![]() | When outgoing Governor General David Johnston made his final trip to London to visit the Queen in 20017, he had a special gift for the monarch. He presented the Queen with the Sapphire Jubilee Brooch. | ![]() |
Friday 22 January 2021
The Sapphire Jubilee Brooch
Tuesday 19 January 2021
Graff Diamonds
![]() | Graff was founded in London in 1960 by Laurence Graff, and has become the brand of choice for the mega wealthy. The House of Graff is synonymous with the most fabulous jewels in the world. Graff diamond jewellery is exceptional; the quality, the style and workmanship are the best available in the world. | ![]() |
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Graff Diamonds
Saturday 16 January 2021
High Jewel Watches
Secret Cenote Cuff watch from the Wings of Light collection. Black opal and baguette-cut sapphires, diamonds.
Piaget. Les Eternelles L’Esprit du Lion timepiece. Yellow 37.41ct carved beryl. Chanel. |
Cartier, Graff, Vacheron. |
Thursday 14 January 2021
2020 Rio Tinto diamond tender

![]() | The 2.24 carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond known as Argyle Eternity™ headlines. The Argyle Ethereal™, is a 2.45ct square radiant shaped Fancy Intense Purple-Pink. | ![]() |
![]() | The Argyle Sakura™, is a 1.84ct pear shaped Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink. The Argyle Emrys™, is a 0.43ct princess shaped Fancy Deep Grayish Violetish Blue. | ![]() |
![]() | The Argyle Skylar™, is a 0.33ct heart shaped Fancy Dark Gray-Violet. The Argyle Infinité ™, is a 0.70ct oval shaped Fancy Dark Violet-Gray. | ![]() |
Wednesday 13 January 2021
Mandarin Spessartite Garnet
![]() | Mandarin Spessartite Garnet is a rare form of orange garnet colored by manganese. The combination of vivid color and high refractive index make spessartite garnet one of the most brilliant stones in the world of colored gems. Its hardness is around 6.5 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it ideal for jewelry. | ![]() |
![]() | The gems occur in a range of colors from yellowish orange to reddish orange and orange-red. The pure orange, known as mandarin or fanta orange, is very rare and has been found in only a few deposits in Africa, notably in Nigeria. Top spessartites are highly sought after by gem collectors and are considered investment grade. Very little in the way of new material has been found recently. | ![]() |
![]() | The prices and value of spessartite garnet varies according to the size and quality of the gemstone. Color and clarity are the most important factors. Vivid orange is the most valuable. The reddish and orange-red are also valuable in fine quality. Gems with a distinct brownish hue, or heavily included stones, are less valuable. Spessartites are not currently enhanced by any method. | ![]() |
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Tuesday 12 January 2021
Montana Sapphire
![]() | Sapphire has been mined in southwestern Montana for more than 150 years. Operations in Yogo Gulch and Dry Cottonwood Creek have been suspended for many years. Placer deposits at the upper Missouri River and Rock Creek areas still produce gem sapphire. Gold miners first found Montana sapphire crystals in 1865 in the gravel bars along the upper Missouri River. ![]() |
![]() | Before the 1940s, alluvial sapphire deposits were exploited mainly to supply the watch industry, but production fell sharply with the use of synthetic sapphire in watch bearings. Today, seven small-scale commercial operations are active in the Missouri River area, some of which focus on tourists. Due to the lack of significant sapphire-bearing host rock outcrops in the areas, the search for sapphire continues to this day. | ![]() |
![]() | There are at least nine historical sapphire bars (strath terraces). All of the sapphire deposits are distributed along this approximately 14-mile section of the original river. Some gravel bars have a very thick sapphire-bearing layer but are expensive due to extremely thick overburden. | ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Sapphire crystals from the mines at Eldorado Bar generally have different shades of pastel colors, particularly bluish green and greenish blue. Pink, purple, yellow, deep green, and the rare ruby are also found. | ![]() |
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Montana Sapphire
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