Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis is finally settling down, putting a ring on the finger of Christina McLarty, a Los Angeles entertainment reporter. The ring is as over the top as the rest of Francis’ exploits. Jewelry designer Loree Rodkin designed the nine-carat custom diamond ring. Rodkin has made jewelry for Elton John, Cher and Steven Tyler. Michelle Obama wore Rodkin’s diamond drop earrings and a diamond cuff bracelet from Loree Rodkin to match the sparkle of the beaded Jason Wu gown she wore to her husband’s inaugural ball. The ring is set in a diamond pave band with diamonds around the stone and on the shank. The ring is valued at just under a half a million dollars. The couple will marry during a four-day celebration at Francis’ estate in Punta Mita, Mexico in November.
The custom “46664″ bangle worn by actor Morgan Freeman during this year’s Academy Awards sold for one million South African rand (around $137,000) during the World Cup this year. Freeman was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the movie “Invictus.” The 46664 bangles support the 46664 campaign, which continues Mandela’s charity efforts and humanitarian work, including the prevention of HIV/AIDS globally. The numbers represent Mandela’s Robben Island prison number (466) and imprisonment year (1964).
Freeman’s bespoke emerald and black diamond platinum 46664 Bangle was designed by Sabine Roeber. The bangle went to Julian Frame, a South African businessman who is the joint founder and chief executive officer of the South African sports lifestyle retail chain The Cross Trainer. His company was established the same year as the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the event that inspired “Invictus” and The Cross Trainer supplied rugby jerseys for supporters of the event. All auction proceeds went to the Nelson Mandela Foundation and will be used to fund projects associated with HIV/AIDS. National Jeweler reports that Frame plans to take the bangle abroad and show it to those inspired by Mandela.
The 46664 bangles are available on TheBangle.com in copper for $24.95, pure silver with a copper inlay for $199, 18K gold for $7,700, 24K gold for $8,600 and platinum for $15,870.
I’m always amazed by players who wear their diamonds into battle. Serena Williams has played tennis in hers and track star Sanya Richards once nearly lost a $20,000 diamond brooch on the track. Both could perhaps understand the pain of Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford who lost a 2.5-carat diamond earring at practice on Tuesday. Langford forgot to take out the pricey piece of jewelry and it went missing on the field. The piece was not insured. Langford and his teammates carefully searched for the diamond but did not locate it and eventually left the field for a team meeting. The grounds crew combed the turf but the earring was not recovered. Langford has not said what the earring’s value was but a pair of earrings of that size could be worth around $50,000.
Last year we wrote that Doris Panos Designs had filed Chapter 11. Now the couture jeweler has come out of bankruptcy, no easy feat at a time when many jewelers are struggling to keep customers. The brand has traditionally sold luxurious, heavily ornamented designs in rich 18K gold, pieces that are sold at Neiman Marcus and jewelers around the country. But in order to survive in today’s changing market the brand did a little adjusting, adding lines to appeal to the jewelry lovers who still want to shop but at a lower price point.
Panos is courting the new, more cautious consumer in two ways. First through the “Precious Silver” collection, a line of sterling silver jewelry that uses a patent-pending gold layering process and retails at $2,500 and below. This line is meant to appeal to the company’s Couture customer who still wants beautiful jewelry (and lots of it) but at a slightly lower price point. As Doris Panos tells Luxist, the new pieces are guaranteed for life, they includes six layers of yellow or rose gold over silver along with a protective coating that seals the jewelry and protects the finish. The pieces also include large semi precious gemstones and diamond accents for the look of a couture piece but at a lower price point. The pieces including bangle bracelets and necklaces of varying lengths, are meant to be collectible and worn together. As she puts it, “I don’t make dainty things.” She was not willing to compromise on style and design and using silver as a base allowed her to make the same style of pieces without the cost prohibitive issue of using just gold. These pieces will be sold through independent jewelers starting later this month and may eventually make their way to one of the larger department stores. Her philosophy is to sell through trusted retailers rather than have her pieces everywhere.
Panos is also courting a new consumer group through her contract with HSN. Her Telio! line debuted this summer. It offers some of the same detailed and powerful look of Doris Panos Designs but at a much lower price point (from around $39 to $250). About this line, Panos says it’s the same idea as her other designs but done in costume. She defined the jewelry shopping universe as a pyramid, once she only sold to the top of the pyramid, now circumstances have dictated that she reach out to the other levels.
Panos is sanguine about her adventure through Chapter 11. She says that it helped give her the time to really re-invent herself and her brand. She’s a good example, not just to other jewelers facing trouble, but to anyone facing adversity. “Be like Madonna,” she said, referring to the singer’s legendary ability to change with the times and trends, “don’t just give up and wait for things to get better.”
Designer Elva Wheat Maynard creates one of kind necklaces and earrings for her Elva Fields Jewelry line that are visually captivating. While I love all of her pieces, my heart lies in her gorgeous statement necklaces. They are stunning! I’ve been a long time fan of Elva’s work and if I could, I would buy as many of her necklaces as possible and become an avid collector. Unfortunately, before I get the opportunity to purchase, the ones I like are already sold out! Luckily, her Savor Sunrise Necklace ($118), shown above, is still available for purchase and on sale. Upon first glance, the Savor Sunrise seems fitting for the Summer, but it’s coral tones and deep yellow hue would beautifully compliment beiges and browns for the Fall.
Elva Fields offers three different collections - Elva (one of a kind), June (limited editions) and Deb (vintage). As you can see, her necklaces are large, bold, and chunky pieces that exude a feminine and sophisticated feel. Each one has such character that I find myself creating outfits based on the necklace itself. I’m sure many people would say starting with you accessories to create a look is crazy, but I say create your look from what has inspired you. Have fun with it. Being an accessories junkie myself, a large majority of my outfits are based on my handbags, jewelry and shoes. Take a look below for a collection of colorful pieces to inspire your next outfit.
McGowan and McClain jewelry is more than just a pair of designers working together, it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Cousins Marian and Laura Jones began developing the idea of working together during childhood. Although they each set out on separate paths to become classically trained in metals and jewelry, in 2008 they were drawn back together and founded McGowan and McClain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The name of the company is formed from cousins’ middle names.
The cousins take their inspiration from nature in some of the most quotidian ways. A banana peel becomes the design cue for an intriguingly rough-edged cuff. Peanuts and seed pods take on new life when cast and combined with stones.
Their most recent collection is called “Windows” and is made from sterling silver and semi-precious stones in shapes inspired by windows in New York City, and from antique architectural books. Looks for these in retail stores later this year.
Today we are giving away one pair of earrings from their Pod collection. The pair of earrings are cast Wisteria seed pods in oxidized silver with 18K vermeil and gemstone dangles for an intriguing juxtaposition of raw/rough and elegant. They retail at $124.
* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before September 6, 2010 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
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* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a pair of McGowan and McClain pod earrings valued at $124.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.
The 1980s trends are everywhere lately but you can wear a vibrant piece of the 1980s with pieces of the Keith Haring jewelry collection. The late artist’s distinctive pieces like his radiant baby are now rendered in a line of kicky costume pieces by nOir Jewelry. Pieces are done in 18K gold plate with crystal and enamel accents. Available on Karmaloop from $41 for some stud earrings to $152 for an 18K gold plated cuff with red enamel accents. Check out images of the jewelry on models in the look book.
Kate Moss, the Yurmans (David, Sybil and Evan) and fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh recently headed to St. Barth’s to shoot the David Yurman Fall 2010 campaign. Thanks to street style photographer and blogger Garance Doré, we managed to snag three exclusive behind-the-scenes shots from the photo session, which David Yurman happily collaborated on with his team.
Model Angela Lindvall appears in John Hardy’s new Fall 2010 ads but it’s more than just an ad placement. Lindvall is an eco-minded activist who worked with John Hardy creative director Guy Bedarida to create her own jewelry collection. The line, called Hijau (”green” in Indonesian), is a new interpretation of the bamboo theme with cuffs, earrings and bangles made from recycled and sustainable silver embellished with black sapphire and white topaz. Ten percent of the proceeds go to Forest Ethics, an organization that protects wildlife and forests in North America. There is also a charm bracelet made from a woven cotton organic cotton cord with a sterling silver bamboo charm accented with a small green tsavorite gem. All of the proceeds from this $95 bracelet go to Forest Ethics. The video above shows some behind the scenes details of Lindvall’s Bali visit and her photoshoot for the new ad campaign.
The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California is showcasing “Gemstone Carvings: The Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt.” Harold Van Pelt has created delicate carvings out of quartz, agate and other stones, a pastime he’s had for 40 years but rarely showcased. Van Pelt and his wife Erica have a long history with the museum and photographed two gem show catalogs for the museum. The exhibit is the first in the Bowers’ new PIMCO Foundation Gallery.
Shown at right is a carved agate drinking vessel with a gold capped nose. The Orange County Register has a comprehensive review of the show that highlights some of the amazingly detailed pieces created by this 85-year-old artist. He has carved bowls, drinking vessels, eggs, and even an anatomically correct copy of his wife’s hand out of agate. Another beautiful piece is a skeleton hand made of milky white chalcedony. Van Pelt has never sold a piece but it is likely that they could sell for $25,000 to $100,000. The display is open until May 2011 and tickets are $12 for adults. After it closes next year it will likely travel to the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh.
We’ve seen the work of jewelry designer Kimberly McDonald before. She’s most known for her pieces featuring geodes, agates and quartz accentuated with gold, diamonds and semi precious stones and she has an avid celebrity following that includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson and Brooke Shields. McDonald has recently created a new limited edition “Sea Turtle Macramé Bracelet” collection in support of the National Wildlife Federation’s efforts following the Gulf oil spill. McDonald has created 50 limited edition, hand crafted Sea Turtle macramé bracelets with 100 percent of all proceeds going towards NWF’s efforts to respond to the wildlife crisis unfolding in the Gulf.
“When I learned about the amazing work that the National Wildlife Federation is doing to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the Gulf, I immediately knew that I needed to do everything in my power to support their efforts in easing the devastation occurring to our wildlife” McDonald said. “It is my hope that the collection will inspire people to get involved and take the state of our environment seriously. At the end we hope to protect vulnerable species such as the sea turtle by raising $100,000 for NWF.”
Each bracelet is made from 18K recycled gold, reclaimed diamonds, a diamond briolette, and hand-woven silk macramé. The bracelets will retail for $2,000 - $2,500 and are available at Mitchells in Westport, Connecticut, Richards in Greenwich, Connecticut, Marshs in Huntington, New York and Wilkes Bashford in San Francisco and Palo Alto, California. The Mitchell Family of Stores have also foregone any profits on these bracelets in support of this great cause.
It wasn’t all that long ago when “organic” apparel and accessories conjured up ideas of wearing a burlap sack, carrying a rag wrapped around a stick for a purse, and wearing a twig necklace. But in the last few years, the organic way of life has spread like wildfire — even to upscale clothing. My sister told me about Jute and Jackfruit, an online company that offers eco-fashion and organic, designer, women’s items that are ethically made, hand-crafted, made in USA, and fair trade. The site offers clothing, jewelry, and handbags that include luxury eco-fabrics and up-cycled materials. Gift certificates are available too.
The endless supplies of materials you can use for jewelry making is amazing and at times overwhelming if you are a designer. Of course you have your tried & true metals, precious and semi precious stones; but then you have your more unusual materials like computer components, ammunition, and bioblue27. Now add to that list bones. Yes, actual bones.
I never thought I would see the day that jewelry could be made out of bones but here you have it. Designer Alp Sagnak has created the Bone Bracelet ($10,500). It’s an over sized cuff made from opossum bones and adorned with oxidized silver, 24 karat gold, rubies and diamonds.
Luxury retailer Stanley Korshak in Dallas can’t keep it in stock. Michelle Obama has been photographed numerous times wearing it. For CFDA design darling Monique Péan and Ivory Jacks in Bothel, Washington, that create jewelry out of the material, business has been good.
The First Lady wore woolly mammoth jewelry by Monique Péan on a trip to Mexico a few months ago (pictured above and below)-specifically earrings, cuffs and strands. She wore the cuffs again recently to greet President Obama on his 49th birthday. The cuffs go for $4,480 to $7,420 at www.twistonline.com. The earrings can fetch anywhere between $915 and $2,970 at www.barneys.com.
Unlike elephant ivory which is primarily off-white, woolly mammoth ivory is unique in that it has many different colors-tan, brown and sometimes blue. Ivory Jacks jewelry designer Courtney Tripp explained to me this week at the Gift Show in New York that the colors are a result of thousands of years of mineralization. No two tusks are the same color. So no two mammoth jewelry pieces can be exactly the same.
Influenced by the warm hues of the Caribbean and the art deco “power cuffs” starlets wore in the 1940s, Hassan Bounkitjewelry exudes the kind of sparkly, sophisticated glamour magpies like we can’t ignore.
Already embraced (and worn) by Salma Hayek, Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Vanessa Williams and Mariel Hemingway, just to name a few fans, Hassan Bounkit is a man-made-in-the-USA jewelry line which incorporates unique, hand-carved elements, making each piece — even if it’s the same design — completely one-of-a-kind. Utilizing organic materials from semi-precious stones and shells to mahogany, Bounkit’s look is fresh, eye-catching and unmistakably lavish.
Hassan Bounkit, a native Moroccan with a warm smile, began in couture fashion in Florence, then moved to New York in 1989, where he worked with Nicole Miller and Arnold Scaasi, among others. He launched his own line of jewelry in 2006 and was met with rave reviews for his striking collection. A recession survivor, he now produces three collections per year, which you can find made-to-order online or at Saks Fifth Avenue and high end boutiques.
His magnificently architectural designs are statement pieces you’ll base your whole wardrobe around — and for one-of-a-kind jewelry, the prices are extraordinary. Check out a few of our favorites from his current treasure trove below:
The recent history of Jacob & Co. is arguably more interesting than their recent watches. With the brand’s founder Jacob Arabov in jail, the brand’s relevancy in the luxury market has more or less plummeted to irrelevancy. Especially in times like these when style, grace, and value are more important than showiness, excess, and being ostentatious. Just about dead, I assumed no life would be breathed back into the brand which defined bling until Jacob himself was free again.
Suddenly I get news that Jacob & Co. will have a new COO, and that it will be Yvan Arpa - whom I’ve discussed many times. With his hands already full with Black Belt, Artya, and Volna, does the Swiss watch designer, and all around free thinker have the time and insight to lead the once powerful urban wealth brand? Perhaps he will usher in a new era for Jacob & Co., giving its staid image a new direction. Seen here are two new designs that I believe are products of Arpa’s leadership. I admit that they are much more tasteful and held back than previous Jacob & Co. pieces, and display Arpa’s signature penchant for large, interesting watch cases. Both models feature tourbillon complications and totally jewel covered cases. Interestingly enough, the name of the brand is left off the dials, in favor of subtle logos built into the tourbillon carriages. At least one thing is for sure, Jacob & Co. isn’t going downmarket at all. I look forward to meeting with Mr. Arpa to learn the details of his new position at Jacob & Co, and what he has in store for the brand. Jacob & Co. could see it self in headlines once again.
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
Lois Hill is a jewelry designer who travels the world to unearth native and ancient methods of jewelry-making. From granulation (tiny silver dots) dating back to King Tut’s Tomb to metal weaves spotted in museum artifacts, Hill’s natural curiosity and love of travel has taken her all over the globe to learn, create and teach.
“I think of it as ‘working to preserve lost arts,’” says Hill. Her fascination with ancient techniques began with Scandinavian filigree. Born to a Norwegian mother in Illinois, she grew up in a crafty house which strictly believed in principles like “That’s not a walnut. That’s a Christmas tree ornament or a magnet,” Hill recalls with a smile.
Reminiscent of an Egyptian artifact that you find in a glass case at an art museum exhibit, the Sun Pendant Necklace ($7,341) by Jean-Francois Fichot is breathtakingly beautiful. Drawing his inspiration from ancient Hindu and Buddhist artifacts, the pendant is made from two ancient shells to form concentric circles that are lightly decorated with sterling silver and 18k gold embellishments. The pendant hangs perfectly at chest level maximizing on its wow effect. Even with an exceptionally large size, the pendant still holds a delicateness and timeless sense of style that one cannot deny.
Statement necklaces are everywhere this season and I love it! The Clustered Rosette Necklace ($330) by Nicole Romano is one of my favorites because it’s timeless and would work well into the autumn season. It sits right at the collarbone and adds instant wow to your outfit. It’s a chunky piece that exudes strength and sophistication with a hint of femininity given its rosettes.
My dilemma is that I find myself wearing the same - but my absolute favorite - hoop earrings nearly everyday. And wearing hoops with such a striking and lively necklace would be a total overkill. So, I’ve been forced to switch up the routine and try something different - no earrings! Being that I don’t feel completely dressed without them, perhaps little studs would work better.
There is an amazing calm that spiritual jewelry seems to exude. I don’t know if it comes from the craftsmanship, the materials and stones used, or its inherent representation but nonetheless spiritual jewelry causes me to pause for a moment and reflect.
And that was certainly the case when viewing Lydia Courteille’s Jade Buddha Pendant ($17,303). Surrounded by diamonds and sapphires and set in 18K gold, the hand carved jade Buddha is incredibly detailed and showcases both a delicateness and strength.
Joe Francis Splashes Out On Huge Diamond Engagement Ring originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
I’m always amazed by players who wear their diamonds into battle. Serena Williams 
Last year we wrote that 
Influenced by the warm hues of the Caribbean and the 
There is an amazing calm that spiritual jewelry seems to exude. I don’t know if it comes from the craftsmanship, the materials and stones used, or its inherent representation but nonetheless spiritual jewelry causes me to pause for a moment and reflect.
