Posted in Diamond, News on 2 October 2009
It was only a while ago that we were reporting the discovery of the Ganesha diamond at an Orra mine in Africa. Well, here is yet another rare diamond discovery by a company called Petra Diamond Ltd. Shaped like a chicken egg, this gorgeous rock too has been found in a South African mine which is located in Northeast Pretoria.
The huge discovery was made last Thursday. It has been revealed to the public that the diamond weighs approximately 100 grams with a value of 507.55 carats. It’s exceptional color and clarity are remarkable. In fact, experts are already counting this find among the top 20 high-quality gems.
Posted in Auctions, Diamond on 2 April 2009
Even in the times of the credit crunch, the world of precious jewels is rather upbeat these days. Reason? Well, a rare and flawless cushion-shaped blue diamond has asked the world to sit up and take notice. With an expected price ranging between $5.8 million and $8.5 million (£4.1m to £5.9m), this one means big bucks.
Going up on auction at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on May 12, the diamond is still nameless. In fact, it has been decided that the final buyer will get the golden chance of naming this one. Here is a little history on this blue ice. Discovered at Petra Diamonds’ Cullian diamond mine in South Africa, this one is 7.03ct and has been cut from a 26.58ct rough stone.
Posted in Art, Auctions, Paintings, Worlds Most Expensive on 10 July 2008
Setting a new record for the category of world’s most expensive living female artist is a South African born artist Marlene Dumas. And this is made possible via her painting, popularly known as The Visitor, that generated sales of £3.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction. The painting was picked up by the New York private dealer Nancy Whyte during Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale scheduled on 1 July. The sales figure overshadowed Dumas’ preceding testimony of £1.8 million marked in February 2005.
The illustration is defined by Sotheby’s as an expressively demanding and noticeably beautiful. Spread over a canvas of 180cm x 300cm, the Visitor portrays a group of six-female sex-workers eyeing towards an illuminated door. The standing position of the women implies that they are contending for their deal while expecting the looming entrance of a punter. More than anything, Dumas work has invited criticism evoking issues like birth, death, sex, life, race, identity, motherhood and feminism.
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