"Diamonds Are A Guy's Best Friend" from Bloomberg Businessweek

"With the art market still very much in recovery mode, collectors are turning to jewelry not only for its artistic value but also for its investment potential. "Since the start of recession we've seen a growing number of new and established collectors come into the market with particular interest in buying jewels as an alternative asset or as a hedge against inflation," says Rahul Kadakia, Christie's head of jewelry."

"One example of a period piece with currency is the Bulgari Blue Diamond ring, a gold band flanked by two enormous triangular diamonds, which will headline Christie's New York's Jewels sale this month. Purchased for $1 million in the 1970s, when it was designed, Christie's expects it to field more than $12 million this time around."

" "Stones are portable wealth, and they are part of a global market," Hubbard continues. "It's something that Wall Street is really looking at now. When the stock market and real estate are unpredictable, what's predictable? Diamonds." "