The Ace of Diamonds garden, designed by David Domoney, was bedecked with a selection of jewellery from high-end London jeweller Leviev, including a £3.2 million ($AUD5.4 million) flawless blue diamond ring.
Even the mulch was made of precious stones – diamonds, quartz and amethyst were scattered between flowering shrubs.
Domoney said that his garden was a celebration of the connection between plants and gemstones.
“We want to show how jewellery has been inspired by plants throughout history, such as the use of the thistle in Celtic designs. Many varieties of plants have been named after jewels and gems,” he said.
The expensive materials forced show organisers to step up security and the heavily-guarded jewels were only on display for a few hours during the Queen’s visit.
This party pays off
Move over, Tupperware. Parties in which guests bring their old gold jewellery and leave with cash are the latest rising global trend.
According to the Houston Chronicle, gold parties have become increasingly popular as post-Global Financial Crisis consumers look for innovative ways to make money.
Gold buyers and jewellers arrive at the party with a scale, an acid kit and a magnifying loupe. Once the authenticity, weight and price of the items have been determined, sellers are made offers. The hostess may receive up to 10 per cent of the total sales at her party.
Diamond dispute
A world-famous diamond is the source of a renewed 161-year old tug-of-war between India and the British royal family.
A United Nations-led campaign for the return of historic treasures to their countries of origin has reignited a long-standing battle by the Indian Government to have the extraordinary Koh-i-Noor diamond finally returned to India.
The colourless, 109.93-carat stone is currently residing in the Tower of London as part of the British crown jewels, and India’s campaign has prompted the British High Commission in New Delhi to declare that the stone would not be returned under any circumstances – a government spokesman said the diamond had been “legitimately acquired” and its ownership was “non-negotiable”.
The diamond has been in British possession since 1849, when it was handed over by the East India Company as a tribute to the Queen following the Treaty of Lahore.
Black is back
Consumer interest in black diamonds is set to soar after the appearance of a 5-carat black diamond ring in influential fashion flick Sex and the City 2.
The ring, which is bestowed upon Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie by her long-time lover Big in the film’s final scenes, was provided by Itay Malkin after his design beat over 20 other leading jewellery designers.
“It was an honour to have my design chosen for such an emotionally important scene in the film,” Malkin said.
The final design, in collaboration with Sarah Jessica Parker and the film’s costume designer Patricia Field, featured the 5-carat black diamond surrounded by 80 colourless and round diamonds pavé-set into 18-carat white gold.
Reproductions of the ring are retailing at a whopping $US10,000 from online retailer patriciafield.com, and come with a limited-edition serial number and authenticity certificate.
Time-keeping treasure trove
Over 40 pairs of historical clocks and watches are on display at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Switzerland until October 16.
The expansive collection includes timepieces that were crafted explicitly for the Chinese market from the mid-18th century until about 1850.
The oldest ones originated in London, and many others pay tribute to the craftsmanship for which Geneva is famous.
The museum showcases important collections of horological artistry as well as Genevan, Swiss, and European enamel art from the 16th to the 20th centuries.
It also accommodates a library with more than 8000 books on watchmaking and related fields.
Protection for pearls
Wildlife crime officers have begun an operation to protect Scotland’s freshwater pearl mussels.
According to BBC News, 75 per cent of the country’s endangered pearl mussel sites have been damaged by criminals.
Criminal acts ranged from illegal pearl fishing to unauthorised river works, which resulted in the destruction of entire pearl-mussel populations.
The endangered mussels are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Scotland has a total of 21 designated sites for pearl mussels, with Scottish rivers holding about half of the world’s population.
Environment minister Roseanna Cunningham said, “It is clear that the pearl mussel continues to suffer from ransacking by determined criminals.”
Bride price
A bridal gown featuring platinum and worth £240,000 ($AUD421,851) was one of the star attractions at London Jewellery Week this year.
The dress, which is woven from threads of the precious metal and silk, was showcased by Nicholas James from June 7 – 13.
In addition, the designer displayed new palladium bands for men and a titanium bike with 12 carats of rough diamonds set into the frame and 18-carat gold parts.
London Jewellery Week included a variety of events, taking place across the capital to promote its diverse jewellery scene.