DWTS' Maksim Chmerkovskiy To Launch Jewelry Line

Dancing With The Stars jewelry usually comes in the guise of the big, bold and blingy ballroom baubles found on the show's leading ladies. But hunky dance pro, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, isn't one to be left out of the mix.

The hottie hoofer and Kirstie Alley-partner tweeted that he's,

"VERY EXCITED to announce that my jewelry line "MAKSIM" is being launched at the end of May! Amazon.com and Endless.com Retailers all over the country shortly after!"

No word yet on price points or design elements, but he promised to post some teaser pics soon. Stay tuned. He also tweeted that while MAKSIM is a men's jewelry line, women will be able to sport his styles too.

"My jewelry line is predominantly for men, but women can certainly wear it. Pictures coming soon so you can tell me what you think."
 
Somehow, I don't think he'll have a problem attracting the female audience.

Click here for more "Dancing With the Stars" jewelry buzz!

Twisted Baseball Necklace Ropes In Players

With the 2010 World Series underway (GO GIANTS!), I had to get an answer to a question many of my guy-friends have asked me this year:

"What's with those weird rope necklaces?"

I have to admit, while I am thrilled to see the menfolk embrace a jewelry tradition, these things look about as appealing as a twisted chain of sea slugs. And neck ropes? They don't really conjure up the warm/fuzzies, if you get my drift...

But apparently there is method to the rope-filled madness (and I mean 'madness' literally).

Phiten, maker of the official "Phiten rope necklace"explains it this way on MLB.com:

"We have a really unique product. It has the effect to stabilize your electric current inside the body. Every single product has been permeated with what we call the aqua titanium. We have technology to dissolve the metal into the water. That specially treated titanium allows the flow of energy."

"So many players believe in our technology, and at the same time, some players wear [them] as a fashion statement, some as a lucky charm. It all depends. There is a reason why they're wearing it -- that special water we permeate into the fabric."

Special water? Electric currents? Aqua titanium? And I thought we women were the only suckers for jewelry marketing. It's never dull in Mudville.

Baseball players may use twisted logic to rock the Phiten rope, but the Los Angeles Lakers don't need ANY excuse to sparkle in one of these little beauties... See Jewelry.com today for more on what folks are calling the most extravagant championship ring in the history of sports!

The Situation - Gym, Tan, Laundry, Jewelry?

He may not have won the judges' hearts on Dancing With The Stars last night, but Jersey Shore's alpha male, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, is betting his 15 minutes will get him a piece of the jewelry pie like all the other D-listers worth their salt (see Kelly Bensimon, Tori Spelling, and Priscilla Presley for more).

So, here's the situation: Sorrentino is partnering with Jeff George of Luxury Laces to start a line of rosary necklaces and sneaker jewelry. What good Italian Catholic boy wouldn't want to wear Rosary beads while he creeps, right? And sneaker jewelry - as in rhinestoned laces (what else?) - are the perfect way to avoid those 'grenades' on the dance floor.

“Luxury Laces has always been a favorite of the Sorrentino boys,” said a family friend according to Radoronline. “The guys wear them, and they give the rosary blinged out necklaces to their girls.”

And if Jersey Shore jewelry isn't your cup of tea, ladies, The Sitch is apparently designing a line of women's underwear, according to wetpaint.com.

Run, don't walk.

The Male Moment at the MTV Movie Awards

Jewelry moments at the MTV Movie awards couldn't compete with the spray tans, blue wigs and the most talked about accessory of the night - Lindsay Lohan's alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet - but I managed to find some sparkle on folks who are rarely in the mix:

The fellas.


Pairing statement necklaces with shirtless chic were Olympian Shawn White and comedian Russell Brand.



Puffy brought back the hip-hop medallion:


And Jersey Shore star, Pauly, took his stud status quite literally with an icy pair of square diamond earrings.


Men's jewelry trends range from the once ubiquitous diamond stud or dog tag pendant to leather cuffs and (the dreaded) pinky ring. But aside from the blinged out looks of guys like Lil Wayne or Fifty Cent - statement necklaces haven't really been popular as far as I know.

Maybe their time has come?

What do you think? Guys? Weigh in! And be sure to visit Jewelry.com for a round-up of the ladies' looks.

Jersey Shore: A Jewelry Primer

Guidos and Guidettes? Get out your notepads. I've just returned from an anthropological field study of the phenomenon known as Jersey Shore, and the resulting primer will set yous guys up for a wonderland of Seaside-inspired jewelry couture.

Jersey Shore Jewelry Tip #1 - Gold Chains:

It goes without saying, right? Gold chains rule The Shore style for guys, and the bigger the better. The show's cast has a penchant for the cross pendant - but it's clear there is an open door policy for anything weighing more than a Keystone Light.

Jersey Shore Jewlery Tip #2 - Studded Leather

Nothing sets off the 'chiseled ab under Ed Hardy T-shirt and back tats' look quite like the ubiquitious leather studded guy cuff. Cross and skull styles preferred.

Jersey Shore Jewelry Tip #3 - Double Diamond Stud Earrings

What better way to set off the gel than with oversized ice on both ears. A guy-only JS jewelry look, the double stud is a great way to transition from 20-something life as a hot-tub hookup king to 30-something adulthood as a car salesman - or bar back.

Jersey Shore Jewelry Tip #4 - Gold Hoops

While it's not an ideal choice for your weekend dance floor cat fight, the women of Jersey Shore like to adorn the ears with the giant gold hoop earring to set off the well-disguised hair extension. And if you can pair them with an unseemly underarm sweat stain - all the better.

Jersey Shore Jewelry Tip #5 - Nose and Belly Rings

Females who shun skin baring, hip hugging, cleavage spilling frocks in exchange for the covered up look of a Quaker are few and far between 'down the shore'. Enter the belly ring (for blinging up the bikini - a Shore staple), and the surprisingly tasteful sparkle of a nose ring - the perfect way to soften the blow of an unwelcome frat boy punch.

For more Jersey Shore fashionista news, check out today's Los Angeles Times article about the MTV phenomenon. And now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go rock the beats, perfect my Jell-O shot recipe and fine tune my 'hippo charge'.

Peace.