BEST FRIENDS Diamonds & Gems

Just ran across this photo of a 102.39 carat D/Flawless natural oval diamond that was auctioned off at Sotheby's Hong Kong in October 2020. The buyer named the diamond "Maiko Star" after one of his daughters. Less than one half of one percent of all diamonds over one carat submitted to GIA for grading are D color and Flawless clarity. The fact that this diamond is also over 100 carats makes it exceptionally rare!

Please join WJA CHICAGO | ITK: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE NEXT ERA IN SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING

Start Date: 5/6/2021 6:00 PM CDT
End Date: 5/6/2021 7:30 PM CDT

Venue Name: Zoom

Organization Name: WJA |Chicago

Contact:
Olivia Zale
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (561) 706-0885

Sponsor: Hill Management Group/ The Werx Brands

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://werx.world/
Chicago Chapter ITK: What You Need to Know for the Next Era in Small Business Marketing

Join us for our first of 3 ITK Business Based Webinars and Cocktail Based Mix & Mingles. Wear your most photogenic piece of jewelry, mix up a Ruby Marketini, and tune in while Andrea Hill shares her wisom and brilliant advice with us on May 6.


What You Need to Know for the Next Era in Small Business Marketing
Marketing trends that existed before the pandemic have been accelerated, changing the competitive environment and making it more important than ever for small businesses to know how to compete. In this presentation, Andrea will share with you the building blocks of marketing for the new normal. The session will be jam-packed with affordable, learnable elements that will help you find and keep new customers.

BIO
Andrea Hill owns Hill Management Group LLC (which includes the brands StrategyWerx, MentorWerx, and WerxMarketing), providing strategic consulting, professional development, branding, marketing, and technology services to small and mid-sized businesses. The Werx Brands consult the worldwide jewelry industry from mine to market, with deep jewelry sourcing, production, and retail expertise. With over 30 years of professional experience as the CEO and/or president of start-up through mid-sized companies, she has demonstrated serial success in leading companies through rapid and profitable growth. She has been the CEO/President and/or Managing Director of several companies including Rio Grande Jewelry Supply, Legor Group (Italy), and children's clothing brand After the Stork. Her forward-looking orientation and deep background in marketing technology and data make her business perspective particularly useful during this time of significant business transition.

Special note about registration for the ITK series: Bundle pricing is available until May 6.

Click here for information on Alaina Clarke's ITK presentation on Navigating Social Media & Content Creation.

Contact:
Olivia Zale
Email: [email protected]
to register for this event. There is an option to register for all 3 events at a discount for members as well as for non-members. If you choose to do the bundle, there is no need to register separately for the following events.

Hope you can join WJA Chicago!

Hello Friends: Here's a jewel of a story... Those of you who know me may recall my love of classical music. My favorite radio station, Chicago's WFMT (98.7), posted an interesting story about New Orleans musician Shamarr Allen who offers trumpets for guns. Mr. Allen tells news agencies that he has a 9-year-old son and started the project last week, the day after a 9-year-old boy was shot and killed. He says the trumpet changed his life. Read more at WFMT.com.

Vote now:
Which do you prefer...three-stone ring with black, pear-shape side diamonds or traditional white diamonds?
Appreciate your input. Happy Friday!

Just a friendly reminder to keep your surfaces clean & germ-free!

BEST FRIENDS Diamonds & Gems updated their address.

Hope all of you are healthy and doing well. In time, everything will be OK. Thinking back to a custom order for a jewelry redesign that was delivered in early March...the diamond cluster ring is the "before" photo and the halo-style, emerald cut diamond ring, the "after" photo. Naturally, a few additional diamonds were needed. Now, this new custom ring will be enjoyed instead of sitting in a drawer. Stay safe (at home).

Enjoyed a few days at the Tucson Gem Show. Purchased a few goodies to create some beautiful jewelry.

Pink diamonds, anyone?

Christie’s Hong Kong Autumn sales of Magnificent Jewels realised HK$611,146,250 / US$79,172,226. The Ratnaraj ring with a rare Burmese center ruby (10.05 ct.) sold for HK$78,940,000 / US$10,226,448, setting the third highest price per carat of US$1,017,557 for a ruby.

People still ask me about "conflict diamonds."

Today, over 99% of the world's supply of diamonds is from sources free of conflict. The diamond industry, in partnership with the United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations, monitor all diamond exports to prevent the trade of illegal diamonds. So, all diamonds purchased from my US wholesalers are guaranteed to be conflict-free.

Since 2002, the diamond industry has had a zero-tolerance regarding conflict diamonds. Through policies such as the Kimberly Process (KP), diamonds are tracked from mine to the wholesale market. If a participant (81 countries belong to the Kimberly Process) was ever found to be in violation of this process, the industry would instantaneously sever their relationship with this participant.

Did you know diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13! You can read more at diamondfacts.org.

'Blue Belle of Asia,' is a sapphire weighing almost 400 carats! It was discovered in 1926 and will be auctioned this Tuesday, November 11, 2014. It might be just a bit much for the upcoming Chicago Jewelers Association Black Tie Gala! What do you think?

Five-row pave' diamond band in 18kw.

Happy 4th of July Everyone! We are visiting my parents in Indiana and read in the newspaper about some poor "snowbird" whose two "sparklers" were stolen from their Howe-area home sometime between October and June. The more expensive of the two sparklers is described as a ring containing a 1.34 carat, natural pink diamond with white side diamonds set in a platinum mounting. The second missing sparkler is a tanzanite and diamond ring set in yellow gold. The combined appraised value of the rings is $267,295.00!

A few days ago, on June 1, Marilyn Monroe would have turned 87 years old. A gallery in central London was exhibiting a small collection of Monroe's jewelry. Unfortunately, the jewelry was stolen on the eve of her 87th birthday. Hope the thieves are happy now.

The engagement ring Napoleon Bonaparte gave to his future wife Joséphine in 1796 sold for more than $948,000 (not including commission & fees) at auction this past Sunday in France—shattering its high estimate of $20,000.

According to a recent article, "Miss Manners" believes while pearls can always be worn -- diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds should not show themselves during the day! Exception: unless they are set in wedding and engagement rings. Naturally, I disagree. Diamonds and colored stones have their place at the office, too. What are your thoughts regarding simple diamond hoop earrings or a diamonds-by-the-yard necklace worn during the day?

Just posted this picture of a recent Best Friends' modern Art Deco creation using a 6.35 ct. tanzanite, diamonds, and 18k rose gold.

Interested in a few recent diamond sales?

May 29, 2012, Harry Winston 'Martian Pink' Diamond sells for $17.4 million at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale. To read more: http://jewelrynewsnetwork.blogspot.com.

On May 15, 2012, a 34.98 carat historic royal jewel, the Beau Sancy Diamond, sold For $9.7 million At Sotheby's Auction House in Geneva (it was expected to fetch $2 million - $4 million). For more information: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/beau-sancy-diamond_n_1519226.html.

Tip: Unless you're at home, don't take off your rings when you wash your hands!
Read more about the women who forgot her five carat diamond engagement ring in the Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/01/florida-woman-finds-90000_n_1468799.html

Woman Gets $90,000 Diamond Ring Back Thanks To Newspaper Ad A Florida woman has been reunited with her $90,000 ring thanks to a newspaper classified ad, The Associated Press reports.

A sports bra with an 18K gold zipper, covered in gold and Swarovski crystals? This is probably better suited to making a fashion statement rather than a workout. In any event, Britney Spears opted to wear it while filming a video for a children's game called "Twister Dance." Fortunately she did not rock the removable 18K gold tassel with diamond-eyed skulls (which come with the $20,000 sports bra).

Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has introduced Perfect Circle Jewelry Insurance. Visit their new website: PerfectCircleInsurance.com to receive a free, no-obligation insurance quote. For a Quick Quote, enter your zip code and the estimated value of your jewelry item(s). Click "Calculate" and your Total Annual Premium will appear - it's that easy! (You will be asked to provide an appraisal when applying.) Safeguard your special jewelry purchases with a company that provides comprehensive, worldwide coverage, and first-class service.

Karla Lewis (owner of Best Friends) recently received the Illinois Greater Chicago Chapter GIA Alumni Achievement Award. This award is in recognition of dedication to ethical business practices and integrity in the gem and jewelry industry, continuing education, and involvement in GIA Alumni chapter activities.

Happy Valentine's Day! Hey guys, looking for a great place to pop the question? According to Chicago Tribune, here are 10....
1) Lavender field, South of France,
2) Biplane over the Alabama coast,
3) Cathedral Cove, New Zealand,
4) Horse-drawn carriage, Mackinac Island, Michigan
5) Private island, French Polynesia,
6) Havasu Canyon, AZ
7) Historic properties, Elizabethan England,
8) Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta,
9) New Orleans,
10) Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives.
Chicago is a beautiful city, but you may want to begin planning early for next year....

January's birthstone is garnet. Garnet is the name of a group of minerals which are available in a rainbow of colors. The finest pyrope garnets are a fiery red color. The garnet species know as grossularite (most often called tsavorite) is a transparent, vibrant green. Anyone out there with a January birthday? Happy Birthday!

Happy New Year from Best Friends!

In 2011, the average cost of an engagement ring was $5,200
77% of grooms proposed on bended knee
71% of grooms asked the bride's parents for permission
57% of grooms proposed privately
43% of grooms planned the proposal down to the last detail
10% of grooms just winged it
Source: The Knot

What will 2012 bring? Wishing you and yours all the best in the New Year!!

Yesterday's auction of Elizabeth Taylor's world-renowned jewels has fetched an incredible $116 million. The huge sum has more than doubled the old record for a single-owner collection. The auction, at Christie's in New York, went past the previous best of $50m just halfway through the four-hour sale.

Of the 80 items offered, the most valuable single piece was a historic 16th century pearl (La Peregrina) once owned by England's Queen Mary I and also once part of the crown jewels of Spain, which went for an incredible $11.8 million.

Christie's said this was the highest recorded price ever of pearl jewelry sold at auction. Its value had been estimated at $2 million to $3 million. Taylor's two-time husband, Richard Burton, bought the pearl in 1969 for just £23,800 ($36,900).

Know of anyone who might be interested in Victoria's Secret's Fantasy Treasure Bra? It includes 142 carat total weight diamonds, pearls, and aquamarines. Price? $2.5 million!

Want to be versed in jewels and clothes color combinations? (This is a selection taken from a May 1931 Playbill. They listed a total of twelve color combinations. Here are just three.)

"Here are gathered a few correct gown and jewel ideas:
Red gown with diamonds, pearls, black onyx.
Black gown with rubies, emeralds, diamonds, pearls.
Dark blue gown with pearls, diamonds, crystals...."

When was the last time you wore a gown? Naturally, these 1931 color combinations will work with today's red sweater or black jacket, etc.