now THAT's a rock....

"[the diamond has] top colour, perfect clarity, ideal cut and excellent weight.  and if you add to this the impeccable provenance of the annenberg name, you have one of the finest gems to appear on the market for many years."

- francois curiel, chairman of christie's europe and international head of jewels, comment's on the annenberg diamond's four c's

the 32.01 carat, emerald cut, d colour, flawless annenberg diamond, flanked by two pear-shaped 1.50 and 1.61 carat diamonds, up for auction this wednesday at christie's new york.  it has been valued between usd3 and usd 5 million.  [sigh]  now THAT's definitely a rock....

update your ears

"i would rather lose a good earring than be caught without makeup."

- lana turner

it's time to update your ears - hkd69.90 at h&m.

diamonds are a girl's best friend

"better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one."
- chinese proverb

sorry - i am away this week so posting will be at a minimum. this should get you going though....

icee fresh

"i am a diamond concierge. our base is here [slauson super mall, south central los angeles]. i won't bring tom cruise into the store but i'll go to him. we're doing well here. with the way the economy is going, it would have been stupid for us to migrate west. the diamond district is a ghost town now, people are killing one another over business.... it's bullshit that the luxury market is not affected. even the rich are more conscious about how they spend their money."

- ben baller on his business, icee fresh

want customised jewellery? go to icee fresh of california state, pillsbury doughboy and 13-carat g-shock fame. this life-size 7up can was moulded with 720g of gold and decorated in 150 carats of diamonds. price upon application. bodyguard, neck brace and painkillers sold separately.

taken to the cleaners

"the moon's an arrant thief, and her pale fire she snatches from the sun."

- william shakespeare

scotland yard's released cctv images of the two smartly-dressed gunmen entering graff last week

two men took 43 items from the graff store on new bond street in london last week including a yellow oval diamond ring containing 179 diamonds, an oval-shaped white diamond single line necklace encrusted with 78 diamonds and a multi-coloured diamond flower necklace consisting of 272 pink and yellow diamonds. they left with a female hostage although she was released upon their getaway in a blue bmw after firing the first of two warning shots into the air. this car crashed into the back of a black cab on dover street at which point the men fired a second shot, also into the air, and then switched to a silver mercedes. det supt stuart cundy, of scotland yard's flying squad, said that he was keeping an "open mind" about the robbery and had not ruled out that the diamonds were stolen to order for a "mr big" or that the criminals were helped by an insider.

watching you, watching me

"wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out, and strike it, merely to show that you have one."

- lord chesterfield

christopher ward henley chronograph in gold

gbp345

chunky, statement jewellery continues to be a strong trend this fall. with all those bangles running up your arms, it's important that your timepiece can hold its own against them. established four years ago, christopher ward is available exclusively online (and ships globally). their pieces are more classic and subtle than the enamel/iced versions which are very popular right now but are offered at the same price point.

a real deal

"jewellery takes people's minds of your wrinkles."

- sonja henie

j.crew jewelled garland earrings

hand-casted brass with hand-set glass stones; surgical steel posts

usd79.50

j.crew constellation locket

czech glass crystals on 18k shiny gold-plated brass; 32" chain

usd50

j.crew jewelled garland bracelet

hand-set glass stones interspersed with grosgrain bows; 7 1/2" length

usd95

j.crew pearl-cluster bracelet

12k gold-plated brass chain linking pearls and fireballs; 7 1/2" length

usd78

j.crew majesty stone bracelet

hand-cut glass stones on hand-casted brass chain; 7 1/2" length

usd78

j.crew is going upmarket with its new collection of "instant heirloom" jewellery. the styling is elegant and very old-school whilst the prices are extremely recession-friendly. one could even imagine them being used as wedding pieces....

diamonds and pearls

"the rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls."

- jean de la bruyere

erickson beamon multi-strand pearl and crystal necklace

[close-up]

chanel classic flap bag in white cowhide

timeless accessories make easy companions for lazy sunday brunch.

earily fabulous

"the right to be heard does not include the right to be taken seriously."

- hubert h humphrey

chandeliers have been so IT this spring and continue to be for fw09.  i bought a pair today because i was cornered into putting down a deposit at one particular bridal boutique (ms mandongas has her customers pay before they sample) and didn't enjoy their "service" so wanted to just spend the money (it's redeemable) and get out of there.  how is a bride to choose when limited to a three-gown try-on??!!  at least i got a nice accessory at the end of the ordeal.  just please tell me you can't pick which is the wedding pair....