Contemporary jewels in the antique dealers with Biennial of the antique dealers of Paris (15 - September 24

On the a hundred and eleven exhibitors who answered this year the call of XXIIIe Biennale of the antique dealers, less than one ten present the jewels. In addition to the specialists in old parts (Zandrini, Faerber, etc), only Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Chanel Joaillerie chose to present their new creations. Sumptuousness is program of Van Cleef & Arpels, which celebrates its centenary this year. One discovers 87 parts of high contemporary jewellery expressing the many facets of his style. For example, this incredible pin thistle carried out starting from a draft of the years 1930: 182 carats of suiffés rubies gone up in crimped mysterious give to this part a volume and velvety incredible. Van Cleef presents also exceptional stones, such this mirific diamond, Kite Shape, whose size, in kite, exacerbates the glare of this gem of almost 102 carats and whose price is that of a star: a little less than ten million euros.

A gold scraping-knife

Bulgarian archaeologists discovered a scraping-knife out of gold and platinum and some 545 tiny jewels thraces dating from the third millenium before JC, announced Bojidar Dimitrov, the director of the national historical museum.

With the garbage !

ItÍs in a rubbish bin that an icon has been discovered by the Saint-PetersburgÍs police in the former Russian imperial capital. They were informed by an anonymous phone call. At the end of the line, an unknown voice said only to go to the ñBloc 21î Ryleveva Street.

When they arrived at the address, the inspectors have indeed laid hand on the missing icon, insured for a value of some 200 000 €. It was still in good condition, but was slightly damaged.

There’s still a long way to go before The Hermitage, the establishment located in the Winter Palace, the former tsars’ residence nearby the Neva, could recover all the 220 other stolen pieces. Those are mainly jewels and enameled pieces dating from the Middle-Age to the 19th Century. Their combined value is estimated circa 5.5 M € by the museum’s administration but according to experts quoted by the Russian newspapers, it could be ten or twenty times more.

JewelsÍ parade

Great names of the Vendôme Square have presented at the beginning of July their high jewellery collections. A great amount of diamonds and pearls was displayed.
At Boucheron, the prices varies between 200 000 and 1 million €

Wedding party also for pets

More and more people want that their pets participate to their wedding parties, and not only for a small part! In California, there’s everyday more shops specialised in full dress for animals in order to satisfy all needs.
Beyond the essential role taken by dogs or cats during the ceremony (when they have the charge to carry the wadding rings…) pets are now wearing special clothes: bow tie and jacket for males, gown and jewels (if it’s possible of the same colours than the bride or the maid of honour) for females. Perfect class.
“ For couples who don’t have children, but have a dog, it’s absolutely normal that this one participates in the wedding”, explains Sheila Spitza, the managing director of the specialised shop Wet Nose Pet Spa. In some weddings, animals are even involved as witness. “Who could say if it’s good or bad? Everybody has its level of eccentricity”, said Spitza. As long as they don’t marry with their dog… (CA)

Millionaire Fair, Kortrijk 3 - 6 June

The millionaire fair has for purpose to give to every visitor the strongest possible feeling of richness, organising a unique event where exclusivities, never out of fashion class, professionalism and glamour meet together and can, of course, be bought.

You can avoid rabble, and if boats, yachts, private jets and helicopters are not your cup of tea, why don’t you go to Arthabilis ?

Two rings from the film ñDa Vinci codeî up for grabs

Elkan Wijnberg, a Belgian antiquarian, put up for sale on the eBay website (use “DaVinci and UNICEF as keywords) two rings used in the film Da Vinci code. The film crew asked him to use those pieces for several scenes. There’s a Victorian bishop ring (19th Century), wore in the film by the actor Alfred Molina and a gold seal. The jewels come from Belgium and France. 10% of the sale’s benefits will be given to the UNICEF and to the fight against AIDS.

The Poltimore tiara

Hundreds of mementos of Princess Margaret, younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, will be put up for auctions in London the 13th and 14th of June 2006. Among them, the Poltimore tiara bought for Margaret and Antony Amstrong-Jone’s wedding.

Not if youÍre hard up.

A bracelet of the impress of Russia Catherine the Great (1729 – 1796) has been sold for 202.077 € Wednesday the 17th of May 2006 during an auction organized by Christie’s in Geneva. A diamond river which has belonged to the Queen Olga of Greece (1851 – 1926) has been purchased for 649.714 € and a little heart-shaped deep blue-green diamond, exceptional because of its rare colour, has been sold at the price of 434.805 €.

Dirty cops in the courthouse

Jewels of great values have mysteriously disappeared from the criminal court’s office in Liège. Their owners have sued the Belgian state before the Civil Court. One of them hopes to obtain the refund of the 30 Cartier rings, the other of a Rolex watch and a Van Gils pair of spectacles (Le Soir, 11/05/2006)

Diamondmania

Who was the most well-known of all actresses who whispered in one of its most famous film that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” ?

Marilyn Monroe of course !

In which film ?
Gentlemen prefer blondsŸ...

Six actresses with a heart, jewel designers for charity  

PARIS (AP) Mélanie Doutey, godmother of the association Intervida, takes part in the operation “Diamonds of heart” along with five other actresses who created each a heart in diamond which will be put up for auctions at Christie’s in Paris on June the 27th for the benefit of associations represented by the actresses.

The jewel created by Mélanie Doutey, of gallo-roman inspiration, but also those imagined by Clotilde Courau, Emilie Dequenne, Judith Godrèche, Marion Cotillard and Caterina Murino will be successively exhibited at Christie’s from Saturday and until the 16th of May in Geneva, from the 9th to the 14th of June in London, and finally from the 23rd to the 27th of June in Paris, where they will be put up for auctions on that day.
Those six exclusive jewels have been made by diamond cutter of the De Beers firm on the initiative of the company DTC France.

Mélanie Doutey is the godmother of two Malian children in the framework of her involvement in the non political and non confessional association Intervida, the objective of which being to improve the lives of thousands of children and their families in the most disadvantage areas of the world.

The humorist Laurent Gerra, the journalist Patrice Drevet or Alexis Gruss, founder of the Gruss Circus are, among others, godfathers of the association. ( AP)

Jewels for men

The man who doesn’t wear jewels is close to extinction. In older times, choices were limited: seal ring with family arms and cufflink or big chain or big ring on the little finger associated to pimps and gays.

Manish icons, jewels are no more taboo for men nowadays. Pendant, close to neck necklace with Tahiti pearls are discretely wore and come along with a bracelet which is often easier to adopt than a ring. Tie clip is again strongly in fashion.

Diamonds follies

In Breakfast at Tiffany’s, (1961) Audrey Hepburn, spent her low spirit times in front of the great jeweler’s showcases dreaming of gems and of a millionaire husband. According a consumer survey undertaken in December 2005, and in which 1200 Frenchwomen were involved, 20% of them do not wait that someone give them a diamond but buy it themselves.

In France 1/3 of women possess a diamond jewel. They are 7/10 in Italy and 9/10 in Great-Britain. And in USA, 95% of women have a diamond. What about Belgium?

When promoting her last CD, Madonna displayed diamonds and mink fur false eyelashes.

The excessiveness of the new luxury shops  

The fashion event for the autumn 2005 is the opening of the first tower dedicated to a trademark in Paris. After several months of work, Louis Vuitton possesses now its biggest shop, on the Champs Elysées.

1800 m2 of bags and accessories displayed well deserved a friendly party! On the occasion, all the stars of the planet stepted on the promise land of luxury.

The walking around strategy is like walking in a maze recalling almost a Swedish sectional furniture’s trademark. Up from down, just follow the arrows to do your shopping.

Nowadays, luxury brands use all their strength to attract possible clients in their temples. In order to help them to fulfill their Pharaonic projects, trademarks ask the stars of architecture to build their megalopolis.

Chanel in Tokyo, has erected a ten floors blocks on 600 m2 with a video façade made of 700 000 diodes. Prada also impresses and distinguishes itself with two new buildings signed by the international stars of architecture Herzog & de Meuron in Tokyo and Rem Koolhaas in Beverly Hills… No less!

For its part, Louis Vuitton counts on quantity: the wish of this brand is to be present everywhere. It is generally said that Louis Vuitton opens one new shop every week in the world. But why such a bulimia? It’s possibly the client’s fault who wants always more…

So much more that today the giants of luxury create thanks to their mega-shops an alternate way to do shopping. Within those new temples designed like amusement parks, the important thing is to entertain the client/visitor, a journey between the Futuroscope and Guggenheim.