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!

Celebrity Black Diamond Blitz

Black diamond jewelry has always been a sexy statement, but it hasn't been in the spotlight much until Sex And The City 2.

While I won't give away the plot for those of you who are waiting cringe your way through it in the safety of your own home - I'll just say that one character receives a five carat, 18k black diamond ring designed by Itay Malkin worth $10,000 (pictured above). And now black diamond engagement ring sales are going through the roof, according to Gemvara's Cheryl Kremkow.

But there have been other celebrity black diamond sightings this summer:

Christina Aguilera is always in black and white diamond ice from her jewelry guru, Stephen Webster, and wore a pair of black diamond drop earrings to the MTV Movie Awards.


Kim Kardashian's former love, Reggie Bush, showed up the 2010 ESPY Awards in black diamond stud earrings - a supercool statement to celebrate his Superbowl win with the New Orleans Saints.


And Lauren Conrad lit up her Mandalay mini at The Hills finale afterparty with a black diamond ring by Cheryl Lynn Greenspoon, according to Luxist.



So what is a black diamond?

Most black diamonds are actually white or colorless diamonds that become black after exposure to a widely used and extremely safe radiation treatment. The dark color fully penetrates the stone and will not fade over time. This process not only results in a black diamond but is also used to create every color of the diamond rainbow - from red to green, purple to even brown. Natural black diamonds are extremely rare and are not often seen in the jewelry world.

Here are a few of my favorite black diamond gems from Jewelry.com:

Or click here to shop their entire stash of affordable black diamond dazzlers.

SATC2 Premieres in London with Hair Extensions, Hats and an Homage

It's baaaaaccck.

Staying true to her SATC London premiere look from 2008, Sarah Jessica Parker wowed the Brits with yet another Alexander McQueen frock topped with a stunner of a Philip Treacy, ummm, hat I suppose you would call it.

While the look she sported in 2008 fell on the wrong side of 'ridiculous' in my opinion, this choice I have to admit is wonderfully whimsical. Perhaps because it's paired with her diamond-studded arm-band homage to the deceased Alexander McQueen, whose untimely death will surely cause a vacuum of envelope pushing in the fashion world (he is the designer responsible for everything Lady Gaga wears to wow these days).



The other leading ladies - probably used to being upstaged at this juncture - didn't disappoint with a stunning Kristin Davis in vintage Norman Norell from Decades and simple diamond studs:


Kim Katrall in vintage Thierry Mugler accessorized with a great Fred Leighton brooch at the waist and that classic Hollywood hair she seems to love of late.


And Cynthia Nixon in teal Narciso Rodriguez with gorgeous vintage diamond teardrop earrings that are hidden by those unfortunate hair extensions (ladies, you're not fooling anyone).



So I'm dying to know if you agree with me. Do you love or hate the SJP hat choice? What do you think of the other looks? Again, Kristin Davis does not disappoint, but I have to give this one to the scene stealer. Thoughts?

'Sex And The City 2' Premieres in Style

High fashion, diamond jewelry, Liza Minnelli - three of my favorite things lit up Radio City Music Hall last night to celebrate the debut of Sex And The City 2. And while rumor has it the fashion in the film is a bit disappointing (don't quote me - haven't seen it yet), the fab four of the female franchise all rocked the red carpet in style.


Let's start with SJP - a vision in bright yellow Valentino, newly blonde locks and a sun-kissed look that screams, "I'm a big star".


She is a fan of the layered diamond bracelet (see her 2010 Oscar ensemble for more), and used the look here since the dress's neckline didn't support a statement piece.


I kindof love the yellow flow here - it's a surprise without being annoying (like that controversial flower hat contraption she wore to the London premiere of the first movie. No, SJ. We haven't forgotten.)


Kim Catrall channeled old Hollywood glam in a metallic Naeem Khan gown with elegant diamond drop earrings and a diamond bracelet to match.


Cynthia Nixon kept things simple in a strapless black Carolina Herrera frock with a bejeweled leaf embellishment and black and white diamond drop earrings.


And my personal favorite - this Audrey Hepburn-esque vision in pink - Kristin Davis in a vintage Jean Desses dress from the 1950s made current by some diamond Fred Leighton drop earrings. Yay.




Who was your favorite of the foursome? Are you a 'Carrie'? A 'Miranda'? A 'Charlotte'? Or a 'Samantha'? Weigh in!

Trend Alert: The "Sex And The City 2" Clover Necklace Craze

Sex And The City is responsible for creating huge jewelry trends out of the horse-shoe pendant, flower right hand rings (like the one Samantha got from Smith in the first movie), and of course - the 'Carrie' necklace.

With SATC2 a mere 7 days from its debut, there's already serious buzz about the next must-have bauble from the show:

The clover necklace.

Not to toot my own horn, but I spotted the clover creation back in the fall when the first pics of SJP came out during the shoot (click here for more). So I figured I'd scout around to find affordable clover pendant options for the SATC-loving jewelry hounds out there (including yours truly).

Patricia Field:

If you want to go authentic, SATC stylist and fashion icon - Patricia Field - has a crystal costume version on her website for $72. Not bad.



Or there's this cheaper, (oops - I mean) more affordable option resulting from her collaboration with Payless - a limited edition piece for $12.99 made out of, well, whatever you can scrounge together for $12.99.

JewelClub:

Better yet, my favorite Sample Sale site, JewelClub, has the real deal - a 14kt gold and diamond version - for only $88.86. Just use the code INSIDER when you log in, enter the keyword 'clover' and grab one for yourself (looks like there's only a few left so act fast!)

In the meantime, be on the look out for more SATC2 fashion fall out, including all the Abu Dhabi-inspired looks like harem pants, gemstone colors, yellow gold and statement necklaces akimbo.


And is anyone else glad to see Aiden back in the storyline? You gotta love Mr. Big, but I've been harboring my Team Aiden leanings ever since she kicked him to the curb. He makes furniture. He eats chicken out of a bucket. He owns a dog. What's not to love, Carrie?