The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum launched a new exhibition Thursday.

“On the Point of a Diamond” celebrates the collaboration between Israeli diamantaires and jewelry designers: twenty-four diamond companies contributed 308 diamonds, weighing in at 86 carats, in favor of the show, which featured unique pieces – a free-form manifestation of the classical world of diamonds and contemporary design.

The Israeli Diamond Museum backed the showing both in funds and in venue. The exhibition, of which Batia Wang and Yehuda Kassif are the curators,  showcases beautiful creations in gold, silver, iron, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, wood and perspex, designed by 25 jewelers.

“On the Point of a Diamond” stresses the importance of small details, quality setting and the luxury of diamond jewelry. “The Israel Community of Designers was formed five years ago in order to boost the cooperation between designers and the finance and industry people... which we believe will advance jewelry manufacturing in Israel,” said President of the Israel Community of Designers, David Grossman . “This exhibition is the first big project undertaken by the Community with the industry.”

The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, considered the most modern diamond museum in the world, introduces visitors to the diamond through a multi-faceted, interactive experience combining science, art and industry via films, audio-visual displays, demonstrations, lectures, seminars and creative activities.

Last September them museum launched a diamond jewelry exhibition  called “60 Diamonds &  Many More,” which included Israeli diamond jewelry designs inspired by Israel's 60th Anniversary. The Israeli jewelry design industry's activities  coincide with those of the local diamond industry and both thrive of each other's innovations, style and technology.

Chairman of the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, Shmuel Schnitzer, spoke of the designers' vision: “These pieces were inspired by an independent artistic vision – the designers were given no guidelines – commercial, technical or otherwise –  to follow. The only stipulation was that they had to use diamonds, the gemstone which appeals to jewelry lovers everywhere.”
We would be happy to see you visiting “On the Point of a Diamond” and hope you enjoy it, as well as the Diamond Museum's other activities.

IDI Information Officer Iris Hortman assisted with this piece.

You can Subscribe to our blog via E-mail, or RSS, or join our social networks community on LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn group, Facebook profile,Facebook group and Twitter.

American pop singer Katy Perry has been seen flashing her new diamond engagement ring, from now-fiance British comedian Russell Brand, all over London. According to recent sightings of the glittering rock, rumored to be a Cartier creation, it is believed to be a round diamond of about 3-carats, set in a yellow gold band.

Katy Perry. Now she's got a real diamond

By: privateradio

Diamonds may be a girl's best fried, but these days the gems seem to be expanding their circle of friends and letting boys in: one of the fastest growing jewelry trends worldwide is men’s diamond rings – From diamond wedding bands to stylish declarations, there's a style out there for every man.

Diamond rings are considered the ultimate gift for that special someone, but buyers are no longer excursively men, as women too have began giving the men in their lives, who just may be diamonds in the rough themselves, the gem said to last forever.

Recognizing a market need, 25karats.com recently launched a new line of men's diamond rings, and the luxury creations – ranging from men’s solitaire rings to fancy styles and exquisite diamond wedding bands – truly illustrate that if you're willing to bling – you're sure to find a diamond ring.

But let's be honest – the people at 25karats.com are aware of the fact that men's diamond rings are not for everyone. After all – some of us bling better than others, and so 25karats.com crafted new styles in luxury metals, so if you prefer you rings diamond-free there's an entire range of platinum, palladium, 14k and 18k white and yellow gold bands for you to choose from.
One of my previous posts told you about a company which manufactures diamond-studded leather bracelets for men – another interesting alternative for men who are looking to make an elegant diamond statement.

I certainly hope we men see glittering prospects in our future, as well as a wider range of diamond jewelry. Personally, I wish I could find diamond jewelry to my liking. Something not too big or too pimpish; just a simple, rugged design in a minimalist, manly setting. I would definitely go for something in a white, gray or green diamond – my favorite.

Are there men's diamond engagement rings in our future? When will more women begin popping the question by presenting their men with telltale velvet boxes? Are we in for a revolution?
What do you have to say about that? Would you men buy yourselves diamond jewelry? Would you women like your men to be wearing diamonds? Would you buy a diamond for him? Share your thoughts.

You can Subscribe to our blog via E-mail, or RSS, or join our social networks community on LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn group, Facebook profile,Facebook group and Twitter.

Alexi Dohnal arrived at the East Bank Club for a facial, changed into a spa robe and placed $140,000 worth of jewelry in a locker. When she returned, she found the lock cut and her jewelry gone, acoording to the Chicago Tribune.

The East Bank Club

"My world was spinning, I was so confused," said Dohnal, adding that she initially thought a locker room attendant had mistakenly cut the lock and moved her things. Her clothes, purse, wallet and BlackBerry were still in the locker, Dohnal said, but her diamond ring, wedding band and watch were gone.

The East Bank Club declined comment.

Dohnal said there were about eight carats of diamonds on the platinum rings: a six-carat stone on the engagement ring and about two carats of smaller diamonds around the wedding band. She vestured the rings were worth more than $120,000, adding the watch – a yellow-gold Cartier with diamonds surrounding the face – was worth about another $20,000.

The jewelry, she said, was insured, but the incident has nevertheless left her disheartened: "Obviously, there was no bodily harm but, it still hurts. ... It's the engagement ring (and wedding ring) that my husband gave me."

Dohnal said she wore the jewelry every day and that she never thought it might be stolen in a River North health club that US President Barack Obama and television persona Oprah Winfrey have been known to use.

"It is a high-profile gym," Dohnal said, noting members often leave their belongings unlocked. "Everyone has nice cars and there are a lot of housewives with big rings, so I don't really stand out."

Con artist Schonfeld gets early parole

Meanwhile, it was reported that Norman Schonfeld, the mastermind behind one of the most elaborate scams in the history of the diamond industry, will be up for parole by 2011.

Schonfeld, who swindled more than $6 million in diamonds from a dozen wholesalers in 2001 and tried to frame his son for the crime, was convicted of 40 counts of fraud and sentenced to a 16 to 32-year prison sentence. He was also ordered to pay $6 million in damages.

On Tuesday, the Appellate Court, in a three-to-two panel ruling, decided to reduce Schonfeld's sentence to eight and a half-to- 17 years.  He will be eligible for parole may as early as 2011, after serving only five years of his term.

The court called the original sentence "excessive." The two opposing judges, in a harsh dissent, called Schonfeld "a fraud and recidivist with no qualms about casting blame on others, including his own son, to save his own neck."

You can Subscribe to our blog via E-mail, or RSS, or join our social networks community on LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn group, Facebook profile,Facebook group and Twitter.