 |
| The Henckel von Donnersmarck Tiara (Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) |
A model poses with the Henckel von Donnersmarck Tiara during a press preview at Sotheby’s in Geneva, 11 May 2011
Camilla Brings Some Magic (Alhambra) to Meet Oscar Winners
 |
| Camilla wears Van Cleef and Arpels at a reception for British Oscar winners (Photo: Eddie Mulholland – WPA Pool/Getty Images) |
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall held a reception on Wednesday evening in London for British winners of the Academy Award. For the star-studded event, Camilla chose a set of jewelry from her collection of Van Cleef and Arpels pieces.
 |
| Photo: Eddie Mulholland – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
This necklace and earring set is from the firm’s Magic Alhambra collection; the pieces are made of malachite set in gold. Camilla paired them with a gold-toned bracelet on her left arm.
 |
| Photo: ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images |
We’ve seen Camilla wear Magic Alhambra pieces before; she also has a pair of diamond earrings from the collection. Above, she wears the diamond version at a Prince’s Trust Comedy Gala in 2012.
On the Block: The Lesedi La Rona Diamond
 |
| The Lesedi La Rona Diamond, which will be auctioned in June (Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images) |
At the end of June, a once-in-a-lifetime jewelry auction will take place in London. Sotheby’s will offer the Lesedi La Rona Diamond, the second-largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered, for sale in a standalone auction. (The largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered? Still the Cullinan. Before it was cut, that diamond weighed a whopping 3100 carats. This one is about a third of that size.)
 |
| Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images |
The diamond was discovered in November in the Karowe mine in Botswana. The mine is owned by the Canadian-based Lucara Diamond corporation. A contest was held in Botswana to name the 1,109 carat gem. The winning name, “Lesedi La Rona,” means “our light.”
 |
| Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images |
The diamond’s estimated auction price is $70 million. The gem is still in its rough state, so whoever purchases it will have to undertake the massive project of cutting and polishing the stone. To give you an idea of the massive size of the diamond, many outlets have been comparing it to a tennis ball. Can you imagine???
Here’s video from the press preview, where you can see the uncut diamond already managing to sparkle a bit.