Jewelry Highlights from Paris and Milan

Jewelry hunting at last year's spring ready-to-wear collections was like shooting fish in a barrel. Everywhere you looked there were huge statement necklaces, boatloads of bangles and lots of layered links.

This year? The runway shine is as dull as a Michael Bolton quickstep.

HOWEVER - there are two noteworthy designers that used the jewel to make their lines pop: Giorgio Armani in Milan and Zac Posen in Paris (his show wrapped just hours ago). Observe...

Armani's Spring Ready-to-Wear collection was all about midnight madness. The navy night sky in Africa was Mr. Armani's inspiration, according to Style.com - and the jewelry he chose echoed the sentiment beautifully (I'm digging out my midnight sapphires as we speak...).

Zac Posen's line was more flirty, feathered and flapperish - with mesh jewelry styles that scream "Industrial Maven meets Prohibition Chic". Bravo.

With the Parisian pret-a-porter extravaganza just underway, some of my favorite designers are still on the calendar - Dior/Galliano, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier. Will they bejewel their beauties? Stay tuned...

Christina Applegate Designs Jewelry

 

Celebrity jewelry designers are a dime a dozen these days, but I'm happy to report Christina Applegate is flexing her creative muscles for a cause other than the status of her own bank account. 

People reports the pregnant Samantha Who? star is assisting designer, Alex Woo to create a pendant necklace to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month and raise money for her Right Action for Women foundation.  A breast cancer survivor, herself, Applegate was honored to be a part of the process.

“This piece reminds me so much of the roses I made out of ribbons for my friends and family while in the hospital,” Christina told People. “I am so grateful to Alex for creating such a beautiful piece to benefit Right Action for Women. Proceeds from the necklace will help women at high risk for breast cancer get the screenings and testing they need to beat this disease.”

The tree and branches within the pendant–offered in both silver ($198) and gold ($998)–are designed to signify balance, peace, harmony and the curves of a woman. The seven leaves represent each day of the week, reminding women to live everyday to the fullest.


Interested in joining the fight - and looking fabulous while you're at it? Visit alexwoo.com to purchase the tree necklace just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness month in October.

Name Your Own Pink Diamond

Pink diamonds always give us jewelry hounds the shivers (in a good way), and when one this big goes on the auction block? We're talking 'commotion'.

According to Luxist, a rare 10.11 carat orangy-pink diamond is causing a stir up in Canada and with good reason: it's the most expensive diamond ever auctioned in the great land of the maple leaf. The pink gem  is estimated to bring in $2.5 million US and comes from the world-renowned Argyle mine in Australia (the producer of most of the world's pink diamonds).

And the best part in my book? Whoever grabs the gem on October 3rd will get the honor of "naming" the stone for the record books.  What would you name it if it came into your grubby little hands, jewelry hounds?

I'm thinking: "The Pink Parker"... "The Parker Pink"..."Laura Parker's Pink Perfection" "Can't Touch This Perfect Pink Parker Purchase"....Ok. Quitting while I'm ahead...(too late?)

Can't get enough pink? Neither can Jennifer Garner. Check out Jewelry.com's fashion recap of her perfect Pink Party this weekend!

Lindsay Lohan: Jewelry Lover to Jailbird

Lindsay Lohan was spotted last night at Ana De Costa's jewelry show in Los Angeles looking fresh-faced and ready to consume - far from the frightened soon-to-be sentenced drama queen we might have expected.

The jewelry show featured D-listers Brittny and Lisa Gastineau's new jewelry line, 'Tres Glam' which features their signature 'eye' theme - a power symbol known to 'ward off danger' according to the mother-daughter duo.

Too bad Lindsay didn't pick one up, cuz...well, it's slammer time again for our favorite tabloid fixation.

People Magazine reports the stunned actress was cuffed and led away by authorities after the judge sentenced her to prison until her next hearing on October 22nd - almost a month away!

At least she spent her last night of freedom doing something worthwhile. What do you guys think of Li-Lo's latest chapter?

Color-Changing Sapphires, A Love Story

Sapphires aren't just the blingy blue bauble often likened to the color of Elizabeth Taylor's eyes - they're crazy chameleons that wear a coat of many colors. While deep blue is certainly what most of us think of when it comes September's birthstone, the gem also comes in a rainbow of hues - from pink and green to yellow and red (also known as - a ruby!) Cool, right?

But sapphires have a special shade that I recently discovered, and it's downright drool-worthy: the color-changing sapphire.

Not quite purple, not quite red, not quite blue - the ever-elusive color changer is a slippery little devil that injects some much needed intrigue into the gemstone world. I admittedly just came across the 'c-c sapph', when writing about the gorgeous 'Royal Butterfly' brooch a few days ago - and decided to do some digging to find out more.

Here's the skinny:

While many sapphires may exhibit faint color changes upon exposure to incandescent or fluorescent lights, the 'c-c sapph' is a dramatic diva, bless her heart. Most color change sapphires belong to one of two groups depending on their color change: the green to red (alexandrite), and the blue to purple kind.

Most alex type color change sapphires are from Songea, Tanzania while the blue-purples occur in Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Burma, and other parts of East Africa and Tanzania.  In all color change stones, the strength of the change is probabably the most important factor affecting their value - but the blue to purple variety tend to be the more pricey option.

Do any of you designers out there have a color-changer in your coffers you'd like to share? Make a comment here or send me a Twitpic with a link to an image/description, and I'll post it here.

In the meantime, here's a one-of-a-kind engagement ring featuring a color changer from The Jewelry Experts to whet your whistle.

The Situation - Gym, Tan, Laundry, Jewelry?

He may not have won the judges' hearts on Dancing With The Stars last night, but Jersey Shore's alpha male, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, is betting his 15 minutes will get him a piece of the jewelry pie like all the other D-listers worth their salt (see Kelly Bensimon, Tori Spelling, and Priscilla Presley for more).

So, here's the situation: Sorrentino is partnering with Jeff George of Luxury Laces to start a line of rosary necklaces and sneaker jewelry. What good Italian Catholic boy wouldn't want to wear Rosary beads while he creeps, right? And sneaker jewelry - as in rhinestoned laces (what else?) - are the perfect way to avoid those 'grenades' on the dance floor.

“Luxury Laces has always been a favorite of the Sorrentino boys,” said a family friend according to Radoronline. “The guys wear them, and they give the rosary blinged out necklaces to their girls.”

And if Jersey Shore jewelry isn't your cup of tea, ladies, The Sitch is apparently designing a line of women's underwear, according to wetpaint.com.

Run, don't walk.

Blingy Butterfly Gets The Royal Treatment

Now that the jewelry-barren landscape that was New York Fashion Week is behind me, it's time to get back to blingy basics. And there's no better way to celebrate than by ogling this bodacious butterfly bauble that just joined the storied coffers of the Smithsonian Institution.

Designed by Cindy Chao, the "Royal Butterfly" is a three-dimensional diamond-and gemstone-studded brooch that took over two years to create. The design is balanced by four large rough diamond slices and includes more than 20 color gradients comprised of 2,318 colorless and colored diamonds, color-changing sapphires, colored sapphires, rubies and tsavorites.

Color-changing sapphires? Awesome.


Chao generously gifted her "Royal Butterfly" to the Smithsonian, which now lives with some of the world's most significant jewels, including the famous Hope Diamond.

The designer's 'hope' was not only for viewers to appreciate the art in a new medium, but that it would also inspire "people to dream and create" and "continue to contribute to the evolution of culture and the world around them."

Ms. Chao? You had me at 'color-changing sapphires'.

And if you're hunkering for more Smithsonian sparkle, they just launched a branded jewelry line with QVC based on many of the pieces in their treasure chest. Check out Jewelry.com for more.

Mad About Marchesa

Shut the front door! Marchesa just hit a Fashion Week home run with their stunning presentation of Oscar-worthy gowns. I'm sure Rachel Zoe has already hoarded the highlights for her growing list of A-listers.

With jewelry a veritable no-show on the runways this season, it's nice to get a lower jaw-drop moment from the fashion at least, and Style.com reports onlookers were gasping aloud in awe at the daring display of drapery.

Bejeweled necklines, hand-painted florals, loops of fabric. What's not to love?

While Marchesa is the go-to dress-up design house this season, Anna Sui presented my favorite casual collection.

As if channeling my inner Laurel Canyon layabout, the softer side of the 70s sprung off the runways here in feathered necklaces, beaded bodices, suede half-boots and flowy blouses.


Kate Hudson, eat your heart out!

What do you guys think? Do you have a favorite designer showing at Fashion Week? Weigh in! And be sure to check out the Jewelry.com Fashion Week trend recap hot off the presses!

Fashion Week Jewelry: Missing or Minimal

Jewelry hounds, I waited the proverbial 24 hours (ok, five days) before filing a Missing Person Report, but I think I can officially now declare: There is no jewelry at New York Fashion Week.

From Donna Karan and Carolina Herrera to Diane von Furstenberg and (even!) Marc Jacobs, the design powerhouses have chosen not to accessorize this season with the by now ubiquitous layered bangle or statement necklace - heck, even a hoop earring from what I can tell.

And honestly? I'm kinda relieved.

Don't get me wrong. No one loves a Christian Lacroix-inspired jewelry box explosion more than yours truly, but it's nice to see that women no longer need to pile it on in order to satisfy the sartorial gods.

Of course, it would be nice to see SOMETHING by way of a little sparkle. So I'm going to interpret this minimal trend for Spring 2011 this way: Only ONE small pendant necklace or ONE bangle is needed. Stud earrings can make a comeback in place of swinging chandeliers. Nothing wrong with a diamond diet every now and again, right?

For those of you lamenting the loss of our favorite accessory, there are still some serious designers on the Fashion Week calendar yet to show - plenty of time to do what we fashion followers do best: contradict ourselves.

In the meantime, these Spring 2011 ready-to-wear trends are emerging:

1. White is the new camel
2. Sheer fabric rules - but not too sexy
3. Slouchy silhouettes over the tight and tailored
4. Bold prints and florals over solid blocks of color
5. Wide-brimmed hats
6. Belted trench coasts
7. Sexy 70s (think Laurel Canyon-era Joni Mitchell not disco)

Stay tuned for more!

Gaga for VMA Jewelry Fashion

Jersey Shore meatheads met Gaga's meat couture at the 2010 VMA Awards last night. And while the jewelry trends weren't as bodacious as the Lady's fashion choices - there were some highlights worth sharing.

First - the Franc Ferdinand-designed meat dress. Not even Cher in her iconic black sequined unitard could upstage this Peta-angering Gaga statement. Thoughts?

I've always been a 'black-diamond Betty' - and any MTV event is the perfect time for the dark side to shine.



Hoops have been a mainstay on these less formal red carpet events - and the VMA white carpet was no exception.


And my favorite overall look went to the lovely Selena Gomez - in a Reem Acra silver frock (love the pockets!) with blue gemstone detail and Baccarat jewelry, including what look like sapphire drop earrings and a chunky sapphire cocktail ring. Something about the silver and blue really works, right?.



And now for a little non-jewelry VMA musing. While I LOVE that Gaga is pushing buttons with her fashion choices - I kinda miss that tried and true VMA train wreck from yestertear. There's no Courtney Love faux pas to count on or some drunken grunge dude climbing the sets. The EARNEST, barefooted Taylor Swift/Kanye West 'controversy' just isn't working for me.

Maybe I'm just cranky that the runway looks from Fashion Week so far aren't giving me any gawk-worthy jewelry to crow about. But we're only half-way through...stay tuned.

Blingy Barbie Fetes Fashion Week

Before I get consumed with New York Fashion Week craziness, I had to bring your attention to the most important thing you'll read about this week: The Word's Rarest Barbie!

(Who needs an Obama press conference when you've got a Barbie in a right hand ring, people?)

Mattel asked famous jewelry designer, Stefano Canturi, to put our favorite toast to feminism in his Cubism jewelry - and he did them one better by throwing in a real 1-carat Argyle pink diamond for good measure.

All told, her bling includes over three carats of white diamonds set in a signature Canturi necklace with an empowering right-hand diamond ring to boot - which is why her price tag is a record-setting $545,000 (!)

DeBeers Barbie? Eat your heart out.

"I wanted the jewelry design to pay homage to Barbie's modern yet timeless style, this is why I applied my Cubism design concept to her look; it is perfect for her," Canturi said on his webiste of his Mattel collaboration.

Barb makes her debut tonight at Fashion's Night Out in New York and will be auctioned at Christie's prestigious "Magnificent Jewels" sale on October 20th, with 100 percent of the profits donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Who do you think would buy Babs at this price tag? Barbie acolyte, Rachel Zoe? Pink diamond diva, Mariah Carey? Weigh in!