Oprah Gives Pink Diamonds to Aussie Audience

And YOU get a pink diamond! And YOU get a pink diamond! And YOU get a pink diamond!..

And I'm getting a headache from hearing about all the crazy schwag these 'Oprah's Ultimate Favorite Things' audience members are making out with.

From a $2,500 Philip Stein watch, studded with 58 diamonds; $1,900, 1.17-carat Dana Rebecca earrings, featuring 100 diamonds; $525 Judith Ripka earrings made with canary crystal stones and white sapphire accents and...

A. TRIP. TO. AUSTRALIAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

...these folks are getting more free stuff than Debra Messing at a pre-Oscar gift bag party.

But this latest little freebie for 6,000 folks in Oprah's Australian audience has me really drooling with envy: a necklace featuring a real pink diamond designed in the shape of an 'O' (of course).

It makes sense that Australia's famous diamond exporter, Rio Tinto is in on the action - and because they are the largest supplier of pink diamonds, it makes even more sense that they'd create a style for the Divine Miss O with that coveted stone as the centerpiece.

The AP reports the one-off design uses "Australian colors" and features seven diamonds including a rare pink Argyle diamond mined from its operations in Western Australia's Kimberley region.

And now 6000(!) audience members are going away with one for friggin' free.

What's next? Free cars? Oh, right....

No pics have surfaced of the O-inspired style since the show won't air until later this season, but I'm sure the piece will look something like this:

Or this:

Which reminds me. Circle pendants (a style that Oprah sent off into the jewelry stratosphere back in 2006) are a great, classic way to gift the women on your list this holiday - for romance, friendship, good parenting, rockin' "round" the Christmas tree (sorry) - the look is universally wearable.

And affordable. Circle back to JewelClub for their stash of circle styles - many under $100 (like this one for just over $50!).

And Oprah? If you're listening? I've been a very good girl this year....

Diamonds and Divas in DC

The 2010 Kennedy Center Honors were handed out this weekend to the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Sir Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, Bill T. Jones and Jerry Herman. And the red carpet was littered with a tony crowd of well-wishers that included a wide range of jewelry choices.

Let's start with THE DIVAS:

The woman who put the D in Diva was on hand to upstage anyone who deigned make an entrance grander.

Diana Ross.

Floor-length mink? Check. Diamond jewelry overload? Check. Silver sequins? Check. The only thing missing was a wind machine and a Central Park downpour to make this moment shine brighter.

But no one outshines.... The Oprah.

Wearing a cleavage-bearing white dress shirt/gown combo, the O beamed in diamond teardrop earrings as she was honored (and roasted) by the likes of Chris Rock and President Obama, among others.

THE DANGLERS:

Shoulder duster earrings are making a comeback, with Holly Robinson Peete and Gayle King sporting the trend to perfection.

THE DOMINO EFFECT:

Black and white diamonds are a seasonal favorite, and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles along with a surprisingly svelte Jennifer Hudson sparkled in subtle black/white earring choices like these beauties for only $166.

THE DO-OVER:

Who doesn't love Mary Louise Parker? I just don't love the bed-head hair, awkward red carpet pose and too-tired statement neck/long black gown combo. Check, please.

Thoughts, jewelry hounds?

Oh, and the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony (which ALWAYS makes me cry) airs on CBS on December 28th.

'Sister Wives' Creates Claddagh Ring Craze

Rings and romance. For centuries we lowly humans have been using metal bands around our fingers to say "Go ahead." or "Beat it!"  And while the mainstream tradition in this country is to don a diamond ring and a wedding band, the Claddagh ring is a favorite of the Irish.

And polygamists, apparently.

The latest reality phenom, Sister Wives, tells the tale of a Utah man, his 4 'brides' and their day-to-day shenanigans. Hollywood Life reports the Fab 5 shut down a Utah jewelry store recently to get a Claddagh ring for the newest member of their clan.

Curious about the Claddagh? Here's the lowdown, according to Wikipedia:

The Claddagh's design features two hands clasping a heart, usually topped with a crown. There are four ways to wear the Claddagh: on the right hand with the heart oriented away to show you're single; on the right hand with the heart turned in to show you're in a relationship; on the left hand turned out to show you're engaged; on the left hand turned in to show you're married.

Confused? Think of how Brigham Young must have felt.

I think the Claddagh is a lovely way to rings thing up if you're looking for something different. And there are both men's and women's styles available - like these affordable looks on Jewelry.com:

For the curious, Sister Wives airs on TLC on Sundays at 10pm. And Oprah is grilling the group on today's show!

Katy Perry Glows at The Met Gala

My head is still spinning from the amazing jewelry and frock display at last night's Costume Institute Gala at The Met. If Oscar Night is The Super Bowl of fashion gawking let's call this one The World Cup.

A-listers from Oprah and SJP to Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway lit up the carpet. But it was one Katy Perry who took that sentiment quite literally.

It wasn't Katy's jaw-dropping Lorraine Schwartz statement necklace that had tongues wagging - it was her CuteCircuit LED-laced dress that flashed flourescent streaks of yellow, pink, green and blue lights depending on her mood (the control switch was safely ensconced in her cleavage for good keeping).

Katy told one reporter,

"I feel like I really have to represent those girls that just go for it and do their own thing and, you know, have their own bit of spontaneity and self confidence. I think sometimes in fashion it can get a little stuffy so I wanted to lighten up!"

CuteCircuit are no strangers to hi-tech fashion. In 2006 their Hug Shirt was named one of the Best Inventions of the Year by Time Magazine. Katy's dress is a more wearable version of the design duo Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz's stunning Galaxy dress - a hi-tech gown embroidered with 24,000 tiny LED bulbs now on display in an American museum.

What do you guys think of Katy's look? Totally hip? Or trying too hard?

For more Met jewelry gawking, click here for Jewelry.com's full coverage of the event.