The 12-strong Jewellery Editor team were on a mission to find the most jaw-dropping diamond jewellery and coloured gemstones at Baselworld - the biggest watch and jewellery show on Earth. Fresh off the plane, the team fanned out across the exhibition halls to find the most precious and impressive jewels that this famed event had to offer, which would make even the wealthiest wince.
An obvious port of call for mouth-watering, gob-stopper-sized diamond jewellery is Jacob & Co of New York, which does bling on a grand scale. This is the go-to brand in Manhattan for coloured diamonds, and here we were knocked for six by an impressive pair of earrings. A Fancy light blue and Fancy pink diamond each weighing 15 carats make up this unusual pair of earrings. Though founder Jacob Arabo is coy about revealing just how much they are worth, you can be sure it is well into the high seven figures. Or as Mr Arabo put it: “They are worth about the same as a private jet.”
Several factors make these earrings exceptional, the first being that they are coloured diamonds, which are many times more rare than white diamonds. Secondly: the size! 15 carats is awe-inspiring for any diamond, never mind a pink or blue in matching cut and weight. And to top it off, you get two, making these the ultimate in coloured diamond earrings we saw at Baselworld.
Another high-rolling New York house is Bayco, which has a keen eye for the very best in the big three: rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Run by the Hadjibay father and sons team, there are generations of knowledge and confidence in Bayco’s jewels. And with prices for top-quality stones on the rise, diamonds are not the only investment-worthy gems, as buyers turn to the most rare and exquisite coloured gemstones. This year we were in awe of an impressive 60 carat natural unheated Burmese sapphire necklace with a price tag of $4 million.
Private jet, earrings, or a one-of-a-kind sapphire: the choice is yours, but if you are looking to impress, The Jewellery Editor has unearthed some gems that are hard to beat.
