Just Dew It
A yearlong research effort by Italian designer Mattia Cielo has resulted in the Rugiada, or Dew, collection. The pieces incorporate springy internal titanium coils that retain their form over time and eliminate the need for sizing, according to Cielo.
Mattia Cielo ring in 18k pink gold with five coils and 2 cts. t.w. colorless diamonds; $10,600
Exteriors, meanwhile, are made of 18k gold and set with diamonds that are seemingly “suspended in the air,” says the designer. Eighteen SKUs including bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces are available with two to seven coils each; suggested retail prices range from $2,000 to $28,000. “These are jewels that incorporate a high degree of technology internally,” says Cielo. About 75 percent of his customers worldwide have ordered the collection since its debut earlier this year at Baselworld. —Jennifer Heebner
Tax Attack
Antwerp authorities are investigating local diamond companies for alleged tax evasion, according to Belgian press reports.
The Belgian newspaper De Tijd says the investigation into secret Swiss bank accounts involves many “big players” in the industry and could be one of the country’s “biggest tax scandals ever.”
The article was slammed by Antwerp World Diamond Center, which issued a statement on Sept. 4 chastising the publication for printing leaked details of the investigation, including speculation as to who was involved.
The industry group “notes with astonishment the information that has appeared in the media and the apparent violation of the secrecy of the investigation,” said the statement. The AWDC also argued that having an overseas bank account “does not imply fraud.” —Rob Bates