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Published on Monday, 31 October 2011 15:25

Watch brand Jorg Gray is to produce a customised watch for the London Metropolitan Police's Special Branch command.

The watch will have the Special Branch's seal on the front, with the date that the command was founded and a unique serial number on the reverse.

The Special Branch command was set up in 1883 and its role has been to counter the threat of political violence and subversion in the United Kingdom.

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Published on Monday, 31 October 2011 15:09

Jewellery designer Sophie Harley has re-launched her website following 12 months of functionality upgrading.

The new site, which "allow[s] for easier navigation and aims to be a continuation of Harley's studio space," showcases her collections alongside a bespoke section containing past collections for customers to peruse.

Harley said: "This wonderful new website is an important part of our growth strategy for the next few years and we're incredibly excited and pleased with the response we've had so far from our customers on the site's new look, especially within the wedding and bespoke sections."

Harley, who specialises in silver and gold jewellery for women and men, has previously worked with De Beers and Boodles as well as having created jewellery for Kate Beckinsale, Naomi Campbell, Judi Dench, Colin Firth and Joss Stone. Her pieces have also been used in the James Bond films Casino Royale and The Quantum of Solace.

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Published on Friday, 28 October 2011 13:03

Gem Diamonds has announced the sale of the world's 14th largest white diamond on record.

Sold into a profit sharing arrangement, the 550 carat, type lla, D colour rough diamond was recovered at the company's Letšeng mine on 19 August 2011. Known as the Letšeng Star, it is the fourth significant diamond to be discovered at the mine since 2006, situated in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Under the new sales and marketing strategy, the Letšeng Star has been sold for a rough price of $16.5 million (£10.2 million). Gem Diamonds chief executive Clifford Elphick commented: "The Letšeng Star has the potential to yield an exceptional polished product, and the profit sharing arrangement for the polished margin of the Letšeng Star will ensure that its true value is realised, and that Letšeng Diamonds benefits directly from the exposure to the resulting upside. Gem Diamonds' strategy of maximising revenue generation from our rough diamonds by seeking value-added initiatives further up the diamond value chain is gaining importance for the group, and we are becoming increasingly successful in selling rough and polished diamonds with good margins being realised."

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Published on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 15:54

The world's largest matching pair of Forevermark diamonds will be auctioned at the forthcoming Christie's Hong Kong Autumn sale of Magnificent Jewels on 29 November 2011. The diamonds weigh 35.61 and 35.77 carats respectively and were crafted from two individual rough diamonds each initially weighing over 100 carats.

Unveiled in India in early 2011, the pair created "much buzz and excitement" at the launch of the brand in Mumbai and Delhi. Chief executive of Forevermark Stephen Lussier said: "Inscribing such exceptional diamonds as these, further demonstrates that bearing the Forevermark inscription provides consumers with greater assurance of the diamonds' quality and integrity as well as treasures that are truly unique."

The diamonds, which were discovered in South Africa and crafted by diamantaire Steinmetz, have been awarded 'triple excellent' for polish, symmetry and cut grade by Forevermark's team of diamond experts in Antwerp.