World of Diamonds To Unveil ‘The Jane Seymour’ Blue Diamond Ring

“The Jane Seymour,” a platinum ring set with 2.08-carat cushion-cut fancy vivid blue diamond

The World of Diamonds Group, one of the world’s largest privately held diamond corporations, will unveil “The Jane Seymour,” a platinum ring plated with rose gold set with a rare 2.08-carat cushion-cut fancy vivid blue diamond. The jewel has been named after the internationally renowned British-American star and will be presented April 25 during a private dinner party honoring her at CÉ LA VI Singapore. 

Seymour will wear the ring at the event and then the jewel will become part of the World Diamond Group's private collection.

From the mining of the diamond in Russia, to the crafting of the jewel in Geneva, all of the work was done by the international diamond company.

Blue diamonds of this size and saturation are among the rarest and most sought after gems in the world, commanding extremely high prices at auctions the past few years. However, World of Diamonds Group claims this ring is priceless due to its association with the multitalented actress, producer, philanthropist, painter and businesswoman. The jewel is accompanied by a handcrafted leather “treasure chest.”

“The invitation to behold this creation would rather you not compare The Jane Seymour to anything else in the high jewelry world,” said Karan Tilani, director of World Of Diamonds Group. “It is a celebratory treat, more comparable to a mega-yacht or a ticket to the moon.”

The handcrafted leather “treasure chest” that houses the ring

At the same event in the restaurant and nightclub Seymour will receive an amethyst (her birthstone) weighing more than 20 carats.

Seymour is in Singapore to star in the British Theatre Playhouse’s production of “The Vortex” by Noel Coward, at Jubilee Hall Theatre inside Raffles Hotel, Singapore. As a key supporter of the play, World of Diamonds Group will host a VIP showing on April 29, followed by the “Art For Charity” gala at Raffles. The event is titled “Great Gatsby, Red Carpet Glamour,” and guests include Singapore President Tony Tan and his wife, Mary Tan, the EU Ambassador to Singapore, Michael Pulch, and the British High Commissioner Scott Wightman.

The Ville de Genève diamond necklace

At the event Seymour will wear the Ville de Genève diamond necklace, boasting an18.18-carat Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond. The handcrafted 18k white gold jewel, modeled after coniferous trees in the Alps, is additionally adorned with 456 round brilliant diamonds, (D-F, VVS, 37.70 total carat weight); and 55 marquise brilliant diamonds, (D-F, IF-VVS, 1.65 total carat weight). The necklace is valued at approximately $24.3 million, according to the company, which again was involved in every stage of creating the jewel. The Jane Seymour blue diamond ring will also be on display.

Jane Seymour

Seymour has received an Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is distinguished as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Among her acting accomplishments, she was a “Bond Girl” in “Live and Let Die,” played Queen Marie-Antoinette in “La Révolution française,” appeared in “Young Winston” as Winston Churchill's lover, and starred on the American television series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”

The World Of Diamonds Group specializes in the mining, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of diamonds and diamond jewelry. It is based in Russia with offices for its various operations throughout the world.

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Timepiece Tuesday II: Swiss Watch Sales, Bulgari Exhibition in Singapore

 Swiss Organization Predicts Record Watch Sales
Switzerland’s watch exports may rise to a record in 2011 as demand for luxury timepieces continue to recover, said Jean-Daniel Pasche, head of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Shipments this year may break the record of 17 billion francs ($17.7 billion) of exports set in 2008, Pasche said in an interview today on the final day of the Geneva watch fair. Exports in 2010 were "a bit" higher than the 16 billion Swiss francs of watches and components the industry shipped to other countries in 2007, Pasche said. The trade group will publish exact figures for 2010 in early February, Pasche said. Exports in the first 11 months of the year rose 22 percent to 14.6 billion francs, the group said last month. Read more.

Bulgari Watch Exhibition
Bulgari is hosting an exhibition featuring the first collection of timepieces created after Bulgari integrated the luxury Swiss watchmaking companies, Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth, under its own brand last year. "Bulgari: A New Face In Time," will open Wednesday at the Luxe Art Museum in Singapore. While the exhibition will still boast plenty of sparkle, courtesy of a selection of haute jewelry and vintage watches dating as early as 1945, the focus will be on the new Bulgari Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth collections, unveiled at last year's BaselWorld international watch fair . Read more  (Pictured, Daniel Roth Collection: Grande Lune and Papillon Chronograph)


Christie’s Watch Business Booming in Dubai 
Dubai is poised to become a target market for rare, luxury watches with sales in the emirate rising 42 percent since 2008, London-based auction house Christie’s told a Dubai-based publication. Two auctions of rare timepieces in the emirate last year generated sales of $2.5 million, Christie’s said, a rise of 19.5 percent on the revenue generated the previous year from rare watch sales. The revenue represents a rise of more than 42 percent since 2008, Aurel Bacs, international head of Christie’s Watches told the publication, Arabian Business. “The growth in watch sales since 2008 in Dubai has been beyond our expectations.” he said. “With this level of growth we expect Dubai to become an increasingly significant auction centre for our global watch sales.” The priciest piece sold in Dubai last year was a Patek Philippe piece with moon phase display (pictured), which sold for $116,500.

Hublot to Open Singapore Flagship Store

Luxury Swiss watch brand, Hublot, said it will open a flagship store in Singapore on September 24.

The new location on the ground floor of the luxury Mall at Marina Bay Sands—where Singapore’s first casino recently opened—is a joint effort with specialist watch retailer, The Hour Glass, its partner in Southeast Asia. Hublot said the store expresses its “Art of Fusion” philosophy, with a combination of steel, carbon fiber, aluminum and singular alloys; along with wood, leather, rubber and glass. The design as a whole features a contemporary look and atmosphere.

The store marks the 26th Hublot boutique worldwide, and the sixth in Asia..

For the occasion, Hublot will reveal its "Vendôme Collection." With a name and a logo paying tribute to the international symbol of luxury—celebrating the Hublot Place Vendôme boutique conceived by New York architect Peter Marino and scheduled for inauguration in December. The Vendôme Collection is the first collection of models exclusively available in Hublot boutiques.

“Each new opening reflects the great vitality and impressive expansion of HUBLOT, with every month seeing the inauguration of new exclusive locations in the most prestigious settings around the world,” said Jean-Claude Biver, Hublot CEO.

In addition to Paris Place Vendôme, the brand will be opening boutiques in Beijing, Aruba, Beverly Hills and New York.