Gold on the go

A German company has unveiled Gold to Go, the world's first gold-vending machine, for millionaires who need gold bars on the run.

The luxurious, 24-carat gold-plated ATM-style machine is situated at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and is the brainchild of German entrepreneur and Ex Oriente Lux AG CEO, Thomas Geissler.

The machine dispenses a range of 24-carat gold trinkets, from bars up to one ounce in weight and gold coins, and derives its prices by scanning the market every 10 seconds.

"What could be more fitting than pure gold after a stay in such an exclusive atmosphere?" Geissler told the Associated Press.

Although the machines can be fitted to dispense other precious metals, such as silver and platinum, Geissler does not envision refitting one to distribute diamonds.

"Ten seconds after you buy them, they're worth half the price," he said.

The machine is armed with a variety of security measures, including anti-money laundering software. If the machine's software fails or there is interference of any kind, it will automatically shut down to prevent theft.

Eco-conscious brides and grooms can now celebrate their love with the DNA2Diamond, a lab-created diamond that uses the hair of the couple as a carbon source.

According to PR-inside.com, the diamonds range in weight from 0.25 carats to 2 carats, and come in a variety of cuts and colours, including red, cognac and blue.

Each DNA2Diamond takes 70 days to create, after which it is embedded in an engagement ring.

Lab-created diamonds do not negatively impact the environment to the extent that mined diamonds do, making them a popular "green" choice, the company claims.

In a move that Australia would do well to emulate, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) gave special agents and detectives from international law enforcement agencies a two-week gemmology crash course in May this year.

The course was held at the GIA Carlsbad campus in California at the request of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where the group was exposed to a broad range of gemstone topics, including how to use gemmological tools, the Four Cs, synthetics, colour treatments, and the Kimberley Process.

Working with law enforcement officials is a very important aspect of GIA's mission to protect the public trust, said GIA president Donna Baker: "It is imperative that we work with these detectives and special agents on the front lines of fast-moving gem crimes."

Luxury firm Faberge will release a new collection of more conventional jewellery after some customers requested bigger gems after viewing the company's initial mosaic-style pieces.

The revived firm, famous for designing elaborate jewel-encrusted eggs for Russian Tzars, relaunched in September 2009 with an initial collection.

According to Brian Gilbertson, chairman of Faberge part-owner Pallinghurst Resources, a second collection will appear this year.

"We've had feedback [on the initial collection], ‘These are amazing pieces, but I want that big diamond stuck in it like my mother had'," Gilbertson told Reuters.

In association with the World Land Trust, emerald mining company Gemfields has collaborated with eight international jewellery designers to create a collection of bespoke emerald jewellery to raise funds for elephants in India.

Over two-hundred elephant statues are on display around London from May through July, headed by UK jeweller Sabine Roemer's "Emerald Queen", a life-size fibreglass elephant decorated with Zambian emerald dust and a 679-carat emerald headdress.

The accompanying collection of custom-made emerald rings and necklaces will be showcased in Selfridges' Wonder Room, and will be auctioned off in mid-July.

A gemstone that resembles a piece of pork has been discovered in a river in Luoyang, China, according to the Epoch Times.

Completely natural, the 23-kg, yellow-jade gemstone consists mainly of quartz and has layers of colour identical to the layers of flesh and bone found in roast pork.

The gem was displayed in the 6th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in May.

More than 800 Swarovski brand boutiques around the world will be decorated with a Sex and the City 2 theme to celebrate the brand's jewellery featured in the film.

Stores will feature the pieces that appear in the movie, inviting fans to copy the looks of their favourite characters.

The initiative coincides with the launch of Swarovski's first sterling silver line, the aptly-named Manhattan Collection.

Designs create a black-and-white motif by combining sterling silver and black cz stones.

Author Stephenie Meyer's description of the engagement ring in her vampire romance series has been turned into a real piece of jewellery up for purchase by fans.

Meyer co-designed the ring with jewellers at the Infinite Jewelry Co.

The item will be available in three prices: "fashion" for $US35, "fine" for $US479, and "genuine" for a real diamond ring in 14-carat gold priced at $US1979.

Luxury design company Stuart Hughes has released ten 22-carat gold iPads encrusted with 25.5 carats of flawless diamonds.

Priced at $US192,000, the Gold iPad Supreme weighs a whopping 2,100gm, has Wi-Fi and 3G, and can store up to 64Gb of data.

"This luxurious iPad's appearance is outstanding even down to the precise polishing to reveal its beautiful, harmonious appearance," the company's official website says.