Reena Ahluwalia Launches 'Nurture By Reena,' A Lab-Grown Diamond Designer Jewelry Brand

Celestial Star pendant and Passion Double Halo ring in 18k gold features colorless lab-grown diamonds. 

Reena Ahluwalia, known for her award-winning diamond jewelry designs, has launched a new jewelry brand that combines lab-grown diamonds with wearable technology.

Known as “Nurture By Reena,” the Toronto-based designer says it is the first lab-grown diamond designer jewelry brand. A longtime proponent of origin-guaranteed, ethically sourced diamonds, she says she chose to work with lab-grown diamonds because they are “origin-guaranteed, conflict-free and environmentally sustainable.”

The Celestial Star pendant "glows with flash and fire of a million suns, recalling moments so powerful in memory that fill your soul," says the artist. Set in 18K gold, featuring colorless and pink lab-grown diamonds. 

“The Moments Collection” is the first offering from the brand. Ahluwalia says it “merges style and fashion with deep personal meaning.” In addition to using lab-grown diamonds, the company employs QR Code technology that allows people to attach their “most precious moments to your jewel,” she says. “The lab-grown diamond pieces flip to discreetly reveal a QR code that is otherwise hidden from view while the jewelry is worn.”

The Galium rings in 18k gold with princess cut colorless and yellow lab-grown diamonds. 

Each design unites “the beauty of natural shapes with the precision of modern technology.” In addition to embodying the vision of the artist, individuals can give each piece personal meaning through the stories they attach to it. The personal content can be accessed anytime and anywhere.

The Starlight Halo ring evokes the power of love and exudes positive energy. Rings in 18k gold with colorless and pink lab-grown diamonds.

“Like the eternal nature of a diamond, your jewel becomes a modern day digital talisman, a time capsule that captures and preserves your moment for eternity,” Ahluwalia says.

Reena Ahluwalia

The collection is offered in colorless, pink and yellow lab-grown diamonds, with a starting weight of 0.40 carats. It includes rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets. To date, there are 36 pieces available in 18k gold, including white, yellow and rose gold. Ahluwalia says her inspirations were blooming flowers. “For me, flowers are like moments – ephemeral, yet deeply memorable.”

The Wildflower ring in 18K gold with colorless and pink lab-grown diamonds and princess cut colorless and yellow lab-grown diamonds. 

The new collection will be unveiled at the upcoming JCK Las Vegas Show 2014, in the Design Center, booth no. S10519.

The Passion Double Halo ring in 18k gold with princess cut colorless and yellow lab-grown diamonds.

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Reena Ahluwalia Designs Historic Indian Diamond Jewelry Collection

Courageous Spirit necklace

A friend of Jewelry News Network, Toronto-based jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia, has created a jewelry collection that uses diamonds mined and manufactured in India. The first time in more than a century this has happened.

The diamonds came from Rio Tinto’s Bunder Project in Madhya Pradesh province, in the center of the country. Ahluwalia was born in Madhya Pradesh.

“What an amazing honor to give back to my province and country of birth,” Ahluwalia said.

Courageous Spirit earrings

Titled Courageous Spirit, the jewelry features a statement necklace and a set of complementary earrings. The collection incorporates a total of 25.34 carats of polished Bunder diamonds and 2.8 carats of rough Bunder diamonds, including a 5.04 carat round brilliant cut white diamond and a 5.02 carat round brilliant cut cognac diamond.

The diamond-encrusted disc symbolizes the natural abundance of the Bunder diamond deposit.

“Inspired by a compass, the disc rotates on a central axis, while a marker points to the true center of the Bunder story—the earthly origins of the diamonds and the pioneering spirit of the people who are so integral to Bunder's development,” Rio Tinto said in a statement. “The latitude and longitude coordinates of the Bunder diamond deposit are inscribed on the back of the disc.”

The rough diamonds were cut and polished by master craftsmen in Indian cutting and polishing factories, while the design was brought to life by Indian jewelry manufacturer Uni-Design Jewellery Private Ltd. of Mumbai.

The jewelry was unveiled Friday at an event in the province with Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in attendance.

“The Government of Madhya Pradesh has supported us from the very beginning in our quest to develop a new benchmark for mine development in India,” said Nik Senapati, managing director of Rio Tinto India. “I am delighted that seven years after our initial discovery, we can showcase these exquisite pieces of jewelry that provide a window into the enormous potential of the gems contained in the Bunder deposit.”

He added, “The Courageous Spirit jewelry collection holds a very special place in Indian diamond history as it has been at least a century since India has mined, designed and manufactured its own diamond jewelry.”

The Courageous Spirit collection is not available for sale, but will be showcased at a number of events throughout the second half of 2012.

The Bunder project was discovered in 2004 by Rio Tinto who entered into a “State Support Agreement” with Madhya Pradesh in 2010 to develop the project. Diamonds from the mine likely to come into commercial production in 2016, Rio Tinto said.

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Reena Ahluwalia’s Award-Winning Diamond Necklace to be Showcased in Oscars Celebrity Suite

Canoe diamond necklace

Toronto-based jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia was recently honored as a winner of the Rio Tinto Diamonds Global Design Competition for her “Canoe” diamond necklace. It will be among winning designs that will be showcased at the annual Academy Awards 2012 with a chance to be selected and worn on the red carpet by Hollywood’s elite.

Set in 18K white gold, with 28.96 carats of Canadian diamonds, Ahluwalia said the necklace was inspired by a poetic image of the magical Canadian landscape and its pristine white winters. It captures a snapshot of a snow covered canoe in a frozen crystalline lake.

“Celebrating the magic and beauty of Canada, my home, is the inspiration for my design,” she said. “Canoe is a carrier of Canadian myths, a symbol very unique to Canada that represents voyage, harmony with nature, discovery and courage. It is one of the greatest gifts the First Nations people gave to all those who came after.”

Reena Ahluwalia with her trophy.

After receiving a record number of entries from around the globe, a panel of judges from the U.S. jewelry and fashion industries gathered in New York to select nine winners in four categories: Ahluwalia, received the Master Craftsman award in the Canadian Diamonds category.  

The necklace comes together with two diamond-studded links embracing the neck that represent the fluidity of lake. Irregular intersecting lines, studded with Ideal Square cut diamonds depict the chunks of floating ice. The necklace culminates into a canoe shaped element. “Canoe” has an angled faceted interior,

“I wanted the diamonds to reflect on the opposite facets for a dramatic shine and create an icy crystalline look,” Ahluwalia said.

Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., a manufacturer of branded Canadian diamonds, collaborated with Ahluwalia, sponsored manufacturing and provided Canadian diamonds for the necklace.

Royal Asscher to Display Original Cullinan Diamond Tools at JCK Las Vegas

Even in the rarefied world of statement diamonds and jewels, the venerable Royal Asscher Diamond Company has few peers. In an effort to showcase its heritage and history, the Dutch company will have on display at this year’s JCK Las Vegas shows the original tools used to cleave the world-famous Cullinan diamond. Also on display will be a replica of the Imperial State Crown, one of Great Britain’s Crown Jewels, containing one of the two largest stones cut from the Cullinan.

The Cullinan diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3,105 cts. The diamond was presented to Great Britain’s King Edward VII entrusted the cutting of the gem to the Asscher brothers. In 1908, Joseph Asscher cut the stone into 9 large stones and 42 small ones.

In honor of this legacy, Royal Asscher is releasing a special vintage-inspired engagement ring. Royal Asscher invited Toronto-based designer Reena Ahluwalia to visit the headquarters in Amsterdam and recreate the romance, with a look back at some of its most celebrated pieces.

“Legacy,” a vintage-inspired platinum engagement ring by Ahluwalia, takes its inspiration from the fabled jewelry vault of the Royal Asscher Diamond Company from the 1920s-1930s, conjuring the old Hollywood glamour and romanticism.

“The 1920-30s are a reminder of stylized and warmly organic forms,” Ahluwalia says. “Traces of this style can be seen in the Legacy collection. Buds form the shank of the ring, with a centrally mounted Royal Asscher Cut diamond representing a bloom with promise of a new future and creation of a lasting legacy together.”

Joseph Asscher

The company, founded in 1854, is known for its craftsmanship and signature diamond, the Royal Asscher Cut.

The Cullinan diamond tools, as well as Royal Asscher’s new Legacy and “Shining Stars of Africa” collections will make their debut at the Luxury at JCK and JCK Las Vegas, Booth 1120. All are welcome to view the collections and celebrate alongside Royal Asscher with a glass of champagne on June 3 or June 4, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Royal Asscher Walks on the Wild Side with its ‘Shining Stars’ Collection

18k rose gold ring with plating on sterling silver, floating-diamonds and black enamel. $1,950.  Photo credit: Royal Asscher

Toronto-based jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia has been keeping busy updating the designs of Royal Asscher’s “Stars of Africa” jewelry collection. This new, affordable line, called “Shining Stars,” is made with new materials and designed to be a touch “wilder,” than the original collection, while still maintaining the iconic free-floating diamonds centerpiece. In addition, proceeds from sale will continue to support African charities.

Ahluwalia says the new line is inspired by the day and night of the African savannah and its animal magnetism.

Pendant in rhodium-plated sterling silver, floating-diamonds and black enamel. $2,950. Photo credit: Royal Asscher

“African savannah, abstract leopard and cheetah prints became my inspiration source for “Shining Stars” collection,” Ahluwalia says. “We are seeing this exotic trend hugely influencing runways and street fashion. The new collection is versatile because patterns are so compatible and classic.”
(More photographs after jump)

$1M Rough Diamond Necklace Dazzles at Toronto Film Festival

Allie MacDonald, star of SCORE: A Hockey Musical, walked the red carpet Thursday night wearing a $1 million rough Ontario diamond necklace during opening night at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The 75-ct. rough diamond necklace, contained 27 uncut, unpolished Ontario diamonds valued at $1 million. It was created by Toronto-based jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia. Its inspiration was the historic Mace of Ontario (Ontario Legislature), also designed by Ahluwalia.

“I wanted to design a statement necklace with an understated natural elegance. Rough diamonds were the perfect choice—understated, pure and just the way nature intended them to be,” Ahluwalia said. “The spiraling form secures the rough diamond gently and is intended to portray social responsibility, signifying the diamond mine and the natural riches of Ontario. The raw brilliance of these rough diamonds is unmatchable. They are organic, inherently one-of-a-kind and make a strong statement about one’s identity, desire to return to nature and of course, diamonds conflict-free origin.”

The event itself was the result of a partnership among luxury jewelry retailer, Birks, diamond company Crossworks Manufacturing and De Beers Canada to promote Ontario diamonds.

Crossworks produced the rough diamonds used for the necklace. It has an exclusive agreement to polish an allocation from the Victor Mine in Ontario and is the only company in the world to provide diamonds that are mined, cut and polished in Ontario. In April 2010, Birks unveiled the first 131 diamonds certified by the Government of Ontario and has been offering a selection of Canadian diamonds in Birks stores ever since. Following the celebrations at the Toronto International Film Festival, the necklace worn by MacDonald will be available for purchase at the Birks store on Bloor Street in Toronto.

Below is a video of MacDonald wearing and talking about the necklace:



 

Royal Asscher Selects Reena Ahluwalia to Create New Designs for Stars of Africa Collection

Toronto jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia will create five new jewelry designs for Stars of Africa Royal Asscher jewelry collection. The new  pendants, necklaces and earrings will complement the collection’s half-dome, floating diamond ring that was first unveiled about a year ago.

Royal Asscher will debut the new pieces at the JCK Las Vegas jewelry trade show, which opens June 4.

“Reena designs with immense precision and fervor, a perfect stage to continue the Royal Asscher legacy of gemological excellence and innovation,” the Amsterdam-based diamond company said.

“Royal Asscher has a legendary history of innovation and an unblemished ethical record in the diamond world,” Ahluwalia said. “As a jewelry designer, there is no greater motivation for me than to be able to contribute to positive social changes through my art and the ideas it spreads.”

The jewelry consists of full-diamond globes encircled by orbit-like elements. The globes spin to symbolizing earth's rotation while the free-floating diamonds represent the shining spirit of people. These orbits signify education, health-care and empowerment all of which are essential components to the root of the Star of Africa initiative. The pendants function as modern day amulets infused with messages of hope and well-being. The design of necklaces, earrings and pendants are all streamlined to represent the wondrous continent of Africa.

The entire collection benefits Royal Asscher's fundraising initiative, Stars of Africa, named after the largest diamond ever found, the Star of Africa, at 3,105 cts., which the Asscher family cut in 1908. The initiative was launched in 2008 and is aimed at improving infrastructure in Africa by creating funding for healthcare, education and self sufficiency programs.