Big, valuable gemstones that may eventually get cut into smaller diamonds keep getting discovered in Angola.
Today Lucapa Diamond Company Ltd. (ASX:LOM) said it has uncovered yet another epic rock from its Lulo mine, the second largest to be pulled from deep inside the earth at Lulo.
The stone weighing 227 carats, discovered by Lucapa and its partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes EP, and Rosas & Petales, is a Type IIa D-Colour gem. It’s the same type of diamond that Lucapa recovered in September, in that case weighing 172.6 carats. The largest diamond to come out of the mine was a 404.2-carat monster that Lucapa unveiled a year ago, and which Lucapa later sold for AUD$22.5 million. The huge rock bested Angola’s previous record for its largest diamond, the Angolan Star, a 217.4-carat gem recovered in 2007.
Posted by Megan Barnes
on
06/03/2017
De Beers Unveils New Synthetics Detector
De Beers showcased an updated version of its automated melee screening machine, the AMS2, in Hong Kong on Wednesday, claiming it could check a wider range of diamonds for undisclosed synthetics, and at a faster rate.
The new version was brought to market in response to customer requests, particularly since there has been an increase in cases of undisclosed synthetic diamonds mixed in parcels of natural diamonds, explained Jamie Clark, commercial director of the International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR) – the De Beers subsidiary that developed the machine.
“Confidence is everything in the diamond sector, and the AMS2 will play a big part in maintaining trust in trade transactions,” added IIDGR president Jonathan Kendall during the unveiling at the Hong Kong Diamond, Gem & Pearl show.
The AMS2 allows screening of stones as small as 0.003 carats, whereas the first-generation machine started with 0.01-carat diamonds. That’s crucial to the watch industry in particular, which works with diamonds smaller than 0.10 carats, Kendall explained.
AMS2 also checks all shapes and cuts, starting from 0.01 carats for fancy shapes.
According to Kendall, the updated machine is 10 times faster than its predecessor, can check up to 3,600 stones per hour, and refers fewer goods for further testing.
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Posted by Megan Barnes
on
21/02/2017
Weighing 227 carats, latest gemstone from Lucapa’s Angolan diamond mine
Our Blog
Big, valuable gemstones that may eventually get cut into smaller diamonds keep getting discovered in Angola.
Today Lucapa Diamond Company Ltd. (ASX:LOM) said it has uncovered yet another epic rock from its Lulo mine, the second largest to be pulled from deep inside the earth at Lulo.
The stone weighing 227 carats, discovered by Lucapa and its partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes EP, and Rosas & Petales, is a Type IIa D-Colour gem. It’s the same type of diamond that Lucapa recovered in September, in that case weighing 172.6 carats. The largest diamond to come out of the mine was a 404.2-carat monster that Lucapa unveiled a year ago, and which Lucapa later sold for AUD$22.5 million. The huge rock bested Angola’s previous record for its largest diamond, the Angolan Star, a 217.4-carat gem recovered in 2007.
Posted by svanip
on
13/02/2017
Diamond Cut – Expert Talk
Our Blog
Welcome to Brisbane Diamond Company news
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Posted by svanip
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28/10/2016
Pandora Enters China Market with tmall
Pandora Jewellery Enters Chinese Market
In addition to the current business model, Pandora jewellery launched on an eCommerce platform from Alibaba called Tmall.com. Concluding that the Denmark-based jeweller aims to break into the Chinese market. Internet retailing, expanded globally 53 percent last year. Due to faster internet speeds, improved payment security and convenience, internet retailing has gained some serious traction in the Chinese market. Defiantly worth considering, as the country’s jewellery market is the largest in the world.
In addition Mr Kenneth Madsen, president of Pandora Asia Pacific said. “The launch of PANDORA jewellery on Tmall.com is another important step in establishing the Pandora brand amongst Chinese consumers,” “Tmall is a clear leader in China’s internet retail space, and is the right business partner for Pandora to get the broadest approach to the Chinese consumer.”
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Posted by svanip
on
27/10/2016
Christie’s Magnificent Jewell’s Auction
Christie’s Magnificent Jewell’s (New York 2016)
Christie’s Magnificent Jewell’s sale, saw a strong upward trend in jewellery sales which was most reassuring, there was significant movement, notably in the investment diamond sector. Christies NY Magnificent Jewell’s sale, sold 87 percent of all lots offered. This was an exceedingly good result totaling in excess of $AUD61M.
Ritani
In addition to being known for designer engagement rings and fine jewelry. Ritani recently unveiled a new ecommerce website linked with a network of local U.S. jewellers. As a result they will attempt to unify the consumer between the online and in store engagement ring purchase experience. With $15 million in new funding led by Cantor Ventures. A new vertically integrated diamond sourcing model and jewellery manufacturing based in New York. Ritani partners with jewellers nationally in the US, Ritani offers consumers a clicks n bricks experience.
Online Jewellery Experience
First of all, over 90 percent of all jewellery sales commence online. While only around 30 percent of these sales, conclude in an online merchant transaction. First generation online engagement ring shopping generally focuses on presenting vast selections of product at the lowest possible wholesale prices. Therefore we believe this is a missed opportunity, to fulfill a customer’s natural desire for personal service, during one of life’s most important purchasing decisions, says Brian Watkins. Brian is the newly appointed president of Ritani, his prior eCommerce and retail experience includes Blue Nile, Nordstrom, and Bain & Company. Hence, the next generation of jewellery retailers may need to deliver on both selection and on value. In conclusion they’ll seamlessly combine online and in-store shopping to create an experience that today’s customer demands, seems like we need to watch this space.
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24/10/2016
GEM QUALITY CVD DIAMONDS
Gem Quality CVD Grown Synthetic Diamonds
(I Colour 3.23 Carat and H Colour 2.52 Carat Round Brilliant Cut CVD Diamonds)
Gem Quality CVD Diamonds: Grown by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) Synthetic CVD diamonds, have rapidly improved in recent years due to advances in growth techniques and post growth decolourising treatments. Near-colourless CVD synthetics have now passed the three-carat threshold. HRD Antwerp, September 2015, received a 3.09 ct sample (I colour, VS2 clarity). Pure Grown Diamonds announced earlier that they had successfully grown a 3.04 ct synthetic (I colour, SI1 clarity) Dec 2014.
GIA LABS ON CVD DIAMONDS
GIA’s New York laboratory recently tested two large CVD synthetic diamonds submitted for grading services. The largest CVD-grown diamonds GIA has examined to date are these two synthetics. The results of the examination underscore the continued improvements in CVD synthetic diamonds.
The 2.51 and 3.23 ct round brilliants received H and I colour grades, respectively. Identified in each stone were pinpoints, and black inclusions. Observed in the 2.51 ct round were some small fractures along the girdle. The 3.23 ct synthetic contained a small black inclusion measuring approximately 125 µm. Therefore the 2.51 and 3.23 ct were given clarity grades of SI1 and VS2. Irregular stress patterns with high-order interference colours when viewed under cross-polarised light , indicated high levels of internal strain.
High quality CVD synthetic diamonds are , without post-growth decolourising HPHT treatments by the analysis, done by both HRD and GIA, marking a significant improvement in CVD growth. Using advanced spectroscopic and fluorescence imaging technologies, it is nevertheless possible to detect low concentrations of impurity centers, allowing conclusive determination of these samples’ synthetic origin. GIA is monitoring the development of laboratory-grown diamonds and conducting research to ensure that we can continue identifying every single synthetic diamond.
GEM QUALITY CVD DIAMONDS LAB IDENTIFICATION
The synthetics showed weak orange fluorescence to conventional short-wave UV and were inert to long-wave UV radiation. Exposure to the deep UV radiation ( 230 nm) of the DiamondView revealed an overall strong red-pink fluorescence, which was attributed to nitrogen-vacancy centers with dislocation bundles that fluoresced violet-blue, followed by weak greenish blue phosphorescence.
Grown using a multi-step technique and the crystals had a layered structure, thus maximizing production volumes. Sharp boundaries between different growth layers are a result of changes in the fluorescent impurity uptake during the start, stop phases, produced by applying at least five layers. Dislocation bundles propagated throughout the material. We don’t understand the two blue bands of highly concentrated dislocations crossing the table of the 2.51 ct.
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Posted by svanip
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22/10/2016
CVD DIAMONDS
CVD DIAMONDS – SYNTHETIC MAN MADE
Produced using microwaves and gasses in vacuum plasma reactors CVD Diamonds “Chemical Vapour Deposition” are synthetic diamonds. Due to a heated exchange hydrocarbon gasses break down, and carbon atoms begin to precipitate in thin layers onto a flat substrate or wafer. The deposits occur a in similar way that layers of ice or snow may build up whilst freezing.Effective substrates include diamond, silicon, tungsten, molybdenum, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, quartz glass or cemented carbide. Growth rates of around 0.10 millimetres (mm), or 100 microns of diamond hour are commonplace. While growth has its limits in terms of depth, CVD stones over 3 mm in thickness are very difficult and expensive to grow.
(Image: a microwave plasma reactor for producing CVD diamond).
Initially the process was successfully developed by Houston, Texas based chemical manufacturer Union Carbide Corporation in the 1950s, the CVD process is less costly and simpler than the HPHT process. Hence the equipment is less expensive, and the process is conducted a moderate temperatures and lower pressures.
Like HPHT, the CVD method has recently become economically viable. CVD synthesis capability has advanced noticeably in recent years. Especially relevant is the emergence of several startup companies attempting to commercialise the production of CVD gem quality synthetics.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CVD DIAMONDS
(Image: CVD diamonds )
Due to the unique growth processes, CVD stones are similar to type IIa rough, contain minimal amounts of nitrogen, have a high thermal conductivity. Consequently CVD diamond has unique shape, the CVD method, produces flat, tabular synthetic diamond crystals, which are different to natural diamond crystals in structure. As a result it has been extremely difficult to grow CVD stones deeper than 3 mm, most CVD diamonds are smaller than 1 carat.
USES FOR CVD DIAMONDS.
- Optical uses (e.g. infrared windows, lenses, ATR units, X-ray windows)
- Thermal uses (heatspreaders, laser submounts, X-ray targets)
- Mechanical uses (cutting tools, scalpels, knives, length gauge tips, wear resistant components e.g. for textile machines, insert for dresser tools)
- Electrochemical uses (electrodes, electro-chemical detectors, bio-chemical sensors)
- Radiation sensors (ionizing radiation detectors/dosimeters, fluorescence beam monitors)
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Posted by svanip
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13/02/2017
Diamond Cut – Expert Talk
Our Blog
Welcome to Brisbane Diamond Company news
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Posted by svanip
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28/10/2016
Pandora Enters China Market with tmall
Pandora Jewellery Enters Chinese Market
In addition to the current business model, Pandora jewellery launched on an eCommerce platform from Alibaba called Tmall.com. Concluding that the Denmark-based jeweller aims to break into the Chinese market. Internet retailing, expanded globally 53 percent last year. Due to faster internet speeds, improved payment security and convenience, internet retailing has gained some serious traction in the Chinese market. Defiantly worth considering, as the country’s jewellery market is the largest in the world.
In addition Mr Kenneth Madsen, president of Pandora Asia Pacific said. “The launch of PANDORA jewellery on Tmall.com is another important step in establishing the Pandora brand amongst Chinese consumers,” “Tmall is a clear leader in China’s internet retail space, and is the right business partner for Pandora to get the broadest approach to the Chinese consumer.”
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Posted by svanip
on
27/10/2016
Christie’s Magnificent Jewell’s Auction
Christie’s Magnificent Jewell’s (New York 2016)
Christie’s Magnificent Jewell’s sale, saw a strong upward trend in jewellery sales which was most reassuring, there was significant movement, notably in the investment diamond sector. Christies NY Magnificent Jewell’s sale, sold 87 percent of all lots offered. This was an exceedingly good result totaling in excess of $AUD61M.
Ritani
In addition to being known for designer engagement rings and fine jewelry. Ritani recently unveiled a new ecommerce website linked with a network of local U.S. jewellers. As a result they will attempt to unify the consumer between the online and in store engagement ring purchase experience. With $15 million in new funding led by Cantor Ventures. A new vertically integrated diamond sourcing model and jewellery manufacturing based in New York. Ritani partners with jewellers nationally in the US, Ritani offers consumers a clicks n bricks experience.
Online Jewellery Experience
First of all, over 90 percent of all jewellery sales commence online. While only around 30 percent of these sales, conclude in an online merchant transaction. First generation online engagement ring shopping generally focuses on presenting vast selections of product at the lowest possible wholesale prices. Therefore we believe this is a missed opportunity, to fulfill a customer’s natural desire for personal service, during one of life’s most important purchasing decisions, says Brian Watkins. Brian is the newly appointed president of Ritani, his prior eCommerce and retail experience includes Blue Nile, Nordstrom, and Bain & Company. Hence, the next generation of jewellery retailers may need to deliver on both selection and on value. In conclusion they’ll seamlessly combine online and in-store shopping to create an experience that today’s customer demands, seems like we need to watch this space.