For half a million dollars you can get a lot of watches or this lovely new high jewelry watch from Swiss Girard-Perregaux. The Cat’s Eye Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie timepiece has an 18k white gold case and is 32mm wide by 38mm tall in the typical Cat’s Eye oval shape. It has a stunning amount of large diamonds all over it. According to Girard-Perregaux the watch required over 700 hours of work to create, containing over 20 carats of diamonds. The precious stones come in various cuts and are placed all over the case, crown, and dial.
Inside the watch is a Girard-Perregaux in-house made caliber GP09700-0006 manually wound tourbillon movement. The Tourbillon escapement is visible on the dial using a traditional GP style bridge. The movement has a power reserve of about three days. Attached to the strap is a gray satin strap with a white gold buckle… and more diamonds. Price for this very impressive haute joaillerie watch is $490,000.
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews website aBlogtoRead.com.
Piaget, a high-end Swiss watch and jewelry maker, has recently signed on actress Jessica Alba to be the new face of their Possession watch and jewelry collection. Piaget chose Alba because of her beauty, and known dedication as a working Hollywood wife and mother. Piaget is interested in capturing a more mature and family focused demographic with their new Possession marketing campaign and felt that Jessica was the perfect person to evoke that image. Look for her in various Piaget marketing campaigns coming up soon.
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
You don’t need to be limited to the wrist when wishing to wear something to display the time - and I am not just talking about pocket watches. Alternative options include pendants and rings. Watch rings have been around for a while, but never cease to fascinate me. I really want to see how people pull these off. A new ring watch is the Mo Eden “Digit.” This model is the #26 - most of them are custom made for the customers.
This model is done in 18k white gold and is covered in diamonds. There is a sapphire crystal that is facet cut over the dial which allows you to see the watch face easily. You can get the Digit rings with various colors stones and styles. Mo Eden will make the watch with a quartz movement or a small manually wound mechanical movement. Price for the Digit # 26 is about $16,000.
Ariel Adams publishes the wrist watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
Tiffany & Co. has produced the World Series championship rings for the San Francisco Giants. While they won the MLB World Series in 2010, the baseballs stars are only now getting their rings now. Previously they were given inexpensive “decoy” rings - which was seen as a joke.
With the start of a new baseball season the team now gets their ring. Plus, one extra ring was made that will be raffled-off by the Giants for charity. The Tiffany & Co. made World Series ring is everything a star athlete could hope for. The ring is mostly in 18k white gold, with some yellow gold accents. It has 77 diamonds on it, which are placed in various spots on the ring. There is about 1 carat worth of stones. The top of the ring has the San Francisco Giant’s “SF” logo, surrounded by the statement “World Champions.” On one side (shank) of the ring is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge with “2010.” The other shank will have the name of the ring recipient engraved on it.
Really a nice ring overall and very handsome. This is the first ever ring Tiffany & Co. has made for the MLB World Series. Though Tiffany & Co. has been enlisted in the past to create championship rings for other sports such as football.
As mentioned, Tiffany & Co. has produced one extra San Francisco Giants World Championship ring that will be raffled-off to support the Giants Community Fund. The raffle for the SF Giants championship ring can be found here, and will last until July 26, 2011. As I am in San Francisco I can freely say, “Go Giants!” And thanks Tiffany.
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
96-count package of toilet paper? Check. A massaging recliner chair? Check. A casket? Check. A $1 million diamond ring? Why, check. Check, indeed.
The Consumerist points out that everyone’s favorite discount store, Costco, is now shilling a 6.77 ct solitaire. Yes, there’s only one available, but like everything else lining the store’s shelves, the piece of bling is being offered at a steep price reduction — original IGI (International Gemological Institute) value: $1,601,875. That’s over $600k in savings (roughly one million rolls of toilet paper if we did the math correctly, and there’s no promises we did).
Aside from wondering who will buy the hunk-o-jewelry, we are curious about what’s going on chez Costco these days.
This spring’s hottest fashion trends is about showing off your most vibrant and colorful self. Electrifying neon accessories can be found everywhere. And as much as I love all the new trends and translating them into my personal sense of style, you just can’t beat the impact of black.
Spring is taking its precious time to arrive. As I eagerly wait for the weather to warm up beyond 50 degrees and the bright sun to shine, I find myself perusing accessories to brighten up my day. And the artistry behind Cathy Waterman’s jewelry always delivers.
With a series of events that included the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, a Champagne toast at their New York boutique, and an outdoor celebration in Palm Beach, Piaget launched their spring-themed Limelight Garden Party collection.
In New York, the Piaget boutique on Fifth Avenue took on a terrarium look for the evening’s event, with the collection set in cases decorated to look like a wood nymph’s jewelry box.
Cradled amongst the various faux flora, 18-white gold pieces sparkled under the display lights.
A miniature, diamond-encrusted bird perched itself on a ring, seemingly ready to dip its beak into a cushion-cut rubellite gem. Other birds perched on a white gold sprig of diamonds and pearls, while a floral ring bloomed diamonds, emeralds and pink sapphires. One necklace’s 289 brilliant-cut diamonds seems to represent drops of dew caught on a diaphanous spider web. Another sprouted buds of pink tourmaline and pink sapphires, reminders that spring is, finally, here at least.
Gold is a color that exudes opulence and contributes sophistication to an outfit. Whether its packaged through jewelry, a handbag or a piece of clothing, a touch of gold can instill elegance without being ostentatious.
As with any prominent color or print, to maximize its impact and make a fashionable yet classic statement, less is more. Otherwise, an abundance of gold can easily cross the line over to Vegas showgirl.
You never know where stolen jewels might turn up but this latest find seems like a scene straight from a movie. BBC News reported that some of the jewels stolen from the Harry Winston boutique in Paris in 2008 have been recovered. In December 2008 four armed men entered the store around closing time and walked off with more than $100 million in jewelry and diamonds. No one was injured. This theft did have one quirky detail, at least two of the thieves wore wigs and women’s clothing and addressed some of the store’s staff by name.
French police have found some of the jewelry, around $25 million worth, hidden in a drain in a Paris suburb. A total of 19 rings and three sets of earrings were found inside a plastic container which was set into a cement mold at a house in Seine-Saint-Denis likely secreted away by the crafty crooks. The home belonged to one of the people being charged in the robbery. In the last few years police have interviewed at least 25 people in connection with the robbery and nine people were charged and jailed in 2009.
Recently we’ve been so busy watching the drama as luxury mega-conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton makes moves on French luxury brand Hermes that we didn’t even see them sneaking up on Bulgari. The NY Times reports that LVMH is set to announce on Monday that it is taking control of the luxurious Italian jeweler. According to the NY Times DealBook, Bulgari’s founding family is exchange its 51 percent stake in the jeweler to LVMH for stock in LVMH and it will also have seats on LVMH’s board. With those shares in place, it’s said that LVMH is planning to make offers to acquire the rest of the shares.
LVMH is proving to be an unstoppable luxury juggernaut with over 60 of the world’s most prestigious brands in tow including the ones in its name as well as Christian Dior, Fendi and Céline. Other luxury mega-groups include PPR and Richemont. The 127-year-old Bulgari brand is one of the most prestigious names in the jewelry and watches arena and is particularly popular in European and Asian markets. The brand also has several luxury hotels.
“It is so durable, it is heavy, it has a weight to it, it is not something that is too feminine, so it is an obvious choice for grooms,” he says. “I really recommend that the bride and groom wear the same material.”
Smith also urges couples to take the time to go to a good jeweler well in advance of their wedding date. “Look ahead of time, don’t rush, and choose platinum and you will be great every time,” he says. “Don’t wait until the last minute to pick your ring. It is one of the most important decisions you are going to make. So get out there, educate yourself and find out what platinum is all about.”
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Sales for pink diamonds have been rising and rising over the past few years. The larger rare stones aren’t just beautiful to look at, they are considered money in the bank for investors. The market gets another test next month when Christie’s brings a 10.09 Fancy Vivid purplish-pink diamond up for sale as part of its Magnificent Jewels sale in New York April 12. JCK Online reports that the diamond is estimated at $12 million to $15 million. The record for pink diamonds belongs to a 24.78 carat stone which sold for $46 million at Sotheby’s last year.
Mad Men co-star Christina Hendricks is hailed by some as a new modern ideal of Hollywood glamour–full figured, voluptuous; a throwback to the days of Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell a and Veronica Lake.
That is just what U.K. designer Vivienne Westwood was looking for when she tapped Hendricks to front for her Get A Life Palladium jewelry collection.
Westwood told the Daily Mail: “Christina is the embodiment of beauty and we were delighted to have been able to involve her with this new jewelry collection. She has proved to be the perfect model for the campaign.”
Even a small amount of grease or oil can dramatically dull the brilliance of your diamonds. This is why it is important to clean your diamond jewelry regularly, advises Philip Press, president and chief executive officer of Renaissance Platinum (see video below).
“I find the easiest way is to either use a specialized jewerly cleaner or a straight clear, ammonia,” says Press. “Let the piece of jewelry soak in the solution for an hour or more. Use an old toothbrush and clean the sides and bottom of the diamond and then rinse it very well under hot water. Don’t be afraid of over cleaning your diamonds.” Be sure to be gentle with the brush, however, as diamonds can become loose from their settings if they are treated roughly.
A few words of warning: Jewelry should not be cleaned in or near the sink. If there is no better location for the cleaning, be sure the plug is in, to avoid the jewelry going down the drain.
Also, it is very important that you to store your diamond jewelry separately, such as in individual compartments or pouches so they do not touch other gemstones. “Because a diamond can scratch another diamond,” advises Press. “It is even more important to keep your diamond jewelry separated from your other gemstone jewelry because diamonds will certainly scratch other gemstones.”
For one day only, financial guru Warren Buffett will be taking on a new role, jewelry salesperson. The Berkshire Hathaway will be behind the counter at Borsheims in Omaha, Nebraska during Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders’ Weekend. You can buy your jewelry directly from Mr. Buffett on Sunday afternoon, May 1 at the Borhsheims store. Borsheims is a Berkshire Hathaway company. In a release, Borsheims President & CEO Susan Jacques said, “We are thrilled and flattered that Warren wants to come and sell at our store. I’m sure he’ll be a record-setting salesman within a few minutes of being on the sales floor!” Given the fact that his charity lunches go for millions, I’m guessing there will be a line out the door.
As the video below explains, the Buffett family in Omaha goes back for generations explaining why, although he has the means to live anywhere in the world, Warren Buffett has always chosen to remain close to home. Buffett’s success as one of the world’s top financial minds has turned the annual shareholder’s weekend for Berkshire Hathaway into a well-attended event bringing the world to Omaha each year. It has become the Super Bowl of shareholder meetings with major media and thousands of shareholders in attendance.
Model Jerry Hall was on hand as the world’s largest known vivid yellow pear-shape diamond went display at the Natural History Museum in London. The Cora Sun-Drop diamond is a 110-carat yellow diamond which was mined in Africa and loaned to the Museum by Cora International, the diamond company that crafted the original rough diamond. The stone gets its sunny color from small amounts of nitrogen in its carbon structure. Diamonds of this size with a strong vivid yellow color are very rare. It will be on display from February 25 for up to six months.
You probably won’t ever have the chance to see another jewelry exhibition like “Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels.” The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum on Fifth Avenue in New York City is the dramatic home until June 5 of some 350 dazzling high-art jewelry. Billed as the most comprehensive exhibition ever organized of Van Cleef & Arpels’ masterworks, it covers some 100 years of the company creations — not just jewels, but timepieces, extraordinary cigarette cases and evening bags.
Everything we are hearing about the Oscars this season is that this could be the most exuberant Oscars in years. Bold colors, dramatic gowns and the return of dramatic jewelry. We’ve seen it already at other awards shows, stars wearing hundreds of thousands or even million-dollar gems. But more than just big pieces, we’re seeing intriguing jewels, bright colors and unusual settings.
Luxist popped into the Gilan suite at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills to see some red-carpet worthy stunners. With the Academy Awards just a few days away many pieces were out being evaluated to see if they would work with the celebrity gowns but we got to see a few of these intriguing pieces.
Sometimes it’s the divergent threads of an artist’s life that come together to form a beautiful, creative whole. Nigerian born jewelry designer Shirley Ephraim has a fascination with woven and embroidered accessories that began in her father’s village of Calabar where she spent summers among the local artisans as a young girl. She also learned the intricate craft of Spanish needle-point lace from her Costa-Rican mother at a young age. Later, in the U.S. she studied modern dance and also worked with jewelry designers. These components of her path come together in her jewelry line which features woven details and pieces with movement and drama.
Ephraim pursued an education at Parsons The New School for Design and during her studies, she interned with Donna Karan. She has a special capsule collection for Donna Karan which was featured in the Donna Karan Spring 2011 runway show and is now sold in Donna Karan stores in the U.S. and UK and online. The necklace shown at right is a long draped silk piece crocheted with crystals. It sells for $1,295.
Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie Watch originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 14 May 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
With a series of events that included the 
Even a small amount of grease or oil can dramatically dull the brilliance of your diamonds. This is why it is important 
For one day only, financial guru 
