diamonds

On a diamond internet forum today someone asked whatever happened to the much hyped Jubilee Diamond? This modified square shape was introduced to great fanfare as being the pinnacle of light performance for those preferring the square shape stone.

What may have really happened is this cutter has decided to stop manufacturing the Jubilee due to the fact that achieving this cut level is very time-consuming and not financially worth it. Cutters are paid by the carat weight piece of diamond rough they are working on and the more time they have to spend working on a given piece of diamond rough in order to achieve the specs of the Developer, the less real money they earn. Cutting a diamond to "Good" Symmetry and Polish as opposed to Excellent or Ideal Symmetry/Polish allows for more rapid turnover and completion of cutting projects and viable earnings. The developer of the Jubilee is now actively seeking a new cutting firm. With the ever increasing prices of diamond rough and decreasing profit margins at retail, we predict it won't be easy finding one.

Jubilee Diamond

The real question now becomes what happens if the production of the Jubilee does not resume or even if it does resume at a sporadic production pace. Where does such a scenario leave consumers who have already purchased Jubilees and wish to avail themselves in the future of the upgrade policy that many Jewelers and Internet vendors provide. Will they be able to do so if there are no bigger Jubilees to upgrade to? With a shrinking market and popularity due to decreased supply, will the Jeweler/Vendor honor their Upgrade Policy if they no longer have a re-sale market?

With increasing competition for the consumers diamond dollars and the growing popularity of buying a diamond from Internet diamond websites, several members of the Diamond Industry seek to re-invent the wheel by introducing new fangled shapes and marketing campaigns to sell them. Introducing a new product and making it stick is not easy.

Just to test your diamond knowledge, here is a very partial list of diamond cuts that have been introduced to the market in recent years. Can you identify them and tell if they are popular sellers?

Long, dangling diamond earrings were the outstanding diamond jewelry trend of the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards held Sunday night in Los Angeles.

As with every Hollywood awards ceremony, especially in a year when a writers strike is threatening Hollywood’s ability to perform, its biggest names came out to parade in front of long lines of reporters and cameras.

Diamonds were the gems of choice, seen on large diamond studs, diamond drops and diamond chandelier earrings; stacked diamond bracelets and cuffs and diamond right hand rings. According to PR agents, diamond brooches also made a notable appearance.

Actress Ana Ortiz, totted as the “evening’s best all-diamond look,” showcased a half a million dollar diamond look by Kwiat, including diamond cluster earrings, a vintage diamond and platinum bracelet and a diamond and platinum flower brooch worn in her hair.

Kate Beckinsale wore Van Cleef & Arpel’s private museum collection pieces, including stacked diamond bracelets on both wrists, diamond stud earrings, a 1919 Art Deco diamond right hand ring and a diamond brooch.

Major diamond trends at the awards included diamond earrings of every length and style, spanning large classic diamond studs, diamond pendant earrings, diamond drops, diamond hoops and diamond chandelier earrings:

• Allison Janney – Diamond pendant earrings
• Amanda Bynes – Kwiat – Diamond Stiletto earrings
• Amy Ryan – Fred Leighton – Diamond pendant earrings
• Ana Ortiz – Kwiat – Large diamond cluster earrings
• Becki Newton – Bochic – Rose cut diamond earrings
• Brittany Snow – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum drop earrings
• Chandra Wilson – Judith Ripka – Diamond and yellow gold chandelier earrings
• Christina Applegate – Diamond stud earrings
• Debra Messing – Neil Lane – Rough cut diamond earrings
• Dixie Carter – H. Stern – Isis diamond earrings
• Edie Falco – Kwiat – Triple drop diamond and platinum earrings, valued at over $250,000
• Ellen Pompeo – Fred Leighton – Old European cut diamond drop earrings, 2.5 carats each
• Giuliana Rancic – Bochic – Rose cut diamond earrings
• Jamie–Lynn Sigler – Fred Leighton – Cushion cut diamond drop earrings, 6 carats each
• Jane Krakowski – H. Stern – Zephyr cognac diamond studs
• January Jones – Neil Lane – Diamond earrings
• Joy Lauren – Diamond ball earrings
• Judith Light – Diamond chandelier earrings
• Kate Beckinsale – Van Cleef & Arpels – Diamond stud earrings
• Kate Hudson – Cartier – 4 carat diamond stud earrings, valued at $101,500
• Katrina Bowden – H.Stern – Stern Radiant diamond earrings
• Keisha Whitaker – Neil Lane – Diamond pendant earrings
• Kyra Sedgwick – Fred Leighton – Cushion cut diamond earrings, 5 carats each
• Maggie Siff – Kwiat – Diamond and platinum earrings from the Pagoda Collection
• Marg Helgenberger – Le Vian – Pave diamond hoop earrings
• Mary Hart – Chopard – 17 carat cushion–cut diamond earrings on a French wire
• Melora Hardin – Chopard – 10 carat cushion cut diamond drop earrings
• Michelle Pfeiffer – Neil Lane – Darkened platinum and diamond chandelier earrings
• Nicollette Sheridan – Neil Lane – Diamond pendant earrings
• Nikki Blonsky – Kwiat / Natalie K. – Diamond pendant earrings
• Perrey Reeves – Le Vian – Diamond hoop earrings
• Rebecca Gayheart – Neil Lane – Diamond and platinum earrings
• Sally Field – Martin Katz – Emerald cut diamond drop earrings with 2 carat emerald cut diamonds for a total of 7.34 carats, valued at $115,000
• Sophia Bush – Diamond drop earrings
• Tara Summers – Kwiat – Diamond Isabella earrings
• Taraji Henson – Chopard – 15 carat diamond hoop earrings
• Teri Hatcher – Neil Lane – Diamond flower pendant earrings
• Tina Fey – Lorraine Schwartz – Diamond shield earrings
• Vanessa Williams – Fred Leighton – Diamond and black onyx pendant earrings
• Vinessa Shaw – Martin Katz – Diamond tassel earrings with 4.45 carats worth of diamonds, valued at $11,000

A spectacular 18 carat gold diamond ring set with gorgeous- sizzling diamonds