Scrap metal turns out to be $33 million Faberge golden egg

(CNN) -- A $14,000 sale find turned into millions of dollars for a man who'd been thwarted in his attempts to turn a quick profit by selling the tiny ornament to scrap metal dealers. The man, who hails from the Midwest but wishes to remain anonymous, had been left financially stretched after he apparently overestimated what the tiny golden egg would be worth once melted down. He'd been hoping to make $500. In a fit of desperation one night last year, he typed "egg" and the name engraved on the clock it contained -- "Vacheron Constantin" -- into Google. His search brought up a 2011 article in Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper describing a "frantic search" for the object: the Third Imperial Easter Egg, made by Faberge for the Russian royal family and estimated to be worth 20 million pounds ($33 million). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/8700286/Is-this-20-million-nest-egg-on-your-mantelpiece.html

The man contacted Faberge expert Kieran McCarthy and flew to London to visit McCarthy's workplace: Wartski jewelers in Mayfair, where the egg will be displayed to the public for only the second time, from April 14 to 17. McCarthy said he had no warning about the visit. "A gentleman had walked in wearing jeans, a plaid shirt and trainers. His mouth was just dry with fear," McCarthy said, to the extent that he could barely speak. "He handed me a portfolio of photographs, and there was the egg, the Holy Grail of art and antiques."

The finder was far removed from the art and antiques world and so had not recognized the object's true value. After reading the article, he could hardly believe what he was in possession of, McCarthy said. Until the 1916 overthrow of the tsar, Carl Faberge's jewelery workshop made 50 Easter eggs for the family, each taking a year or more to craft. According to Faberge, designs were produced in the greatest secrecy, "the only prerequisite being that they contained a surprise."

The 8.2-centimeter (3.2-inch) egg is on an elaborate gold stand supported by lion paw feet. Three sapphires suspend golden garlands around it, and a diamond acts an opening mechanism to reveal the Vacheron Constantin watch inside. The egg was thought to have been lost after the Soviets listed it for sale in 1922 as part of a policy of turning "treasures into tractors," but in 2011, Faberge researchers recognized it in a 1964 auction catalog, reviving hopes it had survived and prompting the Telegraph article. After the revolution, 42 of the imperial eggs made their way into private collections and museums. Eight, including the Third Imperial Egg, were thought to have been lost. Two others are thought to have survived, though their locations remain a mystery.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/world/faberge-third-imperial-egg/

See -----> http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-lost-faberge-eggs.html

See -----> http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-forbes-faberge-easter-egg-collection.html

Gem Visions by SWAROVSKI GEMS™

Daniel Swarovski pioneered precision-cutting technology for jewellery stones and founded his enterprise. Known worldwide for meticulous craftsmanship, quality, and technical skill, Swarovski offered a range of genuine gemstones and created stones for the market. This service evolved into the SWAROVSKI GEMS™ brand, now synonymous for premium quality in gemstones that include genuine sapphire, rhodolite, peridot, amethyst, citrine, black spinel, genuine topaz, marcasite, zirconia and synthetic stones. http://www.swarovski-gemstones.com/

In the late 1800's, Swarovski discovered a formula for making beautiful, high quality lead glass crystals. Since then, the Swarovski family has continued the tradition of making the most recognized crystals in the world out of their factory in Wattens, a market community in Austria.

Swarovski Gems has been publishing its annual GemVisions jewellery and gemstone trend reports for two decades, each year announcing a set of themes tailored to inspire jewellery designers and retailers.

Royal Spinel - Balas Ruby

Spinel is most famous for its deep red variety that closely resembles ruby. The two gemstones can be very difficult to distinguish. Until the late 19th century, there was no distinction made between ruby and red spinel, as they look identical and are found in the same localities. Many famous old "rubies" were discovered to be in fact spinel. Balas ruby is a historic name for red spinel. Mining in Afghanistan has a history over 2,000 years as gold, silver and precious stones were routinely mined. Afghanistan's ruby/spinel mines were mentioned in the Arabic writings of many early travellers.

The Badakhshan mines were of great importance during the period from 1000–1900 AD. They were the source of many of the finest early red spinels in gem collections around the world, such as those in the crown jewels of Iran, the collection in Istanbul's Topkapi, Russia's Kremlin and Diamond Fund, and England's Tower of London.

During the Soviet occupation, mining of all Afghan gem and mineral deposits was controlled by the state. However, since many mines lay in inaccessible areas, such mining became an important source of income for the rebels.

In the late 1980s, large reddish spinels were reported from the Pamir mountains of what is now Tajikistan. One 532 carat rough yielded cut gems of 146.43 and 27.81 carats. Ruby was also reported in eastern Tajikistan, near the border with China, in the early 1980s.

Political difficulties and rugged terrain make Afghanistan a difficult country to explore, and Tajikistan is no better. Fine "Balas Ruby" spinel is as sought after, and commands the same high prices, as ruby.

See ----->http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2013/12/spinel-of-mahenge-tanzania.html

See -----> http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2014/02/the-crown-jewels.html
See -----> http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2014/01/seven-stones-in-russian-diamond-fund.html

Purple Diamonds

Purple diamonds are the result of plastic deformation of a diamond's crystal structure, the same condition that produces red diamonds. Purple stones are as equally rare as red diamonds and command the same high prices when they (rarely) appear for sale.

Purple is the colour of royalty, of courage and honor. For hundreds of years, it was the colour of kings, as only royalty could wear purple. Purple heart medals are given to soldiers killed or wounded in action, as a recognition of their bravery and sacrifice. Pure purple diamonds are nearly impossible to find. Most natural purple diamonds are lightly shaded with hints of pink, red, blue, gray or even brown, tinting the diamond slightly and lowering the overall perceived quality of the gem. Purple diamonds are most commonly found in Australian mines.

The Royal Purple Heart Diamond is the largest Fancy Vivid Purple diamond known to exist. The stone, believed to have originated in Russia, weighs 7.34 carats, has a clarity of I-1, and was cut into its perfect heart shape by the Julius Klein Diamond Corporation. The diamond's current owners are unknown.

Even more mysterious is the Supreme Purple Heart. Despite its name, the diamond is a round brilliant cut. Its precise color grade is not known, nor is its clarity. Even its weight is a matter of conjecture, with estimates ranging from two to five carats. Like the Royal Purple Heart Diamond, the Supreme Purple Heart's origins have not been confirmed, but most believe it was mined in the Amazon basin within the last 30 years. The diamond is remarkable in that its color changes – when viewed from one angle, it appears deep purple, and from another angle looks deep red.

Even celebrities have a hard time getting their hands on purple diamonds. In 2003, Lakers star Kobe Bryant – who at the time was facing rape charges – appeased his wife, Vanessa, by buying her an eight-carat purple diamond ring worth about $4 million.

See -----> http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2014/02/red-diamonds.html

See -----> http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2014/02/blue-diamonds.html

See -----> http://pennystockjournal.blogspot.ca/2013/11/yellow-diamonds.html