Pearl Jewelry at the Purrrfect Price

Free jewelry. Other than 'cocktail hour' and 'lottery win' I can't think of two words in the English language I'd rather hear. So I'm spreading the news that my sugar mamma, Jewelry.com, just launched their latest Sweepstakes extravaganza with three blingy jewels up for grabs.

June is all about pearls in the jewelry world. It's this month's birthstone, it's "the" go-to graduation gift and brides-a-kimbo put them on to walk down the aisle. So wouldn't you know it? Jewelry.com decided to center their sweepstakes around it (savvy sparkle sellers that they are).

It's called the "Purrrrfect Pearl Sweepstakes", and there are three very worthy pieces up for grabs.

Pearl & Diamond Necklace in 14K Gold. (Retail Value: $679.00)

Pearl and Black & White Diamond Ring in 10K White Gold (Retail Value $579)

Pearl Clover Earrings in 10K Gold with Diamonds (Retail Value: $199)

All you do is visit the Jewelry.com Facebook Page to enter or click here. You can also shop their Purrrfect Pearl Collection here that features some of their hottest pearl styles at up to 80% off retail - a refreshingly strand-free stash that has lots of fashion forward finds.

But first and foremorest (as my dad always used to say) "You can't win if you don't play." Words to live by in the jewelry hunt, playing the lottery - and in life.

Did I mention there's FREE JEWELRY?

(just sayin')

Pearl Jewelry 101

From Coco Chanel to Michelle Obama, women have always considered pearl jewelry a must-have addition to their jewelry collections.

Ever wondered how those oysters manage to create such a shiny little miracle? Or what about the five most important factors to consider when buying pearls?

Here is a pearl primer from my sugar momma, Jewelry.com, that tells you all the pearls of wisdom you'll ever need to know! Enjoy!


Pearl Jewelry 101:

Pearl, the birthstone for June, is among the most timeless, classic and treasured of all gems. Throughout history, pearls have been associated with wisdom, wealth, purity, romance and mystery. The ancient Egyptians were buried with them. In Rome, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and status. The Greeks prized them for their beauty and association with love and marriage. Medieval knights wore them in battle as a talisman against injury. And during the Renaissance, some European countries banned all but nobility from the right to wear them.


It's hard to believe that such a luscious, beautiful gem comes from such humble origins. A natural pearl starts out as a grain of sand or microscopic worm that works its way into an oyster and cannot be expelled. To protect its soft body from this irritant, the oyster secretes a smooth, hard crystalline substance called nacre. Layer upon layer of nacre coats the foreign object and hardens, ultimately forming a pearl. In general, the thicker the nacre, the richer the 'glow' of the pearl - which can greatly enhance its value.


Although early pearl gathering depended on divers braving the oceans' depths to retrieve these treasures, the vast majority of pearls today are grown, or cultured, on pearl farms by surgically inserting a small shell bead, or nucleus, into the mantle of an oyster.

Even though pearls are harvested en masse on pearl farms, producing a quality pearl is an extremely rare event. It is estimated that half of all nucleated oysters do not survive - and of those that do, only 20% bear marketable pearls.

When shopping for pearls, the five factors that determine value are luster (surface brilliance); surface cleanliness (absence of spots, bumps or cracks); shape (generally, the rounder the pearl, the higher its value); color (pearls come in virtually every hue of the rainbow, and a few others, too); and size (the average pearl sold is 7-7.5 millimeters, but these gems can be as small as 1 millimeter or as large as 20 millimeters).

Because pearls are soft, ranking only 2.5-4.5 on the Mohs scale for hardness, they require special care. Natural oils from the skin, as well as hair spray, lotions and cosmetics, can dull their luster. Like other jewelry, they should be cleaned with a soft damp cloth and stored in cloth or cotton away from other jewelry to prevent scratching. Also, avoid allowing your pearl to come in contact with harsh chemicals, which can erode its surface. And if worn frequently, pearl necklaces should be brought to a jeweler once a year for re-stringing to prevent strand breakage.

Jewelry at the TV Land Awards

Diamonds and gems are usually the highlight of any red carpet event in my book, but at the TV Land Awards? It's always the cast of characters that are the most memorable.


Where else can you find the likes of The Hoff rubbing elbows with Isaac from The Love Boat?

Or Glee's Jane Lynch posing with Charo.

Or Anne Coulter arm and arm with... Jimmie "Dynomite" Walker from Good Times???? Does it get any better than that????

Well, it was comforting to see pretty pearls on our favorite TV moms, Mrs Partridge and Mrs "C".

And former Charlie's Angel, Cheryl Ladd looked lovely in a David Meister black jersey cocktail dress with diamond hoops to die for.

Earring statements shined bright on other TV Land stars, including Taxi's Marilu Henner, Charlie's Angel, Jacklyn Smith, and little Vicki from The Love Boat, Jill Whelan (memba her?)

While necklaces have been a veritable no-show on the red carpet these days, Joyce DeWitt(!) from Three's Company wore a simple diamond statement to light up the final seconds of her 15 minutes of fame.

Clearly, I enjoyed the people watching far more than the jewelry this time around. But where else can you find Blondie getting an icon award or Tom Hanks slumming it with the remnants of the Bosom Buddies cast? It's a pop culture diva's dream come true!

The TV Land Awards will air in all their glory on April 25th.

Am I dating myself with these star sightings? Who wore your favorite TV Land look?

Jewelry Makes a Statement in Paris

It’s my favorite jewelry fashion time of year – the Paris Haute Couture Shows. And while this go-round has not delivered the Christian Lacroix craziness that lit up the runways last year, there are some serious statements worth coveting.


Dior did diamonds in flowers and bows, and pearls in both black and white and ‘bigger means better’ silhouettes.



Armani kept the statement necklace trend going strong with grey, metallic, chunky looks that must have weighed more than a newborn.



Valentino used headpieces as his accessory du jour, with stunning lace looks that oozed style and sophistication.


And gold kept glittering at the Givency and Christian Lacroix shows (a sad showing since this will be his last Couture collection due to financial issues).

And Fashion Week isn’t over yet! The stars are still arriving and the catwalks still cracking with fashion that you can’t even afford in your dreams. But what’s a jewelry fantasy without a dash of inaccessibility, right?

Stay tuned for more couture coverage, and check out a complete album of stunning jewelry looks fresh from Paris on Jewelry.com’s Facebook page.

Drool, dream and covet, jewelry hounds!

A Jewelry Makeover for Susan Boyle?

From her old timey pearl necklace to her demure ‘never been kissed’ personae, singing sensation, Susan Boyle, has the makings of one helluva makeover story.

The sweet Scottish chaunteuse has the world completely smitten - myself included - and though she wowed the judges and millions of fans with her performance on Britain’s Got Talent, she is just not wowing folks in the fashion department.

I know it’s gauche to say so - we should really love Ms. Boyle for the woman she is – but what’s a Cinderella story without a makeover, right? Would Sandy and Danny have driven their convertible into the sky if “Bad Sandy” hadn’t emerged with bed-head hair and those impossible leather pants? Would Richard Gere have climbed the fire escape for Julia Roberts if she hadn’t ditched the hooker garb for an opera gown and diamonds?

That’s all I’m saying.

The jewelry hound in me can’t help but think there’s gotta be another way for the divine Miss Susan to go than that dowdy pearl strand. We love you, Susan. You can do better.

So for her next performance I'm thinking 'class, class, class'. Simple, elegant sparkle that says, “Single women who live with their cats are fabulous and free.”

Toss the necklace idea altogether. Work the ears, instead, with an elegant earring that will draw attention to her incredible pipes. Maybe add a little something for the wrist.

There is nothing wrong with throwing in a little color, and semi-precious stones are a great way to go to for the spring season. Or. Just stick with gold – like her vocal chords. It’s the metal du jour in this economy and will serve as a harbinger of what is sure to be a gold record in the making – produced by Simon Cowell of course.

What do you guys think? Should she be left alone in the fashion department or is it OK for us to want her to jazz things up a bit? Do you like my jewelry styling angle or is there a better way to go? Weigh in!