This rare pink diamond, weighing 34 grams, is thought to be the largest discovered in the last 300 years. The 170-carat stone has been named the “Lulo Rose”, after the mine in Angola where it was found. It is believed to be the largest pink diamond mined since the 185-carat Daria-i-Noor, which was cut from a larger stone and is now among the Iranian crown jewels. The Lulo Rose is a type 2a diamond, meaning it has few or no impurities. “This record and spectacular pink diamond recovered from Lulo continues to showcase Angola as an important player on the … Continue reading Only in Africa: Largest pink diamond in 300 years found in Angola

Tamara Ecclestone is offering a £6m reward for information that could lead to the recovery of jewels that were burgled from her home. Ms Ecclestone’s mansion in Palace Green was ransacked in December 2019, with the perpetrators stealing £25m worth of cash, jewellery and gems in the UK’s biggest ever burglary. The socialite daughter of former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said she was “going Mel Gibson style from the movie Ransom” to recover the items. When the burglary took place the 38-year-old was on holiday in Lapland with her husband, art gallery owner Jay Rutland, and their daughter and … Continue reading Tamara Ecclestone offers £6m reward to recover jewellery stolen by burglars

Plans have been drawn up to relocate one of the world’s finest collections of Scotch whisky from the Netherlands to Scotland. Scotch Whisky Investments intends to showcase the Unseen Valentino Zagatti Collection in a new museum planned as part of a major development in Fife. The collection features more than 3,000 bottles and close to 300 whisky brands. It includes a rare whisky which was bottled in 1843 and gifted by a father to his daughter for her wedding day. Whisky asset management firm Scotch Whisky Investments (SWI) took over the collection along with a group of investors in 2015. … Continue reading Major Scotch whisky collection set for relocation to Scotland

A parasol set to be sold in China by top western brands Gucci and Adidas for 11,100 yuan ($1,642; £1,329) is causing an outcry for not keeping out the rain. Criticism of the item the firms call a “sun umbrella” has gone viral on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. It comes as Gucci’s website says it is “not waterproof and is meant for sun protection or decorative use”. The parasol is part of a joint collection that is being promoted online ahead of its release next month. A hashtag on Weibo which translates to “the collaboration umbrella being sold … Continue reading Leaky Gucci and Adidas ‘sun umbrella’ sparks China outcry

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says he will now pay for his family’s food bills from his own pocket. He faced criticism after a TV report alleged extravagant expenditure at his private home, which currently functions informally as his official residence. He later disclosed that $26,400 (£21,000) of taxpayers’ money was spent each month, including $7,400 on food. Mr Bennett, who is a self-made millionaire, insisted that his conduct had been within the rules. His office also said his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, had spent three times more in total – $84,300 per month – at the prime minister’s official residence … Continue reading Israeli PM Naftali Bennett to pay for family’s food after criticism

Russian officials have reportedly confiscated millions of dollars worth of luxury Audemars Piguet watches. The Swiss timepieces were seized from a shop by security service agents on Tuesday for allegedly violating customs rules, Swiss media report. It happened just days after Switzerland abandoned its traditional neutrality to join Western countries in imposing sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. However, the government has said Switzerland’s new luxury export ban has been causing “uncertainties” for some businesses. According to Switzerland’s NZZ am Sontag newspaper, the watches were seized by agents working for Russia’s FSB security service from a Moscow subsidiary … Continue reading Ukraine war: Russian officials seize Swiss watches apparently worth millions

In the extravagant world of the French luxury industry, brands used to prefer destroying their unsold goods rather than offering their high-priced products at a discount. But gone are the days of binning the coats, handbags and shoes pooh-poohed by shoppers after a new anti-waste law came into force at the start of the year. Now luxury houses are managing their stocks more carefully, offering deals to staff, making donations and recycling goods. “It’s a subject that has become important today,” said Julie El Ghouzzi, a luxury goods expert at the Cultz consulting agency. She pointed to the scandal that … Continue reading French luxury houses give unsold goods a second chance

Rotterdam has confirmed it will dismantle a historic bridge to allow a superyacht built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to fit through. The record-breaking luxury yacht is being built by Dutch firm Oceanco and was linked to Mr Bezos last year. The vessel is reported to be 417ft (127m) long and too tall to fit through the Koningshaven Bridge. A spokesman for the mayor confirmed the plan to reporters, with Mr Bezos set to foot the bill through Oceanco. Reports emerged in Dutch media on Tuesday that the middle section of the Dutch city’s bridge, known locally as De Hef, … Continue reading Jeff Bezos’ superyacht will see historic bridge dismantled

French fashion designer Thierry Mugler has died at the age of 74, according to his official Facebook account. He was widely known for designs with broad shoulders and sharp tailoring, which drew on 1940s and 50s glamour. Mugler’s designs were worn by celebrities including David Bowie and Lady Gaga. In 2019, he designed a dress for Kim Kardashian’s appearance at the Met Gala. In later years, his brand became famous for perfume. “We are devastated to announce the passing of Mr Manfred Thierry Mugler on Sunday January 23rd 2022,” a post on Mugler’s official Facebook account confirmed. “May his soul … Continue reading Famous French fashion designer Thierry Mugler dies aged 73

The Enigma, a 555.55 carat black diamond The world’s largest known cut diamond went on public display for the first time Monday ahead of its sale, when it is expected to reach five million dollars. The Enigma, the name of the rare black carbanado diamond, was put on display in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The diamond is believed to have been created when a meteorite or an asteroid hit the Earth more than 2.6 billion years ago, according to Sotheby’s auction house jewellery specialist Sophie Stevens. One of the most difficult substances to cut, the 555.55-carat diamond has … Continue reading The largest black diamond ever cut, goes on show in Dubai

Tel Aviv has been named as the most expensive city in the world to live in, as soaring inflation and supply-chain problems push up prices globally. The Israeli city came top for the first time in a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), climbing from fifth place last year and pushing Paris down to joint second with Singapore. Damascus, in war-torn Syria, retained its place as the cheapest in the world. The survey compares costs in US dollars for goods and services in 173 cities. The EIU said the data it collected in August and September showed that on … Continue reading Tel Aviv named as world’s most expensive city to live in

LVMH announced star designer Virgil Abloh died on Sunday after battling cancer for several years. He was 41. “We’re all shocked,” LVMH Chief Executive Officer Bernard Arnault said in a post on the group’s official Instagram account. “Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and a great wisdom.” His Instagram account said that he “valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments.” Abloh had been in charge of menswear design at Louis … Continue reading LVMH designer Virgil Abloh dies at 41 after battling cancer