Sunday, May 31, 2009

Early Jewelry Fashion Winners at MTV Movie Awards


Just got through some early pics of the MTV Movie Awards red carpet. Noticing lots of blue gems, including a cool sapphrie snake ring on Ashley Tisdale and a smokin' cocktail ring on Malin Ackerman. But love her or hate her, I gotta hand it to Spencer-sib and Hills pseudo star, Stephanie Pratt. Her diamond swirl statement necklace is working for me. Right?

More to come. Including Miley Cyrus in a dress even Angelina Jolie would yawn at, and old schoolers, Cameron Diaz and Sandra Bullock showing the youngsters how it's done!







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Thursday, May 28, 2009

Earring Statements Shine at Fifi Awards


Golden chandeliers, diamond danglers, emerald drops and classic hoops all made a red carpet appearance on celebs attending the Fifi Awards in New York last night.

As if we didn’t have enough award shows.

The Fifi is the fragrance world’s equivalent of the Oscar, where important categories like: Best Celebrity Fragrance and Best Media Campaign share the stage with Best Packaging.

When we start giving out awards for boxes, folks, it’s time to take a good, hard look.

Celebs like Paris Hilton, Tim McGraw and Sean Combs brought home Fifis for their fragrances; and designer, Marc Jacobs, was honored with an induction to the all-important Fragrance Foundation’s Hall of Fame. For smelling so good all these years, I presume.

The red carpet featured a myriad of metallics, including Queen Latifah in Georges Chakra and diamond flower earrings, Paris Hilton in a bejeweled magenta Chakra and model, Hilary Roda, in gold with stunning chandelier drops.

The big miss here was Kate Walsh, whose shiny pink Hugo Boss number did nothing to accentuate the positive, despite a lovely earring statement. Word on the street is her divorce is getting uglier than the dress choice, so I’ll go easy.

I’m happy to report that hoops are still making a big splash in celebrity circles, with Dancing With the Stars, Samantha Harris, rocking a big yellow gold pair to add shine to her cute little tangerine number.

And while there were several solid looks that honored the Fifi like the important awards show that it is, the red carpet winner for me had to be Mary J. Blige in Roberto Cavali and emeralds.

By a nose.
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Vote for your Favorite Film Festival Jewel. Yes, You Cannes!


Hello, jewelry hounds. I'm trying a new feature on the blog: Polls, polls and more polls.

I love getting your feedback, and let's face it - there's no better sport than arm-chair fashion critic, right? I'd love for you to get in on the act by voting in my weekly poll that will be lovingly posted every Wednesday at the right. Check back daily for the results and your chance to weigh in!

The kickoff poll is for your favorite Cannes jewelry look - and there were many to choose from. Here are the pics of my top 5 selects. Who do you think wore it best? Weigh in by clicking the bubble of your choice at the right!

Happy polling!

Angelina Jolie:



















Paris Hilton:



















Mariah Carey:



















Asia Argento:



















Eugenia Silva:

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Amy Winehouse Gets Crackin' on New Jewelry Line


She may have said ‘no’ to rehab, but troubled chanteuse, Amy Winehouse, is saying ‘yes’ to a new jewelry and fashion line. Apparently Ms. Winehouse put down the crack pipe long enough to finalize talks with the London-based fashion label, PPQ, for a new line of high-end statement pieces that are inspired by the Amy Winehouse ‘look’.

Black lung chic, anyone?

Winehouse does admittedly have a signature look to draw on – from her beehive 'do’ to her retro mini-dress style. PPQ designer, Amy Molyneaux, told Grazia that they are in the first stages of the project and look forward to designing a range of Amy-inspired pieces – from cut-off denim shorts, check shirts and bodycon minidresses to bold jewelry styles.

And while Winehouse may seem like an odd pick for a fashion muse, PPQ has been known to woo the ‘bad girl’ starlet - the company paired with Peaches Geldof as their first celebrity pick.

PPQ also confirmed that Winehouse won’t actually be designing the line, but will only be involved in the creative process - something the singer should really get back to in the recording studio, if you ask me. Apparently, she is trying to record her third album in St. Lucia in between three (and counting) visits to the hospital for "chest pains" and "dehydration."

Maybe PPQ can get her to participate in the 'creative process' after her morning drinking binge and before her next cutting episode? Just a thought.

So what do you guys think of an Amy-Winehouse inspired fashion line? Does she deserve to rake in the dough for being nothing more than a train wreck with a voice these past years? Or is this perhaps a way for her to get back on her feet again?
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Monday, May 25, 2009

The Journey of a Diamond


On this last day of our long Memorial Day weekend, it's time to put down the 'Jon and Kate' ranting and 'Will Adam Lambert sing with Queen?' wondering, and sit quietly to reflect on what's important in life. When you're done with that, I offer you a little learning on one of our favorite subjects: diamonds. Ever wonder where they come from? Here's everything you need to know, thanks to my all-knowing friends at Jewelry.com.

Enjoy and Happy Memorial Day!

Journey of a Diamond (From Mine to Retail)

Everyone knows that diamonds are among the most treasured items on earth. But not everyone realizes the long, arduous journey a stone must take to become one of the beautiful faceted gems you see in the jewelry store. So here is a brief recount of a diamond's incredible trip from the mine to the market.

A diamond's story begins deep in the earth - 100-200 miles below the surface. These stones were formed up to 3.3 billion years ago as a result of unimaginable heat and pressure placed on carbon crystals.

Powerful volcanic activity formed what are known as "pipes" - openings in the earth - and forced the diamonds up through the pipes to the surface, along with other minerals such as kimberlite. Some of these diamonds made their way into streams, rivers and seas; however, these are only considered secondary deposits. Most of the diamonds forced up through the earth settled back into the kimberlite pipes - and it is these primary sources that have been the basis for the world's diamond mines. Only one in 200 kimberlite pipes will contain diamonds in economically viable quantities.

Once diamonds are found, they can be very difficult to mine. It is estimated that it takes more than 250 tons of ore to produce just one carat of rough diamond. This ore goes through many stages of blasting, crushing and processing, including advanced x-ray techniques, to release the diamonds. Over 120 million carats are mined each year - only about a quarter of which will be considered gem quality.

Although diamonds are found in numerous exotic locations around the globe, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Namibia, South Africa and Russia account for some 80% of the world's diamond supply.

Once the diamonds have been mined and processed, the next step is to sort, classify and value them according to their size, shape, quality and color. The DTC, the marketing and selling arm of De Beers, sorts some two-thirds of the world's diamond production, by value. DTC sorts rough diamonds into more than 16,000 categories. These diamonds are then sold 10 times per year at regular, invitation-only sales called "sights" to the world's leading diamond cutters, polishers and manufacturers. Sightholders may choose to cut the rough they buy themselves, or they many sell some of it to smaller manufacturers or wholesalers.

The next step for the rough diamond is cutting and polishing. This is a great skill, with meticulous techniques that have been practiced for generations. The main diamond cutting and trading centers are based in Antwerp, Belgium; Mumbai, India; Tel Aviv, Israel; New York; and Johannesburg, South Africa. China and Thailand have most recently developed their own centers.

Although some of the polishing process is computerized, most of the work is still performed by hand. First, the cutter uses cleaving, sawing or laser cutting to separate the original rough into smaller, more workable pieces. Then, the girdler uses a process called bruting that grinds away the stone's edges and provides its outline shape. Faceting follows, usually in two steps. The first 18 facets (table, culet, bezel and pavilion of a stone) are cut and polished by the blocker. The brillianteer cuts and polishes the final 40 facets, including the star, upper girdle and lower girdle. Finally, the cut gem is boiled in acids to remove dust and oil. Once polished, most diamonds are sold and traded in the 24 registered diamond bourses around the world.

At this point, the polished gems are ready to be set into finished pieces of jewelry, which is the manufacturer's job. They are then either sold to a wholesaler, who works as a middleman to sell the manufacturer's goods to the retailer, or sold directly to the retailer by the manufacturer.

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Friday, May 22, 2009

Cartier Celebrates The Cougar




Diamonds, gold, sapphires, rubies – bless their hearts, they never discriminate. No matter how many crow’s feet, eye-lifts and hot flashes we women might get, they love us all with equal abandon. But these days it’s more than jewelry that’s taken a liking to women of a ‘certain age’.

It’s guys. Young, hot, guys.


46-year-old Demi Moore flaunts her 20-something Kutcher catch around like a proud feline and Sharon Stone’s 51 years haven’t prevented her from showing more glorious ‘gam’ at Cannes than a Vegas show girl convention. And let’s not forget about Madonna, Katie Couric, Ellen Barkin, Susan Sarandon – all cradle robbers, all fabulous.

So what better way for the Cougar to flaunt their prowess than with a big blingy cat worth beaucoup bucks.

Enter: Cartier.


They may call their coveted cats “The Panther Collection” but there’s no better way for the Cougar to shine in my book. Extravagantly priced (it’s Cartier after all), the line is made out of only the finest metals and purest diamonds and gems.

But you don’t have to have an Ivana Trump budget to nab a cougar-inspired gem of your own. Check out Jewelry.com’s collection of cat jewels and add a little shimmer the next time you flirt with the pizza guy.

Meow!
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Barely There Bling at the Ballet


What gives? The jewelry stars and diamond divas in New York that weren’t already working it at the Cannes Film Festival were supposed to bring it last night to the tony American Ballet Theater Spring Gala. Either an allergic reaction to jewels spread through the blue bloods like Swine Flu on steroids, or the less-is-more police had their way with the ‘other half’ for the night.

Bummer.



















The Spring Gala celebrated the opening of ABT’s sixty-ninth season at the Metropolitan Opera House, which featured performances from the upcoming season and ended with an elegant black-tie dinner in the Tent at Lincoln Center.

So, OK. There were a few stars who managed to give us a 'little' eye candy. Not surpringly, jewelry maven and Donald spawn, Ivanka Trump, wore what I imagine is a statement piece from her signature jewelry line; a healthy Mariska Hargitay surfaced in a diamond bib necklace, and with hubbies that are richer than a giant box of Godivas smothered in butterscotch you can always count on Lynda Carter and Eva LaRue to sport some serious ice.

But the rest of the well-heeled crowd kept to a more subdued statement with lots of grays and blues and a rash of Carolina Herrera choices. She’s a stunning designer, but I would give my first born to see Renee Zelwegger in someone else for a change. Switch it up, sister. And there were those, like singer, Suzanne Vega, who needed a do-over altogether.











Everything is ‘not’ beautiful at the ballet when you show up in that, dear.



















So while the likes of Kelly Rippa, Iman and the ladies from Lipstick Jungle looked lovely in their Oscar, Carolina and Stella, here's to next year when Tiffany, Harry and Van Cleef can come out to play.
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Monday, May 18, 2009

Cynthia Nixon Announces Engagement


Sex and the City star, Cynthia Nixon flashed her new diamond engagement ring at a Sunday rally in New York to support same-sex marriage – a measure New York Governor, David A Paterson, is sponsoring with help from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Our favorite red head revealed that longtime partner, Christine Marinoni, popped the question last month, and she happily did the ring finger wave in front of the supportive crowd while shouting,

"It's time already!"

Nixon and Marinoni, an education activist, began dating in 2004, following the actress's 2003 split from her companion of 16 years, photographer Danny Mozes, with whom she has two children: Samantha, 12, and Charles, 6.

Nixon has said,

"I don't really want to get married to get married pretend. I think we'd like to do it in a real, actual, legal way that the state would recognize."

There's nothing pretend about that diamond, sister.

No wedding details have been announced, but I'll stay on the case for all you SATC fans. Here's hoping Miss Cynthia will stay far away from Carrie Bradshaw 'bird bridal'.)

Diamonds really are a girls' best friend, in this case. Congrats to the happy couple.

What do you guys think of the news?
You have read this article Cynthia Nixon / Diamond engagement ring / engaged / gay rights / same sex marriage with the title May 2009. You can bookmark this page URL https://meandmadison.blogspot.com/2009/05/cynthia-nixon-announces-engagement.html?m=0. Thanks!
Friday, May 15, 2009

Crazy Caratage Continues at Cannes


TGIF, jewelry hounds!

If you want something to take your mind off of the horrible excuse for a Grey's Anatomy finale last night, you've come to the right place. Nothing like a little diamond shock to put you in a good mood for the weekend.

With Chopard as a main sponsor, I've been salivating over the crazy jewelry statements that are likely to make a splash at Cannes until the festival ends on the 25th. Here are a few of my favorite looks from today's premieres.

What do you guys think? Too much or not enough?






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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Rare Blue Diamond Sets Record!


Colored diamonds are coveted by jewelry lovers everywhere, and despite the economic woe affecting the luxury industry, sales for big, rare stones are still going strong.

While nothing can compare to the world's most expensive blue diamond, The Wittelsbach, which sold to diamond dealer, Laurence Graff, last year for $24.3 million, Sotheby's just unloaded another blue bauble for a stunning $9.4 million.

"The price achieved is a world record by value per carat. This will certainly increase consumers' confidence in buying sparkling stones," said KK Sharma, executive director, Indian Diamond Institute (ID

African miner, Petra Diamonds, unearthed the gem from the Cullinan mine in South Africa, famous for yielding most of the world's best blue diamonds. The fancy vivid blue gem weighs 7.03 carats and is rated internally flawless by the G.I.A. - high praise for a natural stone.

According to the Natural Colored Diamond Association, only one diamond in 10,000 possesses a natural color so strong that it can be classified as fancy color diamond, with reds and blues being the most rare.

Colored diamond fans who don't have millions lying around to snatch a natural stone for their own jewelry box, can find more affordable treated diamonds in every color of the rainbow.

Treated colored diamonds are actually natural white diamonds that are subjected to intense heat to give the stones a range of different hues - from black and pink to yellow and blue. And you don't have to have an auction paddle to snatch one of your very own.

Cure your case of the blues on Jewelry.com, where you can shop for many treated colored diamond styles from the coffers of the retailers you trust.

Then take a look at this video of the real thing. And die a thousand deaths.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Cannes 2009: Couture, Cinema and Chopard


Cannes you dig it? The yachts are docked, the champagne is flowing and the jewelry is already incroyable as the 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival gets underway in the south of France this week.

I just love this film festival. Known for booing crowds and unmatched extravagance, it’s no wonder the fashion police are on high alert as the world’s biggest stars put their best 'pied' forward.

And while many fashion sponsors like Fendi and Swarovski have bowed out this year due to that pesky economy, thank the skies above that Chopard has hung in there. Why? Because they designed 62 couture pieces of jewelry this year to be worn by The Croisette’s biggest stars.










































Pixar’s latest entry, UP, already premiered and Chopard made big jewelry statements on co-President, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele and model du jour Eugenia Silva.

Cannes juror and Sean Penn ex, Robin Wright Penn, is quite simply always a stunner and tonight was no exception as she appeared in a silvery gown with diamond spray earrings. Who knows how much she had to put up with all these years, but it certainly doesn’t show. Bravo.

Fellow juror, Shu Qi, upped the ante with a vintage diamond statement piece, and gemstone earrings dusted the shoulders of beauties Alessia Piovan and Jaydy Michel.




























And this is just the beginning, jewelry hounds. Cannes darling, Quentin Tarrantino, is here with his Brad Pitt starrer, Inglorious Basterds, and everyone is scrambling to make an appearance.

So stick with the old 'JI' here to see all the crazy Croisette fashion carnage as the week progresses, and be sure to visit the Jewelry.com Facebook page to gawk at an album full of more drool-worthy Cannes jewels.

Diamonds and spray-tans and yachts! Mon Dieu!
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