Will One De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond Price Exceed Five Monets?

Will One De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond Price Exceed Five Monets? AOC Jewelry News

The De Beers Cullinan Blue

On April 27, The De Beers Cullinan Blue diamond will be auctioned by Sotheby’s Hong Kong. This extraordinary 15.10 carat step-cut blue diamond has a preauction estimate of $48 million and could generate a significantly higher price, leaving five Monet paintings in the dust in the value of acquisitions in the art world.

In April 2021 an exceptional rough stone weighing 39.34 carats was discovered at South Africa’s Petra Diamonds Cullinan mine. This phenomenal blue diamond was sold in July 2021 for $40.1 million to the De Beers and Diacore partnership, achieving a price of $1,021,357 per carat.

Cullinan is known as the world’s most important source of blue diamonds, as well as being the birthplace of the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was cut to form the 530-carat Great Star of Africa.

The operation also yielded the 317-carat Second Star of Africa. They are the two largest diamonds in the British Crown Jewels. De Beers divested itself of the mine in 2007, part of a larger business strategy to turn to the marketing and selling of diamonds, while turning over mining to more local ownership.

It’s noteworthy that $40 million of the $48 million estimate did go to the Petra mining operation. There is significant loss in ‘waste’ created in cutting the De Beers Cullinan Blue. Presumably there is some value in the ‘waste’ but common sense suggests that the perfect blue diamond will sell at a price higher than $48 million, the highest estimate ever for a blue diamond.

Kendall Jenner by Luis Alberto Rodriguez in i-D Sp 2022 'Out of Body' Issue

Kendall Jenner by Luis Alberto Rodriguez in i-D Sp 2022 'Out of Body' Issue AOC Fashion

Supermodel Kendall Jenner rocks strawberry blonde, short hair in most of the images in her sensational photo shoot for i-D Magazine’s Spring 2022 ‘Out of Body’ issue No 367. Carlos Nazario styles Jenner in images by Luis Alberto Rodriguez [IG]. / Hair by Tina Outen; makeup by Yadim

Makeup Artist Berenice Ammann Makes Mayan Magic Lensed by Nina Raasch in i-D

Makeup Artist Berenice Ammann Makes Mayan Magic Lensed by Nina Raasch in i-D AOC Fashion

i-D Magazine shares a beauty editorial featuring the work of hair & makeup artist Berenice Ammann [IG]. The beauty story, inspired by Mexican Mayan culture, features model Jee Hye Lee with images by Nina Raasch [IG]

Gucci Love Parade Campaign Spring 2022 by Mert & Marcus in Hollywood

Gucci Love Parade Campaign Spring 2022 by Mert & Marcus in Hollywood AOC Fashion

Glamorous decadence defines Gucci’s Spring 2022 ‘Love Parade’ campaign lensed by Mert & Marcus [[G] AOC only misses Martha Stewart, who would have been a superb addition to the lineup.

After Martha jetted to LA for the Super Bowl, hosting the Puppy Bowl with her bestie Snoop Dogg, well she is sorely missed by us in this Hollywood extravaganza. We’re not sure this is a “chic Hollywood party”, given that food fights might break out any second among Miley Cyrus, Liu Wen, Beanie Feldstein, Tess McMillan, Jared Leto Jungjae Lee, Deng Lun and surely more.

'Mothering Sunday' Star Odessa Young by Jon Ervin for Vogue Australia February 2022

'Mothering Sunday' Star Odessa Young by Jon Ervin for Vogue Australia February 2022 AOC Fashion

‘Mothering Sunday’ actor Odessa Young poses in ‘Forever Young’, a fashion story lensed by NY based photographer Jon Ervin [IG] Katelyn Gray styles Young for Vogue Australia’s February 2022 issue.

Hermes' Lighthearted Bubbles Sp 2022 Campaign by Jack Davison

Hermes' Lighthearted Bubbles Sp 2022 Campaign by Jack Davison AOC Fashion

Photographer Jack Davison [IG] captures models Cheikh Dia, Merlijne Schorren, Raynara Negrine, and Taemin Park in Hermes’ Spring 2022 campaign. Brian Molloy styles the shoot with set design from Herve Sauvage./ Beauty by Stephane Lancien; makeup by Karim Rahman

Not featured in the Spring 2022 campaign is the Rock, a larger, men’s version of the highly sought-after Birkin bag revealed at Hermes’ recent menswear show. The bag couldn’t come at a better time, with Hermes being one of the few major luxury brands missing its fourth quarter 2021 revenue goals — due to self-imposed production caps on its bags.

Simply stated, supply did not meet demand. Hermes prefers long waiting lists for is bags, and they have one. Perhaps they could put a limit on bag purchases per customer — so we don’t see celebs buying them five at a time in multiple colors. That’s a bit greedy.

Bottom line, a men’s Birkin bag couldn’t come at a better time.

Akiima Wears Haute Couture for L'Officiel Italia February 2022 by Pierre Tostain

Akiima Wears Haute Couture for L'Officiel Italia February 2022 by Pierre Tostain AOC Fashion

Akiima poses in ‘The Haute Couture Games’, styled by Gaultier Desandre Navarre. Pierre Tostain captures Akiima in L’Officiel Italia February 2022.

Janet Jumbo in 'Modern-Day Y2K' by Quil Lemons for Porter Edit February 21, 2022

Janet Jumbo in 'Modern-Day Y2K' by Quil Lemons for Porter Edit February 21, 2022 AOC Fashion

Vanessa Moody Greets Spring 2022, Lensed by David Roemer for Madame Figaro France

Vanessa Moody Greets Spring 2022, Lensed by David Roemer for Madame Figaro France AOC Fashion

Top model Vanessa Moody wears Louis Vuitton on the cover of Madame Figaro’s February 25th fashion issue. Julie Gillet styles Moody in luxury looks from Balenciaga, Celine by Hedi Slimane, Chanel, Dior, Etam, Gucci, Loewe, Prada, Proenza Schouler, Ralph Lauren, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello and more. David Roemer [IG] is behind the lens./ Hair by Keith Carpenter; makeup by Deanna Hagan

Alexina Graham Poses in Andres Sarda Lingerie SS 2022, Lensed by Miguel Reveriego

Alexina Graham Poses in Andres Sarda Lingerie SS 2022, Lensed by Miguel Reveriego AOC Body

Model Alexina Graham basks in seaside warmth, wearing Spanish brand Andres Sarda’s Spring Summer 2022 lingerie collection. Lensed by Miguel Reveriego [IG], the collection is named for famous, largely American , women of color of color including Katherine Johnson the woman who calculated the trajectory of the Apollo and Mercury missions, making it possible for man to reach the moon; Mary Jackson, who was the first Black American mathematician to become a Nasa aeronautics engineer; Dorothy Vaughn, the first Black woman who held the positon of supervisor in NASA; and more. See the complete explanation of the collection on the Andres Sarda press website.

Precious Lee by David Roemer for Stylist Magazine UK February 2022

Precious Lee by David Roemer for Stylist Magazine UK February 2022 AOC Fashion

Umit Savaci's Exquisite 'Plus Much More' Accessories Images for HTSI Magazine

Umit Savaci's Exquisite 'Plus Much More' Accessories Images for HTSI Magazine AOC Jewelry News

Model Chawntell Kulkami lends her presence to exquisite images by Umit Savaci [IG] in How To Spend It Magazine [HTSI].The mood and techniques of ‘Plus Much More’ images underscore the direction of our new focus on jewelry — first and foremost — but also the larger question of artisan craftsmanship and beauty at Anne of Carversville.com.

Hopes are High for Release of Saudi Arabia Blogger Raif Badawi

Update: March 7, 2022: There is no word on the release of Raif Badawi, even though he has served his sentence in Saudi Arabia. Amnesty urges release of blogger after sentence expires Middle East Eye

As Vladimir Putin launches an unprovoked assault on Ukraine — stunning global citizens who see Putin as a malevolent war criminal gone wild in his barbarity against the totally innocent people of Ukraine — there is hope that Saudi blogger Raif Badawi might be released.

Badawi was arrested in 2012 on accusations of insulting Islamic religious figures on his blog Free Saudi Liberals. In a 2014 court decision that stunned human-rights activists as unjust, Mr. Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The further sentence of 1,000 lashes for blasphemy — a sentence that would absolutely kill him — created gasps of horror worldwide, including on Anne of Carversville. The author was also fined $266,000.

Badawi received the first 50 lashes in April 2015 — which did nearly kill him — and was not subjected to further flogging scheduled in June of 2015, as his body hadn’t healed. In April 2020, Saudi Arabia bowed to international pressure and abolished flogging. The result was the cancellation of the remaining 950 lashes of Raif Badawi’s sentence.

Hopes are high that Raif Badawi may be released from jail in days. Badawi has spent almost ten years in prison, and often total isolation. The dissident was sentenced using the Islamic — or hijri — calendar. By that calendar's reckoning, on Rajab 26 1443, he will have spent 10 years in jail. The actual date on the Georgian calendar is February 28.

Human rights group Amnesty International has campaigned for Badawi’s release for years, along with other organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders. Amnesty International believes that the release could be imminent.

Givenchy Spring 2022 Campaign with Kendall Jenner Erupts with Kenny Bag and Artistic Energy

Givenchy Spring 2022 Campaign with Kendall Jenner Erupts with Kenny Bag and Artistic Energy AOC Fashion

Supermodel Kendall Jenner returns to Givenchy’s Spring Summer 2022 campaign, accompanied by He Cong, Iselin Steiro, and Steinberg. Photographer Heji Shin [IG] captures the campaign with art direction by Sarah Jayne Todd. Panos Yuapanis styles the shoot, which includes a campaign film, executed also by Heji Shin, set to the music of Surkin./ Hair by Duffy; makeup by Lucia Pieroni

Adit Priscilla by Pieter Hugo for 'In Bloom', Pure, Elegant Fashion in Harper's Bazaar US

Adit Priscilla by Pieter Hugo for 'In Bloom', Pure, Elegant Fashion in Harper's Bazaar US AOC Fashion

Model Adit Priscilla poses for ‘In Bloom’ lavish, embellished sensual, virginal fashion styled by Vittoria Cerciello. Photographer Pieter Hugo [IG] captures Priscilla for Harper’s Bazaar March 2022./ Hair by Louis Ghewy & & Hyacintha Faustino; Karin Westerlund