Pink Diamond Sets Record at HK Auction (01/12/09)

A pink diamond ring designed by Graff fetched a record $10,776,660 at the Christie's Jewels: Hong Kong Sale, smashing predictions of a price between $5.1 million and $7.13 million.

The five-carat, type IIa fancy vivid diamond is punctuated on either side by a shield-shaped diamond mounted in platinum and 18-carat rose gold.

Special Report: Top Watchmakers Turn Even More Exclusive to Survive (26/11/09)

Struggling sales volumes in the Swiss watch-making industry are leading some manufacturers to shift their focus away from grandiose and expensive designs, the New York Times reports.

A timepiece known as the Lange Zeitwerk, which comes in white, yellow or pink 18-carat gold, or platinum, has found willing buyers for $54,500 and $75,900 respectively, according to the newspaper.

China's economy reaps a golden age of weddings (29/11/09)

Platinum jewellery is increasingly finding favour with brides in China and the number of weddings in the country is on the rise by about ten per cent every year, according to Reuters.

Precious metals refiner Johnson Matthey noted recently that this trend helped global platinum demand to double last year, despite the current travails of the auto industry, which has traditionally been the major consumer.

Many unloading old jewelry to pick up extra cash (20/12/09)

Meanwhile, in the US, a similar sea change is occurring, with brides moving away from gold jewellery in favour of pieces crafted from platinum, the Chicago Sun Times reports.

The main motivation for this shift is the recent surge in gold prices, which reached record highs of $1,227 per ounce at the back end of last year.

"I'm hearing that more brides-to-be are looking at platinum instead of gold for their ring mounts so that they can get more for their money," Kenneth Gassman, President of the Richmond, Virginia-based Jewelry Industry Research Institute, told the newspaper.

Diamond industry seeing slight glimmer of old sparkle in distance (04/12/09)

The diamond industry is weathering the storm of the global economic downturn and is hopeful of emerging stronger for the experience, Mining Weekly reports.

Gareth Penny, Managing Director of famous South African firm De Beers, explained that despite a tough 12 months, the long-term picture remains encouraging.

"Demand for diamonds has been consistently increasing for many years and, as the world recovers from the recession, this trend is expected to continue in the long term, particularly as more high-net-worth individuals emerge in the developing markets of China and India," he told the news provider.

Platinum Jeweler-to-the-Stars Philip Press to Commemorate Sunset Plaza's Legacy with Exclusive Sunset Retro Event (07/12/09)

A leading platinum jewellery designer hosted a special evening last month to pay tribute to the legacy of Sunset Plaza, the iconic West Hollywood shopping hotspot.

Philip Press Master Platinumsmiths decorated Sunset Boulevard with a unique retrospective by putting on an event featuring a number of its new platinum pieces, among other attractions.

Patek Philippe sets new world record at auction (14/12/09)

Elsewhere, a minute-repeating, self-winding platinum wristwatch has sold for a world record fee of $1.2 million.

The Patek Philippe design was snapped up at Antiquorum's 'Celebrating 35 Years of Making History in Time' auction in New York on 9th December.

Cartier exhibits 20th century luxury jewelry (17/12/09)

Fine jeweller Cartier celebrated 100 years of work in the US recently by showcasing 300 rare and historic designs at its 'Cartier and America' exhibition in San Francisco.

Among the pieces on display for the first time was a 10.47-carat, emerald-cut diamond ring with two baguettes set in platinum, which belonged to Princess Grace of Monaco.

Jennifer Lopez - PLATINUM jewelry on Ellen Degeneres Show (03/12/09)

Meanwhile, a number of celebrities have been spotted wearing platinum jewellery in recent weeks.

Actress Jennifer Lopez selected platinum and diamond 'ball' bracelets and a pair of drop earrings for her appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show in Los Angeles on 3rd December.

Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard - PLATINUM jewelry featured in the film "Nine" (10/12/09)

Nicole Kidman is seen wearing a platinum bracelet with 320 ashoka diamonds (97.10 carats) and a pair of platinum earrings with 44 ascher and oval cut diamonds (18.70 carats) in her new film, 'Nine'.

Rachel Weisz - PLATINUM jewelry at The Lovely Bones (07/12/09)

Rachel Weisz selected two diamond rings and a pair of drop earrings, all set in platinum, at the Los Angeles premiere of her film 'The Lovely Bones' on 7th December.

Zoe Saldana - PLATINUM jewelry at Avatar Premiere (12/12/09)

Finally, Zoe Saldana looked glamorous in a pair of platinum and diamond stud earrings and coloured diamond rings as she attended the Los Angeles premiere of smash hit 3D film 'Avatar'.

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