The world eagerly awaits news of the arrival of the newest British Royal, due to be born any day. The royal couple’s child will officially be known as His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess of Cambridge, a title fitting for a child that will likely inherit the throne, and along with it, the right to wear the British Crown Jewels. GIA has highlighted a few of the spectacular jewels, which are mostly kept secured at the Tower of London. 

The Sovereign’s Sceptre features the 530.2 carat Cullinan I diamond, which can be removed and worn as a brooch. Photo courtesy of Alan Jobbins.

The Sovereign’s Sceptre, originally dating back to the 1661 coronation of King Charles II, was redesigned in 1910 to accommodate the 530.20 carat gem, the Great Star of Africa. This diamond was the largest of the 105 diamonds of nearly flawless quality cut from the famous 3,106.75 carat Cullinan diamond.  If the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge turns out to be a girl, the diamond can be removed from the sceptre and worn as a brooch for royal events.

The most frequently worn royal crown, the Imperial State Crown, features the Black Prince’s Ruby, one of the U.K.’s oldest Crown Jewels (14th c.).  Despite the name, gemologists determined that the ‘Ruby’ is actually a red spinel, most likely from mines in Asia known for yielding exceptionally large spinel crystals. The gem known as St. Edward’s Sapphire adorns the cross at the top of the crown, the famous 317.40 carat Cullinan II diamond (also known as the Lesser Star of Africa) is set on the front, and the back band features the stunning 104 carat Stuart Sapphire (17th c.).

If the baby is a girl, she will have a number of important jewels to choose from for her own coronation, including The Coronation Necklace, worn by Queens Alexandra, Mary, Elizabeth and Her Majesty The Queen at their coronation ceremonies. When Queen Victoria lost many family jewels in 1857, Garrard, the official crown jeweler at the time, was commissioned to design new pieces using gems taken from swords and other “useless things.” The Coronation Necklace was worn frequently by Queen Victoria and features 26 stones– nine between 8.25 and 11.25 carats – which were taken from a Garter badge and sword hilt.

Are you anxiously awaiting news of the arrival of the royal baby?  With the current popularity of ‘push presents,’ a jewelry gift given to the mother after giving birth, what do you think is an appropriate push present for the Duchess of Cambridge after giving birth to the future King or Queen of England?

Learn more about some of the other most prized British Royal Jewels.

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GIA recently made headlines for grading the statement gem in what has been dubbed the world’s most expensive necklace by the Guinness Book of World Records.

637-carat total weight L’Incomparable diamond necklace.

As reported in a Forbes.com article, the 637-carat total weight L’Incomparable diamond necklace is valued at a staggering $55 million.

According to the article, the 18k rose gold necklace’s centerpiece gem is a 407.48-carat Fancy Deep brownish yellow shield step-cut diamond, which is the largest internally flawless diamond ever graded by GIA. The lavish necklace’s surrounding gemstones are suspended beneath 229.52carats of diamonds that include; 35 rough diamonds, 27 pear-shaped diamonds, nine heart-shaped diamonds, five emerald-cut diamonds, five cushion-cut diamonds, four oval-shaped diamonds, three Asscher-cut diamonds and two radiant-cut diamonds.

GIA graded 407.48-carat Fancy Deep brownish yellow shield step-cut diamond is the center piece diamond.

In 1980, the Incomparable diamond was discovered in a rubble pile by a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The rubble had not been screened for diamonds because it was deemed too chunky. The diamond weighed 890 carats rough, before it was revealed to the public in its polished state in 1984. It was then displayed at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution and has since appeared in many other museums.

In addition to L’Incomparable, GIA has been entrusted with grading many of the world’s most famous diamonds. The list includes such iconic names such as the Hope (45.52 carats), the Steinmetz Pink (59.60-carats), the Taylor-Burton (69.42-carats), the Allnatt (101.29-carats), the De Beers Millennium Star (203.04-carats), and the Centenary (273.85-carats).

The L’Incomparable necklace features many diamonds in various cuts around the stunning feature stone. Which of these cuts is your favorite?

Images courtesy of Mouawad

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To be recognized as an honoree, organizations must demonstrate an active role in promoting ethical business practices internally and exceed legal compliance standards. GIA was awarded the honor for its efforts in building and maintaining a superior ethics and compliance program, which is an essential component to fulfilling on GIA’s mission to ensure public trust in gems and jewelry.

“As a public benefit organization, we strive to apply the strictest ethical standards each day and adhere to our core principles in serving the public interest in every country and city where we operate. We’re honored that the Ethisphere Institute has recognized GIA, the only organization of its kind to receive this designation, as one of the most ethical companies in the world,” said Donna Baker, GIA’s president and CEO.

Check out more information about the 2013 World’s Most Ethical Companies, and tell us why you think leadership in ethics is important!

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Owners of Android phones and tablets like the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy can now benefit from GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) free interactive diamond app for consumers and retailers, available in both English and Simplified Chinese. The app engages consumers with interactive features, video content and information on the GIA-created 4Cs (Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight) of diamond quality.

“Bringing objective information about gems and jewelry to people when and where they want it is central to GIA’s public-benefit mission,” said Kathryn Kimmel, GIA vice president and chief marketing officer. “The Android 4Cs app puts GIA’s 82 years of innovation and research right on the screens of the most widely used smart phones in the world.”

Users can explore diamond color across the GIA D-to-Z Color Scale, see typical inclusions on the GIA Clarity Scale, and how cut can make a significant difference in the look of a diamond. The app also explains the GIA Diamond Grading Report, the recognized global credential for diamond quality.

The app provides direct access to GIA Report Check, a secure online database of GIA grading reports, and a new social feature in “My Diamond Wish List,” where users can email, tweet, or share on Facebook the diamonds they’ve saved in their personal wish list.

The free 4Cs app for Android is downloadable in English and Simplified Chinese.

The GIA app is also available for iPhone and iPad. A retailer version, designed for use at point of sale, is downloadable for free from GIA’s retailer support site www.retailer.gia.edu.

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The Angels may be rocking Victoria’s Secret bras at tomorrow’s 2012 fashion show on CBS, but we have two replicas of prior years Fantasy Bras at GIA in Carlsbad that you can get up close and personal with.

This handcrafted replica of the Victoria’s Secret ‘Star of Victoria’ Fantasy Bra, designed by Mouawad, is composed of sterling silver, cubic zirconia, glass, and synthetic colored stones. The original bra was modeled by Karolina Kurkova as part of the Objet d’Arts Collection.

The bra features a rose and leaf motif. At the center of the bra lies a replica of the 60-carat pear-shaped Mouawad Mondera diamond. The original bra’s total carat weight is 320 carats and is valued at $10 million.

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The stone is from the ancient Golconda mines of India, which were the world’s only diamond source until the early 18th century. Some of the most spectacular diamonds have emerged from the Golconda region, including the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope.

Archduke Joseph diamond courtesy Robert Kane/Fine Gems International, Photo ©Tino Hammid.

The diamond is named for one of its illustrious owners, Archduke Joseph August (1872–1962), a Hungarian prince of the Habsburg dynasty. When it last went on the auction block, at Christie’s Geneva in 1993, the diamond sold for only $6.5 million. It was subsequently recut to improve its clarity and brilliance.

Photo Courtesy Robert Kane/Fine Gems International, Photo ©Tino Hammid.

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Of course, when cut, even the largest stone from this rough is likely to top out at 75-80 carats.  For comparison’s sake, the exquisite Cullinan, found in 1905, remains the reigning record holder, weighing in at a staggering 3106 carats, with a maximum cut weight of around 530 carats.

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On August 8th, a gorgeous, 12.27-carat modified-rectangle brilliant-cut Majestic Pink Diamond went on sale. The Cartier platinum setting has baguette diamonds along the band and an 18K rose gold mounting. The price was set at $7.85 million.

GIA, the global institute that has graded some of the world’s most significant diamonds, gave the Majestic Pink Diamond the following grade: Natural Fancy pink color grade, a VVS1 clarity, and measures 14.29 x 12.07 x 7.91. This diamond was classified as a type IIa diamond, making the stone among the most chemically pure of pink diamonds, creating exceptional optical transparency. Finding a fancy colored-diamond of such a high clarity (almost internally flawless), size, and number of carats is extremely rare.

The Majestic Pink Diamond is set into a signed Cartier platinum and 18k rose gold mounting.

Images courtesy of M.S. Rau Antiques.

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On June 12, Christie’s New York Important Jewels Auction auctioned off some truly stunning diamond rings, with center stones all sized between 14- 39 carats.

The smallest of the diamonds, a 14.82 carat modified pear-shaped diamond, is mounted in platinum and bordered by smaller tapered baguette-cut diamonds. This diamond’s GIA report classifies it as E color and VVS2 clarity. The report also states that this diamond is an extremely rare Type IIa diamond. Type IIa diamonds are the most chemically-pure diamonds and thus have exceptional optical transparency. This ring sold for $1,594,500.

The second diamond, pictured above, is a modified rectangular-cut diamond, weighing in at 22.46 carats. It is mounted in platinum and flanked by two trillion-cut diamonds. This diamond’s GIA report classifies its color as E and its clarity as VS2. It sold for $1,874,500.

Next, there is a simple circular-cut diamond, weighing 15.65 carats. Its GIA report states the color as F with a clarity of VS1, with an excellent cut grade. It is set in platinum.

The largest diamond is set in a unique ‘bombe’ design, a dome-shaped setting often seen in rings and earrings from the 1940s and 1950s. The center diamond is a round-cornered modified rectangular-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond, weighing 39.83 carats. It is surrounded by circular-cut diamonds and mounted in 18k gold. The diamond’s GIA report states its color as fancy, vivid, natural yellow color, with a clarity of VS1. It sold for $1,426,500.

*All photo’s courtesy of CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2012

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Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne 60 years ago this month. When she was coronated a year later, she wore the ultimate symbol of royal authority – the Imperial State Crown.

This is the quintessential crown. Set with 2868 diamonds in silver mounts, it has an open work gold frame and is fitted inside with a purple velvet cap and ermine fur headband. The jewels mounted on the frame are breathtaking.

At the front of the crown is the Cullinan II – a cushion-shaped 317.4-carat brilliant, the second largest stone cut from the Cullinan diamond. Above it set in a cross paty sits the “Black Prince’s Ruby” – which is not a ruby at all but an irregular 170-carat cabochon red spinel. At the back of the crown is the Stuart Sapphire, a 104 carat oval-shaped sapphire . Along the headband, these 2 stones are separated by 8 step-cut emeralds and 8 sapphires, between 2 rows of cultured pearls.

Crown Creator: Garrard & Co (jeweller), Creation Date: 1937

There are 2 arches above the headband and velvet cap. At the base of the 3 remaining arches, the crosses are mounted with step-cut emeralds. The arches are molded as oak leaves with diamonds and seed pearl acorns. As the arches reach up and over the velvet cap, underneath the intersection, it is mounted with 4 drop-shaped pearls called Queen Elizabeth’s Earrings. The base of each arch is separated by 4 fleur-de-lis, each set with sapphires, rubies and diamonds.

The top piece on the crown is an orb called a “monde”, of fretted silver, pavé-set with small round brilliants. The cross paty above it is set with “St. Edward’s Sapphire,” an octagonal rose-cut sapphire. Engraved small metal plaques have been placed behind the Black Prince’s Ruby and the Stuart Sapphire to commemorate the history of the crown.

Photo courtesy of Royal Collection (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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