A “mushka” is a traditional cap worn by the russian Jewesse women through South and Little Russia even as far as Galicia. It not only an expensive piece of jewelry but is also a mark of beauty that is past trought generations from mother to daughter. Worn something like a big tiara, the “mushka” represensts also the wellfortune of the wearer.

This cap, with very unimportant modifications, has almost always the same form; the only difference is that, in the case of the wealthy, the pearls are larger, and sometimes a number of small pearls and precious stones are suspended here and there, set in the same way as earrings.

In order to furnish the requisite material for this wide spread fashion, the commerce in pearls of Odessa, Taganrog and some other places in southern Russia is very important. They are for the most part, oriental and come by way of Turkey and Odessa or else by way of Armenia and Tiflis.

Here is an old drawing of an woman wearing a “mushka”, a pearl choker (tight-necklace) and fancy pearl earrings in the 17th Century:

Photos: Courtesy of Estee Lauder and Silver Mine Gifts

Don’t you wish that morning spritz of perfume could last all day? That’s why perfume pendants are such a brilliant idea – great scents all day and a beautiful piece of jewelry to boot.

Try an antique-looking one like this or maybe an ultra-modern solid parfume pendant. It’s so chick! Lockets are always a sweet touch  that act as parfume diffusers or spreaders. If you don’t want to risk spilling any of your precious perfume, pick up pre-filled pendants with amazing  natural scents.

Repousse Chatelaine Perfume Pendant

Gold CHANEL Necklace with NO’5 Perfume Pendant

island michael kors solid perfume pendant

Victorian Trading Co. Sweetheart perfume pendant

Monsoon Perfume Pendant

Would you try wearing a perfume pendant?

The pink diamond is the world’s most rare and valuable diamond. The Argyle mine (the world’s foremost source of unrivalled intense pink diamonds)  is a diamond mine located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The Argyle mine is the largest diamond producer in the world by volume, although due to the low proportion of gem-quality diamonds, is not the leader by value producing 95% of the world’s supply.

1. The Darya-i-Nur Diamond

Daria Nour Diamond

2. Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond

Nur-Ul-Ain diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 60

Color: light pink

3.Steinmetz Pink diamond

Steinmetz Pink diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 59.60

Color: fancy vivid pink

4. Shah Jahaan  Diamond

Shah Jahan Diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 56.71

Color: light pink

5. Agra Diamond

Agra diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 32.34

Color: fancy light pink

6. Pink Sunrise Diamond

Pink Sunrise Diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 29.79

Color: light pink

7. Rose of Dubai Diamond

Rose of Dubai Diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 25.02

Color: light pink

8. The Mouawad Lilac Diamond

Mouawad Lilac Diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 24.44

Color: fancy purplish pink

9. The Williamson Diamond

Williamson Diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 23.56

Color: light pink

10. The Graff Pink Orchid Diamond

Graff Pink Orchid Diamond

Diamond Carat Weigh: 22.84

Color: fancy purplish pink

After the world’s most expensive blue diamond, The Wittelsbach, was sold to diamond dealer – Laurence Graff – last year for $24.3 million, Sotheby’s has another impressive blue diamond for the next auction.

Despite the economic woe, apparently sales for big, rare stones are still going strong. The new diamond is a fancy vivid blue gem weighing 7.03 carats and is rated internally flawless – high praise for a natural stone. Petra Diamonds, the diamond mine, unearthed this rare gem from the Cullinan mine in South Africa.

The blue beauty will be shown in Hong Kong, Paris, New York and London before winding up in Geneva for the Sotheby’s auction on May 12th, where it is estimated to sell for as much as $8.5 million.

Made by Mikimoto, this 18-inch pearl strand, took 10 years to gather the 27 perfectly round cultured pearls. The pearls are White South Sea AAA quality and are extremely rare. No wonder it took so long!

The expensive strand also has a noval clasp with 11,92 carats of diamonds, but its beauty realy lies in the cultured pearls. The high quality is showed in their 15.06 x 17.24 mm diameter, in the way pearls reflect light and a very special luster. Even so, $1,000,000 for a pearl strand?

The Fabergé Eggs are today more than ever a symbol of rarity, luxury and tradition. The jewelry beaded precious metal eggs were created by Peter Carl Fabergé and his assistants. 69 eggs were created between 1885 and 1917, and their main purpose was to be offered as gifts to the great czars of Russia, as Easter Eggs.

There are some quite famous eggs with a whole story behind then like The Swan or the two undelivered eggs Constellation or Karelian Birch.

The first egg was created in 1885 for czarina Maria Feodorovna as an Easter surprise from her husband. On the outside it looked like a while gold enameled egg but inside having a golden yolk. Inside the yolk there was a golden hen and inside the hen a small golden crown with a ruby. The idea of this egg is the one of the traditional Russian matryoshka dolls (and also the one of Kinder [giggles]).

The Fabergé Imperial eggs are not only splendid and precious on the outside, but also on the inside, each usually containing a surprise. They are unique in appearance and also in theme, each one having a different significance.

Fabergé also created some pieces for his private clients but they were less original and expensive.

The Lesotho Promise is the wonderful creation of Graff, a necklace that truly takes the breath away. The awesome 603 carat stone was found in the Letsenf mine, in Lesotho, the 15th largest diamond found.

Graff payed quite a sum for it, the diamond ads up to $12.36 million. After thorough analysis, the diamond was cut in 26 pieces that vary in size, from just a little more than half carat to the superb pear shaped 76.41 carat diamond, the centerpiece of the Lesotho Promise necklace.

The whole process of creating the astounding diamond lasted 18 months but the result is more than satisfactory.

The Lesotho Promise necklace is made by diamonds all coming from the Lesotho Promise rough diamond. The 26 white D-flawless diamonds, set in white gold, sum up to 223.5 carats and are estimated at around $50 million. Might be just a little too much for me…

The amazing rock was found near Lesotho in September 8, 2008 and it is the 20th largest rough diamond ever found !

“Kazanjian Red” the vividly blood-hued red diamond is still on display in the museum’s Gem and Mineral Hall, Los Angeles,  until February 1st.

All diamond lovers know the story of this incredible rare diamond. It was discovered in 1927 in a diamond field in South Africa, got stolen during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands (World War II), secretly hidden for years in a salt mine, brought to daylight and mistaken to be a ruby due to its vivid red color, hidden again for 37 years by a private collector…and finally purchased by Los Angeles-based Kazanjian Bros. Inc.

Wow, another incredible adventurous rare diamond background to the list.

The Napoleon pearl, also know as “La Regente Pearl” is the fifth largest natural pearl. Its splendor come from that fact that despite of the big size, it has a uniform shape. It is called the Napoleon pearl because it was the centerpiece of a pearl tiara he had made a present for his queen Marie Luise.

La Perle Regente or Napoleon

The Regente Pearl with its outstanding characteristics regarding shape, quality, brilliance and others, has become the most expensive single pearl, arriving at an amazing price of $2.5 million in 2005, at the Christie’s sale in Geneva.

The pearl sautoir with La Regente pearl

The shaped of the pearl is described to be that of a pigeon-egg, and has been fitted during history to several diverse mountings: centerpiece of a tiara, of a corsage, pendant to a pearl sautoir, hair ornament and pendant to more necklaces.

La Pelegrina and La Regente pearls

When it was first discovered the pearl weight 346.27 grains, but with time it became 302.68 grains. It still continues to be the biggest regular form pearl in the world, and the fifth from all.

The lastest piece of jewelry montage with La Regente