The iPhone 4 Goes Glam

When most of us jewelry hounds think of a black diamond 'ring', we conjure images of the rock Carrie got from Big in the last Sex And The City flick or something Kat von D is likely to sport on her wedding day, right?

But Gresso is giving us another interpretation to put on the covet list:  an iPhone 4 bedazzled with 6 carats of black diamonds (and 13 carats of white diamonds for good measure).

The luxury mobile phone manufacturer unveiled the new "iPhone 4 Black Diamonds for Lady" targeted squarely at the superior sex for an unamed sum and in limited quantities available online or with the official Gresso dealers.

The ear candy is encased in 200-year-old African Blackwood, combined with black and white diamonds, platinum and 18K rose gold with black diamond edging.

Going by carat-count alone, we're talking hundreds of thousands for a tricked-out text machine that you're likely to leave on the bathroom counter of your local watering hole or forget in the airport lounge or...(insert your own missing phone horror story).

But you'll look fabulous while you try to navigate your way to the nearest Starbucks.

2011 Grammy Awards Jewelry Roundup: It's All In the Wrist

While the whole "Lady Gaga arriving in a big egg" stunt felt a little (um) tired to me, the jewelry fashion was refreshingly fun at the 2011 Grammy Awards, with huge earrings, creative cuffs, statement rings, yellow gold and menfolk in layered looks ruling the night in the trend department.

Here are a few highlights to get the jewelry juices flowing...

I FINALLY had a 2011 lower-jaw-drop moment when I spotted this crazy cuff on Glee diva, Lea Michele. It's by red carpet staple, Lorraine Schwartz, who is also responsible for my second favorite look of the night:

this yellow gold and diamond serpent cuff on Kim Kardashian.Yay!

I also have to applaud Miley Cyrus and Ciara for the winning the "More Is More" award. Maybe it's because I've been so starved for over-the-top jewelry looks this year, but I was happy to see this much sparkle on these young stars.

Big earring looks dusted the sparkling shoulders of everyone from Cyndi Lauper to Snooki:

And as for the fellas? The usual suspects disappointed (Lil Wayne, Diddy) but Seal, Lenny Kravitz and Adam Lambert all rocked the layered necklace look that won the approval of the Twitter Crew (click here to review our fun-filled chat).

With so many folks getting in touch with their inner wacky (Gwenyth? What are you smoking, sister?) I'm sure the Oscars are going to feel like a quaint evening sipping tea by comparison. But I'm ready. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is a jewelry wasteland so far.... And I'm starving for more!

I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas

 

Since it's Christmas Eve, I thought I'd take a moment to send out one more subtle 'hint' to Santa, since I've been nothing but nice this year.

I. WANT. A. BLACK. DIAMOND!!!!!!!!!

See? Coal is cool this year, Mr. Kringle.

Merchandisers and marketers used to have to work hard to make black diamond jewelry appealing to folks outside of tattoo parlors and vampire support groups. But this year? The stone finally crossed over, and it's never going back.

Celebrity designer, Stephen Webster, now litters his lines with the look. It was the best part of Sex And The City II. And many celebs - from Katy Perry to Christina Aguilera - are sporting them on the red carpet.

And the best part? Black diamonds are surprisingly affordable compared to white ice.

Here are a few of my favorite black diamond looks right now - all of them ready for their Christmas close up. Or how about a great New Year's surprise?

So here's hoping we all find big things in little boxes under the tree this year. And fellas? The New York Times reports that jewelry is the 'go to' purchase for all you last-minute shopper types (aka: all men). 

TICK...TOCK...

Merry Christmas, Jewelry Hounds!

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.

Celebrity Black Diamond Blitz

Black diamond jewelry has always been a sexy statement, but it hasn't been in the spotlight much until Sex And The City 2.

While I won't give away the plot for those of you who are waiting cringe your way through it in the safety of your own home - I'll just say that one character receives a five carat, 18k black diamond ring designed by Itay Malkin worth $10,000 (pictured above). And now black diamond engagement ring sales are going through the roof, according to Gemvara's Cheryl Kremkow.

But there have been other celebrity black diamond sightings this summer:

Christina Aguilera is always in black and white diamond ice from her jewelry guru, Stephen Webster, and wore a pair of black diamond drop earrings to the MTV Movie Awards.


Kim Kardashian's former love, Reggie Bush, showed up the 2010 ESPY Awards in black diamond stud earrings - a supercool statement to celebrate his Superbowl win with the New Orleans Saints.


And Lauren Conrad lit up her Mandalay mini at The Hills finale afterparty with a black diamond ring by Cheryl Lynn Greenspoon, according to Luxist.



So what is a black diamond?

Most black diamonds are actually white or colorless diamonds that become black after exposure to a widely used and extremely safe radiation treatment. The dark color fully penetrates the stone and will not fade over time. This process not only results in a black diamond but is also used to create every color of the diamond rainbow - from red to green, purple to even brown. Natural black diamonds are extremely rare and are not often seen in the jewelry world.

Here are a few of my favorite black diamond gems from Jewelry.com:

Or click here to shop their entire stash of affordable black diamond dazzlers.

Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter - A Jewelry Recap

As promised, jewelry hounds, here is a recap of all the jewelry worth drooling over from the 2010 Fall/Winter Paris Haute Couture shows.

Today, Haute Joaillierie lit up the Place Vendome - including Chanel's feathery diamond collection (remember Diane Kruger rocking this look at Cannes?):

Dior's Bollywood-inspired jewels:


and Van Cleef & Arpels' Les Voyages Extraordinaires collection:

Catwalk carats included these crazy cuffs from Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel show:



Armani's sculptural styles made from metal and wood:


And these mirrored fairy tale creations from Jean Paul Gaultier's collection:


But this is just a small sampling of the sparkle. You can find a complete gallery of Paris Fashion Week finds on the Jewelry.com Facebook Page. In the meantime, how amazing is that Dior serpent ring? I gotta say it again: ' J'adore Dior!

Weigh in with your favs!