Selina Denman rounds up some of the most important precious stones – loose and mounted – that have come to the market in recent times.
La Gloria
At a whopping 887 carats, La Gloria is one of the largest rough emeralds in the world, overtaking the 857-carat Gachalá displayed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. The stone's blue-green hues and small surface calcite matrix lend evidence to its museum-quality provenance. La Gloria comes from Colombia's Muzo mine, producer of some of the largest and finest emerald crystals in South America. La Gloria is part of the acclaimed Marcial de Gomar Collection, part of which is being auctioned off by New York-based Guernsey's on April 25. Also included in the rare-emeralds auction are 20 loose stones (cut and rough) and 13 pieces of jewellery. These include the Marcial de Gomar Star, perhaps the first-ever double-sided star emerald; and the Tears of Fura, a pair of matching teardrop-shaped gems. The auction is also going to display the largest assemblage of cut emeralds recovered from the wreckage of the Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which sank in 1622 off the Florida Keys. Manuel Marcial de Gomar is the founder of Emeralds International, which offers top-quality rough and cut emeralds from Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Afghanistan – both loose and incorporated into de Gomar's designer settings.
Eyes of the Dragon
Part-owner by Gemfields, the Montepuez Ruby Mine (MRM) in Mozambique is one of the most significant ruby deposits to have been discovered in recent times, and offers up rubies that are up to 500 million years old. One of the most significant finds so far is a matching pair of rough rubies with a combined weight of 45 carats. The gems were acquired by Veerasak Gems of Thailand and subsequently named the Eyes of the Dragon. “Looking at them makes me tremble,” said one of Veerasak’s founders. After the successful sale of these matching rubies, and in keeping with its commitment to ethical mining practices that support local communities, MRM made a commitment to support the Niassa Lion Project in the Niassa Reserve in northern Mozambique, an area of profound importance for the global conservation of African wildlife, particularly lions, wild dogs and elephants.
Peacock Pearl
The Robert Wan group has spent more than 40 years developing and harvesting Tahitian pearls. Today, the brand’s pearls are recognised for their quality and lustre, and the range of colours on offer, which include blue-green peacock hues, and shades of grey and cherry. “Peacock, our rarest colour, is a symbol of protection and guidance, as believed by native Tahitian people,” Wan notes. But Wan’s creations are perhaps most remarkable for their size, which is often 13 millimetres and above. The peacock pearl pictured here, for example, measures 17mm and took a decade to harvest. “As nature is very unpredictable, this pearl owes its rarity to its smooth surface, its magnificent peacock colour and its perfect round shape,” Wan explains. “Round pearls represent a maximum of three per cent of the total harvest. It was kept in my personal collection for several years, waiting for the perfect creation that will embrace its value.” The opportunity finally arose in the form of the Enso necklace, which was unveiled at the Doha Jewellery & Watches exhibition this year. Inspired by Japanese calligraphy and priced at US$3.5 million (Dh12.85m), Enso was created in collaboration with French designer Arnaud Flambeau. The three-strand necklace consists of 23 meticulously matched, cascading Tahitian peacock pearls, as well as 101 carats of brilliant diamonds, with this 17mm peacock pearl, paired with a 10-carat diamond, sitting at its centre. Notably, all of the diamonds were cut and polished in Dubai.
The Pink Star
Described as “a true masterpiece of nature, beyond characterisation with human vocabulary” by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), The Pink Star diamond was auctioned off for record US$71.2 million (Dh261 million) on April 4, as part of the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong. The 59.60-carat, oval, mixed-cut pink diamond is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid pink diamond that the GIA has ever graded – and is more than twice the size of the Graff Pink, a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond that formerly held the world auction record for any pink diamond. The Pink Star was mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999, and in its rough state weighed 132.5 carats. It was meticulously cut and polished over a period of two years, and made an impromptu two-day visit to Dubai last month, where it was showcased in the new Sotheby’s gallery and office space in Dubai International Financial Centre. “This is an extraordinary stone, on every level,” says David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s jewellery division, when we meet him in Dubai. “Pink is, for most people, the most attractive colour of diamond, and this is the biggest and it is flawless. If you have one that’s 10 carats, that’s amazing; to have 60 carats is just phenomenal. We thought we’d bring it to Dubai because it’s something that most people will have never seen and will probably never see again.”
The Stotesbury Emerald
This gem has been in the possession of some of history’s most avid jewellery collectors, and will be looking for a new owner when it goes on sale on April 25 at the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York. Weighing about 34.40 carats, the Stotesbury Emerald is expected to fetch between US$800,000 and $1.2 million (up to Dh4.4m). The hexagonal-shaped, classic Colombian emerald has been owned by three very different women, who wore the stone in three different ways. The initial owner was American mining heiress Evelyn Walsh McLean, the ill-fated owner of the Hope diamond. She enlisted Pierre Cartier to have the emerald mounted as a pendant. The second owner was Eva Stotesbury, second wife of the prominent American investment banker Edward Stotesbury, who had the gem incorporated into a suite of emerald jewellery. This was subsequently acquired by Harry Winston, who is responsible for the emerald’s current iteration: as an oversized ring encircled by diamonds. May Bonfils Stanton bought the ring from Harry Winston and sold it in a Sotheby’s sale in 1971. The gem’s whereabouts were a mystery from 1971, and it has only recently resurfaced.
Mountain Star Rubies
Star rubies have fired the imaginations of collectors for centuries – for their resplendence and rarity alike. As the name suggests, these are gems that contain needle-like rutile fibres under their surface, with six, evenly proportioned rays being the most desirable. When fishing guide Jarvis Wayne Messer, from North Carolina, stumbled upon a haul of four star rubies in 1990, experts labelled it the finest collection in the world, all the more astounding for its North American origins, so far away from the stone’s usual haunts in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. The Mountain Star Ruby collection collectively weighs in at 342 carats and includes: the 139.43-carat Appalachian Star (pictured, left); the 64.16-carat Promise Star; the 52.36-carat Misty Star; and the 86.56-carat Smokey Mountain Two Star Ruby (pictured, right), which features stars on both the front and back of the stone. The Mountain Star Ruby Collection will be sold together as one lot through Guernsey’s auction house, with a date for the sale due to be announced imminently.
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47
2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time
3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo
5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates
7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03
9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Champion v Champion (PFL v Bellator)
Heavyweight: Renan Ferreira v Ryan Bader
Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay v Johnny Eblen
Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo v Patricio Pitbull
Catchweight: Ray Cooper III v Jason Jackson
Showcase Bouts
Heavyweight: Bruno Cappelozza (former PFL World champ) v Vadim Nemkov (former Bellator champ)
Light Heavyweight: Thiago Santos (PFL title contender) v Yoel Romero (Bellator title contender)
Lightweight: Clay Collard (PFL title contender) v AJ McKee (former Bellator champ)
Featherweight: Gabriel Braga (PFL title contender) v Aaron Pico (Bellator title contender)
Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh (pro debut) v Emmanuel Palacios (pro debut)
Women’s Lightweight: Claressa Shields v Kelsey DeSantis
Featherweight: Abdullah Al Qahtani v Edukondal Rao
Amateur Flyweight: Malik Basahel v Vinicius Pereira
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
Director: Nag Ashwin
Starring: Prabhas, Saswata Chatterjee, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Shobhana
Rating: ★★★★
THE BIG MATCH
Arsenal v Manchester City,
Sunday, Emirates Stadium, 6.30pm
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
ROUTE TO TITLE
Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
The specs
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 646hp
Torque: 830Nm
Transmission: Two-speed auto (rear axle); single-speed auto (front)
Price: From Dh552,311; Dh660,408 (as tested)
On sale: now
EMIRATES'S REVISED A350 DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE
Edinburgh: November 4 (unchanged)
Bahrain: November 15 (from September 15); second daily service from January 1
Kuwait: November 15 (from September 16)
Mumbai: January 1 (from October 27)
Ahmedabad: January 1 (from October 27)
Colombo: January 2 (from January 1)
Muscat: March 1 (from December 1)
Lyon: March 1 (from December 1)
Bologna: March 1 (from December 1)
Source: Emirates
Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
SPECS
Engine: 2-litre direct injection turbo
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Power: 261hp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: From Dh134,999
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
NEW PRICING SCHEME FOR APPLE MUSIC, TV+ AND ONE
Apple Music
Monthly individual: $10.99 (from $9.99)
Monthly family: $16.99 (from $14.99)
Individual annual: $109 (from $99)
Apple TV+
Monthly: $6.99 (from $4.99)
Annual: $69 (from $49.99)
Apple One
Monthly individual: $16.95 (from $14.95)
Monthly family: $22.95 (from $19.95)
Monthly premier: $32.95 (from $29.95)
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter