Diamond Kid!

Murfreesboro, Ark.–A 100-mile detour turned out to be a profitable excursion for the Detlaff family on July 31, when 12-year-old Michael unearthed a 5.16-carat brown diamond at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.

The Detlaffs were traveling on vacation to Fayetteville, Ark. from their home in Apex, N.C. when they decided to visit the park. Within the first 10 minutes of scanning the search area, Detlaff found the brown diamond on the surface, the eighth largest brown diamond ever found at the park

With this diamond, the current trend continues of visitors finding diamonds on the surface of the search field. Due to good rains this spring, and some especially hard rains in July, many of the recent large diamonds were found right on the surface,” Margi Jenks, park interpreter, said. “Diamonds are a bit heavy for their size, so a good downpour will wash the dirt away, leaving the diamond exposed.”

Detlaff’s jellybean-sized stone is the 328th diamond discovered at the park this year, and the 27th largest diamond found at the site since it became a state park in 1972.

He named his find the “God’s Glory Diamond.”

The stone came from the north end of the search area, near a sign that marks where the 15.33-carat Star of Arkansas was found, a white diamond that is the third largest to ever found at the site. It was discovered in 1956 when the area was a privately operated tourist attraction.

Crater of Diamonds is the only diamond-producing site open to the public in the world. The park’s search area is a 37½ -acres of plowed field that is the eroded surface of the eighth-largest diamond-bearing deposit in the world.

In addition to diamonds, amethyst, garnet, peridot, jasper, agate and quartz also have been found at the park, among other semi-precious gemstones and minerals.

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

Gemfields Jewelry

Recently Gemfields showcased a wealth of jewelry at the Couture show, displaying pieces from designers who incorporate Zambian emeralds, Mozambican rubies and amethysts from the Gemfields mine into their designs.

Hoorsenbuhs, Zaiken, Shaun Leane, Stephen Webster, Wendy Yue and Theo Fennel are among the designers that collaborated with Gemfields, which opened its U.S. offices last September and named well-known actress Mila Kunis as its brand ambassador in February.

Post trade issues with the Zambian government, Gemfields still unshaken by its issues, manages to put out some of its finest works. Below are some of Gemfields brighter outlook from some of its best designers.

 

These 18-karat yellow gold earrings from designer Kara Ross feature 50 carats of Zambian amethysts ($4,200).

 

Dickson Yewn’s 18-karat white gold ring with a 4.01-carat Mozambican ruby and diamonds ($64,800).Hoorsenbuhs’ 18-karat yellow gold cuff features 7 carats of Zambian emeralds ($75,000).

 

Zaiken’s 18-karat rose gold and sterling silver necklace with 5 carats of Zambian emeralds and diamonds ($29,500).

Jasmine Alexander’s 18-karat yellow gold and platinum ring with a 3.85-carat Zambian emerald (approximately $50,648).

 

As always, Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

Gemfields Emerald Trading Blocked

Recently its been reported that the government of Zambia has barred mining company Gemfields Plc from exporting emeralds for its upcoming sale to Singapore, which is scheduled for June 10 to 14. According to the report, the country’s Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Yamfwa Mukanga told Bloomberg by phone on June 1 that selling gemstones outside of Zambia is not permitted and that the government had blocked Gemfields from exporting emeralds last week.

As Per a previously reached agreement with the government, Gemfields already had agreed to hold its April auction in the Zambian capital of Lusaka but planned on holding the June sale in Singapore. As of now the fate of that auction remained unclear as of Wednesday afternoon.

Currently Gemfields owns a 75 percent stake in Zambia’s Kagem Emerald Mine, which accounts for a bulk of the company’s production, the government holds the remaining 25 percent. Gemfields also has a 50 percent interest in the Kariba amethyst mine in Zambia, with the other half belonging to the government, and mines rubies in Mozambique.

Since 2009, all 11 of Kagem’s auctions have taken place outside of Zambia, in India and Singapore, generating a total of $160 million. The Zambian government see’s this as revenue that is not being generated from within the country, thus eventually having a spill over affect which would also boost its economy through tourism and other means.

Gemfields has said that being forced to sell the emeralds in Zambia only would negatively impact revenues and the overall development of the country’s gemstone sector and place Zambian emeralds at a competitive disadvantage worldwide.

As always Live, Life, Lamour,

R.Lamour

 

The New Emerald Embassador Mila Kunis

Recently the gemstone miner Gemfields has unveiled their new global brand ambassador Mila Kunis. Which in my opinion just happens to be one of the hottest young actresses in Hollywood.

Wednesday Gemfields announced that the television and movie actress would be the face of the company’s new advertising campaign. The campaign is set to run in some of the most renowned magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and W. Although this is just one element of their multifaceted  consumer focused campaigns, the company is set to launch their absolute best this year.

Kunis photographed (below) by Mario Sorrenti and styled by Anastasia Barbieri for their recent Gemfields campaign. She is shot wearing one-of-a-kind emerald and ruby jewellery created by six of Gemfields’ designer partners – Alexandra Mor, Amrapali, Dominic Jones, The Gem Palace, Sutra and Fabergé, the latter was acquired by Gemfields earlier this year.

 

Kunis recently returned from Africa where she toured Gemfields mine in Zambia, Kagem, which produces about 20 percent of the world’s emeralds. Accompanied by Gemfields Chief Executive Harebottle, the actress learned about the company’s mining practices and visited Gemfields-sponsored community projects, including schools and a farming cooperative.

“While in Africa, I learned that the entire journey that each Gemfields stone takes is carefully considered and that the environment and the local communities where its mines are located are held in the highest regard,” Kunis said.

“I truly believe in Gemfields’ mission of ethical mining, and I absolutely have fallen in love with the rarity, beauty and history of emeralds.”

From this campaign and others, there is a true sense that emeralds will be making a very large come back. Gemfields positioned itself well with this campaign with Mila Kunis.  A revamped Gemfields website will also launch this spring and Gemfields will also release a large format book on emeralds in 2013.

 

Live, Life, Lamour

R.Lamour