Tutti Frutti Treasure Triumphs at Christie's

Lower jaw-drop alert, jewelry hounds! I've been trolling auction results again. I know. The first step is admitting you have a problem. BUT - if I went on a diamond diet, who would bring you face to face with the likes of THIS amazing creature?

What is this explosion of Art Deco decadence, you ask? It's a Cartier 'Tutti Frutti' bracelet - and those are real diamonds designed in the shape of an undulating vine, with real emerald bead leaves and real ruby flowers and berries.

Ain't it just diVINE?

The Tutti Frutti jewelry category emerged after Jacques Cartier designed this staggering little number called the 'Hindu Necklace" for one of America's richest women, Daisy Fellowes, in 1936.

How do you know it's Tutti Fruiti? Look for precious gemstones or cabochons in the shape of flowers, berries and vines. Look for diamonds. Don't look at the price tag.

The Tutti Frutti bracelet at the top of the post went for a cool $1,880,332 yesterday - the highest price at auction for a Tutti Frutti jewel. So you might want to look into a winning lottery ticket, a pig flying or hell freezing over if you want to grab one for your own collection.

HOWEVER. In typical Insider style, I gawk at the gazillionaire gems and come down to earth with fun fruity styles with 'mere mortal' price points.

Who doesn't love these Tutti Frutti-inspired treasures on Jewelry.com? C'mon! Click on any image for more info - and get in touch with your inner fruitcake!

Emeralds Explode at Cannes!

Jewelry at the Cannes Film Festival is a 'go big or go home' explosion of some of the world's most expensive jewels and gems. Why? Because high-end jewelry house (and my personal fave), Chopard, is the sponsor, and that means the red carpet waltz is all about the 'BA-ling'.

While diamonds are always dripping from the likes of Hollywood celebs, models and various other socialite types - the opening of the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival will forever be known as "The Year of the Emerald".

First, there's Uma Thurman. A festival juror this year, the A-lister dazzled in a stunning white Versace strapless gown and jaw-dropping Chopard emerald jewels (the chandelier earrings alone are 54 cts(!) set in 18 K white gold).

Not to be outdone is model, Bianca Balti, whose emerald statement necklace, cocktail ring and dangle earrings almost defy description. My jaw is still scraping the floor.  Credit is assumed to belong to her red carpet companion, Fawaz Gruosi, who is one of the most sought after jewelry and watch designers working today (he owns Geneva-based de Grisogono) .

Salma Hayek makes every Cannes red carpet a spectator sport - and this year she wowed in head-to-toe Gucci. Win!

Creative couture is the hallmark of Chopard, and their Co-President Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele brought out their big-time bling in what appear to be peacock dangle earrings and a matching wrap-around cuff from their Animal World Collection.

Here's a smattering of some of the other incredible jewelry looks I spotted on opening night, where Woody Allen's latest, Midnight in Paris, screened. But this is just the beginning. Stay with me and Jewelry.com for more crazy carat coverage from Cannes as the festival continues!

Green, Glam and Hair Gems Light Up The Met

Kate Hudson in Stella McCartney

Red carpet fashion gawking doesn't get much better than the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Costume Institute Gala. And since this year honored the late Alexander McQueen - the fashion-forward had a field day, turning jewelry style quite literally - on its head.


It looks like the Brits aren't the only ones with a penchant for haute couture headwear. Everyone from newly engaged Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba to uber-designer Stella McCartney and Fergie put icy diamonds on their tresses.

Stella McCartney

Jessica Alba in Ralph Lauren dress and jewelry

Although (and I risk the wrath of Campbell when I say this...) this isn't one of Naomi's better fashion moments.Yikes!

It appears green is still the 'go-to' color for gemstones, with Rihanna, Ginnfer Goowdwin, Mary Kate Olsen, Tory Burch, and many others channeling their inner Kermit for couture's sake.

Rihanna in Stella McCartney and Wilfredo Rosado jewelry

Ginnifer Goodwin in TopShop and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry

Mary Kate Olsen in Givenchy Couture and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry

 

Great statement earrings shined on the likes of Kristin Bell, Lea Michele and Cristina Hendricks.

Kristin Bell in Tory Burch and Amrapali Earrings

Ashely Greene in Donna Karan and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry

Lea Michele in Escada and Kimberly McDonald earrings

And, of course, diamonds still rule when it comes to red carpet sparkle. I was pleasantly surprised to see Madonna in this understated, spidery look by Cartier. And the "less-is-more" queens of diamond stud-wear wore just the right splash of sparkle (although, Michelle Williams? It's time to mix it up, sister.)

Madonna in Stella McCartney and Cartier jewelry

Taylor Swift in J. Mendel and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry

Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci and H. Stern jewelry

Who wore your favorite look of the night?

2011 Oscar Jewelry Roundup: The Trends & Top Ten from Tinseltown

Oscar jewelry fashion at the 2011 Academy Awards was a smattering of surprises paired with the usual classic diamond deluge. Fasten your seatbelts, jewelry hounds. Here's my glittering recap to the red carpet Super Bowl. 

Red-hued frocks with elegant diamond looks were a big trend (Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Hudson), along with emerald jewels (Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, Annette Bening), knock-out necklaces (Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren), and colorful earrings in surprising silhouettes (Marisa Tomei, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman).

While there was a very real fear that the 'less is more' trend would dominate the night - (Michelle Williams, Mandy Moore and Jennifer Lawrence all opted for minimal jewels - among many others), Oscar always brings out the best in some of our go-to fashion divas.

Here are my top ten looks of the night, but be sure to visit Jewelry.com on Facebook for my complete album with rants and raves capturing all the Oscar looks. And better yet? Check in with JewelClub Monday morning to get all the hot 2011 Oscar jewels at prices that don't need their own body guard.


1. Anne Hathaway Oscar Jewelry

Some might say Tiffany diamonds and a red dress are safe Oscar bets. I say - that's the kind of red carpet fashion we jewelry hounds are looking for (and dare I say) expect from the A-list. And Annie's jewelry looks just kept on coming throughout the show (I'll be tracking down pics and credits for all - so stay tuned!)

2. Nicole Kidman Oscar Jewelry

How can you make a stunning 150-carat Fred Leighton diamond necklace look even more beautiful? Put it on Nicole Kidman and have it DRAPE DOWN HER BACK! Win!

3. Marisa Tomei Oscar Jewelry

Van Cleef & Arpels is responsible for these sapphire, diamond and emerald statement stunners. And her Charles James dress from 1950 almost made Tim Gunn hyperventilate, bless his heart. She's never looked better.

4. Natalie Portman Oscar Jewelry

The sensational Live Twitter Chat gang (some of the best minds in jewelry and fashion participated - click here for more!) were either in LOVE with these Tiffany ruby tassels or thought them to be, um, pedestrian. I love the pomegranate color - not the silhouette so much. It just wasn't the knock-out moment the belle of the Oscar ball needed to bring (a la Gwyneth in Cathy Waterman and Ralph Lauren when she won back in the day).

5. Gwyneth Paltrow Oscar Jewelry

Speaking of G-Pal - only she could pull off this Calvin Klein silvery sensation of a dress paired with these unique Louis Vuitton gemstone (bird?) earrings from their L’Ame du Voyage collection. A bold choice and a big win!

6. Helen Mirren Oscar Jewelry

Dame Mirren reigned over the red carpet in a pearl, diamond and platinum necklace from 1907 and a diamond bracelet from Cartier’s Archive Museum Collection. This woman always looks lovely - although the length of her necklace is a bit long here for my taste.

7. Reese Witherspoon Oscar Jewelry

This year's Angelina Jolie-emerald-earring copycat award goes to...Reese Witherspoon, who looked lovely in 35-carat emerald drops by Neil Lane (her jewelry totaled $1 million). Annette Bening? You come in second place...

8. Jennifer Hudson Oscar Jewelry

Jaws dropped when this dream girl stepped on the red carpet in a 'tangerine/red' Versace number and Neil Lane diamonds. And I am telling you. You don't have to go anywhere, sister.

9. Mandy Moore Oscar Jewelry

The 'less is more' win of the night for me went to this pretty diamond cluster earring on Mandy Moore. The overall look is the perfect example of how to wear jewelry with a sparkly dress. Just lovely.

10. Amy Adams Oscar Jewelry
 

Such a bold choice to wear navy, no neck line and this Cartier emerald and diamond wrap necklace and a 30.75-carat carved emerald and diamond bracelet-watch worth $1.025 million. Everyone is talking about her jewelry - despite the fact that it belonged with a different ensemble.

Whew! So what do you guys think of my Top Ten Oscar jewels for 2011? Who did I miss? Weigh in - and be sure to double back tomorrow for my 'after party' jewelry gawk-fest. Hoping for an Angelina sighting at the Vanity Fair party. Stay tuned!

(By request, a close-up of Amy Adams' Cartier wrist bling. Wow!)