Since the opening of Antwerp's Diamond Museum in 1988, enormous efforts have been made to build up an historic collection of diamond jewels which have been selected because of their beauty and their art-historical importance.
   These jewels are to be admired for their charisma, but they also give evidence of historic bonds between na-tior\s and cultures, discoveries of new countries and continents, the influence of religion and royal courts, the historic evolutions and changing traditions and the technological developments in the diamond jeweller's and silversmith's craft.
   The treasure rooms illustrate the fascinating story of the diamond as a jewel. Lucky visitors entering the Museum at the beginning of their visit are shown a few fascinating diamond designs that are sure to captivate them. These include the ECC-tennis trophy with its 1617 diamonds; brilliant parures from famous jewellers; unique designs by the American goldsmith Henry Dunay and striking more modern creations.

   The Museum's treasure room gives an illustration of the diamond jewel's history from the 17th century until 1980. It is here that subjects are brought to the visitors' attention. The Spanish and Portuguese influences shown in gold baroque jewels, classicism in eighteenth-century isigns influenced by the French court, the language of 'botany' in romantic brooches showing the shape of a twig and dating from the mid 19th century, the emergence of 3 jewel for common people at the beginning of the 19th century, the influence of Queen Victoria and Impratrice Eugnie, exotic influences in the 'Art Nouveau' era, and jewels designed for gala.
   Antwerp's Diamond Museum provides a real visual feast for diamonds lovers, jewelry enthusiasts and those interested in history.

www.diamantmuseum.be

   Joining a rare and elite class of major U.S. retailers, Gordon's Jewelers® today announces it has reached its 100th anniversary, marking a century of providing Americans with elegant and affordable-quality jewelry.
   Established on the principles of honesty and integrity, Gordon's Jewelers was founded in 1905 by Meyer M. Gordon in Houston, Texas. Beginning as a smaii mercantile store, with watches and jewelry representing a small portion of the store's inventory, a shift in strategy culminated in 1929 with Mr. Gordon opening his first full-line jewelry store. In 1968, Gordon's Jewelers was the first jewelry store listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
   Today, Gordon's is a brand of Zale Corporation and is the fourth largest jeweler in tne United States w'ltn nearly 300 stores located in 35 states and Puerto Rico.
   The Gordon's Jewelers 100th anniversary celebration, 100 Years of Love, begins in August and includes a major national fund-raising drive for the Make-A-Wish Foundation(R), which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

    The 100 Years of Love campaign benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation in many ways. From Oct. 7-10, Gordon's Jewelers customers will receive a limited- ed-tion package of greeting cards designed by Make-A-Wish children when they make a jewelry purchase. In addition, from November through December, Gordon's Jewelers wil donate $2 from the sale of limited-edition teddy bears to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In total, Gordon's Jewelers'is donating $100,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, whicr will help grant the wishes of approximately 17 children.
Gordon's Jewelers attributes its success on the relationship it holds with its customers by catering to loca fashion styles and trends within each individual marke! — and offers a complete selection of diamonds and fine jewelry, including exclusive bridal designs, platinum jewelry and Swiss watches. Gordon's Jewelers' newest edition is the "Love" collection, which combines a state-of-the-ar! micro-pave technique with designs inspired by vintage styles.

www.gordonsjewelers.com  

   The group of fine Opals includes quite a number wonderful gemstones, which share one characteristic :they shine and sparkle in a continually changing play of colours full of fantasy, which experts describe as "opalising". Depending on the kind, place of occurrence, and colour of the main body, we differentiate Dark or Black Opal, white or Light Opal, Milk or Crystal Opal, Boulder Opal, Opal Matrix, Yowah Nuts from Queensland - the so- called "picture stones", and also Mexican and Fire Opal.
   Opal variations are practically unlimited. They all show in speciaDue to the differing percentage of water, Opalsl way that unique play of colours - except for Fire Opal, which due to its transparency, however, is nevertheless also considered a Fine Opal specimen, if Opals are lacking the typical play of colours, they are simply named "Common Opal".
   Due to the differing percentage of water, Opals may easily become brittle. They always contain water - usually between 2 and 6 per cent, but sometimes even more. Thus if opal is stored too dry or exposed to heat over period of time, Opals will show fissures and the play of colour will become paler. Therefore, Opal jewellery should be worn as often as possible, for then the gemstone will receive the needed humidity from the air and from the skin of its wearer.
   Opals are not very hard because they only achieve 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs' scale. Therefore they appreciate a protective setting. In earlier days Opal's sensitive surface was often oiled, but today also sealing them with colourless artificial resin has become quite popular.

   Hollywood's hottest television stars sparkled in a wide array of Platinum jewelry at this year's Emmy Awards. According to Senior Vice President of Platinum Guild International, Michael O'Connor, "This year's trends include Platinum garnished in vividly colored gemstones, a return to old Hollywood glamour, and layered pieces with a lot of versatility." Additionally, O'Connor adds, "Men, in particular, have developed a taste for luxury accessories, including watches, lapel pins, and more flashy cufflinks and shirt studs. Platinum, a naturally white metal with brushed and matte finishes creates a very masculine look. It is the precious metal of choice for many of Hollywood's leading men that you will see gracing the Red Carpet at this year's Emmys."

   The 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards proved to be the company's most successful event yet. With a record high of over 55 percent of the jewelry loaned out directly from the suite, it is expected that 98% of this year's Red Carpet will be decked in pure Platinum baubles. Stylist and celebrities who attended the suite viewed a wide selection of this season's Red Carpet trends from 40 Platinum jewelry designers including Neil Lane, Erica Courtney, Daniel K, Gumuchian Fits, Peter Norman, Hammerman Bros., Hearts on Fire, Jacob & Co., Jaeger LeCoultre, JB International, Kwiat, Marc Lazar, Mimi So, Renaissance Platinum, Ricardo Basta and Sasha Primak.


www.platinumguild.com