Filed under: Jewelry

Jewelry designer Heather Moore is more than just a jeweler, she’s an artist who has worked with Judy Pfaff and creates glass masterpieces. Her personalized jewelry line lets you be the artist, you choose the charms, the stones and the inscriptions. Then she does the hard part and puts it all together. You can create keychains, bracelets, necklaces, cufflinks and even belt buckles. If you are feeling less imaginative you can choose one of her existing designs and tailor it to your specifications. Prices vary depending on the intricacy of the design created.

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Filed under: Jewelry, Pets

I’ve seen jewelry for pets that can be worn by people but Barney’s Bling offers matching diamond pieces for both people and pets. The matching pieces feature dog bones and the Barney’s Bling signature design, a heart paw print in 18K white gold and diamonds, worn on a 16″ chain. The necklace and tag comes in two sizes big and little and sells for $4830 and $3150.

All jewelry is created and handcrafted in Los Angeles by Bridget Livingtston and her dedicated team (Barney is Bridget’s Yorkie dog). Barney’s Bling donates 10% of proceeds to Perfect Pet Rescue and Autism Speaks.

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Filed under: Jewelry

The Democratic and Republican National Conventions are over and now the real political campaigns begin in earnest. Increased attention has been focused on the fashions of the potential first ladies, Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama. As we recently reported, Vanity Fair tallied up the cost of one of Cindy McCain’s outfits finding that it topped $300,000 (helped along by a pair of $280,000 diamond earrings). While current First Lady Laura Bush sometimes wears a single strand of pearls, Cindy McCain upped that look, wearing her glowing four-strand pearl necklace on several key RNC occasions including the speech introducing her husband.

Michelle Obama has also worn pearls at several events but her signature look just may be the creative use of the brooch. She has worn a variety of pins on various occasions such as the flower brooch she wore on her dress strap when she was on The View, the cluster of rose pins she wore on her Thakoon Panichgul dress on the night of her husband’s acceptance speech, and, most famously the turquoise and silver brooch she wore for her own speech at the Democratic National Convention. Both the rose pins and the brooch are said to be Erickson Beamon designs. Vanity Fair estimates Cindy McCain’s four-strand pearl necklace as costing between $11,000-$25,000.

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Filed under: Jewelry

This week Kwiat brought some more sparkle to Madison Avenue with the opening of their 1,000-square-foot boutique at 725 Madison near other high-end diamond jewelry brands including Graff and Leviev. The flagship store celebrated their grand opening with a party hosted by Jennifer Hudson who tried on Kwiat designs for the press. Actress Eva Amurri and editors from various consumer fashion magazines were also in attendance. The company is dipping their toes into the retail business and is looking at shopping spots known for big spenders such as Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Russia.

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Filed under: Jewelry

Bibigi has many unique jewelry designs but their Fashion Collection rings are my absolute favorite because I love gardening, flowers, and the outdoors. Featuring an obvious floral theme, the collection is bright with colorful leaves, petals, and the occasional dragonfly or butterfly. Featuring white gold and yellow gold with diamonds, black diamonds, and enamel accents, the collection has a definite whimsical vibe. One of my favorites is this Van Gogh ring, of which there are four designs including a coordinating necklace and earrings.

Via JustLuxé
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Filed under: Jewelry, Art

This fall is a great time to do some museum hopping if you have an interest in precious objects from all eras. There’s the Hidden Treasures of Afghanistan exhibit which is headed to San Francisco, the Art Nouveau Jewelry exhibit at the MFA in Boston and now Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique at the Cleveland Museum of Art from October 19 - January 18.

This exhibit showcases jewelry pieces and luxury objects from the 1900 Exhibition Universelle at Paris’s Grand Palais where Art Nouveau jewelry design reached its apex. The show is a comparative study of the work of three of the greatest designers of the 20th century Peter Carl Fabergé, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and René Lalique. It includes rare loans from public and private collections worldwide from lenders such as Queen Elizabeth, Prince Albert of Monaco, Joan Rivers, and Neil Lane and public collections from the Met to the Hermitage. The pieces in the gallery below are just a sample of some of the beautiful objects on loan. Shown above is Edward VII’s Faberge enamel cigarette case which was loaned to the exhibit by Queen Elizabeth II.
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Filed under: Jewelry

Watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre has created their first fine jewelry creations in their 175 year history. The four-piece set called Parure Extraordinaire Le Lierre includes a cuff watch, a necklace, earrings and a ring. The floral design is similar in style to two Jaeger-LeCoultre watches we previously covered called The Rose and The Tulip.. The first jewelry produced in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 175-year history was unveiled Sunday night during a dinner at the Venice film Festival attended by actress and Jaeger-LeCoultre ambassador Diane Kruger who modeled the set which features a total of 12,000 precious stones totaling over 160 carats and two large yellow diamonds. It is valued at approximately $4.3 million.

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Filed under: Jewelry

Heavy, chunky, and bold, this bracelet from H. Stern’s Feather Collection still manages to have an air of delicate femininity about it. The coordinating earrings are dainty and fluid, and I think the pair would make the perfect “little black dress” accessory set and would be sure to get admiring glances. Made of just over 123 grams of 24k brushed yellow gold (I would prefer it in silver myself), this little bit of arm candy can be yours for $21,000 (add the earrings for just $4,900 more).

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Filed under: Jewelry

Apparently looking to capture the spirit and energy of the wild kingdom, Roberto Coin has taken inspiration from creatures like elephants, giraffes, and cobras to created the Animalier Collection. Using mostly diamonds, gold, silver, and enamel, with occasional appearances by other precious materials like onyx and tiger’s eye, the collection is full of vibrancy, sparkle, and organic earthy inspiration. And as an additional bonus, each piece has a ruby placed on it, usually hidden somewhere on the inside, as an artist’s signature and also a symbol of protection.

I wouldn’t have thought that one of the snake ones would be my favorite, but I just love the chunky pink cobra ring! %Gallery-30695%

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Filed under: Jewelry

It looks more like an art sculpture than jewelry (especially in this photo) but the “Bracelet with 90 degree angle” by Gijs Bakker is definitely meant to be worn. Originally made of aluminum as part of his 1969 collection, the unique angled design has been re-released in the extremely limited edition of just five, and will now be made of titanium.

Titanium? It must be heavy to wear then (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) and of course it’s pretty much indestructible! Plus when you don’t have it on it you can store it on your nightstand sitting up like this and it can double as home decor. £2000

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Filed under: Jewelry

I simply LOVE this collection of jewelry! Aptly named Restoration Rocks, each piece contains fragments of Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum that were set aside and saved during the 2007 restoration process. In the hands of jeweler Cara Tilker the little bits of concrete become wearable works of art that, due to the very nature of the material, are each individually unique and in limited edition. The collection is made of sterling silver and crystal clear acrylic, but a few of the pieces are also available in 14K gold by special order. Prices range from $125 - $4,350.

Via psfk
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Filed under: Jewelry, Art

When you go to a jewelry store, almost everything you’re looking at is mass produced. Each gemstone has its own distinct, microscopic qualities, but other than that, you’re going to find the same selection just about everywhere. That’s why George Sawyer is a true artist among jewelers.

Sawyer’s art is called mokume. Taken from the ancient Japanese art of folding metal for swords, Sawyer uses metal folding to create beautiful, unique pieces of jewelry. He uses several different types of metals in each piece to create a romantic, swirling design that is as unique as a fingerprint.

Sawyer works primarily in golds, using 14K yellow, white, and rose gold, but also works with silver, copper, palladium, and other metals to produce the wide array of colors in his palette. Many of his designs call up the image of tree bark, and with a hint of gray green color, these rings have a very earthy look.

Sawyer showcases his work at craft and jewelry shows all over the country, and many retailers sell his pieces. To find a dealer near you, click here.

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Filed under: Jewelry, Charity

October is breast cancer awareness month and companies are already getting ready with pink merchandise. National Jeweler reports that jewelry designers Jane Basch and Andrea Candela are both debuting jewelry collections that will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Jane Basch’s latest collection is called “Tribute” and for every piece purchased from he collection Basch will contribute 5 percent to the Komen foundation.

Andrea Candela’s limited-edition “Pink Ribbon” collection is made with sterling silver, enamel and stainless steel. It includes a bracelet for $50 and two pendants accented with a pink ribbon, for $100 each. A portion of each sale will also be donated to the Komen foundation.

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Filed under: Decor, Jewelry

I have a bad habit of tossing my jewelry on top of my dresser at night and as a result I often forget what pieces I have because they’re all jumbled up and hard to find. What I should do is invest in some decorative jewelry stands like these from Polli. Available in cheerful bright colors, there are both standing and hanging versions in patterns inspired by coral branches, gum trees, and bamboo. Laser cut out of acrylic, these stands can be used to hold and display jewelry or act as a decoration all on their own. AU$140

Via Design Mind
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Filed under: Jewelry, Sports

If you’ve ever thought you might want to do the stereotypical baseball stadium proposal, here’s your chance to do it without having to spring for the rock, provided that you are a Yankees fan. Jewelry retailer Michael C. Fina, Hearts On Fire diamonds and N.Y. Yankees All-Star pitcher Mariano Rivera are offering a contest called The Final Engagement. Fans who write a short essay (250 words or less) describing why they should be chosen will be entered into the contest to win a 1.5-carat Hearts On Fire diamond engagement ring valued up to $40,000, plus four tickets to the Sept. 18 game and to propose live via the Diamond Vision screen. Winners will be chosen based on love of the Yankees as well as a creative and persuasive essay. For each entry, Michael C. Fina and Hearts On Fire will donate $1 to the Mariano Rivera Foundation, a nonprofit that benefits underprivileged children. The contest ends August 31.

[via National Jeweler]

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Filed under: Jewelry, Celebrity Shopping

While many musicians love their jewelry some can forget to pay for it. Last month I wrote about Wyclef Jean facing a lawsuit over unpaid-for jewels, this week it’s Lil Wayne. The rapper whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. has been ordered by a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge to pay a New Orleans jeweler $146,000 for a diamond ring and necklace. Lil Wayne had made arrangements with jeweler Jack Sutton to pay for the pieces in monthly installments in 2006. Sutton took Carter to court because Carter had made only one $24,000 payment over the last two years.

Carter may return the $138,000 ring instead of paying in cash. The Miami Herald also reports that according to a May 6 notice of federal tax lien filed with Miami-Dade County, Carter owes nearly a million dollars ($977,840.81) to the IRS in income tax.

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Filed under: Jewelry, Journeys

As it turns out, Saudi Arabia may have not one of the world’s most lucrative resources (duh, oil) but two. Recent prospectors have set their sights on Saudi Arabian sands to dig for gold in addition to other precious metals. The first commercial prospector allowed to set up mines in Saudi Arabia is Ma’aden, which has already invested $5.5 billion in equipment and development costs. When it comes to digging for financial rewards, who knew sand could be so fertile?

[via Fortune]

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Filed under: Jewelry

Italian jewelry brand Rebecca which has been popular in Italy for years is now making major forays into the States with distribution details in department stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom and a Beverly Hills boutique. The brand is a subsidiary of the Testi organization in Empoli, Italy, and produces jewelry in stainless steel, bronze and semi-precious stones. The designs are colorful and attractive although the branding of the Rebecca name on the pieces seems a bit obvious in some places. The pieces also use big gemstones and circles printed with the brand name in a style that reminds me a bit of Bulgari but at a lower price point. The Rebecca pieces vary from chunky cocktail rings to long chain necklaces, dangling earrings and even a Rebecca watch. Check out the line in the extended gallery below.

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Filed under: Jewelry

Brazilian designer Manoel Bernardes creates beautiful pieces using the gemstones mined in his homeland. His pieces are bold styles that reflect the Brazilian spirit. Manoel Bernardes jewelry uses stones such as amethyst, citrine, rutilated quartz, and topaz in pieces that are colorful and oversized and often highlighted with small diamonds. His Photon series has a spacey, futuristic look while the Romance series uses stones in a heart shape like the earrings above. Some of his most dramatic styles are the Lace pieces use gemstones combined with large loops of gold. These and other designs are in the gallery below.

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Filed under: Gadgets, Jewelry

There’s the Swarovski-fied iPhone pouch that Mercedes intro’d during Berlin Fashion Week. Then the “I Am Rich” app came along, soon to be removed by Apple but not before eight eager customers added the illuminating ruby application to their cells. Now, in an attempt to outdo the most luxurious (or at least ostentatious) iPhone accessories, Noreve brings us its hand-crafted leather case adorned with 272 diamonds. That’s a whopping 6.8 carats of bling for your 3G. The French company based in St. Tropez has crafted glittering iPhone cases in colors ranging from black to red to a vintage shade of sand.

Available through the Noreve North America website, the case retails for $14,990.

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