Archive for July, 2009

Daily Diamond Alert!

What’s better than a beautiful diamond bracelet to spice up your look? Check out this gorgeous piece of flare and others at Diamonds-usa.com

It is officially summer. Girls are walking around with strappy mini dresses while the guys are practically living in their bathing suits. Summer definitely gives way to minimalism – over-accessorizing and too much clothing is only a recipe for discomfort in this heat and humidity. So, for all you fashionistas out there, or just those who like to be put-together when you go out, it’s time to kiss those cute scarves and trendy vests goodbye (at least until the fall). There’s a new accessory in town, and it is the ultimate summer accessory – the perfectly complement to any outfit, no matter how high temperatures are rising.

Diamond earrings are everywhere these days. Trendy CEO’s pair them with a power business suit, while Mom’s wear them with a summer frock at the mall, or even at the gym to spice up their spandex getups. No matter what the occasion, or the amount of wear and tear it takes, it seems diamond earrings are going everywhere with ladies this summer. Having a bit of bling on you is always a good way to stand out and dress up even the simplest outfit. And, thanks to our favorite website, we have plenty of different diamond earring settings and cuts to choose from. Here are some of our favorites.

Diamond Hoop Earrings
If you’re looking for something for everyday, here’s the perfect pair of diamond earrings. This 0.70 carat diamond earring set is composed of 10 round diamonds on each ear earring, and will add just the right amount of sparkle to light up your face in the summer sun. With hair up in a ponytail or down with a summer beach wave, these earrings will be sure to catch eyes. They are available in platinum, yellow gold, or white gold-rhodium dipped metal settings.

Designers Round Stud earrings
These diamonds are classic, yet with a beautiful twist. If you are looking for a pair of diamond studs, you can get something simple, but these are way more fun, and just as practical. This exclusive pair of Pave diamond studs is made of 28 to 36 round diamonds, varying in size, each between 0.32 and 0.38 carats.  These diamonds can really be worn with anything and can go anywhere.  And most importantly, these earrings will never go out of style. They are as beautiful and fashionable this summer as they will be in 10 years.

Star Diamond Earrings
We’ve got everyday covered, as well as the classic diamond earrings. Now it’s time for something a bit more fun. These earrings are sure to spice up anything you wear – they are a statement on their own. These 0.75 carat round diamond composed earrings will shine almost as bright as your smile when you wear them. The earring itself is a sphere shape, which creates more and more angles, allowing for maximum sparkling reflections in the summer sun.

Fifty years ago, if a Wall Street exec, a construction manager, or a college professor was sporting a diamond wedding band, heads would turn and jaws would drop. Even a plain, gold band was an innovative wedding piece for those times, a trend that only began around the turn of the century. A diamond ring worn by a man would have been considered odd, highly feminine, and therefore, completely unacceptable. Well, it seems that society has taken leaps and bounds, because in today’s world, the demand for men’s diamond rings is in high competition with its female counterpart.

Some say this trend started when the industry saw they had missed a great opportunity. If the popularity of diamond engagement and wedding rings had turned the diamond industry into a multi-billion dollar industry, why was the product limited to only 50% of the population? Creating a demand for men’s diamond rings, thereby allowing everyone to enjoy the feeling of a diamond on their hand, was definitely one successful way to expand the market and drive sales. Jewelers started selling diamond wedding rings as a set, one for the bride and one for the groom, to create an incentive and help the trend catch on. And, since no one could refuse a little piece of diamond flare, with its lack of masculinity ignored, the man diamond ring became a hit.

Just like with women’s diamond rings, there are many options for cut and style for men’s diamond wedding rings. White gold bands have been the most popular metal selection, usually encrusted with small diamonds around the entirety of the band. In other cases, a man will prefer to have a centerpiece diamond, more similar to the typical engagement ring style. Now, many jewelers are offering the option of customized men’s wedding rings, as preferences are constantly changing and everyone wants something unique.

One of our favorites this season is the 18K White Gold-Rhodium Dipped ring with 1/3 carat of diamonds. This piece is elegant and simple, and still retains its masculinity. With just the right amount of diamonds, it will be sure to catch eyes without being too flashy. The curved band also makes sure the band won’t turn, so the diamonds will always remain upright. This ring is practical and distinguished, making it wearable in any circumstance. If your man is in a meeting, cheering your son on at his baseball game, or taking you out for a fancy meal, this ring will compliment him wherever he goes and whatever he does.

What may have started as merely a sales strategy has turned into a practice that can have so much more meaning behind it. It’s 2009, and men and women have never been more equal. So, throw away that stigma of man buying his dream girl the perfect diamond. It’s a beautiful gesture that will never go out of style, but consider the practice expanded. All women who have received the ultimate gift, a diamond ring, know the feeling of putting that little piece of heaven on your finger. Why not extend the same opportunity to our prince charming? If there is one present that says “I love you” and “be mine forever,” more than anything else, it’s a diamond ring.

To say being a celebrity and living the Hollywood life is extravagant and luxurious is an understatement. Celebrities drop mega bucks on all sorts of toys, from gigantic Santa Monica mansions to private jets and multiple sports cars. Celebrities do love their things, and sometimes they go a bit overboard. But, there are some things that celebrities just can’t seem to have enough of – diamonds – and we couldn’t be happier. Diamonds define beauty, grace, and eternal divinity, and we agree – no celebrity can ever have enough diamonds. Check out this list of 5 of the most diamond-addicted celebrities in Hollywood, who, despite all they already own, are always looking for more diamonds.

5. Jennifer Aniston, although has hit many romantic ups and down, definitely struck gold with the engagement ring Brad Pitt designed for her before their wedding. A white gold band with 20 perfect diamonds decorated her hand for all the world to see. And she doesn’t stop there – she also sports a few other diamond pieces regularly. One of her favorites is a diamond crescent moon necklace.

4. Nicole Kidman, at the 2008 Oscars, wowed onlookers with a sautoir necklace, apparently made with over 7000 diamonds, all different types. This piece, estimated at 1400 carats, is one of the things people will remember from the Red Carpet that year forever. Nicole showed us exactly how to make a statement with diamonds.

3. Paris Hilton has surrounded herself in diamonds. For brief engagement to Paris Latsis, the Greek shipping heir, she received a 24 carat diamond and platinum engagement ring, which she apparently had to take off since it was too heavy for her to wear. Since she had to take it off, she of course, had to get more diamonds that were more suitable. Paris has been a model for over $3 million in diamonds, started her own collection of diamond necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, and has also been a diamond spokesmodel.

2. Marilyn Monroe may have taught us that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” but Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs is a seriously diamond-addicted celebrity, despite his gender. He is always sure to show off some serious bling everywhere he goes.  From diamond necklaces to earrings and watches, Combs has a collection that most celebrities try to rival, but will never surpass. A recent addition to his collection is a diamond-encrusted mp3 player, completely covered with over 120 diamonds.

1. Elizabeth Taylor is our number one diamond-addicted celebrity. She never went out without complementing her natural beauty with that of a diamond. She had a vast personal collection that included pieces such as an antique diamond tiara, a 69 carat pear-shaped diamond, a 29 carat diamond ring, and a 33 carat Krupp Diamond Ring. Just these pieces alone add up to over 130 carats of diamonds! Her life-long passion made its way to the literary world when she wrote the book, Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry, where you can read about and see her one-of-a-kind collection.

People are getting engaged every day, and boyfriends are constantly thinking of the most creative ways to pop the question. A few days ago, I got the call from my younger sister, who sat me down yesterday to tell me the whole story. I feel compelled to share my sister’s story with you because, while most engagement stories are sap tales that hug your heart, this one left me in absolute hysterics and has an important message that you may want to hear.

Amy and Mike have been dating for 3 years. She was immediately fascinated by his adventurous personality. He made her face challenging fears that she never thought she’d do, like, for example, jumping out of an airplane 13,000 ft up in the sky. After only a month of dating, Mike took Amy for her first jump, something he had been doing for years. She told me that there’s no bonding experience quite like it that can bring to people closer together.

Clearly, the date was a success, since they always talk about that experience and how amazing it was. So, it came as no surprise to me that this is how Mike decided to propose.
Mike told Amy that they were going skydiving because he needed a rush. It had been a while since his last jump, and he wanted her to come with him. So, they went, got on the plane, and 15 minutes later, they were sitting on the edge about to jump into thin air and the most important question still remained to be asked.

And then they went. Amy took the first few seconds to get adjusted to falling through the sky, and then her attention turned to Mike, who was holding a beautiful engagement ring between his index finger and thumb. He had written “will you marry me?” on the palm of the other hand. She couldn’t resist the temptation to reach for him, and he the same for her. The excitement of the proposal combined with flying through thin air, however, was too much for Mike to handle, and before he knew it, the ring was gone, falling aimlessly to its own destiny.

Almost like clockwork, it was suddenly time to pull the parachutes. There’s nothing like waiting 7 minutes floating in the sky, wondering if your girlfriend will say yes to the most important question you’ve ever asked, or realizing you’ve just dropped a large diamond investment 13,000 ft from the ground.

Well, 7 minutes went by and felt like an eternity for the two, but they managed to get down on the ground and Amy of course, accepted. And then it was time to find the ring. Amy was running around frantically, excited that she’s engaged to the love of her life, but more than anxious to get what every girl gets when asked the question. She was freaking out, thinking the ring was lost forever, and she’d be the girl who got engaged without being able to parade around with a diamond on her finger. When she realized Mike seemed too calm to have just lost something worth thousands and thousands of dollars such sentimental value, she started to yell at him uncontrollably.

Well, Mike, what a clever guy he is. He sat her down and held her hand, which was now shaking out of shock and fury, and said, “Sweetie, calm down, that was just a decoy ring. Here, will you marry me?” And with that, he pulled out the most beautiful diamond engagement ring she had ever seen. A splendid 2 karat princess cut, set on a white gold band, with 2 smaller diamonds on either side of the shining jewel – it was a ring fit for royalty and everything she could have imagined.

So, Mike and I offer you a piece of advice today. If you are planning on proposing at any elevated location, a bridge, the sky, or the penthouse balcony, you may want to think twice about pulling out the real thing when popping the question. Allow the moment to be stress-free so all you have to focus on is the girl of your dreams accepting you as her man. And that the beautiful ring you just bought her will actually make it onto her finger.