Jewelry Libations for New Year's Eve

Cocktails and jewelry - what a winning combination. As I was recently pondering what jewelry to break out for my favorite champagne-drenched holiday this Friday (wait for the Carrie Bradshaw moment...), I couldn't help but wonder (there it is...): Why is it that jewelry and luxury libations have such a glittering partnership?

First, there's the cocktail ring. The jewelry category emerged in the roaring 20s during Prohibition at illegal, booze-filled ‘cocktail’ parties. Women went big with fashion statements at these underground soirees, flashing their oversized, colorful baubles along with their newly exposed knee caps.

Cocktail rings generally have an oversized center stone of 3 carats or more and are typically worn on the right hand (any finger will do). But as we jewelry hounds know, there are plenty of costume options out there that won't break the bank.

But there's another drinkable jewelry look emerging from the shadows lately - champagne diamonds. From light champagnes, to burnished browns and rich cognacs, these natural diamonds offer a selection of tones and hues to compliment every style, taste and tolerance level.



An informative piece in the New York Times reports that the stone made its debut in the late 1990s when it was discovered in Rio Tinto's Argyle mine in Australia, but is only now gaining a strong following - including from yours truly and a bevy of Hollywood's leading ladies.

If you really want to tie one on, how about a double shot with a champagne diamond cocktail ring like this one for almost $400 off retail? 'Tis the season!

And be sure to check out the champagne diamond treasure chest on Jewelry.com for more bubbly bling - it's jewelry that's perfect for teetotalers and the tipsy alike!

Jewelry Trend Alert: The 'Eyes' Have It!

Does it get any more extreme than Kanye West replacing his entire bottom row of teeth with real diamonds? Yes, jewelry hounds. Yes, it does.

A new trend has emerged that has diamond divas putting real platinum gems - on their eyeballs.

(And you thought vajazzling was the final frontier.)

According to Trendhunter, eye surgeons at the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery have been implanting tiny pieces of jewelry called “JewelEye” under the surfaces of eyes as far back as 2004.

The procedure involves inserting a 3.5 mm (0.13 inch) wide piece of specially developed jewelry (the range includes a glittering half-moon or heart) into the sclera - or the white part of the eye. And here's the heart-warming video to prove it.

But there is plenty of other 'eye candy' available that doesn't involve the pleasantries of peeper piercing.

Dutch designer Eric Klarenbeek has an eye catching line of bejeweled contact lenses. And I mean 'eye catching' literally.

And D-lister divas, Lisa and Brittny Gastineau, have a popular jewelry line with the Hollywood set that features the eye shape throughout.

Or you can eyeball these little ditties for your next night at the asylum...um, I mean...on the town.

 

So. What do you guys think of the eye candy trend? Edgy or 'Ay, yay, yay'?

2010 Emmy Awards Jewelry Round-up

Jewelry fashion at the 2010 Emmy Awards was an eclectic mix of surprising statements and safe bets. Chandelier earrings, big necklaces and crazy cuffs mixed with (snore) diamond studs, bare necks and lots and lots of basic black. Thankfully, I had my friend, Veuve Clicquot, with me to even out the ups and downs.


BUT - I wasn't hurled into a red carpet funk, like I was at the barren bling-scape at this year's Oscars. And I have Lorraine Schwartz to thank. As you'll see, she was responsible for most of my favorite 'lower-jaw-drop' moments last night.

(And Jimmy Fallon's Glee-inspired Bruce Springsteen opening number made me want to give up jewelry blogging forever for a life of song.)

The Recap:

Kim Kardashian paired her bejeweled Grecian goddess of a Marchesa gown with an 80-carat (!) Lorraine Schwartz cuff in both white and champagne diamonds that kicked a slow-starting red carpet into high gear.


And then Lea Michele came on the scene in a ruffled navy Oscar de la Renta fantasy dress and a stunning diamond mesh statement necklace with that 'blackened metal' look that's apparently all the rage this season. Glee!!!!! And we have Ms. Schwartz to thank again.


Eva Longoria Parker and Julia Louis-Dreyfus sparkled in big earring statements from Loren Jewels (rubies) and Irene Neuwirth (chrysophase and diamonds), respectively.


But wait. Just when you thought the statement necklace was a sparkling Lea Michele mirage only to slink back to our 2009 red carpet roundups - enter: Heidi Klum in all legs and diamond and ruby neck candy by (you guessed it!) Queen Lorraine. Big win!



Yellow gold was a 'trend-lette' last night, with Glee's Jayma Mays in Neil Lane stunners and Modern Family's Sofia Vergara in a head-to-toe gold look with a dress by Carolina Herrera and jewels by (drumroll....) Lorraine Schwartz!


As were red gemstones - like this 60-carat rubellite and diamond ring by Ofira on Kyra Sedgwick (in addition to all the ruby looks mentioned above).


January Jones walked the line with me in the dress department (a daring cobalt blue Versace) but her bed-head hair style hid 10.12 carat Cartier diamond stud earrings worth $1.2 million (the horror!) and did nothing to make her avant-garde garment choice work.


And speaking of 'find the diamonds' chic - Christina Hendricks (in another trend-lette - purple), Julianna Margulies, and Julie Bowen walked the Emmy red carpet with nary a jewel to the naked eye. C'mon, ladies!



So all in all, there were some colorful, daring moves that outshined the 'play it safe' crowd at this year's Emmy-fest. I am missing many of your favorites, I'm sure (Tina Fey? Anna Paquin? Betty White?) - so weigh in with your comments and questions!

And if you want a fun jewelry romp through the Twitter-sphere, check out my live tweet at #emmyjewelry last night with great 'tramps like me' @jenniferheebner, @jessicawalden, @Michelle_Orman, @AGTA_Spectrum, @gemgossip, @JulReDesigns, @quinsultant, @Treflebijoux, @Cocoabebe and MANY more!

Jewelry Trend Alert!: Statement Rings

Fall jewelry trends for 2010 are starting to reveal themselves, and while layered chain necklaces and bangle stacks continue to shine bright, there's a fun new look that's sure to stir things up - statement rings.

More than just a pretty cocktail piece, statement finger candy makes an entrance. Think Gaga, not girl-next-door. This fun style on Katerina Graham at the Teen Choice Awards is one shining example.


This 80s throw-back I spotted on Trend Hunter is a two-trend-in-one solution since the decade of Duran Duran continues to influence the taste-makers (Those are little onyx dots! Love!).


The H. Stern Alice in Wonderland rings would be the perfect solution (for those of you with cash to burn).


It's not so easy being green? Think again, Kermie. Check out these verdant statements from Hafsteinn Juliusson's "Growing Jewelry" collection.


And flower rings are still blooming bright, like this Juicy Couture 'Flower Punk' ring from Nordies on Jewelry.com.

I love a lower-jaw-drop moment that doesn't necessarily come from carat count.

What do you guys think of the trend? Do you have something in your jewelry box that qualifies? Or is this the perfect excuse to start shopping?

Summer Jewelry Trend Alert: Get Cuffed

Forget 'raindrops and roses' and 'whiskers on kittens', 'summer' and 'jewelry' are a few of my favorite things - and one of the hottest bauble trends of the season is both affordable and creative:

Cuffs!

Sarah Jessica Parker can't get enough of them and designers like Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui and Diane von Furstenburg are using them on their runways like nobody's business.

So how do you wear them?

You can go for just one big look like this cool agate cuff from Nordies for only $68!


Or better yet, layer them up using a variety of cuff categories - like this Betsey Johnson floral look with this metal stretch piece.




And there's no rule against using a cuff/bangle combo. How cool would this trendy faux turquoise style look with a series of gold clinks to go with?

Jewelry.com has a great assortment of statement cuff cuties from the hottest (and most trusted) jewelry retailers. Or you can cruise vintage stores, garage sales and grandma's jewelry box for styles screaming for summertime fun.

Getting cuffed never looked this glam. Unless you saw this 'bachelorette party' gift on The New York Housewives last week (ahem).

Fashion Week Jewelry: Take 1

With the Fashion World still nursing their hangovers from yesterday’s Fashion’s Night Out festivities, there are a few jewelry tidbits worth highlighting for you while we wait for the major designers to show later this weekend.

1. Statement Necklaces

Red carpet designer, Monique Luillier, featured the (by now) ubiquitous statement necklace with her spring ready-to-wear line. Is this anything new? Not really. Just further proof that you can keep your signature pieces at the ready for the next 6 months.

2. Bangles

Vena Cava featured Tiffany jewelry on her runway this season and stacked a series of black bangles with almost every streamlined outfit. A good thought to keep on the back burner if you’re ever wondering how to jewel up an outfit.

3. Layers

Gwen Stefani’s seven-year-old line L.A.M.B is still going strong with Bannanarama meets Blondie 80s rock looks for Spring 2010. In true 80s style, Stefani opted to layer each piece with long necklace strands in every incarnation – from pearls to gold and more.

So that’s just a taste of the Fall Fashion Week mayhem to come. Here’s hoping for some new trends to liven things up a bit. So far – I’m not impressed.

JewelClub Cocktail Rings – Shaken not Stirred

With big, bold color emerging as the trend to watch from the mammoth jewelry show in Las Vegas last month, I did a little recession-friendly digging on my favorite Friends and Family site, JewelClub, to see what they had in the coffers. What I found was a treasure trove of ring bling that would make any cocktail queen swoon.


Here are a few pics of my favorite styles – all for less than a $100, no less. But you should do a search of only the ring category and scroll through the options to find the color combo that works best for your wardrobe.


For those who are new to JewelClub, follow these easy steps to get access to this Friends and Family site of a prominent jewelry manufacturer. The less-than-wholesale prices you get on sites like Overstock.com are ripe for the picking here too, folks.

1. Log on to www.jewelclub.com
2. Enter the code: INSIDER
3. Enter your email address

And you’re off and running. Did I mention they offer free shipping on their entire stash of fine jewelry styles – from engagement rings to diamond studs to gold hoops and more.

I’ll drink to that!