They are called “machines” or “timepieces” or “kinetic sculptures,” never what they really are – which is highly expensive watches.

They are often imaginative and elegant, other times laughably unwearable and over-the-top garish. Most of all, they are not selling, at least not well.

In the suburban Geneva workshop of de Grisogono timepieces, a lab technician unlocks a steel case and removes the Meccanico.

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New design trends are amazing - they inspire, excite and make us rethink the way that we wear diamond jewellery. Looking ahead for 2009 / 2010 I think that some of the key style drivers will be encapsulated in the six main trends featured below and to follow. Take a look at these trends, have some fun, get inspired and create that special jewel with Icecool that you have always wanted !!

Pictures of the two-carat diamond ring worth about $US20,000 ($A22,158) were sent to jewellers in the Joplin area after it was reported stolen when someone took the owner's purse from her car on Thursday.

The Joplin Globe reports that the owner of Newton's Jewelry recognised the ring when a man and woman came to his store a few hours after the theft and said they wanted to sell it.

Lt Newton and his staff stalled them and called police. Police say the man swallowed the ring when officers arrived. While being questioned, he began to cough uncontrollably and eventually coughed up the ring. The man and woman are charged with receiving stolen property.

Necklace from the De Beers High-Jewelry collection.Exclusive pendant necklace designed in platinum featuring over 181 carats of mixed cut white.

And exceptional fancy colored diamonds.

THOUSANDS of pounds worth of hand-made jewellery has been stolen from a home in Pangbourne. The jewellery, which is made by the victim, includes bracelets and necklaces, was taken after thieves broke into a summer house between Thursday and Friday last week.

Many of the pieces are marked with the letters ‘SE-J’. Pc Jennifer Scott, who is investigating the incident, said: “We believe that the jewellery stolen in the burglary was worth more than £2,500, all of which is handmade and sold by the victim.

“The victim can identify all of the stolen property as it contains her own distinctive stamp.” Anyone with any information about this incident should.

Jonathan Green Antiques are pleased to announce an exciting new range of exclusive jewellery "Silver Seasons" by the American artist and designer Michael Michaud.

We are introducing this range to compliment our ever increasing stock of antique and second hand jewellery.

Jonathan Green Antiques are pleased to announce an exciting new range of exclusive jewellery "Silver Seasons" by the American artist and designer Michael Michaud.

We are introducing this range to compliment our ever increasing stock of antique and second hand jewellery.

The biennial international design competition New Traditional Jewellery is calling for entries for their 2010 event. Jewellery designers from all over the world are invited to respond to the theme ‘True colours’. 

Kin, accompanied by the local diamond fraternity, queued up at a local temple here to pray for their wellness. They weighed an idol of the Swami Narayan Lord on a weighing scale with precious stones and diamonds of 4,200 carats put on the other scale.

” We always wanted to offer diamonds in such a way to the Lord. Diamond exporters have taken a good step forward in the progress of the nation.

We have knowledge that few of our diamond exporters are stuck in China and are in deep trouble. So by doing this, we have prayed to the Lord for their happiness and peace,” said Vishwa Vallabh Kothari, a priest.

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“There is huge growth potential in this [fashion] category,” says Bridget Cosgrave, buying and fashion director at London boutique Matches, who is aiming her fashion house jewellery ranges at both regular clothes-buying customers and a new fashion jewellery collector who will pay thousands for the newest costume pieces. These include Lanvin’s “Pom Pom” necklace, made with ragged coral grosgrain ribbon and artificial pearls and coming in at a not insignificant £545. According to Cosgrave, sales of jewellery at Matches have grown 50 per cent in the past two years, and jewellery now accounts for 20 per cent of the company’s total sales. Investment potential and sales could, she says, rise to the same level as bags and shoes in coming months.

Fashion jewellery is one of online retailer Net-a-Porter’s fastest-growing categories; new ranges from Donna Karan, Versace and Isabel Marant are launching this month and will sit alongside pieces from Marni, Oscar de la Renta and Stella McCartney. Browns boutique now differentiates its fine and fashion jewellery offering on its retail website, with Alexander Wang, and two of London’s rising design stars, Holly Fulton and Mary Katrantzou, recently launching statement jewellery collections.

François Curiel, Christies’ international head of jewellery, says: “Whereas 15 or 20 years ago the fashion houses were doing fashion, now they’re doing jewellery too”.  The jewellery business is worth something like $10bn a year – before you factor in diamonds – so I guess, yes, they’d like a little bit of that. But also, a fan of Dior feels more comfortable buying a Dior necklace than going through the door of a jewellery house where she doesn’t know anyone and doesn’t feel comfortable.”

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Gem, diamond and jewellery export earnings in 2009 amounted to a massive Rs 45 billion exceeding the estimated target according to National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman  Chief Executive Officer Hasitha Tillekeratne.

A number of steps were taken under Mahinda Chintana to develop the gem industry and efforts taken to find new markets helped to prevent the Sri Lanka’s gem industry being adversely affected by the global recession resulting in the collapse of markets in Europe, Japan and the USA.

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