Harry Winston Premier Collection Guggenheim Chronograph Watch

 This watch almost slipped under my nose, but thanks so a helpful reader I was alerted to the timepiece. It just goes to show that watch makers still think wealthy people read museum catalogs. What? Like the rich have nothing better to do that wander around monolithic art depots all day? Well, maybe some do.

 Specially made for the Guggenheim art museum is this Harry Winston Premier Collection Guggenheim Chronograph timepiece, for women. It is all about the bling. Nothing special about the Swiss quartz chronograph movement. You won’t even use it anyway. The dial design is meant to replicate the view when standing in the Guggenheim and looking up at the atrium glass window – that here looks remarkably like an umbrella. The look is done with alternating diamonds and mother-of-pearl. A total of 2.65 carats of diamonds awaits your wrist. The rest of the watch is in white gold, and I am guess that it is not incredibly large in diameter. For the Frank Lloyd Wright and Harry Winston enthusiast who wants to pony up for the timepiece, maybe it is just what you need to lighten that dark winter coming up. You can also be assured that the iconic style of the watch tells people it is Harry Winston. Price is $46,000, but you lucky museum members out there get almost five grand off! Look closely at the Guggenheim online catalog and you can get some matching Harry Winston accessories.

 

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Hollow-clean Billy Mays Holloween Costume Contest

Hallow-clean Billy Mays Holloween Costume Contest

Holloween is approaching rapidly and it goes without saying that “deceased celebrities” (and balloon boy) will most likely be a huge theme at every gathering.

 

There will no doubt be a multitude of people dressed as Billy Mays (or zombie Billy Mays).. it is one of the easiest costumes of all time to put together. (Beard, blue button-down, khakis, prop product, etc..)

 

So, Wheresbillymays.com has decided to hold a little contest for best costume. 

 

To Enter:

1. Simply send a photo of your costume to wheresbillymays@gmail.com along with your contact info (email and/or twitter will do)
2. Be tasteful.  (Zombies ARE permitted)
3. Project your Voice
4. Have fun!

 

Deadline for entry is Wednesday, November 4.

An experienced panel of judges (the Sullivan Productions crew) will select 3 winners.

 

Prizes:

 

First Place: One of the final autographed Billy Mays pictures, Pitchmen Season 1 DVD, tub of Oxi-Clean, pack of Mighty Putty, and a whole bunch of stickers.

 

Second Place: Pitchmen Season 1 DVD, pack of Mighty Putty, and a whole bunch of stickers

 

Third Place: Pitchmen Season 1 DVD and a whole bunch of stickers.

 

Winners will be announced Monday, November 9.

 

Good luck and the beard be with you!

Marisa Miller Models 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra

The 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra has been revealed. Marisa Miller does the honors this year modeling a $3 million diamond-studded bra created by Damiani. The 2009 Harlequin Fantasy bra is hand set with over 2,350 white, champagne and cognac-colored diamonds in a harlequin pattern. The bra also has a heart-shaped 16-carat champagne diamond dangling from the Very Sexy Convertible bra. The bra can be worn in five ways: strapless, halter, crossback, one-strap or classic. It has a total carat weight of 150 carats and sells for $3 million. The bra will be on display during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on December 1 on CBS.

Spring Payout Expected For Diamond Lawsuit

Whiteflash Hearts & Arrows Diamonds

It’s been a long time coming but members of the De Beers class-action lawsuit settlement might finally get a payout next spring. National Jeweler reported on the recent meeting of the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America in New York City. At that meeting president Ronald Friedman provided an update on the eight-year-old case and read a letter from one of the attorneys involved. The letter says that several consumers filed various objections to the settlement and a hearing on these appeals is set for January. Once an opinion on those hearings has been reached and provided that the court overrules the objections, payouts could begin next spring.

The De Beers class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of two classes: jewelers and other direct purchasers of diamonds (both rough and polished) between Sept. 20, 1997 and March 31, 2006 and indirect purchasers of diamonds (resellers and consumers) who bought diamonds, diamond jewelry or other products containing gem-quality diamonds between January 1, 1994 and March 31, 2006. The suit claimed that De Beers charged anticompetitive prices for the rough diamonds it sold, monopolized the rough diamond market, and disseminated false and misleading advertising. The $295 million settlement has been divided so that $22.5 million will be distributed to the direct purchaser class and $272.5 million to the indirect purchaser class. Given the number of claimants (said to be as much as $60 million) the payout per person will be pretty small.

Stefano Canturi’s New York City Salon

 

What’s black and white and fabulous all over? The jewelry of Stefano Canturi. Canturi, who has designed for Cartier and other brands displays an almost machine-like geometry in his bold black and white designs using diamonds and black sapphires. His latest collections embrace cubism using square-cut and baguette diamonds to create pieces that seem both classic Art Deco and very modern. The architectural quality of the pieces seems a natural fit for New York City which is where Canturi has opened his fifth salon worldwide. Canturi, an Australian designer, created jewelry for Nicole Kidman in both the Moulin Rouge and Australia films and has the all-powerful Oprah Winfrey as a customer. He previously opened his first U.S. shop in Las Vegas and also has three stores in Australia.

Richard Mille RM 019 Tourbillon Voted As Asia’s Best Women’s Watch

 

You may find it odd that this Richard Mille RM 019 Tourbillon timepiece was recently voted as the 2009′s best women’s watch in Singapore. Not that the watch isn’t nice in theory, but it isn’t very practical (or at all practical), nor is it very feminine looking aside from the diamond studded Celtic knot design on the dial and the lovely gleaming onyx movement plate. So while I agree that the watch is cool and probably fun to wear, I would hardly consider it as the best women’s watch. But the vote does represent how watch crazy Singaporeans feel, out where the Asia Edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève was held this year. 

This is not the first time that a Richard Mille watch has been awarded by Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and I must admit that the watches are quite impressive in person. Still, it is a shame that many more mainstream appeal women’s watches got shafted by a watch that I would predict most women wouldn’t choose to wear very often or at all. 

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Gemological Institute Career Fair Reveals Red Carpet Secrets

Gemological Institute Career Fair Reveals Red Carpet Secrets

One of the best parts of watching the Hollywood awards shows is seeing the stars in those gorgeous gowns and amazing jewelry pieces. But how those stars get matched up with those pieces can be a long and involved process. Recently I attended a career fair at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad, California for those interested in careers in the jewelry industry. The GIA is a lab where millions of dollars in diamonds and gemstones are sent for analysis and certification. They also offer programs on gemology, jewelry design and craftsmanship for those interested in jewelry-related careers.

 Much of the focus of the day was on sales and making the best of a challenging industry. But some of the dishiest stories came from a couple of red carpet champs. These days most stars have stylists which serve as gatekeepers and making them happy is a big part of getting jewelry on a star.

 Another red carpet winner is Erica Courtney. She has a relatively small company and yet has had tremendous success getting her jewelry on big stars including Julia Roberts, Beyonce and Britney Spears. How did she do it? Part of her success has come from remaining committed to working with celebrities year round and not just around the time of big events. She also has a “nothing is impossible” attitude and revealed that one of her associates who was scheduled to be at the GIA with her actually had to jump on a red-eye flight instead to ferry a piece to a client because it was after the FedEx deadline.

As Courtney explains it, the business of getting jewelry placed can be a bit tricky. Stylists try to make sure their stars get the best pieces and all details of red carpets outfits are protected like state secrets until the big reveal. One thing that Courtney won’t do however is give away her pieces. She was adamant about not giving pieces to away to actresses saying she’d rather not give away “even a little pair of silver earrings” and if she was going to giveaway jewelry she’d give it to “the girls that work so hard for me.” And lest you think that years of working with diamonds, sapphires and expensive gemstones has jaded her she also confessed that even she is sometimes intimidated by working with the big stones. The stone can’t sell itself, it’s up to the design to do that and so the pressure’s on. Courtney revealed that she often takes a stone home and then watches television while sketching in order to distract herself from the value of the stone.

The takeaway from every panelist at the GIA career fair was that if you don’t have a passion for jewelry and the ability to sell this probably isn’t the business for you, it’s just too hard otherwise especially in a world where jewelry loses increasing ground to technology and other gifts. But for those with the love of the stones and the drive to do whatever is necessary to make a sale, an interesting career awaits.

The Man Regsitry: How safe is it shopping for jewelry online?

Custom Diamond Engagement Ring by Whiteflash.com

 

How safe is it shopping for jewelry online? I’m in the military and therefore won’t be able to go ring shopping for awhile. I’m considering shopping over the Internet but want to be careful.

 

Whiteflash.com’s ANSWER:

 

Military Benefits

As a tribute to the men and women serving oversees many e-commerce sites, such as Whiteflash, have free domestic shipping and 1% military discounts for those serving our country.  Using the Internet connections oversees, many military personnel already shop Whiteflash.com to send jewelry to their significant others.  The company says members of the military send gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and Mother’s Day—or just to say ‘I love you’ or that they’re missed. 

Be an educated customer

Consider getting a guide book or searching online forums before you shop and brush up on your Diamond Education. The more you know about the four C’s, the grading scale and certification process, the better equipped you will be to get the best bling for your buck. Make sure that the store you choose to purchase from has a subject matter expert to answer your questions by email or phone.

 

Comparison Shop
Search various online retailers in order to get an idea of what a competitive price for your gem or precious stone should be. Helpful comparison tools include the “ring builder” features that most online stores offer. They will give you free quotes without any obligation to buy. Many sites allow you to save your comparison rings so that you can consider several options at once.

 

Reputation Matters
Shop with an online jeweler who has an established reputation for good business practice (one way to check on this is to make sure that they have a satisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau). Whiteflash.com, which is the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and is consistently rated highly by customers and media publications because of their high quality products and highly educated customer relationship managers. Make sure that whatever company you choose offers at least a money back guarantee. They also must provide you with a certificate or equivalent for your diamond.

Ask for an Appraisal and Certificate
Your diamond should be issued an appraisal of its value. You should also ask your jeweler if the diamond has been treated with any fillers or other laboratory enhancements. If it hasn’t, he should issue you a certificate of authenticity. This paperwork is essential if you choose to have your ring insured.

 

Warranty
You also need to inquire about the warranty of your diamond. Some jewelers will continue to warranty the ring if you visit regularly for them to clean and check the setting of the ring. These basic maintenance tasks guarantee that your ring will remain as brilliant on your fiftieth anniversary as it was on your wedding day.

 

No matter which type of engagement ring you ultimately buy, by following certain tasks and approaching the purchase in an educated fashion, you will be pleased with an investment that will grow in value just as your love continues to grow throughout your marriage.

Swarovski celebrates its 20th anniversary

Swarovski celebartes its 20th anniversary

Since its founding Swarovski has lent brilliance to the lives of many by mastering the art of producing precision cut crystals. Revered as the connoisseur of excellence in innovative designs and techniques, Swarovski is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with the release of 20 new bags and 20 new pieces of jewelry. The range has been created using its latest innovation, the Pointiage technique, which involves a method of hand-setting, which ultimately enhances the crystal and illuminates its sparkle. This Autumn-Winter 2009/10 collection includes oversized rings, necklaces, gorgeous clutches and evening bags, each presenting an elegant and timeless aesthetic. The exclusive collection uses vintage stones studded on necklaces and bags with some of the bags requiring more than 30 hours of work to embroider the delicate crystal beads that shimmer like little diamonds.

Suspect Charged In Celebrity Break-Ins

Lindsay Lohan and Audrina Patridge may have found their man, the man that robbed their houses that is. Nicholas Frank Prugo, an 18-year-old man from Calabasas, California ha been charged with two counts of residential burgulary in connection with the break-ins at the Hollywood Hills homes of reality TV star Audrina Patridge and actress Lindsay Lohan. The LA Times reports that Prugo allegedly stole more than $170,000 worth of diamond jewelry and designer clothes. He had been arrested last month and could face up to six years in prison if convicted on all counts. He is scheduled to be arraigned on November 11. Video footage from both Lohan’s home and Patridge’s home was used to nab the suspect.