MILAN, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - Italian jewellery and luxury goods maker Bulgari said on Friday it had asked its suppliers to certify that their jewels did not come from Myanmar.

'Even though the company has never bought stones directly from Myanmar, but only on the international markets, it has expressly asked its suppliers for guarantees on the geographical origin of their precious stones,' Bulgari said in a statement.

HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - Many of the cultural pieces looted during various attacks on China were returned to the mainland Tuesday, following another record-breaking auction in Hong Kong, Sotheby's said.

The auction house's autumn ceramics and works of art sale featured more than 30 pieces, many of which had fallen into European hands following the ransacking of Chinese palaces during various invasions.

HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - A rare, flawless blue diamond has been snapped up at a Sotheby's sale here for 7.98 million US dollars, making it the most expensive gemstone in the world per carat ever bought at auction.

The Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring broke the auction record which had stood for 20 years, according to a Sotheby's spokeswoman, fetching 1.32 million dollars for each of it 6.04 carats.

The price for the emerald-cut piece smashed the record held by the Hancock Red, a red diamond which was sold for 926,000 dollars per carat, Sotheby's said.