Jewelry Trend Alert: Think Pink!

Jewelry color trends come and go like Paris Hilton's sobriety. Last year, emerald green was all the rage after Angelina Jolie's opulent Oscar appearance and this year everything's coming up turquoise. But one shade is always in style - the hue forever synonymous with all things female...

Pink.


Many jewelry lovers may think pink fine jewelry belongs to the rosy diamond fantasies of royal family tiaras and celebrity ring fingers (remember J-Lo's pink diamond stunner from Ben Affleck 100 years ago?)


And while pink diamonds occur at price points that are significantly higher than most mortals can afford, there is an alternative:

Pink sapphires.


Most pink sapphire jewelry on the market today is like other must-have commodities in our lives (e.g. Splenda, Hostess products) - they don't occur in nature. Instead, they are lab-created to mimic the conditions of a natural stone and color treated to generate the desired hue.

In other words, a top color, untreated, natural stone may cost you $20,000 per carat whereas the synthetic (lab created) piece costs about $0.50 per carat before cutting.

And the best part? Most folks don't know the difference!



I've highlighted a few of my favorite created pink sapphire styles from the super sample sale site, JewelClub. And as luck would have it, they just launched a 'Think Pink' discount of 15% off for a week, bless their hearts. (Use this special Access Code: INSIDER - to become a member)

Or you can shop from hundreds of pink sapphire styles on sister site, Jewelry.com.

I'm tickled pink by the possibilities! Are you?

Lindsay Lohan: Jewelry Debts and Jail Time

From her surprising love life to her "FU" fingernail fashion - it's never dull when Lindsay Lohan hits the headlines. And while her recent jail sentence is the latest Li-Lo shocker, it's nice to know there are still some things we can rely on when it comes to our favorite paparazzi princess:

Jewelry debts.

Whether she's "borrowing" jewelry from a photo shoot, losing a suitcase full of diamonds or snapping up gift bag goodies like a venus fly trap in a garbage dump - our beloved Lindsay never met a shiny object she actually paid for.

The latest jewelry offense comes to us from The Grey Lady of tabloid journalism - TMZ - with a report that a Hollywood boutique is suing Lindsay for an unpaid bill of just over $17,000. The 'first lady of leggings' apparently bought - among other things - a 14kt diamond ring worth $5900 on her shopping spree.

With 90 days of hard jail time looming large, I doubt this is at the top of Lindsay's 'to do' list, but it's nice to see someone other than the long hand of the law trying to make an honest woman out of her.

What do you guys think of Lindsay's latest transgressions? And did anyone see her jaw-dropping cameo on Bravo's reality show gawk-fest, Double Exposure? Stunning.

Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter - A Jewelry Recap

As promised, jewelry hounds, here is a recap of all the jewelry worth drooling over from the 2010 Fall/Winter Paris Haute Couture shows.

Today, Haute Joaillierie lit up the Place Vendome - including Chanel's feathery diamond collection (remember Diane Kruger rocking this look at Cannes?):

Dior's Bollywood-inspired jewels:


and Van Cleef & Arpels' Les Voyages Extraordinaires collection:

Catwalk carats included these crazy cuffs from Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel show:



Armani's sculptural styles made from metal and wood:


And these mirrored fairy tale creations from Jean Paul Gaultier's collection:


But this is just a small sampling of the sparkle. You can find a complete gallery of Paris Fashion Week finds on the Jewelry.com Facebook Page. In the meantime, how amazing is that Dior serpent ring? I gotta say it again: ' J'adore Dior!

Weigh in with your favs!

Jewelry Joins the Parisian 'Haute' World

Jewelry used to be the under-appreciated step-sister of the Parisian Haute Couture world - that apex of fashion events that brings the best and the brightest to the shores of the Seine twice a year.

To even be allowed to use the term “haute couture,” one has to follow a Miss Manners' rulebook full of do's and don'ts - with very few designers making the cut (only seven houses are showing this week, for example).

But this year, jewelry brands are finally allowed to show alongside the frocks - a first for the buttoned-up world of high fashion (see Nick Foulkes' informative article in Newsweek for an in-depth look at the topic).

Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel and Dior are among the select few to join the 'haute' crowd. And while the haute joaillerie can be seen by appointment only, it doesn't stop the looky-loo in me from wondering what on earth could be in the coffers for those who can afford the best the jewelry world has to offer.

Here is a link to a previous 'haute' offering from Dior that's at the top of my covet list and a few shots of pieces from the Paris jewelry shows earlier this year.

Want more? Stay tuned for a recap of my favorite Paris Couture runway jewelry looks tomorrow - including some crazy cuffs from Chanel and fairy-tale sized necklaces from Jean Paul Gaultier.

Yum!

Floral Fashion Explodes in Paris

The Paris Fall/Winter Haute Couture shows are kicking off this week with a wild display of flower power from one of my favorite designers, John Galliano for Dior.

Jewelry was a no-show on the runway, but once you get a glimpse of the cornucopia of color, you'll see why it would be a useless afterthought.

The eccentric British designer explained to the press that he wanted to do something bold and fresh with flowers, "allowing their color, texture and structure to inspire a new, modern beauty."

According to a report from France24, "The floral influence was palpable in the cut of skirts which looked as if they were composed of petals, and bustiers, sprouting fragile filaments in silk chiffon like pistils. Organza frocks appeared to have been constructed from hundreds of buds sewn together."

And the models had their heads covered in a veil of cellophane, like a bouquet fresh from the florist. J'adore Dior!

While I love the Alice In Wonderland whimsy of these frocks, I'm drooling over what appears to be the only black and white number in the collection - this perfectly petaled gown I could see any number of A-listers work on the awards show circuit (Maggie Gyllenhaal would be at the top of my list).

Stay tuned for more couture coverage - and hopefully some creative new jewelry statements to gawk at! In the meantime, weigh in with some of your favorite Dior designs!

Four July 4th Jewelry Ideas

It's almost July 4th again, jewelry hounds - that wholesome American holiday where folks all over this great nation utter the time-honored phrase,

"Hold my beer while I light this."

Sparklers of a different sort are what I'm interested in, so here are a few of my July 4th jewelry thoughts to add a little flare to your fashion.

1. Cocktail Rings

I like the idea of using your jewelry to add that last bit of red, white or blue to the BBQ ensemble - and what better way than with an oversized cocktail ring? Grab a costume piece from the vintage store down the block or shop from a huge selection of gemstone styles.

2. Step Away From The Flag Jewelry

Why not hit the holiday on the nose with a little flag jewelry? Because it's predictable, Mary. That's why. How about a little 'star' power like this instead?

3. Dangle/Disco Earrings

Time to bring out your fireworks-inspired ear wear, ladies. The more they glitter the better.

4. The Star 'Bangled' Banner, anyone?...Anyone?

Finally - the tried-and-true layered bangle look is a great way to add the 'Old Glory' color triumvirate to an all-white ensemble. You've already got 'em in the jewelry box. Time to bring 'em out an layer 'em on - maybe with a splash of gold for good measure?

Ok, jewelry hounds. Time to go get my, 'No, I really DO like potato salad' game face on.

In the meantime, weigh in with some of your favorite July 4th jewels!

Kanye West's Big-Time BET Bling

Bling. We used to see oodles of it during hip hop's heydey - from Lil' Wayne (who coined the term) and 50 Cent to old schoolers Flav-o-Flav and Run DMC. But times have changed, with the lingering recession keeping diamond grillz and oversized pendants to a fading glimmer.


Until Kanye performed at the BET Awards last weekend.

If you're going to make your 'comeback' opening an awards show on top of a volcano, you better have the goods to back it up. And Kanye's Pharaoh-inspired look certainly rose to the occasion with giant gold jewelry Sarah Palin could probably see from her back yard.

Hip hop jewelry supplier, Jacob & Co. created the custom-made link chain and charm depicting Egyptian god Horus, as well as a four-finger pyramid knuckle ring - both made of 24kt yellow gold.

And the price tag? They each retail for a nice two-bedroom in the burbs - a mere $300,000.

(The Horus. The Horus.)

What do you think of Kanye's quest to regain his throne through jewelry? Would you wear a Horus pendant to your July 4th BBQ? Weigh in!