World’s first all-Diamond, 150-carat ring created by Swiss jeweler; worth $70 million

By Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo! News | The Sideshow – Fri, Mar 23, 2012 Tampa ,FL Shr

2012 Christmas Party - Diamond Engagement Ring Winner

Cynthia Vaughn wins this years $3,500 Diamond Ring

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Buy Your Diamond & Engagment Ring from Tampa retailer Alexis Diamond House

And get a 3 day 4 Night cruise to the Bahamas for two on the Royal Caribbean.

12/17/12 ->Alexis Diamond House of Tampa, FL  has partnered with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to offer its customers a 3 day 4 night cruise for two people, to the Bahamas when they buy a, 1 carat diamondand engagement Ring. Offer expires Feb. 14, 2013. Alexis Diamond House's unique business model of partnering with large manufactures instead of just buying from traditional wholesalers has proven to be hugely succesful. "Cutting through one level of middle men is not easy, but three and in some cases four levels is quite an accomplishment, and it really shows in our pricing. " says Alex Wasif manager of Alexis Diamond House. Reducing costs is the only way we could offer such an amazing cruise from the Royal Caribbean while still offering engagement rings and diamonds at lower prices then our competitors.

There are different levels of cruise options but most are all inclusive meaning taxes, and gratuities are included. Cruise certificates never expire, and are fully transferable, so giving them away as a gift is also an option. Cruise certificates are also upgradelble, so differant destinations and rooms are availble to certificate holders. Visit showroom at 13684 Walsingham Rd. Largo, FL 33774 for more details.

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 Metalsmiths Sterling on the Red Carpet

Metalsmiths Sterling's new sapphire daisy cuff bangle sparkled on the wrist of Kate Linder at Norby Walter's 22nd annual Night of 100 Stars Viewing Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 26th, 2012. Buterfly's and flowers seem to be the style of the year and I love the sapphire daisy's on this sterling silver bracelet. Get your hands on a little piece of Hollywood at the only Tampa Jewelers to carry MetalSmiths Sterling.

As always, feel free to share our Facebook post about this exciting news. 

 Basel--Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that Swiss police believe they have identified the man who was the main architect of the $8.9 million diamond robbery at last year’s Baselworld watch and jewelry show. Alex Wasif of Alexis Diamond House who specializes in diamond engagement rings in Tampa, FL said "the robbery was somthing out of a movie" .

According to the AFP, the Basel prosecutor said Friday the suspect is a 54-year-old Croatian man who has not yet been named and is on the run. There is an international warrant out for his arrest.

Authorities say a total of eight people participated in the robbery, which was allegedly carried out by an Eastern European group that specializes in the theft of jewelry, diamonds and antiques. Not all parties involved have been identified, according to the AFP.

The theft happened on March 30 of last year, when thieves distracted staff at the booth of an Israeli diamond dealer, identified as Andre Messika, before snatching four diamonds from the window. The dealer didn’t realize his loss until 15 minutes later, and the group was able to exit the exhibition hall.

None of the diamonds in Tampa, FL have been recovered.

Baselworld 2012 begins next Thursday, March 8, and runs through March 15.

Gold, diamonds, Rolexes seized from poachers

Rolex watches, gold bars and ingots, and diamonds were seized last week as part of “Operation Crash,” an effort to route out smugglers of endangered black rhinoceros horn.

FEB 29, 2012

Los Angeles--A federal sting operation designed to crack down on the black market trade of endangered black rhinoceros horn resulted in the seizure of bars of Gold, Diamonds and Rolex Watches in Tampa as well, federal officials announced.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) said that last week in Tampa, Los Angeles, Newark, N.J., and New York, a total of seven people were arrested on various charges related to trafficking in the horns of black rhinoceros, which are protected under both U.S. and international law.

As part of the operation, federal authorities report a search of the luggage of one alleged horn supplier turned up $337,000 in cash, while additional searches by FWS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents uncovered more cash, bars of gold, diamonds and Rolex watches, along with the rhinoceros horns.

Federal authorities seized a total of about $1 million in cash and another $1 million in gold ingots.

An FWS spokesperson told Tampa Jewelry store owner Alex Wasif that with court approval, cash and other valuables--in this case, gold, watches and jewelry--are routinely impounded during trafficking investigations because they are suspected of being the proceeds of illegal activity.

The valuables are returned if authorities determine they were acquired legally. “There’s nothing inherently illegal about the watches, gold and diamonds (but) how they were acquired may be,” he said.

The recent round of arrests are part of “Operation Crash,” -- crash is the term for a herd of rhinoceros -- a multi-agency effort to investigate and prosecute those involved in the black market trade of endangered rhinoceros horn. The horns of these herbivores are used in some cultures--predominantly East Asia--for ornamental carvings, good luck charms or for alleged medicinal purposes, and high demand has led to a thriving black market that has escalated in recent years, federal authorities said.

The Holidays are inching around the corner and there is nowhere better to go than to a Tampa Jewelers for the perfect holiday selection of gifts.  “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” according to Marilyn Monroe and she was a fashionista of her time.  Marilyn knew it then and we all know it now.  This is still a worldly truth- women love diamonds and they also love jewelry.  Show them how much you care by finding the perfect gift for the perfect women in your life whether it is your wife, your mother, your mother-in-law or your girlfriend, the right gift is in the massive inventory of gifts.  This is the time of the year to splurge and give them something to remember for years to come and something that represents your love and appreciation for them. 

Diamond  in Tampa have everything you need to impress or show off your affection to your loved one.  Diamonds and custom settings are available, as well as stylish Fritz and ToyWatch watches that are sure to invite a jealous eye or two in the office or when you out on the town.  There are also silver and jewel based collections to choose from, if diamonds aren’t your lady’s likes.  Multiple shades of jewels, settings, sizes and styles are all available. 

Gifts need to come from the heart and diamonds are a direct line to most female’s hearts- they represent love, affection and a lasting relationship that will last forever.  So spoil them rotten and give a gift that will last a lifetime and represents that connection.  Tampa Jewelers have the gifts that you want to give this season, so take a look through the inventory and find the perfect gift for your loved ones this year for the Holidays.  You won’t regret your decision. 

A couple came into the shop for an engage-ment ring. The man, speaking to anyone who was listening, commanded: "We need to find my girl-friend a big diamond engagement ring!" I directed the young lady to our engagement rings and worked with her for an hour. She finally settled on a ring and marched it over to her boyfriend, who was talking on the phone near the entry. They spoke for a few minutes. Then the man came over to me. With a stern tone, he said: "This is not big enough! I want bigger!" 
 
With this, I enrolled the help of another sales associate. We all worked for at least another hour to find a ring that met the boyfriend's approval. When we finally settled on the proper ring, he slaps his credit card on the counter ... "Sold!" Upon hearing this, the woman smiled from ear to ear. I scooped up the credit card and began to process the transaction. The other sales associate cleaned the ring and prepared the packaging. I then brought everything over to the couple, making sure to have the ring box open, just in case he wanted to seize the moment ... and slip the ring on her finger. 
 
The man plucked the ring out of the box and strung it on his gold necklace. He said: "I don't need all that packaging. Keep it.” Puzzled, I asked: "Aren't you going to put that beautiful ring on her finger?" "No", he replied. "I ain't going to give it to her until she starts acting right!" — BILL MATHES

A young couple picks out a trio set to put on layaway. He pays enough to take the engagement ring with him and gives it to her. Six months later (no other payments on the layaway) he wants his money back. I remind him that he has the ring and ask why he expects his downpayment back. He tells me I'm wrong. He doesn't have the ring — she does! I thought it was good for a grin, but not a refund.
 

An elderly woman entered the store and came up to the repair counter to have some beads restrung. (We frequently have seniors come in with zip lock baggies full of assorted beads and pearls, no longer remembering which are real and which are costume. We sort them out for them). After selecting a few for restringing she presented our clerk with the final bag. She comments, “I know there aren't enough to make a necklace again but maybe we could make a bracelet.” Upon examination the clerk realizes that they aren't beads at all, but Vitamin E capsules!