My agenda

24 November 2020

If Santa Claus was a cool dude…

If Santa Claus was a cool dude, this is what he’d bring me this Christmas!

By Sandrine Merle.

 

 

A pink Argyle diamond

First he’d have to find one, because these Vivid Pink diamonds, with shades that border even on red, are among the world’s most beautiful and the rarest. The Argyle mine (Australia) only produces about fifty per year. There’s talk of a 500% price increase over the last 18 years! And the trend is unlikely to be reversed because on November 3rd, the mine operated by Rio Tinto cranked to a halt for good, after 37 years of operation. A chapter has come to a close in the fast-changing diamond industry,

 

Van Dongen’s painting “The woman in the Mirror”

Because jewelry plays an important role: the woman positioning a jewel in her hair wears a pearl necklace, as an earring trails down over her face. Her forearm is linked by a long chain to her calf. The Dutchman Van Dongen showcased jewelry heavily in his work and was passionate about the subject. During his “cocktail period” in Paris in the 1920s, his high society women, actresses and models were garlanded with bracelets, necklaces, etc. Estimated 1-1.5 million euros. Auction on the 08 December 2020.

 

A 100% jewelry trip to Peru

Why Peru? Because this journey into jewelry is designed by a great connoisseur of the country, Carole Fraresso, archaeologist, expert in pre-Columbian art, and curator. During the two-week trip, she takes tiny groups of aficionados on a tour of the thousand-year-old tradition of the Peruvian goldsmith’s trade. The program includes museums, the craftsmen’s workshops in Cusco, royal tombs filled with breastplates, headdresses, nose ornaments in gold, etc. This immensely privileged tour features private meetings with craftsmen, anthropologists and curators. A dream trip that ends on one of the country’s most beautiful beaches. From $12,500. More information in the TFJP shop.

 

Cartier’s “Tutti Frutti” bracelet at Bonhams in Hong Kong

Because the emerald engraved with more than 93 carats is sublime. And because this mixture of emeralds, diamonds, sapphires and rubies, concocted by the house of Cartier at the beginning of the 20th century, is part of the jewelry heritage of France. It’s one of the most recognizable and bankable designs, and therefore probably a very good long-term investment. “Tutti Frutti” bracelets of this size are extremely rare and fetch stratospheric prices, like the one estimated at $600,000-800,000 and sold online for $1.34 million! (April 2020 at Sotheby’s). This one is estimated at HK$ 1,950 000 – 2,800,000 / € 210.000 – 300,000.

Merry Christmas!

 

Related article:

“A golden heritage”, journey into the jewelry of Peru

“Colored diamonds: flawed is beautiful”

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