Design by Roberto Coin

Founded in Vicenza in 1977, Roberto Coin was first established by its eponymous creator to produce for internationally acclaimed jewelry brands.

The Roberto Coin brand was introduced in 1996 and within six years had reached the upper echelons of the jewelry world, ranking third internationally and first in Italy. The Roberto Coin brand is mix of centuries-old Italian craftsmanship and modern design techniques. Each and every piece of Roberto Coin jewelry is unique and handcrafted, from the delicate to the bold; all are exquisite. The signature of Roberto Coin is the use of rubies and rubellite. Roberto Coin has 8 boutiques worldwide.

Michigan's state gem : Chlorastrolite

Michigan's state gem is found in one place -- and you won't find it anywhere else. Chlorastrolite is a variety of the mineral pumpellyite, and it is exclusively found along the Keweenaw Peninsula and throughout the Isle Royale archipelago -- Michigan's most remote national park. Commonly called Isle Royale Greenstone, ancient lava flows cooled into basalt.

Within that basalt were small pockets of empty space left behind from gasses in the lava -- and that is where chlorastrolite eventually formed. Chlorastrolite is difficult to find because of its size. Large pieces are extremely rare.

Cutting Lesedi la Rona

Graff has unveiled the first of more than 60 diamonds it plans to polish from the 1,109-carat rough Lesedi La Rona stone it purchased last year from Lucara for $53 million. The Lesedi La Rona was the second-largest rough diamond in history, second only to the 3,106-carat Cullinan. The polished diamonds will range from under a carat to more than 100 carats, mounted as solitaire rings, earrings and pendants.

Lesedi La Rona means “our light” in Botswana's Tswana language. It took master diamond cutters and gemologists more than a year of analysis, cutting and polishing before attaining the first 67 stones.

Wallace Chan

Napoleon’s Good Luck Charm

Napoleon’s Good Luck Charm was commissioned in 1800 after his return from his Egyptian campaign. The talisman was lost in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. During his hasty retreat from the battlefield, his abandoned personal carriage was captured by a Prussian major. Deeply superstitious, Napoleon spent two years planning the intricate design of the jewels that compose the piece. Napoleon’s sphinx was dug up just after WWII in Noordwijk in the Netherlands, around 200 km from the Waterloo Battlefield. It is now in a private collection. It made $ 2m at auction.

The jewels are arranged in a secret code. The pattern of 21 rubies and a blank hole correlates to the ancient Egyptian Tarot code. This Tarot code had its genesis in the Egyptian mystery schools of approximately 1500 BC. The Tarot code was based on a numbered system of 21. The crystal sphinx has both Napoleon Bonaparte’s and Josephine Bonaparte’s initials coded into the design.

December Birthstone - Tanzanite

20 years ago the Mirerani quarries, located in Simanjiro District of Manyara Region used to produce large amounts of tanzanite. Tanzanite production has been drastically dropping, and like every other single source gemstone ever known the deposit is being depleted. Its called a single-generation stone.

There seems to be no end in demand as it has become a favorite of many fashion forward jewelry designers. It has become popular as an engagement stone, and in China, the driver for many gemstone prices. The price of high quality material has started to rise as the Tanzanian government attempts to stop smuggling out of the mining area and the country. Much of the rough was smuggled into neighboring Kenya and exported mostly to India for cutting.

The current price and value for tanzanite changes based on weight. Tanzanite showing a noticeable green component will be worth much less. For richly colored AAA tanzanite, 1ct is about $300-$425 per carat. 2ct sizes reach $450-$650 per carat. 3 carats and up will reach $650-$750 per carat. Tanzanite in the highest grades is a very good investment stone.

Tritium

Tritium is used as a radioactive tracer, in radioluminescent light sources for watches and instruments, and as a fuel for nuclear fusion reactions.

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Naturally occurring tritium is extremely rare on Earth, where trace amounts are formed by the interaction of the atmosphere with cosmic rays. It can be produced by irradiating lithium in a nuclear reactor.

Tritium presents no radiation threat when encapsulated properly. Tritium is used today in glow-in-the-dark lighting for signs and is trending as key ring accessories.

Tritium tubes are gas-filled, thin glass vials with inner surfaces coated with a phosphor. The gaseous tritium in these light sources undergoes beta decay, releasing electrons that cause the phosphor layer to fluoresce. Tritium radiation cannot penetrate intact human skin. Light sources can glow for ten years or more without needing any kind of charging.

552 carat yellow diamond found at Diavik

The biggest diamond ever found in North America has been unearthed by Dominion Diamond Mines and Rio Tinto Group. The 552-carat yellow gem quality stone was found at the Diavik mine and is among the 30 largest diamonds ever unearthed.