Latest news with #GiuseppeCACACE
The South African
14-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Rare blue diamond from Cullinan mine in SA fetches R392m at auction in Geneva
An exceptionally-rare blue diamond went under the hammer in Geneva, selling for $21.5 million (R392 million), Sotheby's auction house said. 'The Mediterranean Blue', a fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 10.3 carats with an estimated value of $20 million, attracted an intense bidding battle. Bidding began at nine million Swiss francs ($10.8 million), with a fierce back and forth before the diamond was ultimately sold to a private US collector, whose name was not given, for 17.9 million francs ($21.5 million), Sotheby's said. The Mediterranean Blue, which is a brand-new blue diamond recently mined from the legendary Cullinan mines of South Africa, generated huge excitement within the diamond industry ever since it was first announced in March, the auction house said. Ahead of its final showing in Geneva on Tuesday, it was unveiled as part of a Sotheby's debut exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month, where it was showcased alongside seven other 'extraordinary' diamonds and gemstones collectively worth over $100 million. 'At the top of the rarity pyramid are blue diamonds,' Quig Bruning, head of jewels for Sotheby's in North America, Europe and the Middle East, said at the Abu Dhabi show. After serving as auctioneer at Tuesday's event, he hailed the gem as 'undoubtedly the defining stone of the season', saying in a statement that it 'ranks among the top blue diamonds we have sold'. The 10.03-carat blue diamond was mined in South Africa © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP Tobias Kormind, head of Europe's largest online diamond jeweller 77 Diamonds, was less upbeat, describing the sale as 'less dazzling than anticipated'. 'The diamond did exceed its $20 million estimate, suggesting there was meaningful interest,' he acknowledged. 'But broader uncertainty, including the ongoing US-China trade tensions, may have dampened bidder confidence and muted what could have been a more frenzied atmosphere.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
eNCA
14-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Rare blue diamond fetches $21.5 mn at auction in Geneva
GENEVA - An exceptionally-rare blue diamond went under the hammer in Geneva late Tuesday, selling for $21.5 million, Sotheby's auction house said. "The Mediterranean Blue", a fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 10.3 carats with an estimated value of $20 million, attracted an intense bidding battle. Bidding began at nine million Swiss francs ($10.8 million), with a fierce back and forth before the diamond was ultimately sold to a private US collector, whose name was not given, for 17.9 million francs ($21.5 million), Sotheby's said. The Mediterranean Blue, which is a brand-new blue diamond recently mined from the legendary Cullinan mines of South Africa, generated huge excitement within the diamond industry ever since it was first announced in March, the auction house said. Ahead of its final showing in Geneva on Tuesday, it was unveiled as part of a Sotheby's debut exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month, where it was showcased alongside seven other "extraordinary" diamonds and gemstones collectively worth over $100 million. "At the top of the rarity pyramid are blue diamonds," Quig Bruning, head of jewels for Sotheby's in North America, Europe and the Middle East, said at the Abu Dhabi show. After serving as auctioneer at Tuesday's event, he hailed the gem as "undoubtedly the defining stone of the season", saying in a statement that it "ranks among the top blue diamonds we have sold". AFP | Giuseppe CACACE Tobias Kormind, head of Europe's largest online diamond jeweller 77 Diamonds, was less upbeat, describing the sale as "less dazzling than anticipated". "The diamond did exceed its $20 million estimate, suggesting there was meaningful interest," he acknowledged. "But broader uncertainty, including the ongoing US-China trade tensions, may have dampened bidder confidence and muted what could have been a more frenzied atmosphere."
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Forbes
Dubai Is Best City For Solo Women Travelers, Per New Study
A March study says Dubai is safe and the best city for solo women travelers, but the U.S. State Department warns women about walking alone there. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is safe and the best city for solo female travelers, a March study said. A human rights group, however, has warned for years that women don't have equal rights in the country, and the U.S. State Department warns that women should be careful walking there alone. The study was done by travel insurance comparison website InsureMyTrip. It evaluated 62 cities worldwide based on data in eight categories: feeling safe walking alone at night, feeling safe despite gender, gender equality, a global peace and security index, hotel ratings, quality of things to do and average cost per day. Krakow, Poland ranked as the second-best city for solo women travelers, followed by Madrid, Spain and Munich, Germany. Munich was also cited as the safest of all cities studied. Hong Kong finished as the worst city for solo women travelers, and Orlando was named second-worst. Delhi, India was cited as the least safe city. Dubai received high scores for feeling safe walking alone at night, feeling safe despite gender, quality of things to do and TikTok popularity. The city's crime rate is very low, and most of public transport offers a women's-only section, InsureMyTrip said. The insurance website noted, however, that 'it's essential to research Dubai's laws and strict dress code before visiting, because women must dress modestly when in public areas.' Violating these rules could result in one-month imprisonment and deportation, the website said. The nonprofit organization Human Rights Watch says the United Arab Emirates has made 'limited reforms,' prohibiting discrimination based on sex and gender and removing a legal obligation for women to obey their husbands. 'However, those reforms fall short from uprooting all forms of discrimination against women, especially male guardianship over women.' Various travel websites cite Dubai as a safe destination, but the U.S. State Department's website issues warnings to American travelers. 'U.S. citizens, especially women, should take precautions against the possibility of verbal and physical harassment or sexual assault when walking alone, consuming alcohol or riding in a taxi cab,' the State Department says. 'Taxi passengers should avoid sitting in the front seat of a taxicab and should be sensitive that small talk can be misinterpreted as over-friendliness or even a form of propositioning by some taxi drivers.' At some airports, there are pink-roofed cabs driven by women for the exclusive use of female passengers, the State Department says. 'Some victims of sexual assault have been prosecuted for violating laws against sexual relations outside of marriage,' the State Department notes. 'The law puts a high burden of proof on the victim to demonstrate that sex was not consensual. In cases where the victim has failed to demonstrate so, both parties have been prosecuted, and sometimes sentenced to jail time, followed by deportation.' Travel insurance company Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection says on its website that Dubai 'is quite safe for tourists,' and 'violent crime directed at tourists is rare.' The company warns, however, that the United Arab Emirates adheres closely to Sharia law that has 'little tolerance for same-sex relations' and makes 'multiple common actions' illegal. Such actions include 'immodest dress, especially for women, which can include bare arms, low necklines and short shorts.' Penalties, Berkshire Hathaway says, 'can be even more harsh and protections fewer for women and LGBTQ+ travelers.'
