A new museum of diamonds has recently opened in Prague, Czech Republic. Located in the very heart of Prague Old Town, near the Pincas synagogue, the Diamond museum was created for all admirers of that kind of precious stones, the first and only of its kind in the Czech Republic. A voyage through the age-old history of diamonds awaits you in the exhibition. They may date back 3,5 billion years. Local guides explain how they are created and the journey which takes them from mining, processing, cutting, sorting and a final assessment to the dazzling jewelry of today. Every visitor of the exhibition will receive a lended iPad and disposable headphones. The iPad serves as a map and source of information /text and audio/ on individual displays. The disposable headphones and iPad rental are included in the admission price. Also the guests of the Diamond museum can visit a Diamond cafe, a Souvenir shop and a brilliant shop where you can buy beautiful jewelry and single diamonds from an Israel factory. Of a special attention are crosses which were consecrated in the Jordan river.
500% investment during four years? Yes, it is possible. In 2010 a clip brooch Cartier from Tutti Frutti collection of 1925 was sold for 28000 Swiss Franсs in Geneve auction. And in 2014 in a London auction it was sold for $128 000.
A more suprising destiny had a bracelet from the same collection: in 1986 the bracelet was sold for 176 000 Swiss francs, and in 2015 auctioned with an estimate of 300 000, it was bought by a new owner for 1 420 000 Swiss francs.
As the recent Autumn Christie's Magnificent Jewels and Sotheby’s Magnificent and Noble Jewels, there is an increasing interest towards jewelries of the 2oth century. Bracelets and brooches with an estimate of 25 000 - 30 000 Swiss francs were sold for a double of thiese sums. Now the articles auctioned by big jewelry houses as Cartier, even not the most significant, but clearly reflecting the major styles of the century, could present a good investment.
When it became clear that diamonds and jewelries could be not only family but also investment valuables? Americans are reminded of diamonds as a win-win investment in the 30th of the last century during the Great depression times. Many investment companies arose which specialized in diamond sale and spent tremendous money for their publicity. Then diamond mining companies began populirazing diamonds in business newspapers launching huge advertising projects. The main accent was made on the fact that during crisis, economic and exchange instability precious stones became the only asset of trust for potential investors. Nowadays when the trust to financial institutions is corrupted “the eternal valuables” become again an important issue.
Diamonds win in four main factors: accountability, safety, liquidity and profitability. According to the analysis of a consulting company Bain&Company the demand for diamonds has a 6% increment anually, while an industrial investment makes only 2,8% growth per year.
Of course, not every article with a diamond can be considered as an investment. To be a profitable investment the precious stone can correspond to some parameteres. A diamond should have high appraisals in four criteria (4С): carat, color, clarity, cut. The genuity The authenticity of the stone should be verified by the certificate of a gemmological institute (GIA -Gemmological Institute of America is prefered), the size no less than one carat, colour values no less than E, clarity – VVS1, and an excellent value for symmetry, polishing and cutting.
During your visit of the Dimond museum in Prague you will know everything about dimonds and maybe you will decide to make an investment in these eternal valuables. More about the Diamond museum visit http://www.pragensis.com/tours_in_prague