Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Lev Leviev Wants His Jewelry Returned

Platinum necklace with 41 square emerald cut diamonds, 73.64 ctw. Photo credit; Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates

Images of several luxury jewelry pieces stolen from a Cannes hotel are now available for view. The items were taken July 28 in a brazen daylight robbery at the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel, the center of life in the luxury resort city. The value of the jewelry stolen, first estimated at $53 million, was upgraded to $136 million, making it the largest jewelry theft in France and one of the largest in the world. 

55.38-carat flawless emerald-cut diamond ring flanked by two tapered baguette diamonds mounted on platinum. Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates

The photographs of the 30 jewelry items are now available on Forbes.com
 
The diamonds used to create this necklace include: A 6.52-carat pear shaped radiant drop, 15 radiant-cut fancy, vivid yellow diamonds (12.38ctw), with oval, pear-shaped and marquises (37.73ctw), accented with 12 baguettes (0.23ctw) mounted on platinum and yellow gold. Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates

SW Associates, a Paris-based loss adjuster and risk manager working for Lloyd's of London, is offering a million-euro reward ($1.34 million) “to the first person who provides information which leads to recovery of the goods." 

Earrings featuring 14 oval sapphires (18.01ctw), eight marquise-shaped diamonds (4.64ctw), carre-cut diamonds (3.81ctw), round brilliant diamonds (3.90ctw) on platinum and 18k white gold. Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates

Pictures of the jewelry were released publicly Tuesday on the Roskin Gem News Report, a blog owned and operated by gemologist and gem writer, Gary Roskin. It is accompanied by story written by veteran jewelry and watch writer, William George Shuster. The photographs were originally posted on the Jewelers' Security Alliance website. 

11.4-carat fancy, intense, blue, oval diamond on a ring surrounded by pink and colorless melee set on platinum and 18k rose gold. Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates
 
All of the jewelry belonged to the Leviev diamond company, owned by billionaire diamond merchant, Lev Leviev. The hotel was showcasing a temporary exhibit of Leviev jewelry. 


Necklace with a 3.27 Trapezoid-shaped diamond, a 1.02-carat vivid yellow trapezoid diamond and a 1.59-shield-shaped diamond with emerald and diamond beads throughout (110.00ctw). Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates
 
The photographs of up to 36 of the jewelry pieces stolen will soon be available on this page as well. The jewelry in the photographs includes many high-karat, internally flawless colorless diamonds along with large pink and yellow diamonds, and emeralds and sapphires, set in platinum and 18k gold. 

6.17-carat oval-shaped light-pink diamond on a ring surrounded by diamond melee and set on 18k pink gold and platinum. Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates

Reports estimate that 72 pieces (including rings, pendants and earrings) were stolen, with 34 items considered “exceptional.” The thief lost some of the jewelry while fleeing. 

23 pear-shaped diamonds (14.18ctw) 128 round brilliant diamonds (28.65ctw) set in platinum.
29.04-carat sapphire on a ring accented with round brilliant-cut diamonds (2.08ctw).
Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Web site.

13.22-carat fancy deep brownish, greenish, yellow diamond ring flanked by two bullet-cut diamonds and set in 18k yellow gold and platinum. Photo credit: Jewelers' Security Alliance and SW Associates