Forums: Diamonds

Getty Images What Naomi Campbell knew about the "blood diamonds" she received from Liberia's former warlord/president, "monopoly of violence" advocate, and Hague war crimes defendant Charles Taylor, is the subject of conflicting testimony. Likewise, her motives for deciding she couldn't keep a gift that could have resulted in criminal charges against her is suspect. Was she "flirting" with a bloody-handed tyrant? Did she know the "dirty stones" she says she got from his henchmen (and there's a word you don't hear much outside of The Venture Bros. episodes these days) were really valuable gems? Does she care about how such...

We wrote a story last year that Bad Robot productions that JJ Abrams’ owned production company secured rights to “The Untold Story of the World’s Biggest Diamond Heist”? well now a year has passed and the studio has finally found a writer to script the movie. Heat Vision reports that Phil Alden Robinson, who wrote and directed Field of Dreams, co-wrote Sneakers, and last directed The Sum of All Fears, will script this untitled heist project for Bad Robot and Paramount. The film is inspired by a Wired magazine article chronicled the true story of a modern day diamond heist...

When Vaneisha Robinson bought a diamond studded pendant in the shape of LeBron James' number 23 jersey at a yard sale four years ago, she thought it was costume jewelry. "I used to go to high school with it around my neck, not knowing the value of it," Robinson said. Robinson got curious about the pendant's value a few months ago when she noticed the diamonds were set in the same way real ones are. She took it to a local jewelry store for a once-over.

Robert Mugabe has threatened to flood the world's diamond markets - despite being slapped down by the world's diamond control body. The Zimbabwean president said his nation's massive reserves of diamonds have 'huge potential' to revive the shattered economy. He said Zimbabwe can account for one-fourth of the world's diamond supply

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that HECTOR RIVERA was sentenced today to 32 years in prison for leading a robbery and extortion crew that targeted diamond businesses and shipments from the Diamond District in midtown Manhattan. United States District Judge HAROLD BAER, JR., also ordered RIVERA to forfeit $2.93 million in criminal proceeds. According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial: RIVERA was the leader of a robbery and extortion crew that operated primarily in the Diamond District in midtown Manhattan from at least 2003 through December...

Watch a report from WGAL in Harrisburg, where a $17,000.00 diamond ring (2.6 carat) was donated and will be auctioned off on Goodwill’s site. It is being recorded as a donation, and is the largest Goodwill donation ever in the Pennsylvania area. WATCH $17K ANTIQUE RING DONATED to GOODWILL...

De Beers says it will reduce its production to extend the life of its mines. Taking into account the moderated output diamond prices could rise by at least 5 per cent a year for the next five years, according to Des Kilalea, a diamond analyst at RBC Capital Markets. In 2008 De Beers produced 48m carats and the company will cut production to 40m in 2011. In the last two decades the industry has found no new diamond deposit to match the two biggest mines in Africa, owned by De Beers, or the best Russian mines of Alrosa, the other...

Naomi Campbell Explodes After ABC News 'Blood Diamond' Questions Fashion Model Denies Allegations She Took 'Huge' Uncut Gem from African Despot Charles Taylor but Refuses to Cooperate in 'Crimes Against Humanity' Trial By ANNA SCHECTER and BRIAN ROSS Apr. 22, 2010 Allegations that fashion model Naomi Campbell was given a "blood diamond" by the deposed African despot Charles Taylor have become center stage at Taylor's trial for crimes against humanity and led to another one of Campbell's infamous outbursts of anger. The supermodel erupted when ABC News asked her about receiving a "blood diamond" "I didn't receive a diamond and...

AP) A 507-carat diamond as big as a chicken's egg sold for $35.3 million, breaking the record for the highest price ever paid for a rough diamond, the supplier said Friday. The stone- which weighs just over 3.53 ounces - was estimated to be among the world's top 20 high-quality rough diamonds. It was discovered in September at South Africa's Cullinan mine. London-listed diamond supplier Petra Diamonds Ltd. said the gem was purchased by Hong Kong-based private jewelry retailer Chow Tai Fook Jewelry Co. Ltd.

NEW YORK – A square, 32.01-carat emerald-cut diamond that billionaire philanthropist Leonore Annenberg bought for her 90th birthday sold for $7.7 million at auction on Wednesday. About the size of a walnut, the flawless, colorless diamond sits on a ring designed by Manhattan jeweler David Webb. It is flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds, one of them 1.61 carats and the other 1.51 carats. The ring was offered for sale by Annenberg's estate. Christie's auction house did not identify the buyer, who bid by phone. Annenberg died in March at the age of 91. She served as U.S. chief of protocol...