Jessica's New Jewel

Unlucky in love - lucky in diamonds? One way to ease the break-up blues is with a sparkling free diamond ring. Jessica Simpson may not be reveling in the state of her love life following the singer's well-publicized recent split from super-jock Tony Romo, but jeweler Pascal Mouawad gave her reason to smile on Tuesday night.

During a party for one of Pa Simpson's new artists, An-Ya, Mouawad gave Jessica a stunning $10,000 5-carat diamond ring from his Black and White Diamond Collection.

The jeweler is well known for his fondness of celebrity muses. Heidi Klum and Nicole Richie are a couple of the jeweler's celebrity designers - is he wooing Jessica to join his stable of stars?

Whatever his plans, they'll have to wait as the Simpsons are headed East next week to spend some time in Japan to work on her on her upcoming VH1 reality show about beauty.

Ivanka Trump Flaunts 'The Ring'

This weekend, the Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) feted the fairer sex of their industry, and the glittering event brought out the bling in full force.

Among the shimmering crowd at Chelsea Piers in New York was a glowing Ivanka Trump - CEO of Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry - who wore basic black and diamonds galore. Included in the ice was her new engagement ring from fiance, Jared Kushner, that's rumored to be a 5-carat stunner from her own jewelry collection. I'm also digging her diamond tassle necklace - an emerging silhouette that may just be fall's biggest trend. Stay tuned.



Another fashion superstar in diamonds last night was Diane von Furstenberg, who was honored with the WJA Lifetime Achievment Award - it's not hard to guess why. The Divine Miss D has been a presence in the jewelry industry for decades, most recently teaming up with luxury jeweler, H. Stern, for a line of talisman jewels.


Noticeably absent from the event were 'celebrity jewelry' faces that have been putting their mugs on jewelry lines for a chance at fashion fame - and fortune.

Looks like the WJA knows how to single out the real women who know both business and baubles. Bravo!

Angelina’s Oscar Emeralds…on Nicky Hilton?

Jewelry hounds, I need your peepers. Is it me or is Nicky Hilton wearing THE SAME emerald earrings that Angelina Jolie made famous at the Oscars this year? The horror!

The giant teardrop-sized stunners are cut in the same shape as Angelina’s green gems, but I quite simply can’t imagine anyone who would want to trod that same hallowed jewelry ground. Especially someone low-key like Paris’s younger sib.

Hilton was walking the red carpet of sister Paris’s narcissistic, I mean, self-titled documentary, Paris, not France last week when the emeralds made their appearance.

It is possible that Lorraine Schwartz accessorized both Angelina and Nicky with the same emeralds, but any stylist worth their salt would surely know that repeating a history-making jewelry moment – and one made by Angelina Jolie no less – is anything but a wise choice in today's shark-infested fashion waters.

Mon Dieu!

What do you guys think? Are they the same earrings? Or are they look-alikes? Regardless, should she have steered clear of the fashion faux-pas or are the emerald earrings fair game for anyone who wants to be a…well..wannabe?

Michael Jackson Memorialized in Diamonds

Now I’ve heard everything. Just when you thought commercially exploiting Michael Jackson’s death couldn’t get any more unseemly, news hit the wires today that Michael Jackson’s charred hair from that infamous Pepsi commercial is going to be turned into (drumroll......) diamonds.

Huh?

This may just beat Poppa Jackson’s disgusting self-promotion in the day’s following the King of Pop’s death and Jermaine’s chronic wearing of his Jackson 5 T-shirt. We get it, Jermaine. You're important too.


So Ralph Cohen, the Executive Producer for the Pepsi commercial, was apparently quick on his feet back then – not only saving Michael from his Jerry curl fire, but (eureka!) taking time out from the firey blaze to scoop up his charred hair to save for a rainy day.

Cohen eventually turned it in to John Reznikoff, one of America's most highly respected collectors, and now LifeGem, the world's first purveyor of diamond memorials, is creating high quality diamonds out of it for a limited collection.

No word yet on how much these little beauties will go for, but you can bet LifeGem is banking on at least high six, low seven figures.

I don’t know why I am surprised by this turn of events. The gold-plated coffin has barely left the Staples Center and folks are only seeing dollar signs.



What do you guys think? Is it OK for people to make money on the King of Pop’s death? Or have things gone too far? Would you buy a diamond made out of Michael Jackson's DNA if you could afford it? Weigh in!

Celebrity Jewelry Line Overload

From health care reform to rising unemployment and stimulus dough, there are a lot of issues out there for us all to ponder these days. But I’ve got one pressing question that’s been keeping me up nights.

How many friggin’ celebrity jewelry lines do we need, people?

I mean really. There are the success stories like Nicole Richie’s boho chic House of Harlow line and Paula Abdul’s HSN juggernaut. But do we really need D-listers like Christie Brinkley, Gladys Knight, New York Housewife, Kelly Bensimon and Heidi Montag’s sister joining the ranks?

Seriously.


Now news of singer, Lily Allen’s, new line is hitting the newswires and frankly? I could care less. You had me at Padma Lakshmi and jumped the shark at Tori Spelling, folks.

Do we really need the same old gold charm necklace you can get at any department store marked up an additional 40% because a singer with one big hit and a history of public drunkenness has her name on it?


I think I can live a full life never knowing or caring that Holly Montag gets to put her name on some gold chains simply because she ‘has always loved jewelry’, according to MTV. As if loving jewelry and having the same genetic makeup of a pathetic reality TV star are the only qualifications for for launching a bauble line.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe I’m being too harsh? I suppose there is room for everyone to peddle their wares out there. But I’m wondering if I’m the only one who has had my fill? What do you guys think?

Have you ever bought a piece from a celebrity jewelry line? Share your stories!

Jewelry Fit for Kings and Queens

Jewelry hounds, you may be the only folks who really understand this next sentiment. You know that moment when the jewelry stars align, and you see a piece of jewelry so perfectly designed - so beautifully crafted - so YOU - that you know it will be forever ingrained on the fashion-obsessed part of your cerebral cortex?

I just had that moment when reviewing the new Dior Joaillerie line - their royal ‘Kings & Queens’ collection by Victoire de Castellane. The jewels feature one of my favorite trends – skulls – in an adorable brooch and ring pair. Yes, you’re meant to buy them as a royal couple! Adorable!


Just look at these little beauties. Can you imagine the gasps as you wear the skull ring to your next big event? Or better yet? Imagine the skulls' shine as you reach for that orange chicken Lean Cuisine during your next trip down the frozen food aisle. Glamour, people. Glamour.




The collection is made out of diamonds, opal, jade, quartz and obsidian, which along with the skulls symbolizes “eternity”, according to Dior. I’ve not been able to track down price points - which I’m thinking is just as well.

The King and Queen pieces even have cute little names: Queen of Jadélénie and King Opal to name a few.

Sigh.


So have you ever had a jewelry epiphany that rivals my new Dior skull obsession? If so, share the wealth! And what do you think about the royals? You die? Or not your style?

Diamond iPhone Tickled Pink

Pink diamonds have been lighting up celebrity betrothals for years now – from J-Lo’s famous rock back in the Ben days to Portia deRossi’s pink diamond ring bling. But pink ice isn’t just for ring fingers.

The Apple iphone 3GS just got a pink diamond makeover from UK-based Stuart Hughes.

Paris Hilton? Are you listening?

The pink beauty is made from 18ct rose gold and is decorated with 53 pink diamond gems set in the Apple logo to add a little sparkle.

And the cost to add this ‘essential’ accessory to your warchest? Only about $35,575, all told.

If pink diamond jewelry is more your style, check out Jewelry.com's assortment of colored diamond gems -all at prices that are much less than a new luxury coup.

And if you've ever wondered how diamonds get their color, they've got a great education section that tells you all you need to know.