicates that topaz is likely to be found.
9. When topaz has yellow or green overtones, it is known as Imperial topaz, and can be very rare and expensive.
10. It is widely believed that the word topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word, topas, which means fire.
11. Topaz jewelry is given for the 4th, 19th and 23rd wedding anniversaries.
12. Topaz is known as the “stone of the gods” for its strength.
13. A gift of yellow topaz symbolizes friendship, strength, wisdom, and courage.
14. Topaz was believed to ease itchy feet and cravings for sweets.
15. The ancient Egyptians believed yellow topaz’s color came from the glow cast by the sun god, Ra.
16. The ancient Greeks believed topaz could make its wearer fly.

November birthstone true/false answers:

1. True.
2. False. The common color of citrines is yellow and orange.
3. False. The word citrin is a French word which means lemon.
4. True.
5. True.
6. False. Citrine given as a gift symbolizes strength and hope.
7. True.
8. True.
9. False. When topaz has red or pink overtones, it is known as Imperial topaz.
10. True.
11. True.
12. False. Topaz is known as the “stone of strength.”
13. True.
14. False. Topaz was believed to ease bad tempers, cure insanity, and help insomnia.
15. True.
16. False. The ancient Greeks believed topaz could make its wearer invisible.

Adina Gemstone Q&A: Opals

The opal is the birthstone for the month of October—the Zodiac sign of Libra—and the 14th wedding anniversary gemstone. Opals also have a rich history dating back to Ethiopia about 4,000 B.C. Whether you were born in October or not, test your knowledge of opals with Adina by Empire Jewelers' True or False quiz! Scroll down for the answers—but don’t cheat!

1. The opal is an ancient mineral known as petrified silica gel that is found deep in the earth’s core where geothermal hot springs once existed.
2. Opals are most commonly white in color, and usually contain a rainbow-like iridescence known as "opalescence” which changes the colors that appear in the stone depending on the angle it is viewed.
3. The subcategory of opals known as precious opals are the most common and in demand because of their "opulence.”
4. The word opal is derived from the Latin word "opalus," meaning precious jewel, as well as “upala,” the Sanskrit name for precious stone.
5. Opals are given to celebrate a 14th wedding anniversary, and are a symbol of faithfulness and confidence.
6. The Great Bard, Shakespeare, loved opals so much, he nicknamed them the “queen of the gems.”
7. The ancient Romans called the opal “Cupid Paederos,” which translates to “a child beautiful as love.”
8. In ancient Rome, opals were ground up and consumed because they were believed to be very nutritious.
9. The opal is Australia’s national gemstone, and its indigenous people call opals “the flash in the desert.”
10. Goober Pedy, Australia is known as “The Opal Capital of the World” because 51 percent of the world’s supply of opals are mined there.
11. In 2008, NASA discovered opal deposits on Mars! Since opal is made up of mostly water, Mars may have contained water for billions of years.

October Birthstone True or False Answers:


1. False. Opals are found near the earth's surface where geothermal hot springs once existed.
2. True.
3. False. Precious opals are the most in demand because of their "opalescence” or “play of color.” This is caused by a hydrous silicon dioxide material that causes the gemstone to flash iridescent colors when the opal is viewed from different angles.
4. True.
5. True.
6. True.
7. False. “Cupid Paederos” translates to “a child beautiful as love.”
8. False. Ancient Romans would grind up and eat opals because they believed they had healing properties and the power to ward off bad dreams.
9. False. The indigenous people of Australia call the opal “the fire in the desert.”
10. False. The name of the city is actually Coober Pedy, Australia.
11. True.

If you’re looking for opal jewelry, we’ve got an exquisite collection of fine opals necklaces, earrings, rings, pendants and more. Make sure you visit Adina by Empire Jeweler’s extensive online store. You’ll find antique and vintage estate opal jewelry at true wholesale prices.

Sapphire History and Lore

This month’s blog is a celebration of beautiful blue sapphires. Considered one of the most royal gemstones, September’s birthstone is rich in history and lore.

Sapphires have appeared in some of the most ornate and beautiful jewelry pieces ever created. Here’s a glimpse at some of the world’s most famous and highly valued sapphire jewelry pieces.

Princess Diana’s engagement ring

Following Prince Charles’ proposal, Lady Diana Spencer chose a diamond and blue sapphire engagement ring from a Garrard catalog, instead of having a diamond ring custom made for her, which was the royal custom.  The decision was controversial, but also launched her reputation as “The People’s Princess.” Since then, affordable replicas of her ring became so popular, that it became known as “the commoner’s ring.”

The ring has a large oval sapphire—estimated to be between 9 and 12 carats— surrounded by 14 round diamonds set in 18K white gold. The ring cost around $60,000 when it was purchased in 1981, and today has been estimated value between $500,000 and $4 million. Prince William inherited the ring following Princess Diana’s untimely death, and famously presented it to Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, when he proposed to her in November 2010.

Maria Alexandrovna’s sapphire brooch

Originally from Sri Lanka, The Maria Alexandrovna sapphire was purchased by Alexander II at the London Great Exhibition of 1862, and presented to his wife, Maria Alexandrovna. That is where it gets its name.

This sapphire is a 260.37-carat oval with an evenly distributed medium-dark saturated blue color. The sapphire was later set in a brooch consisting of 56.60 carats of smaller diamonds.

The Star of India

Discovered in Sri Lanka about 300 years ago and currently on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the Star of India is about 2 billion years old and weighs 563 carats—about the size of a golf ball—making it the largest gem-quality blue star sapphire in the world.
The presence of the mineral rutile gives the gemstone’s appearance a slightly milky quality, as well as the distinctive star effect, known as asterism. Tiny fibers of rutile in a three-fold pattern reflect incoming light in the star pattern. In addition to its great size, the Star of India is unique because it has asterisms on both sides of the gemstone.

On October 29, 1964, the world-famous sapphire was stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Several months later, the uninsured Star of India was recovered in a locker in a Miami bus station.

The Stuart Sapphire

If you love jewels and ever visit London, be sure to see the Stuart Sapphire, which often goes unnoticed because it is located at the back of the Imperial State Crown.

The 104-carat Stuart Sapphire is a fine blue—though flawed—gem. It is oval in shape, about 1½ inches by 1 inch in width, and is set in a gold brooch. The gem is drilled at one end, probably so that it could be worn as a pendant.

Dating back to 1214, the Stuart Sapphire was owned by members of the Royal House of Stuart, for whom it was named. Robert II, the first monarch of the Stuart dynasty, was the first to own it, and it was later inherited by James II, who took it with him to France when he was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89.

James II gave the sapphire to his son James Edward, who passed it on to his son, Charles Edward. Today, it is on display as part of the British Crown Jewels collection at the Tower of London, and is located on the back side of the British Imperial State Crown.

If you’re looking for sapphire jewelry, we’ve got an exquisite collection of fine sapphire necklaces, earrings, rings, pendants and more. Make sure you visit Adina by Empire Jeweler’s extensive online store. You’ll find antique and vintage estate sapphire jewelry at true wholesale prices.

Understanding Estate, Vintage, and Antique Jewelry

Summer is a great time to scour yard and estate sales for interesting fine jewelry pieces. There are great finds out there, but it’s sometimes difficult to know what you’re looking at if you don’t first arm yourself with some knowledge about jewelry before hitting the sales. Here’s an overview of the definitions and differences between estate, vintage, and antique jewelry.

Estate, vintage, and antique jewelry have similar meanings but the differences between them can greatly influence the value of the jewelry pieces. Before you purchase a previously owned piece of jewelry, it’s important to know the differences.

Estate jewelry: An Umbrella Term

Many people consider estate jewelry to be any piece of jewelry that has been passed down from a previous generation, but it actually refers to any piece of jewelry that was previously owned, regardless of its age.

Estate jewelry can be broken down into two types: vintage jewelry that is less than 100 years old and antique jewelry that is more than 100 years old.

For more on the difference between vintage and antique jewelry, we reference about style.com’s jewelry article, “What is the Difference Between Antique, Vintage, and Estate Jewelry?”

Vintage jewelry: Less than 100 years old

To be considered vintage, jewelry has to be at least 20 to 30 years old, and created between 1910 and 1990. Vintage is probably the most common term of the three, since it encompasses a large collection of jewelry ages.

The most commonly collected are vintage pieces from between 1940 and 1970. That includes the glamorous, Hollywood-inspired 1940s jewelry, the fabulous Jackie Kennedy-inspired jewelry of the ‘60s, and even the bold jewelry of the 1980s.

Jewelry eras included within vintage include: Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Retro, and Art Deco.

Antique jewelry: More than 100 years old

Antique jewelry is any piece of jewelry that is at least a century old. So, by definition, all antique jewelry is considered vintage, but not all vintage jewelry is considered antique.

When shopping for antique jewelry, beware of the term “antique style,” which is a tip off that the piece is not really antique, but rather made in the style of older, antique jewelry. Anytime the word “style” is used when describing a piece of jewelry it most likely means the item is a reproduction.

Many pieces from the 1920's are now considered antique, especially those made in the earlier part of decade. Jewelry eras included in antique jewelry are Art Deco, Edwardian, Belle Eqoque, Art Nouveau, Victorian, and Georgian.

It’s important to remember that the use of the terms estate, vintage, and antique can be confusing, and in some cases misleading, so it is very important to understand the differences to avoid accidentally buying a reproduction piece.

Source: about/com/jewelry

Why are Mikimoto pearls so popular?

Throughout the world, when you hear Mikimoto, you think pearls. What’s the history of Mikimoto pearls? Here’s an explanation, courtesy of thepearlgirls.com.

Most jewelry lovers, especially those who are fond of pearls, have heard the name, Mikimoto. Mikimoto Kokichi had a huge impact on the pearl industry. In 1888, he started what many believe to be the first cultured pearl farm in Japan.

By 1893, he had his first cultured pearl, and in 1896, he received a patent for producing hemispherical pearls. His patent didn’t really work commercially, so he adopted the "Mise-Nishikawa method” in 1916, and that’s when his cultured pearl business really took off. The cultured pearl industry exploded as well, and by 1935, there were 350 pearl farms in Japan producing 10 million cultured pearls annually.

At this point, the natural pearl farmers started to fear the competition. Prior to the early 1900s, the pearl market consisted of natural pearls—pearls created spontaneously by nature. Natural pearls are much rarer and more expensive than cultured pearls, so naturally when Mikimoto entered the scene, offering prettier and more affordable pearls, the natural pearl farmers started losing business. In fact, they sued him!

The cultured pearl business also put many pearl divers out of business. At that time, The Persian Gulf was known for its natural pearls, and divers worked consistently to find them. When cultured pearls flooded the market, the demand for natural pearls fell drastically, and many divers and others in the natural pearly industry lost work, and even their livelihoods.

The word “cultured” came about to distinguish natural pearls from non-natural pearls. Cultured pearls were considered by some to be less desirable and authentic than natural pearls.

So, who has Mikimoto pearls? Many people from the WWII “Greatest Generation.” Following the Second World War, after the Allied Forces occupied Japan, they feared an illegal pearl trade, so pearl sales were discouraged from being sold within Japan. Instead, the Japanese sold pearls in military stores frequented by Allied troops.

While Mikimoto pearls aren’t necessarily the best pearls in the world, they can certainly be considered some of the oldest cultured pearls from one of the oldest pearl companies in existence with the greatest name recognition; similar to the Levi’s brand and jeans.

Mikimoto Kokichi has earned the distinct honor of being the founder of our modern-day cultured pearls, and will always carry the legacy of almost single-handedly launching the cultured pearl market worldwide.

If you’re looking for quality pearls, make sure you visit Adina by Empire Jeweler’s remarkable online store. You’ll find an exquisite selection of estate and vintage pearl jewelry including necklace strands, earrings, pendants and more at true wholesale prices.