Di Modolo’s Triadra Argento Collection

Triadra necklace With faceted onyx from the Icon collection.

When one considers Di Modolo jewelry, thoughts often turn to a tradition of Italian design and hand craftsmanship. It is also known for its gold jewelry. Not anymore. In an acceptance of the economic realities facing much of the western world, the Milan-based company has introduced a line of silver jewelry based on its signature design and using the same demanding techniques.

Triadra cluster rings with pavé diamonds shown with faceted purple Quartz, pearls and faceted blue quartz.

Known as Triadra Argento Collection, it is based on the same iconic design element of its gold collection, the Triadra, a slice of precious metal shaped like a curvaceous triangle with open spaces. The shape is based on what the company calls the “mystical symbolism” of the numbers three and four.

Cuff With blue topaz and openable hinge from the medallion collection.

Besides the distinctive shape, these small jewelry pieces are linked together in a technique that makes the links look invisible and makes the entire piece appear fluid (the first two photos best exemplify this technique). They also appear with a range of colorful gems that include diamonds, onyx and topaz. The company produced several lines of jewelry based on this shape, technique and use of materials. I got my first look at the new collections during  Las Vegas jewelry week in early June.

Bubble earrings with blue topaz.

Necklaces with diamonds shown with black onyx, white onyx and black diamonds with white onyx from the Spirit collection.

Eva Peron’s Stolen Jewelry Recovered in Italy

Police show recovered stolen jewelry once belonging to Eva Perón.

Approximately $8.5 million of jewelry once owned by the famed first lady of Argentina, Eva Perón, has been recovered in Italy.

Italian Carabinieri, working with Spanish police, said Wednesday they found the diamond tiara, diamond earrings and rings in a hotel room on the outskirts of Milan, according to media reports.

Police say the jewels were stolen from a shop in Valencia, Spain, in December 2009, according to reports. A man was arrested for the theft last year in Milan.

Eva Perón was the second wife of Argentinean president Juan Perón (1895–1974) and served as the first lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. She is known by many all over the world, simply as Evita. Her life was the inspiration of the Broadway musical production of Evita, which played all over the world and was followed by a movie of the same name starring Madonna.

The Collapse of the Kimberley Process Appears Imminent

A Kimberley Process certificate, which ensures that diamonds are conflict-free. Photo credit: De Beers

The Kimberley Process, which has been in a stalemate during the past two years over whether to allow Zimbabwe to sell diamonds from its controversial Marange diamond field, now appears to be breaking apart, according to published reports.

The civil society coalition, one of the three pillars of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, walked out of a meeting of KP members in the Democratic Republic of Congo Thursday saying negotiations with Zimbabwe were harming the scheme’s credibility, according to a report on the Rapaport website, Diamonds.net.

The coalition, which includes Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada, reportedly said that the KPCS is not meeting its most basic commitments to prevent diamonds from fueling violence and human rights violations, and to provide guarantees to consumers that they are buying clean diamonds.

The latest proposal to allow exports from two Marange concessions operated by Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources while other concessions would be subject to a Kimberley Process monitoring team until the next plenary meeting in November, was rejected by the U.S., Canada and Israel at the meeting in Kinshasa, the DOC’s largest city, Diamonds.net reports.

The Kimberley Process requires full consensus from all members to pass a resolution, Diamonds.net reports. Civil society, and the World Diamond Council, which represents the diamond industry, have observer status in the meeting.

Of course, according to the reports I’ve been reading, the KP meeting is being held behind closed doors, typical of how the organization operates even though it exists to ensure consumers that the diamonds they buy have been mined through legal means and without human rights abuses. The public portion of its website hasn’t been updated since February 18.

On Wednesday, Voice of America reported that Zimbabwean Mines Minister Obert Mpofu divided Kimberley Process members saying that his country will keep selling diamonds from the Marange field with or without the Kimberley Process. In speech that was described as a “diatribe” by some KP members, accussed “racist” Western nations of trying to obstruct Zimbabwe from realizing its diamond revenues.

Mpofu also boycotted an earlier meeting of a working group on Zimbabwe, VOA reports. Also in its report, it notes that Anjin, a Chinese firm, is developing parts of Marange in a joint venture with the Zimbabwean government. Mpofu reportedly said Anjin will soon begin to export rough diamonds from Marange.

Zimbabwe is a founding member of the Kimberley Process, an international organization made up of diamond industry representatives, government officials from 75 countries and non-governmental organizations. It is charged with preventing trade in illicit diamonds—commonly called “blood” or “conflict” diamonds, depending on whether you have a vested interested in the diamond industry. Illicit diamonds under the organization’s mandate are the result of diamonds being used to fund brutal civil wars where innocent people are being killed and mutilated by those involved in these conflicts.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as “conflict-free.”

The Marange diamond field, which many say contain the largest deposit of diamonds in the world, has been the scene of murders and other human rights abuses by Robert Mugabe’s government and its military, as well as illegal smuggling of diamonds. The Zimbabwe government insist those abuses have stopped but human rights advocates say they continue; that money from mines is being used to finance the ruling party’s operations, including upcoming elections; and diamond smuggling continues.

To learn more use the search option on this site and plug in the keyword terms "Kimberley Process,"  "Zimbabwe," or "Marange."

Tiffany Names Pat McGuiness CFO and Jim Fernandez as COO

Tiffany & Co. made two changes among its executive officers, effective immediately.

Patrick F. McGuiness, 45, was appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer. McGuiness joined Tiffany in 1990 and has held a variety of management positions within the finance and merchandising divisions. He was promoted to senior vice president - finance in 2007, responsible for Tiffany's worldwide financial functions. With this appointment, he will continue to be responsible for accounting, treasury, financial planning and financial services and will now also be responsible for the company's investor relations program.

James N. Fernandez, 55, was named to the newly-created role of chief operating officer. Fernandez has served as the company's chief financial officer since 1989 and was promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer in 1998. Over the years he added other responsibilities including diamond operations, real estate operations, distribution, manufacturing, customer service and security. He joined Tiffany in 1983.

“These two executives have both developed first-class finance and operations functions, and I consider this to be a natural progression consistent with the Company's continuing organizational development,” said Michael J. Kowalski, Tiffany chairman and CEO.

Fernandez will continue to report to Kowalski and McGuiness will report to Fernandez, the luxury jeweler said.

Tiffany & Co., based in New York, operates jewelry stores and manufactures products through its subsidiary corporations. Its principal subsidiary is Tiffany and Company, which operates Tiffany & Co.. retail stores and boutiques in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Japan and Europe and engages in direct selling through Internet, catalog and business gift operations.

There's an App for the Jewelry News Network

The Jewelry News Network is steadily growing its digital footprint. It has now gone mobile through an application for Android phones.

The new app is easy to use and is constantly updated so you can quickly learn about the latest news, products and trends in the jewelry  industry anywhere your phone goes. The best part is the app is free. Click on an image for a larger view.

There is advertising on the app but I am assured by Notice Software, an Austin, Texas-based company supplying the service, that it is not intrusive. There will be an iphone version of the app as early as July. I encourage everyone with Android phones to download the application and let me know how you like it.

Supersized Fancy Colored Diamond Rings from Jacob & Co.

A 30.11-ct. natural fancy blue gray cushion-cut diamond mounted on a platinum setting. The VVS2 clarity diamond is surrounded with 414 diamonds in a micro-pave setting (3.48 cts.). It retails for $20 million.

As I mentioned previously, I visited the Jacob & Co. showroom at Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewelry show, and saw so much sparkle from the high-carat diamond jewelry on display that it took me a few minutes to adjust my eyes to normal light afterward.

A 12.38-ct. fancy blue radiant cut diamond mounted on a platinum and 18k rose gold ring. The IF clarity diamond is surrounded by 1.01 cts. of fancy pink diamonds and 1.25 cts. of white diamonds in a micro-pave setting. It retails for $12.25 million.

Jacob Arabo, founder and owner of the company known for its celebrity clientele and over-the-top bling appeal, really out-did himself this time. Included in this jewelry display were three fancy colored diamond rings ranging in price from $10 million to $20 million. The folks at Jacob & Co. were kind enough to give me images of these statement rings so I can share them with you. All of the diamonds come with Gemological Institute of America reports that speak to their authenticity.

A 12.95-ct. fancy purple-pink radiant cut diamond engagement ring. The IF clarity diamond is mounted on a platinum and 18k rose gold splint shank setting that's mounted with 87 white diamonds (1.17 cts.) and 124 pink diamonds (0.31 cts.) in a micro-pave setting It retails for $11.6 million.

These are rings that would even impress Kim Kardashian.

Chopard Unveils its Winter Collection

Xtravaganza pendants

Chopard, the Geneva-based luxury watch and jewelry company, recently released several new jewelry and watch items as part of its Winter collection for women.

Ice Cube Rings

The company’s iconic Ice Cube linehas been expanded to include mini gold and diamond cubes that can be worn as wedding bands or as tokens of love. A single row of cubes that wind around the finger is the focal point of this geometric yet gentle design. The new line is available in three colors of gold; and in polished, gem-set or partially gem-set versions. The rings are also stackable.

 Happy Sport 'La Vie En Rose'
The latest addition to Chopard’s Happy Sport collection, the “La Vie En Rose” radiates glamour and femininity, while remaining true to the essence of Happy Sport watches: a sports chic piece accentuated by the timeless presence of Chopard mobile diamonds. This romantic piece is pink right through to the smallest details. From the pink sapphires on the bezel to the rosé mother-of-pearl dial and matching satin strap. Adding to the charm and refinement of this precious timepiece, a delicately contoured rose appears on the dial with mobile diamonds and pink sapphires dancing across its petals. It is available with a gem-set or non-set bezel.

Xtravaganza Watches and Pendants
The dial of the new Xtravaganza watch evokes a shining star or a dazzling firework display. It is available in finely guilloché rose or white gold dial paved with a burst of diamonds. The case is secured by golden lugs to a black alligator leather strap. The watch comes in two sizes with gem-set or non-set bezel and attachments. Matching the radiance of the watches are Xtravaganza luminous pendants (top photo). They are available in white gold and rose gold and are suspended on a slender double-link chain.