PLATINUM JEWELLERY TRENDS 2010

Platinum Guild International (PGI) has unveiled its insights into the most notable platinum jewellery trends at the BaselWorld watch and jewellery show, including a shift toward more structured, engineered designs.

With a shift in the world’s value systems, the design world has begun to look to the urban landscape, inspiring a shift towards more structural, engineered designs that will stand the test of time. In consequence, 2010 sees designers replicate strong yet intricate structures based around three guiding themes: perforated, tubular and chain.

Platinum, the most versatile of precious metals, lends itself entirely to this trend of sculptural pieces. Perfect for intricate creations that embody all the delicacy of the finest lace, the weight and density of platinum also create solidity in seemingly hollow structures, and will allow precious gems to be securely suspended as if by magic. This enduring nature makes platinum jewellery the perfect choice for a lifetime of everyday wear.

An increasing number of designs are now available at more entry-level price points, under $5,000.

Limited edition platinum MacBook Air created

A British designer has created a limited edition range of platinum laptops.

Ten MacBook Airs, already among the most desirable laptops on the market, are to be given an added layer of excellence by being made available in solid platinum.

The creations come courtesy of Liverpool designer Stuart Hughes, who has an impressive record of turning everyday gadgets into luxury items.
Each laptop has been priced at £139,995 ($208,600) and weighs in at 2.5 kilograms as a result of the single piece front housing made of highly polished solid platinum.

A total of 53 diamonds are also set around the Apple logo and the company has left no doubt about the choice of these materials.

"There is no finer relationship than platinum & diamonds. They are pure, rare, and eternal. This is a true celebration of your individuality."

Stuart Hughes has previously created platinum versions of the Nokia Supreme, which was also encrusted with 12.5 carats of pink diamonds.

Morgan Freeman platinum bangle up for sale

Two extraordinary platinum bangles worn at the Oscars are set to go on sale to raise money for charity.
A Platinum version of the famous 46664 campaign bangles were worn by actor Morgan Freeman and producer Lori McCreary at the ceremony earlier this month.
Both were involved in the film 'Invictus' and they have since become involved with Nelson Mandela's charity.
Sabine Roemer, who was responsible for creating the platinum pieces, said: "When Morgan and Lori told me they wanted something different for the Oscars I took the opportunity to contribute to a line of jewellery that does more than just adorn bodies.

"The Academy Awards red carpet is all about fashion but I feel these bangles add a dimension of social awareness and responsibility to the affair."

The auction for these two special pieces will take place in the summer, according to National Jeweler, while ordinary platinum versions of the bangle continue to also be on sale to raise funds for 46664.

Graff develops own watch movement and celebrated by encasing it in a platinum timepiece

Celebrated watchmaker Graff has unveiled its own watch movement and celebrated by encasing it in a platinum timepiece, it has been reported.

The horologists at the London-based company have come up with the Graff Calibre 1, which beats at 28,8000 vph and has a power reserve of 50 hours, according to Professional Jeweller.

The first watch to have it is the GraffStar Tourbillon, a platinum and 34-carat diamond creation for men, of which only five will be made.

In addition to the landmark movement, it also has a black croco strap and white gold buckle paved with 30 diamonds along with the Graff signature emerald triangle at 12 o'clock.

Considering how special the watch is to the company and how limited its distribution will be, it is no surprise that platinum has been chosen.

A number of other famous names in the watch-making world have also recently chosen the precious metal for the own creations, including Vacheron, Breguet and Omega.

New platinum engagement rings from Tacori

Renowned jeweller Tacori has introduced a new range of platinum engagement rings.

The company has launched its 2010 Tacori Bridal Collection and at the heart of it is a running theme of center stones surrounded by smaller diamonds and set in diamond-studded platinum.

According to the firm, this "modern style" allows the main stone to appear as large as possible, something which is helped by the use of platinum, which is well-known for its ability to show off diamonds.

A Tacori representative said: "These new diamond engagement rings are perfect for any woman with an eye for glamour.

"These engagement rings may be from our newest collection, but they have a unique and vintage feel that make these contemporary rings feel like heirloom designs."

Limited edition platinum model car unveiled

A limited edition platinum model of a famous car has been unveiled in honor of the 40th Tomica anniversary.
Jeweller Ginza Tanaka has created a platinum replica of the Tomica Z432 model, based on the 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432.

Although it is not for sale, the one-off has been valued by Tomica at $80,000 and it recently went on display at the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show. It will be shown at the Osaka Tomica Fair in April.

Using platinum to make a car model may seem an interesting choice, but it should be remembered that the precious metal plays an important role in the motoring industry.
The material is often used in catalytic converters, which help to reduce the toxicity from engine emissions.

Of course, platinum is also regularly used for limited edition jewellery pieces, such as the Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253 watch recently released by Vacheron Constantin.
Its case and dial was made from platinum while complications included a perpetual calendar and an equation of time, sunset and sunrise.

82nd Annual Academy Awards

Platinum Maintains its Precious Position as Most Desired Jewellery in Hollywood for the Past 60 Years.

 

Vera Farmiga: Platinum and diamond ear clips with opal, and platinum and diamond hair clips by Fred Leighton. © startraksphoto.com

Charlize Theron: Platinum and diamond cluster earrings (17.25 carats), and a platinum and diamond bracelet by Harry Winston. © Getty Images

Demi Moore: Platinum and diamond bracelet, platinum and diamond bracelet with crystals, platinum and diamond ring with a pearl, and a platinum and diamond hair clip by Van Cleef & Arpels. © startraksphoto.com

Helen Mirren: Platinum and diamond necklace (125 carats), platinum and diamond earrings (9 carats), and a platinum and diamond cuff by Chopard. © Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez: Platinum and diamond clip earrings, and a platinum and diamond bracelet by Cartier. © startraksphoto.com

Penelope Cruz: Platinum and diamond drop earrings (18 carats), and three platinum and diamond bracelets (51 carats total) by Chopard. © Getty Images

Sandra Bullock: Platinum and diamond earrings and a platinum and diamond bracelet from her personal collection by Neil Lane. © startraksphoto.com

Sigourney Weaver: Two platinum and diamond bracelets with rubies, platinum and diamond bracelet, and platinum and diamond earrings (8 carats each) by Neil Lane. ©startraksphoto.com

Kate Winslet: Platinum and yellow diamond pendant (19 carats total), platinum and yellow diamond drop earrings (10 carats), and three platinum and yellow diamond bracelets by Tiffany & Co. © Getty Images

Oscars 2010: Who's Wearing What?

For over eight decades, the Academy Awards has marked the greatest achievements in motion picture - and on the red carpet. With tonight's highly anticipated award show, style endured as celebrities once again showed their desire to complement their looks with platinum jewellery.

Following is a list of stars that celebrated tonight's achievements in platinum:

• Charlize Theron: Platinum and diamond cluster earrings (17.25 carats), and a platinum and diamond bracelet by Harry Winston.

• Sandra Bullock: Platinum and diamond earrings and a platinum and diamond bracelet from her personal collection by Neil Lane.

• Penelope Cruz: Platinum and diamond drop earrings (18 carats), and three platinum and diamond bracelets (51 carats total) by Chopard.

• Kate Winslet: Platinum and yellow diamond pendant (19 carats total), platinum and yellow diamond drop earrings (10 carats), and three platinum and yellow diamond bracelets by Tiffany & Co.

• Sarah Jessica Parker: Two platinum and diamond bracelets by Fred Leighton.

• Demi Moore: Platinum and diamond bracelet, platinum and diamond bracelet with crystals, platinum and diamond ring with a pearl, and a platinum and diamond hair clip by Van Cleef & Arpels.

• Jennifer Lopez: Platinum and diamond clip earrings, and a platinum and diamond bracelet by Cartier.

• Faith Hill: Blackened platinum and diamond bangles (180 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz, and black sapphire and black diamond earrings set in platinum by Ofira.

• Gabourey Sidibe: Blackened platinum and diamond earrings with sapphires, blackened platinum and black diamond bracelets, and a blackened platinum and diamond ring (over 180 carats total for all jewellery) by Lorraine Schwartz.

• Nicole Richie: Blackened platinum and diamond ring (110 carats), blackened platinum and diamond stud earrings, and a blackened platinum and diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz.

• Julianne Moore: Five platinum and diamond bracelets by Bvlgari.

• Maggie Gyllenhaal: Platinum and diamond bracelet with emerald and sapphire by Fred Leighton.

• Vera Farmiga: Platinum and diamond ear clips with opal, and platinum and diamond hair clips by Fred Leighton.

• Hilary Swank (Vanity Fair party): Platinum and diamond earrings, platinum and diamond chain necklace, and a platinum and diamond cluster ring by Harry Winston.

• Tina Fey: Platinum and diamond earrings with onyx, and a platinum and diamond ring with black jade by Stephen Russell.

• Helen Mirren: Platinum and diamond necklace (125 carats), platinum and diamond earrings (9 carats), and a platinum and diamond cuff by Chopard.

• Sigourney Weaver: Two platinum and diamond bracelets with rubies, platinum and diamond bracelet, and platinum and diamond earrings (8 carats each) by Neil Lane.

• Meryl Streep: Platinum ring with diamonds and onyx by Fred Leighton.

• Robert Downey Jr.: Platinum timepiece by Harry Winston.

• Zoe Saldana: Platinum and diamond drop earrings (20 carats), and a platinum and amethyst ring (80 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz.

• Miley Cyrus: Platinum and ruby ring (10 carats), and platinum and diamond earrings with rubies by Lorraine Schwartz.

• Amanda Seyfried: Platinum and colored diamond bracelets (250 carats), platinum and colored diamond ring, and blackened platinum and diamond earrings by Lorraine Schwartz.

The Bachelor proposes with platinum diamond ring

Hit TV show The Bachelor concluded with the protagonist proposing with a platinum engagement ring

Jake Pavelka proposed to Vienna Girardi with a platinum and diamond engagement ring by Neil Lane.
The ring is set with 70 diamonds for a total weight of 2.72 carats, the center diamond is a 2.02 carat princess-cut diamond.

It brought to an end a thrilling series which had seen viewers around the nation on the edge of their seat waiting to find out whether Jake would pop the question to either Girardi or Tenley Molzahn, the other finalist.

This was the 14th season of The Bachelor and marked the seventh time that a couple had ended up being engaged out of it.

Jake Pavelka is a commercial pilot while Vienna Girardi is a marketing representative from Geneva, Florida.

Platinum has very much been the precious metal of choice when it comes to engagement rings, with Nicole Richie, Katy Perry and Ivanka Trump among those to receive one recently.

A dream platinum wedding dress

A combination of the design talents of Italian couturier Domo Adami and the ability of a Japanese artisan to weave microscopic threads of the rare metal platinum resulted in the creation of one of the world’s most precious bridal gowns.

The extraordinary partnership to create this bridal gown involved an artisan in Japan who patiently wove an endless amount of microscopic platinum threads, to produce an enchanting fabric. Whilst in Italy, an extremely talented couturier, Mauro Adami, the head of Domo Adami used this very precious “cloth” to design a modern yet sumptuous gown. Using soft lines and a great creative imagination this unique platinum fabric was transformed into a dream bridal gown.