Burma

The charm of Burmese rubies at the Bolaffi auction

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Pendente in diamanti e rubini parte di un girocollo firmato Romolo Grassi




Bolaffi jewelry auction on April 13 and 14 in Milan: the first day will take place live, while the second will continue online. The catalog is quite vast: it includes over 500 lots selected by private clients, with jewels signed by international Maison. Among the jewels there is a collection signed by Buccellati as well as numerous diamonds of various carats and antique jewelry. Among the top lots is a platinum and diamond ring with an ancient Burmese ruby ​​of 4.34 carats accompanied by an Ssef certificate which ensures the Burmese origin and the absence of heating (the starting price is 23,000 euros). In addition, the catalog includes a small collection of eighteenth-century French snuff boxes.

Anello in platino e diamanti con rubino birmano antico di 4,34
Anello in platino e diamanti con rubino birmano antico di 4,34 carati

The auction is preceded by public display on Saturday 9 April in the Bolaffi headquarters (via Manzoni 7, Milan, 10 am-6pm, Sunday included). The exhibition will remain open to the public until Tuesday 12 April, while the auction will begin on Wednesday 13 April in the hall, at the Hotel Mandarin Oriental (via Andegari 9), and will continue on Thursday 14 April only live internet on the website Bolaffi.
Anello con rubino e diamanti indossato
Anello con rubino e diamanti indossato

Pendente in diamanti e rubini parte di un girocollo firmato Romolo Grassi
Pendente in diamanti e rubini parte di un girocollo firmato Romolo Grassi

Anello in oro, zaffiro blu e diamanti di Buccellati
Anello in oro, zaffiro blu e diamanti di Buccellati

Anello in oro e diamanti di Buccellati
Anello in oro e diamanti di Buccellati







Burma multicolor

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Collana in argento rodiato con burmalite gialla




The proposals by Burma, the French queen of bijoux: fake jewels that seem true ♦

About the twenties, in Paris, they have written many, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and of course, the French authors. But several pages of the Jazz Age has also was been written by a Maison specializing in jewelry: Burma. In Paris is a synonym of jewelry created with elements that seem valuable, but they are in half. For example, vermeil (gold-plated silver), or cubic zirconia instead of diamonds. But Burma has specialized in this capacity to bring large pieces of jewelry without the need to use always real gemstones: its jewels are from nearly a century of valuable pieces with a zero in the least.

If a large ring with sapphires and rubies might cost, say, 20,000 Euros, by Burma with the same appearance it could cost 2,000 or 200.

Orecchini in argento rodiato
Orecchini in argento rodiato
From Gaston Doumergue, who inaugurated the Maison, to Josephine Baker and the Folies Bergères, something has changed nowadays. For example, Burma invented and patented Burmalite, a synthetic stone, zirconium oxide, similar to diamond. But it costs a lot less and doesn’t look like an unnatural gem to an untrained eye. The colored stones of the Maison, with this material, are a real show. Seeing is believing.

Anello Anello della collezione Opera in oro bianco 18 carati e burmalite a forma di peradella collezione Opera in oro bianco 18 carati eburmalite a forma di pera
Anello della collezione Opera in oro bianco 18 carati e burmalite a forma di pera
Bracciale in argento bianco e burmalite
Bracciale in argento bianco e burmalite
Collana in argento rodiato e burmalite bianca
Collana in argento rodiato e burmalite bianca
Collana a quattro fili in argento rodiato e burmalite
Collana a quattro fili in argento rodiato e burmalite
Orecchini in argento rodiato e burmalite gialla
Orecchini in argento rodiato e burmalite gialla
Collana in argento rodiato con burmalite gialla
Collana in argento rodiato con burmalite gialla







The 50 Rubies of the Imperial Necklace

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The Imperial Necklace with the finest rubies in the world in Monte Carlo ♦ ︎
Burmese rubies are the most sought after for their quality. But it is rare that many stones are used together as in the Imperial Necklace, an exquisite necklace, which was shown in preview, worn by a Russian model, by Ravi Lunia, director of Faidee, the largest Burmese specialized company in rubies. The occasion was an exhibition at Hotel Hermitage in the Principality of Monaco dedicated to Burmese ruby. The rubies of the necklace have a “pigeon blood” color that is considered the most intense hue. Red stones, all of the same quality, weigh about 130 carats, and are assembled together with colorless and perfect diamonds. The Monaco exhibition includes over one hundred jewels made of Faidee stones, with unheated Burmese rubies. Hotel Hermitage until August 21st. The imperial necklace contains 50 rubies, with eight gems weighing more than 5 carats each. The rubies exposed in Monte Carlo are part of a personal collection covering four generations. Lavinia Andorno




Faidee, anello con rubino burmese di 4 carati e diamanti
Faidee, anello con rubino burmese di 4 carati e diamanti

Anello con rubino sangue di piccione non riscaldato
Anello con rubino sangue di piccione non riscaldato
Farfalle rosse, con un rubino ovale di 5 carati
Farfalle rosse, con un rubino ovale di 5 carati
La Imperial Necklace indossata da Ulyana Sergeenko
La Imperial Necklace indossata da Ulyana Sergeenko
La Imperial Necklace, assieme a orecchini e bracciale
La Imperial Necklace, assieme a orecchini e bracciale

Ravi Lunia, direttore di Faidee, con la modella russa Ulyana Sergeenko
Ravi Lunia, direttore di Faidee, con la modella russa Ulyana Sergeenko