OffBeat Buzz

Fifty Million Dollar Necklace Unveiled

British jewelry firm Graff has unveiled the Lesotho Promise, a 223.5-carat necklace decked with 26 white D-flawless diamonds. It’s been tagged ‘the most important diamond necklace ever assembled’, and… I believe it.

Graff says all 26 diamonds were cut from a 603-carat stone found in a mine in Lesotho in South Africa. It took one and a half years to create the Promise to perfection at the diamond-cutting facility in Antwerp, Belgium. Graff put the Lesotho Promise on display at the Salle d’Empire at the Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The centerpiece of the necklace, the one that makes one breathless, is a 100-carat pear-shaped D-flawless diamond.

The price? Though estimated at a ‘mere’ $50 million, Graff would not reveal the asking price. The clientele? Probably Russian billionaires or oil tycoons or business magnates, but the company did say that several potential buyers have been turned down. Some proposed buying half the necklace.

Obviously, Graff isn’t interested.

“We’ll never split the stones,” said Lawrence Graff, Graff’s chairman and founder. “We’re still waiting.”

Wonder if he’ll wait until I can raise that kind of cash from Adsense?

$120,000 Miss Universe 2008 Crown Unveiled

Exactly two weeks from now, three billion viewers will not be too far away from their TV sets: the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant will be telecast live on July 13th from the the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam. But the crown the winner will wear is already drawing worldwide attention.

The crown, valued at $120,000, created by reputed Phu Nhuan Jewellery (PNJ) and designed by Rosalina Tran Lydster of Jewelry by Rosalina and Ms. Dang Thi Kim Lien of CAO Fine Jewelry, is made of 18K white and yellow gold. It has more than 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (a total of 30 carats), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats).

The colors of the jewels have been chosen to convey special messages as well. The yellow luster of the gold stands for the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam. White, light pink and cognac form the strategic hues which represent inspiration and feeling. The curves of inlaid gemstones represent the strong development and potential of each country, while the image of the crane symbolizes Vietnamese spirit and culture.

“The Miss Universe crown is one of the most revered pieces of jewelry in the world,” said Paula M. Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization. “We are very excited to have partnered with CAO Fine Jewelry and Jewelry by Rosalina to create this year’s crown.”

The format of the contest involves judging the contestants from more than 80 countries in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. The winner will receive a tiara by CAO Fine Jewelry valued at $30 thousand dollars.

The MISS UNIVERSE, MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA Pageants are a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture.

Source: The Miss Universe Organization