Wedding Jewelry Wednesday: Engagement Rings for Men

Leap years bring a variety of traditions and superstitions, but this one has to be my favorite: Women are “allowed” to propose to men during leap years. Although I think it’s perfectly acceptable for anyone to propose to the person he or she loves, I still like the idea that, even a hundred years ago, it was socially acceptable during leap years.

With that being said, it’s still a non-traditional way for a man and a woman to get engaged. That means that there are no “rules” for the man’s engagement ring – if you choose to present one. Since the tradition may have Irish roots, you could choose a Celtic-inspired band like the one below.

14k Gold Celtic Knot Ring, Amazon.com

If you present an engagement ring to a man, would he wear that in place of a wedding band? The set below solves that problem with two stacking bands. The man could wear one as an engagement ring, and the other could be added later as a wedding band.

Dark Silver Stacking Rings for Men, tinahdee on Etsy.com

Of course, you may still want to get a ring with the classic engagement ring combination of gold and diamonds. The ring below fills the bill quite nicely.

Men’s 1/4 Carat Diamond Band, Zales.com

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Six Picks: Get 2012 Oscars Style

Last night’s Academy Awards red carpet offered up a gorgeous array of accessory styles that any jewelry lover could appreciate. The celebrities showed off many great looks that let us live vicariously through their sparkle.

That being said, many of these looks can be captured in accessories that the rest of us can afford. Here are a few of my favorite red carpet jewelry picks, with examples of pieces that allow you to get the look.

1. Glittering bangle bracelets (as seen on Penelope Ann Miller – Celebrity-Gossip.net) provide a touch of glamour to any outfit. The one below captures some of the vintage style of Miller’s bracelet.

Kalina’s Fancy CZ Cuff Bracelet, Emitations.com

2. Show-stopping emeralds (as seen on Viola Davis – JustJared) will never get old. Let’s be honest – the Lorraine Schwartz jewels that Davis wore are unparalleled. But these dramatic emerald earrings are beautiful in their own way.

Emerald and Diamond Earrings, Ross-Simons

3. An oversized link bracelet (as seen on Emma Stone – JustJared) is just about all you need to accent an outfit. I love the scale of this one, and it could go with a lot of different looks.

Kenneth Jay Lane Large Link Bracelet, Amazon

4. Double diamond earrings (as seen on Milla Jovovich – JustJared) provide a gorgeous touch to an outfit. The graduated stones in the earrings are classic and beautiful.

Nadri Framed CZ Drop Earrings, Bloomingdale’s

5. A glittering necklace (as seen on Michelle Williams – JustJared) was just about all that Ms. Williams needed to accent her lovely, vibrant gown. I think a necklace like this one would be beautiful on a bride.

Masterpiece CZ Necklace, With This Bling

6. Sapphire chandelier earrings (as seen on Tina Fey – Celebrity-Gossip.net) were a nice change from the diamond and/or emerald earrings that have been abundant on red carpets lately.

Sapphire and Diamond Chandelier Earrings, Zales.com

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News: Argyle Pink Jubilee Diamond

The Argyle mine in Australia recently turned up an “unprecedented” surprise: a 12.76-carat pink diamond (PINK!!! Cue my “My Little Pony”-loving* inner child). Click the link for a photo.

The diamond’s cutting and polishing process will require an estimated two months of planning and ten days to execute. I’d better start saving my pennies, because the diamond (dubbed the Argyle Pink Jubilee) will be going up for sale later this year. It’s going to look amazing in my tiara…

*My favorite was a pink, winged pony named Sun Glider. Wish I still had her. And my world is now about 1,000 times brighter upon discovering there’s a website called mylittlewiki.org.

Wedding Jewelry Wednesday: Bridal Jewelry Rental

It’s common for celebrities to wear borrowed jewelry for big events such as awards ceremonies and movie premieres. But as a bride, you can get in on the concept of “borrowing” jewelry for your big day, too.

Middleton Earrings, Adorn.com

A bride can choose jewelry from an online vendor (such as Adorn), have it mailed to her for a rental fee, and then return it. The bride gets to wear elegant pieces that most likely would have been out of her price range. The Middleton earrings above, for example, which retail for $10,875, can be rented for $160. That’s a savings that a certain outfit-recycling duchess could be proud of.

I stumbled upon this concept by accident, and I find it fascinating. I think the hardest part would be saying goodbye to those gorgeous gems when the rental period is over. Would you consider renting jewelry for your wedding day?

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Druzy Jewelry

As I was researching this month’s amethyst birthstone post, I came across a term I hadn’t seen before: druzy. (Can you tell I’m not a jeweler? I’m not a jeweler.)

“White Opal” Druzy, DruzyGem.com

Druzy, (sometimes written as drusy) refers to the characteristic of being covered by crystals. I’m a girl who loves some sparkle, so… it definitely wasn’t a chore to investigate the topic further. I came across some really beautiful examples of this type of stone in jewelry. I easily could have featured twice as many of my favorites.

1. What’s not to love about these double drop druzy earrings? They offer the best of both worlds: rough druzy stones and shimmering, iridescent faceted ones.

Gray Druzy Double Drop Earrings, Julianne Blumlo at Etsy.com

2. I’ve always been fascinated by geodes, so the idea of a small wearable one in ring form is especially appealing. I find it interesting that the band on this ring has some pattern to it, too.

Purple Druzy Ring, Tazzie’s Custom Jewelry at Etsy.com

3. In a move that surprises no one, I’ve included a necklace with briolettes. But the faceted stones do complement the teardrop shape of the black druzy centerpiece.

Black Druzy Necklace, RubyLane.com

4. If you’re looking to add a feminine accent to an outfit, these druzy studs would do the trick. They’re definitely not dainty in size, but their petal pink color makes them work for everyday wear.

Pink Druzy Earrings, Nakia Design at Etsy.com

5. This bracelet is one of those pieces that I just can’t stop looking at. Everything from the sparkle of the druzy stones to the lovely lilac color of the amethysts makes this a stunning accessory.

Titanium Rainbow with Amethyst Bracelet, DruzyGem.com

6. I love the bold metallic look of this druzy pendant. The setting is plated in 18k gold that provides a nice contrast to the titanium druzy.

Marcia Moran Organic Titanium Druzy Necklace, RainCollection.com

If you’re interested in more specific information about druzy gems, I found Barbara W. Smigel’s website to be particularly helpful.

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News: A Lovely Week

Kismet by Milka’s heart bracelet, $380, available at ShopLatitude.com

What a week it’s been for jewelry lovers! From receiving Valentine’s Day baubles to Grammy jewelry standouts, we’ve had a lot to take in recently.

One of the big stories this week was, of course, the gorgeous Kismet by Milka dove necklace (available at Fragments Jewelry) that Kimberly Perry wore to the Grammys. I’ve fallen in love with some of this designer’s other jewelry, too. I think the bracelet above captures the spirit of the week nicely.

Here’s a roundup of other jewelry news and information:

• Jewelry store hosts Valentine’s Day weddings: WSET
• Q & A with Baltimore jewelry designer Megan Auman: Baltimore Sun
• Blue Nile drops engagement ring prices: JCK Online
• Gold jewelry demand fell in 2011 due to high prices: Forbes

Wedding Jewelry Wednesday: Ruby Engagement Rings

By the time this is published, it will unfortunately be too late for you to get in on the Pizza Hut proposal package. For $10,010 (plus tax, naturally), you could get a proposal fit for, well, anyone who really loves Pizza Hut. It includes limo service, flowers, a fireworks show, a photographer, a videographer, and a red ruby ring. (Oh, and the extra $10 is for the dinner box.)

The package’s ruby ring got me thinking about nontraditional engagement rings, though. And since I still haven’t quite gotten Valentine’s Day out of my system yet, here are a few romantic ruby engagement ring choices. As with last week’s post on diamond cluster rings, it’s broken down by your approximate budget.

• $2,000 budget:

Celtic Trinity Ring, RavensRefuge on Etsy

__________

• $1,500 budget:

Estate Ruby and Diamond Ring, Amazon

__________

• $1,000 budget:

Art Deco Engraved Ruby and Diamond Filigree Ring, Antique Jewelry Mall

__________

• $500 budget:

Diamond and Ruby Ring, Buy.com

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Six Picks: Get 2012 Grammys Style

Given Whitney Houston’s untimely death, I was certainly expecting a more subdued tone for last night’s 2012 Grammy awards fashion. Despite a notable exception (Nicki Minaj) or two (Fergie), that’s what the Grammys delivered.

Black, white, and gold gowns dominated the scene, accented by a few notable jewelry looks. Here are a few examples of my favorite accessories, with suggestions for affordable, wearable pieces that the rest of us can pull off.

1. A gold bib necklace (as seen on Alicia Keys – JustJared) can make a big statement. I like this linked bib necklace from Modcloth, which offers a more casual look.

Newsworthy Style Necklace, Modcloth.com

2. A longer-length pendant necklace (as seen on Kelly Clarkson – JustJared) is lovely with a low neckline on an evening gown for a night out, or with a jacket or sweater during the day.

Sterling Silver Black Enamel Pendant (with 30″ chain), Amazon.com

3. Coordinating bracelet and earrings sets (as seen on Katy Perry, click over for the hair if for nothing else – JustJared) are an elegant way to make sure your accessories match. (Perry’s reported $2 million accessory ensemble is the stuff of dreams.)

CZ Bracelet & Earrings Set, Amazon.com

4. Glittering drop earrings (as seen on Miranda Lambert – JustJared) are expected at awards shows, but I think they’re a good reminder that we can all use a little more sparkle in our accessories.

Celia Earrings, Ziamond.com

5. A touch of gold (as seen on Taylor Swift – JustJared) is all you need when your apparel already has some embellishments – or in Swift’s case, many embellishments. I like the extra dimension that the citrine stones bring to these gold earrings.

Citrine Drop Earrings, Ross-Simons

6. Statement hoop earrings (as seen on Kimberly Perry – OK) are certainly acceptable on this more fashion-forward awards show’s red carpet. In your everyday wardrobe, they can go a long way.

Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Classic Marc’ Hoop Earrings, Nordstrom

As a side note, the Kismet by Milka dove necklace that Kimberly Perry wore during her performance as part of The Band Perry has gotten a lot of buzz. You can get more information about it here.

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Six Picks: Amethyst Appreciation Club

“The February-born shall find sincerity and peace of mind, freedom from passion and from care, if they an amethyst will wear.”
via here

Purple was my favorite color when I was a kid. Add that to the fact that I was an avid rock collector, and it should come as no surprise that this was one of my favorite things:

It’s a piece of rough amethyst that I purchased at a science center gift shop many years ago. I loved looking at the layers and the glittering purple facets.

Fast forward to today, and I still have a weakness for this moody purple quartz. Amethysts are very versatile stones – often inexpensive enough to be used in sterling or in beading applications, but beautiful enough to merit gold settings. (The quality of the stone, of course, plays a role in its ultimate use.) Here are a few of the amethyst pieces that have caught my eye recently.

1. I can’t think of a better way to transition from garnets (January’s birthstone) to amethysts than to showcase a pair of earrings that features both. I love the random wire-wrapped look of these hoops.

Amethyst Garnet Hoop Earrings, Sundance

2. This pendant certainly brought back memories of my own amethyst specimen. Its name – the Crystal Castle necklace – really captures the whimsy of the stone in the rough.

Crystal Castle Necklace, MarKhed on Etsy

3. This amethyst and rose gold infinity knot ring from Gemvara features a gorgeous use of the increasingly popular metal. I love how feminine the pinkish metal looks against the purple stone.

Infinity Knot Ring, Gemvara.com

4. The patterns within amethyst stones make them very interesting in beaded jewelry. This chunky amethyst rock bracelet shows off the gems in a beautiful way, and features a fun toggle connector.

Amethyst Rock Bracelet, Laura Mac Jewelry and Accessories on Etsy

5. This amazing ring from Helzberg Diamonds is certainly a show-stopper. I can’t say enough about how beautiful the Rose de France amethyst looks with the rhodolite garnet side stones.

Cushion Cut Rose de France Amethyst Ring, Helzberg Diamonds

6. I mentioned that amethysts are beautiful enough for exquisite gold settings, and here’s all the proof you need. A 2.3 carat amethyst hangs beautifully inside a wavy gold cage pendant.

White Gold Sphere Pendant with Amethyst, OrzaLuxe

Pinterest Bonus. If you’re following me over on Pinterest, you know that I’ve been pinning amethyst jewelry favorites. This bangle is easily one of my top picks. Stunning.

Geometric Amethyst Bangle Bracelet, Zales

Fun fact: The word “amethyst” is derived from the Ancient Greek word for “intoxicated,” as it was believed that the stone would protect the wearer from drunkenness.

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News: Stella & Dot’s “Retro Chic” Sales Approach

“I think of that line as reflective of the trends, not pacesetting or fashion forward, but a lot of really wearable pieces in there,” Elise Loehnen, editor in chief of Beso.com, on Stella & Dot. (As quoted in The New York Times)

Stella & Dot’s Pippa necklace, $69, from the Amalfi Collection.

I’ve been curious about Stella & Dot for a while now. The accessory company’s direct-sales approach is nothing new. But they seem to have struck a chord with women who enjoy shopping in a social setting.

The New York Times recently published a piece that takes a look inside one of the company’s parties. It was interesting to get insight from those behind the scenes.

Here’s a roundup of other jewelry news and information:

• Hong Kong jewelry contest winners announced: JCK Online
• Sharon Osbourne sued by jewelry company: E! Online
• Spotlight on jeweler Alexandra Moosally: The Hollywood Reporter
• Who created Miranda Lambert’s Super Bowl earrings? Find out: Chron.com