Diamonds are among the hardest of all minerals. Still, they require special care to keep them looking their absolute best.

The brilliance of any diamond depends on the amount of light that can enter the stone and reflect back to the human eye. However, the smallest deposit of grease on the surface of a stone can dull its reflection. Even a touch from a finger will leave a smudge of natural oil, according to De Beers, one of the world's leading diamond companies.

Clean your diamonds with a simple mix of six parts water to one part ammonia and apply with a soft, natural bristle brush. If you have no ammonia in the house, you can substitute with a mild liquid detergent. Rinse with fresh water and dry with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. If your diamond has a crack or inclusion, De Beers advises owners not to use ultrasonic cleaners, as the vibrations of the cleaners can enlarge flaws.

A few words of warning. De Beers recommends that jewelry not be cleaned in or near the sink. If there is no better location for the cleaning, be sure the plug is in, to avoid the jewelry going down the drain. If you are using a brush, be gentle: diamonds can work loose from their settings if treated roughly, warns De Beers. If you use hand lotion, wait for at least 10-15 minutes before putting your rings back on, as the ring might easily slip off.

While most people believe that diamonds are impervious to scratches, that simply is not the case. Indeed, another diamond can easily scratch another. To prevent such scratches, separate diamond jewelry in your jewelry box, advises De Beers. Diamonds also can scratch other gems or jewelry, especially soft items like pearls. And even though diamonds are hard, they can be brittle, especially along thin edges. Try not to wear your diamond when it might be struck sharply, and if you have an especially thin cut, keep it protected. If you are traveling, use a secure travel pouch, which will keep individual pieces safely apart, according to De Beers.

De Beers recommends having important pieces of jewelry checked quarterly to be sure the stones are secure in their settings.

The spontaneous generosity of Elvis Presley was legendary and launched thousands of stories. The 10 carat diamond ring shown above was given to fan Lloyd Perry in Asheville North Carolina at concert in 1975. This one-of-a-kind piece of Elvis Presley memorabilia will be sold at auction by Affiliated Auctions in Tallahassee, Florida on December 6th, 2009. Perry says that the piece was given to him when, four songs in to his 1.5 hour show Elvis tossed his Gibson guitar in to the audience. Perry and the man seated to his right both grabbed for the the guitar. Perry let the other man have the guitar and a few songs later Elvis Presley called Perry on stage, shook his hand and then took the diamond ring shown above from his own finger and handed it to Perry. The 10ctw diamond ring, consists of 19 four-prong set diamonds set in 14K yellow gold.

The Lakers aren't the only ones to get fancy champion rings recently. World Sport Bike champion Ben Spies recently picked up his own championship bling during a visit to the post-race SBK Paddock Show. Italian jewelry company Circuiti Gioelli of Novara created a WSB champion ring to be given to the winner. No time delay here, just half-an-hour after race 2 had assured Ben's 2009 triumph, the ring was already been engraved with his name and was ready for the presentation.

The ring is in white 18K gold and diamonds with the SBK logo rendered in rubies and sapphires. It is engraved with the words '2009 World Champion' and is studded with 94 diamonds, 28 sapphires and 20 rubies. It is worth around 30,000 Euros.

Will real men wear pearls? Male model and reality television star Marcus Schenkenberg hopes so. Schenkenberg has partnered with German pearl specialist on YOU ROCK by Marcus Schenkenberg a line of pearl jewelry for men. Designer Mayk Holländer created the black-silver collection with black brilliant-cut diamonds, highlighted by vividly colored Fiji cultured pearls. Black chokers made of leather, silver, knotted silk or stingray leather are combined with pendants that represent an anchor, a cross or a skull and highlight a single pearl. Matching bracelets made of black knotted silk are also adorned with brilliant cut diamonds and Fiji cultured pearls.

[via CIJ]

We're not sure why you'd want a topographical map etched on a set of sterling silver cufflinks. However, like the judiciary, if it's legal then we don't need to concern ourselves with your intentions, and neither, for that matter, will Fluid Forms. The Austrian company will be glad to etch a section of the huge prairie deal you just closed in Montana -- or that Arcadia to which you and Mary Jane retired after senior Prom -- onto a small sliver of 925 silver for some 'links, a brooch, even a pendant.

And because, like the Earth, you're made of many things, Fluid Forms' work isn't limited to corporeal jewelry in silver. If it can be rendered in three dimensions, they can probably fashion it. Their Serene Salt & Pepper Shakers are particularly intriguing, the QR barcode belt buckles are a geek fashionista's dream, and they make Earth Bowls that look like they do their best work supporting your fruit collection. If you'll excuse us, we're going to see if we can have them create a topographical map of... Mary Jane...

I had never heard of Clara Kasavina when I met Clara herself (right) at a recent event for BagTrends in New York City. Now, I'm a little obsessed. It wasn't just the fabulous handbags which caught my attention, it was the amazing work they do with crystals. I can't wait for you to look through the gallery and see the lavishly encrusted minaudieres and accessories, but first, here's a bit more information.

Clara and her husband Misha have been making handbags for 15 years. Clara designs the bags -- with resplendent taste -- and Misha is the model maker, whose superb craftsmanship is evident in each of their stunning final products.

The bags are made in a variety of jewel tones with different shapes and materials. "Usually we choose to match our python, so we have it in the python, we have it in satin," said Clara. Their other unmistakable feature is their dynamic and opulent use of Swarovski crystals, packed tightly but unevenly, like a mosaic. "They are like a skin almost," explained Clara, quite rightly. The result is bags and accessories with an extremely opulent vintage feel -- your bag may be new, but it looks like a hand-me-down from Princess Grace.

We see a lot of handbags, but we rarely see old-school glamour like this, and with the season's return to flashy, speakeasy styles, you'd be smart to pick up a Clara Kasavina for the holidays.

Earlier this week the Lakers received their championship rings and this year's rings are some of the flashiest yet. Several members of the Buss family and team captains Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant weighed in on the design for the rings. The rings are made of a special limited 15K gold to celebrate the 15th championship. Dr. Jerry Buss requested the 14 round diamonds circling the top of the ring to represent 14 championships with the small gold trophy on the top representing the 15th. The team captains requested that each player have their own face and jersey number on the side of the ring. On non-player rings the Los Angeles skyline takes the place of the face. Each ring is authenticated by a serial number and there are hidden etchings of the Lakers logo on the ring. The diamond-studded top echoes the shape of the Staples center. Each ring comes with a box that has two LED spotlights inside. The 2009 Lakers championship rings were created by Jason of Beverly Hills and are worth about $30,000.

The largest vivid-green diamond ever to appear at auction is one of the rare natural-colored diamonds and historical jewels being sold at the Sotheby's November 17 sale at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Geneva. A total of around 400 lots are set to be auctioned off and could bring close to $30 million. The green diamond, shown above at right, is a cushion-shaped stone with a modified brilliant cut. It weighs 2.52 carats but because of the rarity of natural diamonds of this color it is estimated to sell for $3.1 million to $5.1 million. Shown above at left is another expensive rare stone, a pear-shaped fancy vivid-blue diamond with a modified brilliant cut. it weighs 5.96 carats and is expected to fetch between $5.5 million to $7.5 million. Other gorgeous colorful diamonds up for sale include a cushion-shaped fancy pink diamond weighing 6.63 carats and a a cut-cornered rectangular-shaped fancy vivid-yellow diamond with a modified brilliant cut, weighing 74.8 carats and mounted on a yellow gold ring.

The sale also includes pieces from the collections of Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia and society figure Daisy Fellowes. Many pieces signed by Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston, Tiffany and Co., and Van Cleef and Arpels, and other jewelry houses past and present will be up for sale. A sapphire and diamond demi-parure, circa 1900, was inherited from Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna by her daughter Princess Elena of Greece and Denmark, Grand Duchess of Russia, and has been consigned by its present owner, a member of a European imperial family. The set is estimated to sell for $137,000 and $176,000. The group of jewels--which left Russia just before Pavlovna's flight from St. Petersburg during the 1915 Revolution--includes a brooch set with an oval Burmese sapphire within a border of cushion-shaped diamonds, and a pair of matching ear clips.

Speaking of the sale, David Bennett, Sotheby's Chairman of Jewelry, Europe and Middle East, said: "We are thrilled that we are able to follow on from our achievement of the world record price per carat for any gemstone at auction with the "Star of Josephine" this past May in Geneva by offering a magnificent Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond of 5.96 carats, as well as an extremely rare vivid green diamond – the largest to ever appear at auction."

[via National Jeweler]

David Yurman opened up a brand new "shop within a shop" at the iconic Bloomingdale's on 59th Street in NYC last week. Located right on the mezzanine with the cosmetics, the new David Yurman 775 sq. ft space is completely separate in design from the surrounding department store fluorescence. The opening party included not only David and his wife, Sybil, but members of the board at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, as a portion of the proceeds from the first week of the new shop will be donated to The Society of MSKCC.

The opening was an absolute madhouse (which is what happens when someone shows up at Bloomingdale's with free champagne), and definitely got the word out about David Yurman's new home at Bloomingdale's. I managed to pull the charming and jovial David Yurman himself away from the masses of adoring women for a quick interview about the new shop, working as a husband and wife team, charity and inspiration.

Luxist: So, why a shop within a shop?

David Yurman: Oh, why not? We've had a smaller shop here [at Bloomingdale's] for about six years, but this is the biggest shop [within another shop] we have, probably, in the world. We have our own ceiling, we have our own video ... it's as large a size as I would imagine I would want.

L: And did you design it yourself?

DY: No -- well, I designed it with Michael Gabellini. Originally we designed the furniture, the show cases. We worked for about 5-6 months with Michael -- great designer, great person to work with -- sometimes it can be difficult; two creative people with their concepts, but to me, [the shop] is like, warm, minimal, not even minimal. Warm modern. Very functional. I mean, we used oak, solid black walnut, and it's connected to our flagship, which opened in March. Not all our stores look alike. We have five different looks in fifteen stores. This is our new design and we love it. It will be here, it'll be in our flagship, we're opening up in Paris in March, but this is -- I call it 'the pavilion.'"

L: It's a pavilion within a shop.

DY: It's a pavilion within Bloomingdale's!

L: You work with so many charitable organizations -- what's your philosophy as far as giving back?

DY: It's actually for my parents. If you have enough, you don't need any more. What's enough? I mean, I definitely have enough, so, we give back. It's the DNA of our family. I mean, I was giving back on Saturdays when I was in high school. Or, three months every year, the last few years of high school, I worked at the MS Center, I worked with underprivileged and handicapped children.

L: Sounds like they raised you well.

DY: They told me giving back, working, being with people is just .. I would never [have done] this, personally. I wanted to play football, I wanted to hang out at the mall -- but it was the best thing I ever did. It's such a good feeling.

L: What's it like working as a husband and wife team?

DY: It's difficult and rewarding. We have a lot to talk about.

L: Who does what?

DY: We make one person. Sybil's probably more focused on marketing, but I weigh in on marketing. I'm more focused on design, product development.

L: She weighs in on that?

DY: She weighs in on that. Nothing happens without both of us signing off. If we don't both sign off, it doesn't happen. We've been married for 39 years.

L: What are you working on next?

DY: It's hard to describe in words, but a lot of extensions, evolutions. We're doing a lot more 'younger,' our son is doing the men's and watches, and bridal and also the high jewelry which is amazing materials, great design, and it's where he's growing in our business. It's a family.

L: And what keeps you inspired, where you you get your ideas?

DY: You know, the thing with the word 'get' -- you can't say 'get ideas' because you kinda make yourself available to them. It's a river, you sort of guide yourself.

L: So you're just open to [ideas], you don't go looking for them?

DY: No, I don't look -- well, I'm not blind. I look at women, like I was liking [a nearby woman's] earrings ... those are my earrings! Ha! I was saying I liked them, and they're mine.

He certainly is friendly and entertaining -- and it was hard to keep the ladies from ambushing him mid-interview! Be sure and visit the new David Yurman space next time you make it to Bloomingdale's in NYC, it's like a breath of fresh air amongst the fragrances -- and, of course, the jewelry is fabulous.

Ivanka Trump learned the art of personal branding well from her famous father. When Ivanka married New York Observer owner Jared Kushner over the weekend she made sure to deck herself out in jewels from her own diamond company. To accessorize her Vera Wang gown she wore a total of $265,000 in diamonds and platinum including a custom-designed, platinum and mixed-cut diamond hair piece ($45,000) mixed-cut diamond cluster 9.67 carat earrings ($130,000) and an art deco platinum and a 26-carat fancy-link diamond estate bracelet ($90,000). Her bridesmaids also wore designs from the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry collection.

We've been seeing more good results at auction this season, wine, art, watches and jewelry all seem to be selling stronger than they were a year ago. On Wednesday, the Annenberg Diamond a 32.01-carat D-flawless stone mounted in a ring by Manhattan jeweler David Webb, sold for $7.7 million, healthily above the estimate of $3 million to $5 million. The per carat price of $240,000 set a new world record for a colorless diamond at auction. The ring had been owned by philanthropist Leonore "Lee" Annenberg, who died in March at the age of 91.

Christie's "Jewels: The New York Sale and the Annenberg Diamond" and "Rare Jewels and Objets d'Art: A Superb Collection" sales together totaled $46.5 million with a combined sell-through rate of 85 percent by lot and 94 percent by value. A diamond and rock crystal bow brooch by Cartier was expected to sell for $200,000 - $300,000 but ended up going for $1.1 million and other pieces sold above estimate. Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry at Christie's New York, expressed enthusiasm over the sale saying that for a time it was "as if the recession never happened."

It's been a long time coming but members of the De Beers class-action lawsuit settlement might finally get a payout next spring. National Jeweler reported on the recent meeting of the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America in New York City. At that meeting president Ronald Friedman provided an update on the eight-year-old case and read a letter from one of the attorneys involved. The letter says that several consumers filed various objections to the settlement and a hearing on these appeals is set for January. Once an opinion on those hearings has been reached and provided that the court overrules the objections, payouts could begin next spring.

The De Beers class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of two classes: jewelers and other direct purchasers of diamonds (both rough and polished) between Sept. 20, 1997 and March 31, 2006 and indirect purchasers of diamonds (resellers and consumers) who bought diamonds, diamond jewelry or other products containing gem-quality diamonds between January 1, 1994 and March 31, 2006. The suit claimed that De Beers charged anticompetitive prices for the rough diamonds it sold, monopolized the rough diamond market, and disseminated false and misleading advertising. The $295 million settlement has been divided so that $22.5 million will be distributed to the direct purchaser class and $272.5 million to the indirect purchaser class. Given the number of claimants (said to be as much as $60 million) the payout per person will be pretty small.

The 2009 Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra has been revealed. Marisa Miller does the honors this year modeling a $3 million diamond-studded bra created by Damiani. The 2009 Harlequin Fantasy bra is hand set with over 2,350 white, champagne and cognac-colored diamonds in a harlequin pattern. The bra also has a heart-shaped 16-carat champagne diamond dangling from the Very Sexy Convertible bra. The bra can be worn in five ways: strapless, halter, crossback, one-strap or classic. It has a total carat weight of 150 carats and sells for $3 million. The bra will be on display during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on December 1 on CBS.

[via People Magazine]

One of the best parts of watching the Hollywood awards shows is seeing the stars in those gorgeous gowns and amazing jewelry pieces. But how those stars get matched up with those pieces can be a long and involved process. Recently I attended a career fair at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad, California for those interested in careers in the jewelry industry. The GIA is a lab where millions of dollars in diamonds and gemstones are sent for analysis and certification. They also offer programs on gemology, jewelry design and craftsmanship for those interested in jewelry-related careers.

Much of the focus of the day was on sales and making the best of a challenging industry. But some of the dishiest stories came from a couple of red carpet champs. In the morning panel Michael S. O'Connor, a former jewelry designer turned stylist who works for the Platinum Guild International talked about the challenges of getting jewelry on to celebrities for the big events. These days most stars have stylists which serve as gatekeepers and making them happy is a big part of getting jewelry on a star. O'Connor told the story of placing a piece on Angelina Jolie which all started after a chance green room meeting with her stylist.

Another red carpet winner is Erica Courtney. She has a relatively small company and yet has had tremendous success getting her jewelry on big stars including Julia Roberts, Beyonce and Britney Spears. How did she do it? Part of her success has come from remaining committed to working with celebrities year round and not just around the time of big events. She also has a "nothing is impossible" attitude and revealed that one of her associates who was scheduled to be at the GIA with her actually had to jump on a red-eye flight instead to ferry a piece to a client because it was after the FedEx deadline.

As Courtney explains it, the business of getting jewelry placed can be a bit tricky. Stylists try to make sure their stars get the best pieces and all details of red carpets outfits are protected like state secrets until the big reveal. One thing that Courtney won't do however is give away her pieces. She was adamant about not giving pieces to away to actresses saying she'd rather not give away "even a little pair of silver earrings" and if she was going to giveaway jewelry she'd give it to "the girls that work so hard for me." And lest you think that years of working with diamonds, sapphires and expensive gemstones has jaded her she also confessed that even she is sometimes intimidated by working with the big stones. The stone can't sell itself, it's up to the design to do that and so the pressure's on. Courtney revealed that she often takes a stone home and then watches television while sketching in order to distract herself from the value of the stone.

The takeaway from every panelist at the GIA career fair was that if you don't have a passion for jewelry and the ability to sell this probably isn't the business for you, it's just too hard otherwise especially in a world where jewelry loses increasing ground to technology and other gifts. But for those with the love of the stones and the drive to do whatever is necessary to make a sale, an interesting career awaits.

What's black and white and fabulous all over? The jewelry of Stefano Canturi. Canturi, who has designed for Cartier and other brands displays an almost machine-like geometry in his bold black and white designs using diamonds and black sapphires. His latest collections embrace cubism using square-cut and baguette diamonds to create pieces that seem both classic Art Deco and very modern. The architectural quality of the pieces seems a natural fit for New York City which is where Canturi has opened his fifth salon worldwide. Canturi, an Australian designer, created jewelry for Nicole Kidman in both the Moulin Rouge and Australia films and has the all-powerful Oprah Winfrey as a customer. He previously opened his first U.S. shop in Las Vegas and also has three stores in Australia.