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Platinum Micropave Earrings
With constant talks of bankruptcies and bailouts, exotic high-end jewelry is usually not on everyone’s mind. Celebrities and hip hop stars on the other hand are still hitting the red carpet strong with iced out jewelry from their earlobes on down. With the introduction of Platinum micropave earrings, now any one can get that high end, realistic diamond look during both prosperous and tough times. They are the perfect balance of price, quality and elegance.
For many years, men’s earrings were a small category in both fashion and fine jewelry. Many men simply wore unisex diamond studs set in sterling silver, gold or platinum. Kite and square shaped diamond paved earrings are the latest trend in hip hop and Hollywood alike. Now they are available for the first time in more affordable materials. A select handful of specialty jewelers have began offering the same quality, craftsmanship and brilliant shine made with white gold and colored gemstones.
These platinum micropave earrings offer consumers a true alternative to overpriced high end jewelry. These earrings are available in many popular styles and some unique and rare custom designs as well. Stones are available in the usual brilliant white as well as exotic colors such as blue, canary yellow and even black.
Leading online retailer Whiteflash.com has released a full collection of micropave earrings. For more information about micropave settings and platinum earring, please visit Whiteflash.com
Diamond Hoop Earrings
What Is Considered A Synthetic Diamond?
First, let’s define synthetic. In the world of grass, synthetic means plastic grass. I know, I have it in my backyard. It looks pretty good too. I don’t have to mow it, water it, or weed it. I wish the homeowner’s association would let me install it in the front yard!
In the world of cars, synthetic motor oil is sold all the time – and it seems to work just fine in an engine. But I don’t really know what it is.
In the world of fashion, synthetic means polyester leisure suit…
In the world of bling, synthetic describes a stone that has been created in a laboratory, under the guidance of man, and it has the same physical, optical, and chemical properties as the natural gemstone it represents. For example, synthetic ruby – if a gemologist does some standard gemological testing on it, the optical properties would be that of ruby. Chemically, the laboratory has produced ruby. Physically, it is red and has the same hardness as natural ruby, so it can be polished just like a ruby. However, since it was produced under controlled conditions, there are internal characteristics which tell the rest of the story. Interesting, huh?!
It takes a pretty good gemologist to make a positive identification. Without knowledge – also known as education, and without practice – also known as experience, this gemologist may arrive at the wrong conclusion – costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars. But I digress…
The point is the word synthetic means different things to different people and things. So the jewelry industry is debating whether it’s a good word for you, the consumer. Does it make you think it’s a fake diamond? Like fake grass, which, of course, is man made plastic, not man made grass. Does it hold more value to you than a CZ or synthetic moissanite?
The truth is, it’s more costly to produce synthetic diamond than to produce an imitation diamond, such as synthetic cubic zirconia (CZ). And, it’s more difficult for a gemologist to identify a synthetic diamond than it is to identify a CZ. Most importantly – to some people – it’s impossible to spot a synthetic diamond by just looking at it at a party! There are lots of savvy people who can spot a CZ from across the room!
In some cases, it takes advanced testing by a professional laboratory with VERY EXPENSIVE equipment (and smart people) to identify a synthetic diamond. In some cases, gemologists can recognize the internal characteristics which indicate synthetic. In all cases when gemologists are fooled it’s because they haven’t taken a class on all the technological advances in the field of bling! BTW – the next time someone tells you they are a gemologist, ask to see their diploma and then look at the year it was earned. If it’s more than two years ago, ask them for proof of continuing education.
Diamond Wedding Band
Dear Whiteflash Sales Team,
The picture of the diamond ring is Gorgeous. I have to pick it up from FedEx — I’m wrapping up my final exams in school all day tomorrow. I’ll have to get it tomorrow or on Saturday : (
As usual THANK YOU for all your help. Anniversary will be here before you know it and Ill be calling you again! :)
Choosing A Diamond Shape
From classic round to cutting-edge cushion, rate your sparkler with our savvy diamond guide.
Heart
The look: This century-old shape, symbolizing love and devotion, should be well proportioned for optimum sparkle. Kid Rock proposed to Pamela Anderson with a yellow heart-shaped diamond.
This choice says you’re: sentimental and dreamy.
Pear
The look: Resembling a teardrop, a pear-shaped diamond has the fire and beauty of a round shape, but with a less conventional look. This shape can also make a wide finger look slimmer.
This choice says you’re: even-tempered and adaptable.
Oval
The look: If you love the gorgeous sparkle of a round, brilliant-cut diamond but still want something unique, consider an oval. A fresh take on a timeless style, this new shape came about in the early 1960s. Actor Jerry O’Connell recently gave his betrothed fashionista, Rebecca Romijn, an oval-shaped sparkler.
This choice says you’re: risk-taking and creative.
Asscher
The look: Square with angular corners, this shape dates back to the late 1800s. If you look closely, you’ll see that it’s step-cut, meaning the facets are rectangular and seem to descend into the stone.
This choice says you’re: feminine and meticulous.
Round
The look: Also known as brilliant-cut, this tried-and-true shape reflects more light than any other, and is the most popular. Avril Lavigne showed her traditional side by wearing a round diamond engagement ring.
This choice says you’re: trustworthy and easygoing.
Emerald
The look: Inspired by the Asscher, this glamorous choice is also a rectangular step-cut shape. It has fewer facets than some of the other shapes, so look for an emerald-cut that offers maximum brilliance.
This choice says you’re: efficient and straightforward.
Cushion
The look: Rectangular with curved sides, the cushion-cut first hit big in the 18th century. A recent resurgence in popularity has given it a modern-meets-vintage feel. Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Garner a cushion-cut rock.
This choice says you’re: organized and daring.
Princess
The look: This relatively new square shape, with a modern, understated feel, combines a sparkly, brilliant effect with a geometric step-cut. You can attribute its spectacular glitter to extra faceting around the rim.
This choice says you’re: decisive and fun-loving.
Swarovski-studded custom bed
Featuring crystallized elements by Swarovski, the Laurent 5060-99 Bed by Laurent Leather is guaranteed to spruce up your home like anything. Laurent Leather is an American custom furniture manufacturer and offers a range of customization options for your home and office furniture. Launched as a part of the company’s Premier Contemporary Bedroom collection, the Laurent 5060-99 Bed is done with Moore & Giles hand-painted leather and genuine Swarovski crystals, and features a button-tufted leather headboard. You can custom order the exotic leathers of your choice. The Laurent 5060-99 Bed can be ordered with the 5010-00k Bed Table to match the bedroom suite. More information about this luxury, custom bed is yet to come from the company, so we will keep you posted. Hit the jump to see one more shot of the Laurent 5060-99 Bed. Or really bling this out with Diamonds.
Top 10 auctions that set new records
With the recession hitting wealthy collectors over the last year, the auction houses have faced one of their toughest seasons in years. This year, we saw auctions where great works of art did not find potential buyers. But some of the auctions really did well, despite the global recession, and set new records in their respective categories. Let’s take a look at some of the most hyped auctions that set new records despite the economic downturn.
• Ferrari Pontoon-fender Testarossa
May 2009: The iconic 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa set a new world record lately for the most expensive motor car ever to be sold at an auction. The car went for €9 million ($12 million) in an auction of Italian supercars organized by RM Auctions at Ferrari’s Maranello home in Italy.
• Rare blue diamond
May 2009: A flawless vivid blue diamond weighing 7.03 carats was sold for a record $9.5 million at Sotheby’s and it was the highest price paid per carat for any gemstone at auction.
• David Hockney’s “Beverly Hills Housewife”
May 2009: David Hockney’s painting “Beverly Hills Housewife” was sold for a record $7.9 million after fierce bidding at Christie’s auction house.
• Newson’s Lockheed Lounge chair
May 2009: Recently, Marc Newson’s luxurious Lockheed Lounge chaise, which had a pre-sale estimate of between £500,000 and £700,000 at Christie’s, managed to sell for 1.1 million pounds ($1.6 million), which is an auction record for a piece of contemporary design art.
• License plate ‘1 D’
March 2009: DLVA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) auctioned off a personalized license plate “1 D” for a staggering £352,411 (US $513,047). The sale broke the record price paid for a specialty plate in the UK.
• Pearl Carpet of Baroda
March 2009: The beautiful Pearl Carpet of Baroda was sold for $5.5 million at Sotheby’s in Qatarand, which was a record price paid for a rug.
• Wittelsbach diamond
Dec 2008: At Christie’s in Central London, the Wittelsbach diamond became the most expensive stone or piece of jewelry ever sold at an auction. London Bond Street-based jeweler Laurence Graff paid a whopping £16.4 million (US $24.47 million) for the extraordinary Wittelsbach diamond.
• 1928 Type 35B Bugatti
Oct 2008: The iconic 1928 Type 35B Bugatti fetched £2.5 million in an auction in Britain. This sale made it the most expensive car sold in its category to date.
• Hirst’s Golden Calf
Sep 2008: Damien Hirst smashed his own previous auction record with the $18.5 million sale of his work entitled “The Golden Calf” at Sotheby’s.
• 1960 Jaguar ‘E2A’
Aug 2008: The legendary prototype sportscar that helped shaped the future of Jaguar was auctioned off at Bonhams & Butterfields’ Quail Lodge Sale in California for just under $5 million, setting a new world record.
Gold coated BMW M5
Falling in love is a rewarding experience, especially when you are behind the wheel of a BMW. The feeling gets even better when it’s all gold. Last time, it was a gold plated Porsche from Russia, and this time it’s a BMW M5 from Moscow that has been coated with gold. There is no info about its owner or the amount of money that went into the gilded work. It seems the normal BMW M5 wasn’t enough for the guy, so he got it decked up. All we have for now is a bunch of shots of the golden BMW M5. The only extra I could see adding is a diamond studded BMW Logo. Check them out…
Posh the Bag Lady
She is handbag obsessed and spends money on them like anything. Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girl, has been reported by The Big Money to own a bag collection worth AU $3,000,000, which comes around to approximately US $2.3 million. Posh’s collection of the classic handbags includes about 100 Hermes Birkin designer bags. Named after actress Jane Birkin, the Birkin has turned out to be a must-have status symbol for the fashionistas. Her bags range from approximately $6,000 to more than $100,000. The exclusive “Silver Himalayan” bag in her collection alone carries a stocky price tag of about $125,000 and it’s festooned with a three carat diamond. With that amount of money, someone could buy a luxury car or a good house, but then, she is the true bag lady.
Our Picks for Summer Bangles
Clingy or tight jewelry can get uncomfortable in the hot summer months when sweating and feeling sticky is a daily occurrence, but it’s also the time of year when accessories can look their best shining in the sun against tan skin. That’s what makes bangle bracelets so perfect! They come in every size, shape, and color, and although they work any time of year I particularly love them come summer. Their loose-fitting style can go casual or glam, and they always look awesome with the season’s breezy fabrics and beachy dresses. See some of our favorites in the gallery below and feel free to share yours in the comments!
Pave Diamond Bangles
Diamond Cuff Bracelet
Pave Diamond Bangles
Scattered Diamond Bangle
Secret Deodorant Diamond Giveaway
In an effort to boost sales of the new Secret ‘Flawless’ deodorant, Procter & Gamble came up with a giveaway that no woman could resist. They plan to award 10 $15,000 diamonds, one to each winner. The problem with this promotion is that, eight months after launching the campaign, no one has won yet. In fact, no one seems to even be aware of it.
In this promotion, there is a fake diamond in each of the winning sticks of deodorant, but a person need not risk cutting herself or destroying the product to find the prize. By entering the product code at www.secretdiamondgiveaway.com, a person can find out if there is a diamond in each particular stick. In the iPhone/Blackberry/Treo era, a less honest person could, in fact, check product codes at the website before buying.
With a June 30 deadline for this promotion, the Secret Flawless team posted a YouTube Video to draw more attention to the diamond giveaway. So far, the video has failed to attract the desired attention.
However, contest rules dictate that at least nine diamonds will be given away to mail-in candidates, since no purchase is required. Secret Flawless will gift $15,000 diamonds to lucky winners, but, unfortunately, it has not yet brought the desired attention to the new product. Procter & Gamble remains hopeful that there will be a late surge in purchasing, now that word has gotten out about the lack of response. There is still a chance that this will be a great promotion, but it is still a lesson in branding, certainly.
Conflict Free Diamonds – DreamsofAfrica.org
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