This is a diamond bracelet that is as supple as lace.
This is an extremely soft bracelet that fits smoothly around the wrist. With a pliancy that is unimaginable for jewelry made out of precious metal and diamonds, it gathers up compactly like lace. This bracelet is suited for casual use. Its image is perfect for ladies in their 40s or 50s, to wear at a summer resort or when taking the dog out for a walk.
There are always successful people in the world-in the past there were the aristocrats and royalty, and today there are the business moguls and celebrities. Jewelry is expensive, and over the ages it has evolved and improved through the support of economically powerful people. Without the kind of individuals who can casually spend the tens of thousands of dollars necessary to buy jewelry such as this flexible diamond bracelet, the development of leading lines of jewelry as a whole would decline. Fortunately, the freedom of the world economy ensures the continuing succession of wealthy people whose needs will be met by unique and wonderful jewelry. We can be certain, therefore, that new jewelry techniques will continue to evolve.
The 21st century will be the era of the Internet. Essential information will be exchanged instantly, and buyers and sellers will connect on a one-to-one basis. If this bracelet could be purchased in an auction, and then resold at auction after being worn and enjoyed, there would be a great number of interested buyers. If it can be shown at the time of resale that a piece has not depreciated in value, jewelry in the 21st century will be recognized for the inherent nature of its value, and a higher level of confidence in jewelry will be realized.
The ring below has the same flexible construction as the bracelet, and it is a very comfortable and wearable piece. The ring in the photograph is 8.7 millimeters wide (1/3 inch), and is a size 5 (US). It is also available in 7-millimeter width (1/4 inch), which is more suited for younger people, and affordably priced. There is also a wider style that is appropriate for older people, but the diamonds are larger, making it more expensive.
Ring
Harry Winston
Diamond
950 Platinum
Size (mm):L23 x W8.7 x H23
Flexible Diamond Bracelet
Harry Winston
Metal :950 Platinum
Total Weight : 28 grams
Size(mm) : L180 x W8.2 x H4.2
Diamond
Untreated
Gem Quality
DIAMOND SOURCES
AND CHANGES
IN PRODUCTION
Until the discovery of diamonds in Brazil in 1725, India was the sole source of diamonds. The total production of India, Brazil, and South Africa in 1870 was 300,000 carats, less than 1/300 of the 100 million carats mined in 1990. Currently the African countries of South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), and Botswana, along with Russia and Australia, are the main producers of diamonds. In 1998, Canadian mining production began in earnest, and further increases in quantities are expected in the 21st century. The total production for 1999 is estimated at 120-million
carats, half of which was for industrial use. The quantity of polished diamonds produced that year is estimated at over 20 million carats. The characteristically octahedral gem-quality rough generally has a yield of 45 percent, but other cuttable material suffers much greater weight loss, yielding only 15 to 25 percent.
Assuming a reference price of 100 for high-quality material, the relative prices of diamond rough in similar sizes would be 10 for low-quality, and 1 for industrial-quality. Even though Australia is the world’s leading diamond producer by quality, its production in terms of dollar amount is not very high. Other than special material such as pink diamonds, most of the diamonds mined there are of low quality. This helps satisfy increased demand for low quality jewelry, but does not add to the stocks of high-quality materials. There is a shortage of rough material yielding polished diamonds of 0.5 carats or more, which means that older diamonds reentering the market will continue to be an important source of the component materials for jewelry.
FLEXIBLE
CONSTRUCTION
Each link of this flexible bracelet has three diamonds set in a V-pattern. Looking from the back, we can see that each link is constructed to interlock with the next. This is the secret of its flexible construction. Areas that come into contact with the skin are polished with a rounded surface. The top photograph to the right shows the bracelet from the front, and the center photo shows it from the back.
This bracelet, as seen in the bottom photograph, can wrap over itself three or four times. The bracelet’s construction makes it unbelievably flexible for jewelry made of precious metal and diamonds. The precious metal portion holds each diamond with four prongs, the metal of which is barely visible when viewed from the front. This style is characteristic of flexible jewelry, which is made from a perspective that is totally opposite that of pavé-set jewelry. The reason why this bracelet is so attractive and wonderful is because the thinking behind the concept of flexible gemstone-oriented jewelry has been realized.
