Jewelry Insider's Top Ten Blingy Bits of 2010

It's been a year full of surprises my fellow jewelry hounds. From diamond dentures and bug jewelry to gold parties and Gaga, the "Year of the Tiger" was nothing if not 'unusual'.

So as the last days of 2010 take their final bow, it's time to do what we media folks love to do best: Look back. And make lists.

Here is a smattering of some of my favorite jewelry moments combined with some of yours - because without you guys, I'm just all alone in the universe writing about Lindsay Lohan's jail jewelry and diamond dog collars as if it actually MEANS something. 

So my heartfelt thanks to you all for joining this shiny place of jewel-filled sarcasm, schadenfreude and joy for yet another year. Here's to more days of diamond diversions!

10. The 'Ears' Have It

If 2009 was the year of the statement necklace, 2010 brought the sentiment to the ears. The trend started with the smashing success of Courteney Cox's Golden Globe teardrop triumph and continued throughout awards season. Look for swinging chandelier shapes and shoulder dusters to continue to shine well into 2011.

9. Baseball Bling

In the year's 4th most popular post, I got to the bottom of those weird rope necklaces all the baseball players were wearing last season. I was surprised as anyone to know that jocks not only get emotional about jewelry - they believe it has super powers. And I thought I had issues...

8.  Pink Diamond Shatters Price Record

So. There's this dude, Laurence Graff. And he has piles of money. What does he do with it? He gobbles up the world's most valuable diamonds like pints of Chunky Monkey. His latest acquisition was a 24.78-carat piece of pink perfection that sold for a record-breaking $46.16 million. And now back to our regularly scheduled budget deficit....

7. Neil Lane - Jeweler of the Year

My jeweler of the year award has to go to Neil Lane. He's always been a red carpet staple but his monopoly on celebrity weddings in 2010 was staggering. He designed Anna Paquin's bridal jewels, Nicole Richie's wedding band, Jessica Simpson's newsworthy ruby rock - along with the bling for the entire Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. AND he launched a bridal line with Kay Jewelers to reach the mere mortal market. Just call him the  Kim Kardashian of the jewelry world: He somehow seems to be everywhere. And he's taking it straight to the bank.

6. Black Diamond Blitz

When Howard Stern awarded his 'Tiger Woods Miss Mistress' winner a black diamond ring for her trouble back in March, I feared one of my favorite stones would be forever branded the 'other women'. But Sex And The City II (despite being one of my biggest disappointments this year - see #5 for more) gave black diamonds a glittering close up - and the stone is now a must-have for red carpet divas and regular folks alike. I'm giving it my 'most likely to succeed' award. Stay tuned.

5. Diamond Disappointments

Not to be all Debbie Downer and all...but there were some MAJOR jewelry/fashion bummers this year.

Exhibit A: The Oscars  

When Kathy Ireland's questionable interviewing skills are the only thing worth squawking about - you know you've got a bummer year on your hands.

Exhibit B: Fashion Week: Spring 2011: 

Where. Was. The. Jewelry?

Exhibit C: Sex And The City II: 

My favorite New York women finally jumped the shark. Aiden? In Abu Dhabi? "I Am Woman" karaoke? C'mon!


Exhibit D: Angelina Jolie. 

The world's most stunning actress (a la Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn) can't seem to wear anything but black and diamond studs on the red carpet. And Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts are stuck in the muck with her. Help me, Housewives of Beverly Hills. You're my only hope.

4. Where's The Beef?

Lady Gaga wore a meat dress. 'Nuff said.

3. Kanye West's Diamond Dentures

In the third most popular post for 2010, we learned that replacing your teeth with real diamonds might help people forget you're an egomaniac for a week or so. 


2. Chelsea Clinton's Engagement Ring

More people read my post on Chelsea's engagement ring than any other entry in the history of the blog. Despite the fact that I (and all of my other fellow jewelry hounds) STILL haven't found a decent picture of the thing. Hat's off to you, Chels, for keeping us all well out of your business. And for making my Alexa rating skyrocket.

1. The Sapphire Heard 'Round the World.

Hey. Did you hear? Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton. Shocker! Seriously, though, you're going to have to endure many a royal wedding post in 2011 - cuz there's gonna be major crown jewels on display. I'm already hyperventilating.

But perhaps the most important repercussion from all this nonsense, is the resurgence of the Lady Di ring silhouette and sapphires as a popular stone for engagement rings. I hope the trend continues, because if there's one thing I've learned in 2010 - you don't have to break the bank to get a great piece of jewelry these days (JewelClub, anyone?). And that includes engagement rings.

OK. I think I hear the champagne calling my name. (It happens.) I hope you all have a safe and shining New Year. In the meantime, weigh in with your favorite jewelry moments from 2010! As always, I love to hear from you. (Janet - that means you!)

See you on the flip side!

Yet Another Maneki Neko Tale

Maneki nekos, the legendary good fortune cats, are thought to bring good luck in many forms.  A maneki neko with the right paw raised is said to bring wealth;



one with the left paw raised brings business.



White nekos protect good luck...






and black nekos protect against evil.



In earlier posts, I have told the tale of how the Maneki Nekos saved Santa's elves,



how a maneki neko named Tama saved an Edo monastery,



and how a maneki neko saved a Lady of the Night.



So today's maneki neko tale tells an earlier story ~ that of Jisho-in, a Tokyo area temple



which was founded by Kukai (Kobo-Daishi, 774-835), the priest who created the hirigana script.



According to documents that are still preserved at the temple, long ago, during the mid-16th century there was an  fight between two individuals: Toshima, who belonged to the ruling family of the area, and Ōta Dōkan (太田 道灌).  Ōta was a Japanese samurai warrior-poet, a military tactician and Buddhist monk.



Ōta and Toshima fought with all their strength and cunning, until both were close to collapse from exhaustion.  Finally, Ōta could handle no more.  The world started to spin and he could not focus his eyes.  He knew that his minutes were numbered, and he was about to go down in defeat.

He stumbled backward, tripping over a black cat ...



...who had been watching the fight unobserved.  Toshima, thinking he had triumphed, staggered off, barely coherent enough to savor his victory.

But Ōta was not dead.  The black cat led him back to the temple, and there nursed him back to health.  Each day Ota regained more and more of his strength until he was once again strong and fit.

When he knew he was once again a worthy opponent, Ōta took on Toshima once again.  This time he defeated Toshima.

Out of gratitude for the black cat which saved his life, Ōta ordered that a jizo (A Buddhist saint) be fashioned in the shape of a cat.



The statue is known as neko-men jizo or jizo with a cat face ~ the maneki neko ~



~and has been a symbol for many good things ever since.

Maneki nekos here.

Today is the First Day of the Rest of… Oh, Who Am I Kidding?

You’ve got a clean slate, a new year that’s just begging for you to make something spectacular out of it.

Think about it:  wouldn’t it be nice to be sitting where you’re sitting this time next year and say “Look at everything I accomplished this year” without that sentence being accompanied by an eye roll and farting noises?

There are a ton of whip-you-up-into-a-lather posts this time of year, but the truth of the matter is – just like always –it’s all on you.

You’re either going to decide that this is your time and act on it… or not.

You’re either going to take big strides to make meaningful and positive changes in your life… or not.

You’re either going to straighten up and fly right… or not.

This time of year, the vast majority of us are going to be on one side of the teeter-totter, talking our big talk about the changes we plan to make in our diet, our exercise regimen, our life.

We’ll be there with our ever-present resolutions and never-been-sweat-in workout gear.

We’ll be there with our shiny new gym memberships and our promises to each other and ourselves.

We’ll be there with freshly minted purpose and every good intention.

And, almost immediately, folks will begin dropping off. Or… more likely… sliding back to the center of the teeter-totter, where it’s the most comfortable. Where there’s the least amount of upheaval and change.

Maybe it’s cynical, but I don’t have much faith in first-of-the-year proclamations. It’s easy to work yourself up into a bombastic fit, especially when everyone around you is smack-talking about what they’re gonna do in the new year.

Lasting change? That’s a different story.

Don’t get me wrong–I really do hope that today starts something special for you. I hope you find your way on this twisty road and I hope you accomplish everything you’ve set out to accomplish.

But this is bigger than a date on a calendar or a bullet point on a list of resolutions. It has to be bigger than that for you to really reach your goals.

You’re going to do it this year… or not.

It’s your choice.

It always is.





.

Seeing Red... and White on a Wordless Wednesday

Red and white here.

Jewelry Libations for New Year's Eve

Cocktails and jewelry - what a winning combination. As I was recently pondering what jewelry to break out for my favorite champagne-drenched holiday this Friday (wait for the Carrie Bradshaw moment...), I couldn't help but wonder (there it is...): Why is it that jewelry and luxury libations have such a glittering partnership?

First, there's the cocktail ring. The jewelry category emerged in the roaring 20s during Prohibition at illegal, booze-filled ‘cocktail’ parties. Women went big with fashion statements at these underground soirees, flashing their oversized, colorful baubles along with their newly exposed knee caps.

Cocktail rings generally have an oversized center stone of 3 carats or more and are typically worn on the right hand (any finger will do). But as we jewelry hounds know, there are plenty of costume options out there that won't break the bank.

But there's another drinkable jewelry look emerging from the shadows lately - champagne diamonds. From light champagnes, to burnished browns and rich cognacs, these natural diamonds offer a selection of tones and hues to compliment every style, taste and tolerance level.



An informative piece in the New York Times reports that the stone made its debut in the late 1990s when it was discovered in Rio Tinto's Argyle mine in Australia, but is only now gaining a strong following - including from yours truly and a bevy of Hollywood's leading ladies.

If you really want to tie one on, how about a double shot with a champagne diamond cocktail ring like this one for almost $400 off retail? 'Tis the season!

And be sure to check out the champagne diamond treasure chest on Jewelry.com for more bubbly bling - it's jewelry that's perfect for teetotalers and the tipsy alike!

Now Playing at the Jack Sh*t Octoplex...

And if you're gonna eat Milk Duds, at least don't order them with extra melted butter...

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Ray-Ban - RB4125 Cats (5913 758/32 Red Grey W/ Brown Gradient) - Eyewear

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