Diamond TV Is Here

Do you have some extra cash lying around and it's burning a hole in your pocket?

Try this.

An Italian design company called Keymat Industrie has brought bling into the home by introducing the $130,000 Yalos Diamond TV, which features a diamond studded white gold frame, holding at least 20 carats of the precious gems in its own "grill." Available in 26, 32, 37, 40 and 46 inch sizes, I doubt whether the fact that the screen maxes out at 1080i will concern potential customers like Jay-Z and Master P all that much.

A few years down the road when this technology becomes obsolete, just pull the diamonds and look for some other faddy doo-dad.

See And Be Seen With Diamonds!

I had to let out a chuckle today when I was reading the Jewelry Insider blog, a site that takes a look at the fashion side of the jewelry business.

The blogger was sharing her insights regarding the U.S. Open (tennis) Tournament which is now taking place in New York City. As she noted, many of the tennis stars are fond of showing off some bling while they’re playing, recalling an incident in 2005 where Serena Williams dropped one of her $40,000 diamond chandelier earrings in the middle of her 6-1, 6-3 dispatching of Taiwan’s Yung-Jan Chan.

Hit It With Diamonds!
This year, Serena has been outdone by upstart teen tennis sensation Asia Muhammad who decided to adorn her pink tennis racquet with a diamond. That’s right, a diamond! Thanks to the work of Las Vegas jeweler Michael E. Minden, Asia’s racquet (pictured) has been custom fitted with 1.00ctw of VS quality pave set diamonds in 2 letter A’s which can be found just above her grip.

“This is the first time I’ve actually put diamonds on a piece of athletic equipment,” notes Minden. “However, we came up with a special process to affix it to the racquet, with a special technology to transfer the letters to a new racquet when Asia wears out the first one. The same diamonds can be added to a golf club, and makes a very exclusive gift for any exceptional athlete in most any sport.”

Let’s Play Tennis!
The price for each letter? A cool $1750 which includes installation. Tennis, anyone?

Diamonds Are Still in Demand

In today’s economic climate, it may seem that no one is buying anything - especially something as precious as a diamond. A recent Chicago auction has proved that notion incorrect. Many who have the extra cash tend to buy up collectibles and other tangible luxuries when the market turns scary. Diamonds have long been considered a rarity and natural treasure, no matter the climate. It may be quite possible that they hold their value through even the toughest times, possibly largely due to the rich and famous who continue to purchase them.

The auction held in Chicago brought bidders from far away places like Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Australia, Hungary and Singapore. Many lots of jewelry continued to sell at an average of $100,000, and the buyers did not blink an eye at these prices.

Of notable purchase was an extremely rare, yellow diamond ring that was submitted by a local family. Their mother had worn the ring on her third left finger before bequeathing it to the younger family members. It is unclear why the family chose to sell the ring, as they did realize the worth of the 5.44 carat sparkler. However, twelve people started bidding against each other to win the bauble, and a New York jewelry dealer won the piece for a total of $144,000. This was four times the expected sale price, much to everyone’s surprise.

The sale of the ring reflects not only the maintained market for diamonds, but also reinforces the trends and fashions we see in Hollywood jewelry. Rare colored diamonds and vintage styling are most popular currently. This yellow diamond was set in an 18k white gold setting from the 1960s.

Due to the rising interest in colored diamonds recently, many yellow diamonds have been offered. However, this ring set a new record for recent yellow diamond auction bids.
Yellow, red, pink, black and blue diamonds are not only popular due to their colorful fashion statement. They are also much more rare than any white diamond, thus an important statement of status and wealth. Only 1 carat of colored diamonds for every 100,000 carats of white diamonds are ever mined.

Other recently sold high-dollar diamonds include a sapphire and diamond ring totaling $656,000, or twice the estimated sale. Another diamond also doubled its sale price estimate and sold for $470,500. The standing record for a diamond sold at auction was set in 1995 when a 100.1 carat white diamond was purchased for a total of $16.5 million.

Huge diamonds are also expected to bring big dollar signs at a New York sale this fall. The famous 316 carat Ponaholo diamond has yielded four stones, two of which took 18 months to create. The Ponaholo was mined in 2005, and the two stones considered the most valued are 102 and 70 carat stunners.

The larger diamond is expected to sell for $4 million, and the smaller is predicted to find a new home for $2.2 million. If the current trend proves correct, they may sell for almost twice that amount. Russell Simmons, hip-hop’s main man, and model Kiara Kabukuru revealed the diamonds to the press this week.

Many of the world’s largest diamonds can be found on display at many points of interest. The largest diamond, the Cullinan diamond, weighs in at 3,106 carats and is displayed at the Tower of London. All royal jewels are held there, and the Cullinan was cut into three separate pieces. The Cullinan I, also known as the Star of Africa, is found on the famous Sceptre with the Cross. The Lesser Star of Africa, the Cullinan I’s smaller counterpart, can be found in the Imperial State Crown.

The Louvre of Paris houses the 137 carat Regent diamond, quite possibly the most famous colored diamond due to its deep blue hue. A 108 carat stone called the Taj-Imah is contained in Iran’s crown jewels, and the Orlov, a 189 carat gem, resides in the Kremlin.

It seems that regardless of what the economy is doing, high-quality items continue to hold their value, and may quite possibly exponentially grow in value. Rare and antique furnishings, vehicles and diamonds are following suit.

Although the rich and famous continue to purchase the collectible items, laymen may visit the large rocks on public display around the world. These carat monsters initiated our preoccupation with large diamonds today.

Hollywood and international elite are found wearing increasingly large stones in both bridal and red carpet jewelry today. Each new bride seems to override the popularity of the last one, stopping the show with the latest monstrous design. Celebrities are also cashing in on the rare cuts and colors available in the latest fashions. Rose cuts were seen at the Oscars and Emmys this year, as well as colored metals and black diamonds.

Diamonds for the Cure

Everyone’s heard the phrase made famous by Marilyn Monroe, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” With new medical studies being performed, diamonds could become a true best friend to people in need. It turns out that diamonds are capable of more than just sparkle and shine; they have characteristics which can aid in healing cancer patients. One typically does not think of diamonds when they think of cancer treatment, but new research shows that diamonds can help create a more targeted treatment with fewer side effects.Cancer is an awful beast that attacks people in every stage of life in many different forms. Twenty-somethings can fall victim to breast cancer. Liver cancer can strike a wife and mother of several young children. Cancer does not single out older people but can bring devastation to men and women of every age category from child leukemia to colon cancer in an eighty year old man. Cancer is a terrible way to die, but can also be a terrible and painful way to live when conventional treatments are used.

Traditional treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. These techniques are designed to kill the bad cancer cells without killing healthy cells. They can be damaging to the good cells, as well, however, and leave patients with side effects. The side effects of chemotherapy include, but are not limited to pain, seizures, headaches, heartburn, dizziness and unbearable fatigue. Chemotherapy is an incredibly difficult and painful treatment to endure. The side effects make it hard for patients to endure the healing process. It takes a great deal of mental toughness just to get through treatment successfully. Chemotherapy is a wonderful gift, and provides a way for cancer victims to go on living healthy lives free of cancer. The treatment is extremely difficult for most people to bear. With cancer at such high rates, it is a terrible thing that so much pain needs to be endured for a patient to come out on the other side.

So, what do diamonds have to do with cancer? Diamonds are rare and beautiful gems. It takes a great deal of effort, however, to cut them and polish them from their raw state into the sparkling gems which are seen in jewelry stores. If there is anything more valuable than a diamond, it is a human life. Just like diamonds, people must endure the trials of cutting and polishing to become what they are meant to become. Diamonds are a lot like people in this respect. The trials of cancer treatment are trying and difficult, but what comes out of the other side is a beautiful person who has been healed.

Now, diamonds can finally help with the healing. A new drug patch is now being studied which may help cancer patients to get chemotherapy benefits only in the areas which require the treatment. The patch is studded with nanodiamonds, or fragments of diamond dust, and it works to treat localized areas of remaining cancer after a tumor has been removed. The diamond patch releases chemotherapy drugs slowly over time, and only to the cancer infected area. Because the patch is placed over the affected area, the chemotherapy does not harm other areas of the body, thus greatly reducing the side effects. The patch would be very economical, as nanodiamonds are mass produced already for use in car parts and electronics.

Why do diamonds have the ability to treat cancer? These tiny diamond fragments have proven to be compatible with tissues in the body. This allows the chemotherapy drugs to be slowly released into the body without causing inflammation of the cells.

Once the research is completed, the question then becomes when this treatment will become available and in what capacity. Researchers believe that these diamond patches will be able to be used in conjunction with traditional injected chemotherapy shortly. Why use both. The nanodiamond patches can compliment the injected chemotherapy. This means that, although tradition treatment will still be required, less quantities of it will be needed for successful treatment of the cancer. Less of the injected drug means fewer side effects and more cost efficiency. This would be a huge advancement in the field of cancer treatment if less chemotherapy was needed with fewer side effects, less healthy cell damage and less money.

The long term relationship between diamonds and cancer treatment is yet to be determined. The future looks bright, and more healing properties of this incredible stone, are surely to be discovered in time. Perhaps eventually, diamond patches could be created to take the place of surgery and injected drugs all together. Wouldn’t that be a blessing for cancer patients? One is diagnosed with cancer, so they go to the doctor and have a patch placed over the affected area. The patch then slowly releases all of the treatment which is required to kill the cancer for good. Who knows? This kind of miracle healing might not be so unheard of in the future.

Inside Weddings Fall - Whiteflash fashion jewelry in good company sparkling in the Jewelry Box.

Here are a few of Inside Weddings favorite things from Inside Wedding’s Rebecca Varma a Brilliant Idea - a sparkling collection of favorite diamond jewelry. 18K Gold and Diamonds ‘Embrace’ pendant designed by Whiteflash.com.

Whiteflash has a Luxe Product in Latina for the Fall Issue.

Style Power, skirts, dresses and jewelry for work or play. When it comes to precious stones and other lavish goodies, too much in gemstone rings and amethyst earrings is never enough!
In the body - Opulent Gold, Elegant Bracelets and Exotic Gemstones this season, It’s all about Shine and Brilliance. Review gorgeous amethyst button earrings and 6 carat Peridot diamond halo ring. Whiteflash.com shows off the color in this month’s Latina issue featuring Rosario Dawson.

Lesotho mine yields one of world’s largest diamonds

Miners in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho have found one of the world’s largest diamonds, a near-flawless white gem weighing nearly 500 carats, mining group Gem Diamonds said on Sunday.

The diamond was discovered in the Letseng Mine on September 8, the company said in a statement. It has been analyzed by experts in Antwerp and found to weigh 478 carats, with very few inclusions and of outstanding color and clarity.

“It has the potential to yield one of the largest flawless D color round polished diamonds in history,” the company said.

Letseng is one of the most productive mines in history — four of the world’s 20 largest rough diamonds have been found at the mine, including the three largest found this century.
Before it is cut into gems it is hard to value the diamond, but a spokesman for Gem Diamonds said a similar weight stone with lesser-quality color and clarity had recently sold for $12 million (around 5.5 million pounds).

“Preliminary examination of this remarkable diamond indicates that it will yield a record breaking polished stone of the very best color and clarity,” Clifford Elphick, the chief executive of Gem Diamonds, said in a statement.

The minister for natural resources in Lesotho, an impoverished mountain kingdom in eastern South Africa, praised the productivity of the mine, one of the highest in the world at more than 3,000 meters (10,000 feet).

“Once again Letseng has proved its ability to produce extraordinary diamonds and continues to place Lesotho at the forefront of diamond producing countries,” Monyane Moleleki said in a statement.

Letseng is 70 percent owned by Gem Diamonds and 30 percent owned by the government of Lesotho.

The world’s largest diamond is the Cullinan, discovered in South Africa in 1905. It weighed more than 3,100 carats before it was cut into more than one hundred separate gems, many of which are part of the British crown jewels.

The Decision Rules of Engagement Rings

A few points to review before you start shopping.




Shape matters

Even before those infamous 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat), you must know what shape your future fiancée loves. Shape indicates the actual geometry of the stone, as opposed to cut, which relates to the angles of the facets in the stone.


Settings are important but the diamond takes precendence
A quality setting — the metal framework in which your stone is mounted — can set the tone for a ring. A classic round gets a fresh and modern makeover in a bezel setting. A trendy oval can look more traditional in a four-prong setting. Getting the right combo of shape and setting is key.
Notice her styleThe trend these days is for couples to ring shop together, but if you’re more of a traditionalist and looking to surprise her with a ring she’ll love, be sure to do some reconnaissance. You can ask her best friend or sibling for help — and swear them to secrecy. But if you’re set on not telling anyone, pay attention to the jewelry she wears. Is she more of a platinum/silver girl than a yellow gold one? Does she gravitate to vintage jewels as opposed to simple classic pieces? Watch her for a couple of weeks and take mental notes to size up her style.

Loose Stones
Buy a loose diamondUnless you’re buying an estate ring, chances are, you’ll be looking at loose stones as opposed to stones in a setting. (The ones you see in the jeweler’s case are often just samples to give you an idea of the finished product.) The stone accounts for the vast majority of a ring’s cost, so wouldn’t you want to get the most gorgeous one imaginable (or at least in your budget)? Be sure to inspect the stone with a loupe (a handheld magnifier that most jewelers have).


What can you afford?

Throw out that old two-months salary myth; you should buy the best ring you can without going into major debt. If she’s a size queen and your budget isn’t supersized, go for a ring with a slightly larger table, or surface, area. You won’t get as much sparkle, but a one-carat ring will look much larger if the stone has a superideal cut. Don’t want to sacrifice the look of your stone? Buying just shy of the next carat (1.8 instead of 2) can equal a savings of nearly 20%. And when it comes to clarity, buying shy gives you the most wiggle room without affecting sparkle (often defects are not visible to the naked eye).


Shop carefully

Always start your jeweler search with recommendations from friends and family. No leads? Check for industry organization affiliation. Stores accredited by the Jewelers of America or members of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) are good starting places.. And always find out what a store’s return policy is. You want to be able to at least exchange the stone if it’s not the one she wants. Whiteflash.com is known for it’s superb customer service and brilliant diamond buying experience due to out life-time upgrade policy, free shipping, free verification, one-year buyback policy, referral gifts and a 10 day money back guarantee.


Give yourself at least a few weeks.
Educating yourself through various web sites can take up to a month.Remember that once ordered, a ring can take up to 3 weeks to arrive, potentially longer if you’re having it custom designed. If you want to engrave the inside of the ring, be sure to request the inscription when you place your order.


Get it in writing

Diamonds one carat or larger should be accompanied by a diamond-grading report issued by an independent gemological association such as the GIA or the American Gem Society. You might also get a “fingerprint” of your ring on the bill of sale, which would include the stone’s 4Cs, shape, dimensions, and any cosmetic enhancements. Also, anything that affects its value — if it was made by a famous designer, is an antique or period piece, or is handmade or custom-designed — should also be noted.

4 C's
The 4 Cs Basic Primer – get the best cut diamond with this simple course on diamond quality


Cut

A stone’s cut refers to the number, placement, shape, and craftsmanship of the facets that create the finished diamond. A diamond’s cut has the most impact on its brilliance.


Color

Diamonds range widely in hue, from the blue of the Hope Diamond to startling shades of red, pink, amber, orange, and canary yellow. Color grades for yellow diamonds developed by the GIA range from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).


Clarity

The clarity of a diamond depends on how clear or “clean” it is; in other words, how free it is of imperfections on the outside and inside when viewed with the naked eye and with a loupe (a 10x magnifying glass).


Carat

A carat is a unit of weight (not to be confused with karat, which indicates the purity of gold). The carat is standardized at 200 milligrams. Diamond weights are also referred to in points: One carat equals 100 points.

Diamond Handbags

Luxury handbags, how many of us own them? Not many this season if our unfortunate economic crisis has anything to do with. However, not everyone is cutting into their monthly Starbucks stipends to don the finer things in life.

According to the most recent Luxury Institute Survey, the rich are getting richer. And their accessory of choice? Judith Leiber handbags.

1,048 wealthy women, “wealthy” meaning they take in an average of $348k a year and have a average net-worth of $3.5 million, were asked which handbag brands the coveted the most. While Jimmy Choo, Hermes, and Tod’s ranked fairly high on their lists, it was Judith Leiber’s clutches that are the undisputed favorite amongst the bougie set.

As the survey espouses: “The Judith Leiber brand is rated as much for being a work of art as it is rated a luxury by the only pundits who count -wealthy consumers who can buy the brands. Our impartial surveys are based on the principle that highly educated, discerning luxury consumers have the ultimate expertise and trustworthiness in luxury consumption. The Luxury Institute conducts its research with independent panels, and uses third party analytical firms to tabulate the results so that the true voice of luxury consumers is amplified for the benefit of their peers and industry executives alike.”

Like Judith Leiber handbags, diamonds never go out of style and are today’s new fashion trend. Exquisitely hand crafted wedding bands, engagement rings, diamond earrings and uniquely custom designed pieces from an assortment of loose diamonds. Whiteflash.com Inc. supplies the highest quality ideal cut diamonds, engagement rings and custom jewelry. Choose Whiteflash.com for an elite inventory, customer service, experience and attention to perfection when buying diamonds. And now you know. So the next time you have a big red carpet event, choose Whiteflash.com for Diamonds or Judith Leiber for handbags, either way you are a star!
To check out some outrageous items check out the Style List!

Anniversary 101

Finding the Perfect Anniversary Gift

With regard to anniversary gifts, one of the most popular options, especially for husbands, is purchasing diamond jewelry. This is because, as the saying goes, “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” Therefore, buying your wife diamond jewelry for your wedding anniversary is one of the safest and most reliable bets for an anniversary gift.

However, buying your wife diamond jewelry does not only involve going to a jewelry store or shopping online. This is because there are a number of things you should consider when buying wedding anniversary gifts, such as diamonds, to ensure that you are getting good quality. In addition, the high cost of diamonds requires that you take the necessary steps to make sure that you are getting good value for your money. There is much more meaning to that diamond, gold or gemstone piece than its cost or how much it sparkles.

When going to your jeweler or shopping online, keep in mind your wife’s preferences. Does she like white gold, yellow gold, platinum, or silver? If she’s small, it’s important to purchase something that will complement her beauty, not overwhelm it. Unless you know her jewelry style very well, play it safe. Go for elegant over flashy. Many jewelers will create custom anniversary gifts and pieces that are as unique as this special occasion.

Things to Look For When Shopping
Make sure and check the four C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat; when purchasing your anniversary bands. These are a great addition to already existing wedding bands. They are actually called value factors. Perhaps a little known fact that these four basic characteristics apply to diamonds and colored gemstones. And it’s no wonder the bridal business remains crucial, given the correlation between marital status and the most expensive jewelry owned. While nearly 38 percent of single consumers said their most expensive item costs under $250, more than half of married respondents owned jewelry worth $1,000 or more.

What You Shop For
Convenience is a big factor in terms of where consumers shop for jewelry.
Cost is another key consideration, especially for jewelry consumers with less discretionary income.

Finding jewelry that works with her wardrobe is also crucial which include designer, trendy and traditional pieces.

Accessorize! Many women like to wear jewelry to accessorize outfits. In terms of what they like, many say that they are usually inspired by jewelry that they see while flipping through women’s magazines such as Bride or Oprah.

Make it Memorable
Even as many women consider jewelry a great fashion accessory, there is still a strong link between the pieces of jewelry they own and the story behind each one. Some feeling about anniversary is sentimental value, emotional value, and the beauty and style of the jewelry. Your celebration should be something out-of-the ordinary that makes a statement about what she means to you and what you mean to each other. Big or small, there are endless romantic ways to recognize the years you have shared, and plan to share, with your wife. Give your love something that beauty can’t even compare to. White Flash’s anniversary ring series will take her breath away.

Whether it’s a diamond anniversary band that reflects your love and respect or a diamond anniversary ring that proclaims none of your feelings have changed, find the perfect anniversary jewelry from WhiteFlash.

Top Jewelry Must Have’s

Top four most-wanted brands:
1. Tiffany and Co.
2. Cartier
3. Chanel
4. WhiteFlash

Most sought after jewelry:
1. Diamond Rings
2. Diamond Pendants
3. Diamond Studs
4. Diamond Bracelets

The Hottest Types of Jewelry:
1. Gold
2. Diamond
3. Silver
4. Colored Gemstones Jewelry
5. Pearl Jewelry