Cocktail Ring Craziness

Despite my natural diamond disposition, I have to say that colorful cocktail rings are my favorite jewelry category. (Yes, it's partly because of the word 'cocktail').

But it's also because it's such a great way to make a statement without breaking the bank. Fine jewelry doesn't have to be out of reach these days - and there's nothing like bringing an outfit to the next level with a gumball sized bauble on your finger in your favorite color.

So enough of my pitch - here's the real kicker. JewelClub just posted their latest sale and it's all cocktail rings all the time (well, actually until the end of the month). We're talking 20% of JewelClub price - not a suggested retail price.

What is the JewelClub price you ask? I've got one word for you: wholesale. Actually, it's often below wholesale. So 20% off that is a virtual windfall, jewelry hounds.

Click on this link to see the twelve cocktail rings they're discounting this month. One of them is only $30 and many are under $100. Enter the code :INSIDER at the prompt and start the shoppin!

Trust me. It'll make you feel like spring has officially sprung...

Chelsea Clinton's Engagement Ring

(Update, April 27, 2010: Chelsea Clinton's diamond engagement ring photos are finally making the rounds. See for yourselves, jewelry hounds!)

Jewelry hounds, I'm shocked, sickened and - well - wondering if there is a man left in America who doesn't text strippers when their wives aren't looking. If Jesse James finds it necessary to cheat on Sandra friggin Bullock, it makes it hard to get excited about anyone wanting to find eternal bliss.

But just when the dark clouds began to take over my mood today, this ray of sunshine crossed my path:

Chelsea Clinton's engagement ring was spotted!

Apparently the diamond rock drew a crowd backstage at this weekend's Women in the World: Stories & Solutions conference. According to the New York Post, Clinton was surrounded in the green room by host Tina Brown, Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, who all admired her bauble from fiancé Marc Mezvinsky.

Chelsea's future mother-in-law, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, was repeatedly asked, "Where are they getting married?" But she politely replied, "I can't say."

What I'm asking is: What's the carat count Chels!?!

I'll be on the lookout for the first photos, so stay tuned. What's your guess? It drew gasps from the uber-wealthy Barry Diller, so I'm thinking 3 plus carats? Or is that too over the top for the normally understated First Daughter?

(And now back to sitting shiva for Sandra...Sigh.)

Weigh in!

Diamond iPad Makes Reading More Fun

Diamond gadget alert! It was only a matter of time, jewelry hounds.

For those luxury-minded folks who like their reading devices to cost as much as their recalled Toyotas, Mervis Diamond Importers has already figured out a way to slap a bunch of diamonds on the Mac iPad for a mere $19,999.

Yup, 20gs will get you a blinged-out piece of plastic to impress all the folks in the Frequent Flier Lounge while you skim through the latest John Grisham, Jackie Collins or 'Barack Obama is a foreign, socialist, who will ruin our country' tell-all.

I assume Paris Hilton won't be standing in line to get hers (I'm thinking she's not a big reader. Just a hunch), but for those of you who want to shell out the clams, you'll get nearly 12 carats of ice to go with your gadget, according to Mervis.

So if you had the money, would you get a diamond iPad (or iPhone, iPod, MacBook, Blackberry, etc.)? There appears to be a market for these things, but I have yet to meet someone who owns one. Maybe I'm running with the wrong crowd?

It's a Dog Eat Diamond World

Man's best friend met girls' best friend when a hungry Golden Retriever named Soli snarfed up a whopping $20,000 diamond at a jewelery store outside of Washington DC.

Zoikes! That's some Scooby snack...

A diamond dealer brought the big rock to the store but he dropped it as he got it out to show owners Robert Rosin and George Kaufmann, and in an instant, Soli had gobbled up the three-plus carat rock.

They called a vet who advised them to let the diamond follow nature's course, which meant Kaufmann had to track Silo's every, ummm, 'movement'.

"It was not that pleasant. I followed him. I had to pick up his stuff. I went through the things. I can understand what it was like in the old Gold Rush because I felt like I had just hit pay dirt," Kaufman told the AP.

Talk about a diamond in the 'ruff'. (buh-duh-dum).

Pay dirt apparently happened after three days and the diamond has since been reunited with its rightful owner. All's well that 'ends' well.

Has your pet ever devoured a diamond or other family jewel? My only jewelry disasters have been self-inflicted, I'm afraid. Weigh in!

Rock Like 'The Runaways'

Jewelry hounds, I have one question for you: Does it get any cooler than The Runaways?

I have secretly always wanted to be either: a) Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders or b) Cheri Curie from The Runaways (I don't attempt to be as cool as Joan Jett - even in my dreams). So when news of The Runaways movie hit my ears, I was more than a little excited.

I haven't seen the flick yet, but flipped through pics of the Los Angeles premiere and got inspired to marry my two passions together. The result? A little grrrl group jewelry primer to help us all get in touch with our inner rock star.

Girl Rock Glitz


The Go Gos, The Bangles, The Donnas - girl groups have one band to thank for paving the way. The Runaways merged 70s glam rock with Elvis-inspired throw backs - all wrapped in a package no one had ever seen before. Grab this guitar pendant from Macy's or this bolt pendant from Zales to get the glitter going in your own jewelry box.


Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb!

Lead singer, Cherie Curie, made her namesake fruit famous with their monster hit, Cherry Bomb (nab it on itunes if you don't already have it in your arsenal). Pay homage to the blonde bombshell with this fruity pendant from Sears or these Betsey Johnson drop earrings that, well, say it all.


Joan Jett Jewels

A rock and roller through and through the signature jewel that says Joan has got to be the studded leather cuff. Nordies has several great styles to choose from to help you own up to that 'Bad Reputation'. Or grab this black beaded sequin necklace like the one she wore to the premiere.

Howard Stern Crowns Best Mistress with Black Diamond

I fear a new jewelry category was discovered today – and not in a good way.

Shock Jock, Howard Stern, hosted the highly anticipated ‘Best Mistress’ pageant where three of Tiger Woods' many conquests competed for a $75,000 cash prize and a coveted black diamond ‘Mistress Ring’.

It’s never dull, folks.

The Mistress Ring is actually pretty awesome - featuring a 3.5-carat round black diamond surrounded by a half-carat of white diamonds - designed by Philadelphia’s Steven Singer Jewelers. The value remains undisclosed but the novelty of the endeavor? Priceless.

The pageant took place earlier today and was so popular the Howard Stern website crashed due to increased volume. But never fear! The ladies’ 15 minutes of fame was duly extended.

Contestants included Jaimee Grubbs (mistress #2 for those of you keeping count), cocktail waitress Jamie Jungers (mistress #4) and call girl Loredana Jolie Ferriolo (mistress #10).

And the winner? Jaimee Jungers was crowned Miss Mistress after receiving votes from three of the four judges – Gary, AshleyMadison.com (the site that caters to married people looking for affairs), CEO Noel Biederman and Howard.

Classy.

What do you guys think of the new jewelry category? Are entitled sports heroes and corrupt politicians now held to a higher standard by their one-night-stands? Are black diamonds the new black sheep of the jewelry world? Say it ain't so!

Birthstone Blowout

Winter blues got you down? How about this gem to lift your spirits?: JewelClub just launched their 20% Treasure Chest discount on 12 select aquamarine jewelry styles. That's 20% off WHOLESALE, jewelry hounds.

Whether you've got a March birthday girl to buy for this month, or want to partake in some shopping therapy for your own collection - there's no better way to do the deed in my book.

I think my favorite of the bunch is this aqua cocktail ring. With a suggested retail price of $629 you might think it's out of range for a bauble this size. But the regular JewelClub price puts you in the $170 ballpark and with the 20% discount, we're talking $135.

Or this ring is only $75! I mean, can you imagine the smile on her face when she gets this for her birthday instead of yet another bottle of perfume or itunes gift card or what have you? And JewelClub has free shipping and a liberal return policy to make things even easier.

Click here to shop from the Aqua selections on sale - or log in to JewelClub here with the code INSIDER and shop the entire stash of wholesale fine jewels. So many bargains to be had, jewelry hounds - and cool styles to choose from.

Spring fever, anyone?