Photos In: 2011 AGTA Spectrum Awards

We were able to show you some of the 2011 Spectrum Award Winners earlier - but the AGTA has now posted the COMPLETE Set of photos...and these are glorious!!!

...of course the jewels are beautiful...but the photography of Robert Weldon makes them SING!

Check out the complete set at: http://www.agta.org/awards/2011-winners.html

...and a few new teasers...

2nd Place
Business/Day Wear
Gregore Morin
Gregore Joailliers
Santa Barbara, CA USA

18K white and yellow gold earrings featuring lemon Chrysoprase (22.0 ctw.) accented with Garnets (2.38 ctw.).

Editor's Choice
Katey Brunini
K. Brunini Jewels
Solana Beach, CA USA

18K rose gold and silver ring featuring white Opal accented with blue Sapphires (3.26 ctw.), Diamonds (.13 ctw.) and Rubies (.06 ctw.).

Honorable Mention
Business/Day Wear
Eva Cheng
Elite Import
San Francisco, CA USA

18K rose gold pendant/brooch featuring a freeform rose Quartz set with a .70 ct. round Diamond and accented with 178 Diamonds (1.20 ctw.).

December's Turquoise Blues...

"If cold December gave you birth
The month of snow and ice and mirth
Place on your hand a turquoise blue;
Success will bless whate'er you do."

If you are a December baby you have a great choice of stones to celebrate your "cold December" birth!

While the Traditional December Birthstones have long been Turquoise and Blue Zircon, the substitution of Blue Topaz for the hard to find Blue Zircon is a widely accepted practice.

But today, thanks in part to the Jewelry selling networks on television and internet access we are able to more readily find Blue Zircon...Great news for the purists out there!

...and in recent times there has been a push to add Tanzanite to the list of December alternative Birthstones.

Quite appropriately Tanzanite has long been used in Tanzania as a stone that represented new birth and is presented to new Mothers. So representing the month that gives birth to a new year seems logical!

Photos:

Turquoise Estate Necklace from Fay Cullen

Blue Topaz from John Dyer 53.68 ct Topaz StarBrite™ - Photography by Lydia Dyer

Just under 10 carat Blue Zircon ring from Jewelry Television

Erica Courtney's AGTA Award Winning Earrings - Photography by Robert Weldon

Celebrity Jewel: Holiday Celeb Sightings...

The Holidays bring lots of events and lots of Celebrity Sightings!

...of course the obvious is the American Music Awards.

While there wasn't as much edgy fashion and young jewelry designers as I have always hoped for in this show - there were great nods to some of the big names in Red Carpet Jewelry.

"Your Teenage Dream" Katy Perry in a Brumani bracelet, and Pink Tourmaline and Pave earrings byVRAM for GRAY.

Editor's note - I love these earrings! I was checking out their Facebook page looks like a Fab shop! must check it out soon!

Jessica Alba presented in Cushnie et Ochs, Christian Louboutin, and Aandra Neen jewels...

Editor's Note: did you notice that this look bucks the trend to big earring & stacks of bangles? Bold move Ms. Alba!

Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas made a Red Carpet appearance in a Falguni & Shane peacock dress, Ruthie Davis “Spikette” shoes, Rene Caovilla clutch, and Loree Rodkin jewels.

Editor's Note: This was probably the most "Rock n Roll" look of the night - it would have made more of an impact if her hair wasn't doing battle with the peacocks!

Rihanna - usually someone we can count on for edgy looks, showed up looking RED hot in a scarlet gown from the Fall/Winter 2010 Elie Saab Haute Couture collection - add Christian Louboutin shoes and Neil Lane jewels - Gorgeous!

Even the always tough Avril Lavigne is growing up...hot off a new album release is wearing Dolce&Gabbana with a Lori Rodkin ring, Gwyneth B bracelets, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, and a Jimmy Choo clutch.

...and talk about growing up! Miley Cyrus in Marchesa, Christian Louboutin, and Neil Lane jewelry.

See the full stories at:

Just Jared

Marie-Claire

It was a Who's-Who at the recent Lorraine Schwartz 2BHappy Launch...celebrities glittered in Lorraine's gorgeous jewels!

See the story at:

CocoPerez

SoulfulBeauty.com

RedCarpet-FashionAwards

Just Jared

Sad To See - Courtney Love Sued Over Borrowed Jewels

Just when it appeared that Courtney Love (front woman for alternative rock band Bush) was pulling her life together and looked cleaner than I ever remember her being...

Jacob & Co - company of famed jeweler to the stars Jacob the Jeweler - is suing the troubled celeb for not returning over $100,000 worth of borrowed jewelry.

The company claims to have let Love "borrow" two white gold and diamond chains, a white gold, floral-design mesh bracelet and a pair of white gold and diamond pave hoop earrings" Photo: Courtney wearing the pieces described.

Love apparently says the missing pieces were lost. But Jacob & Co.'s lawyer, Jeffrey Klarsfeld, says Love agreed to be responsible for the items "regardless of loss or damage."

For the full story and photos see http://www.prefixmag.com/news/courtney-love-is-being-sued-again-this-time-over-m/46414/

Pioneering Cartier Pieces Highlight Bonhams December Jewellery Sale

Two important Cartier pieces are among the top lots of the Bonhams Art of Jewels: Fine Jewellery and Iconic Gems sale on December 9th at New Bond Street.

An impressive Art-Deco diamond necklace by Cartier, 1936 demonstrates the pioneering nature of the French jewellery house during a time when they were attempting to push the boundaries of design. Cartier were among the first to use the rare metal platinum, which was to change the future of jewellery design. The signed necklace offered by Bonhams is estimated at £100,000 – 150,000 and is made up of numerous cuts of diamonds: old brilliant, brilliant, single, square and baguette cut diamonds that sit on pierced geometric plaques, graduating in size from the centre.

A very rare diamond and natural pearl bow brooch by Cartier, circa 1960 is a further highlight of the sale, estimated at £150,000 – 200,000. The looped ribbons are set throughout with brilliant and baguette cut diamonds that suspend two large natural saltwater pearls, which are exceptional specimens. These two examples clearly show why Cartier jewellery was described as "Jeweller to Kings, King to Jewellers."

Other signed pieces included in the sale are a ruby and diamond bangle by Van Cleef & Arpels circa 1970, estimated at £10,000 – 15,000 and a diamond bangle from the "Phoenix Wonderland" collection by the renowned British jeweller Boodles, estimated at £15,000 – 20,000. The cuff is designed as a stylised phoenix rising up the forearm when worn, set with brilliant-cut diamonds and lager pear-shaped diamond highlights.

Further highlights of the sale include a selection of impressive natural pearls. A pearl necklace with a ruby and diamond clasp, circa 1930 is estimated to sell for £10,000 – 15,000.

They were given as a present to a relative of the current owner by the first Monarch of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King (Malik) of Saudi Arabia, commonly referred to as "Ibn Saud". A large bouton pearl and diamond ring is estimated to sell for £15,000 – 20,000.

http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/17851/

Chanel Spring 2011 Press Day

Last week the iconic house of Chanel invited the press to view their 2011 Spring Collection.

There were all the fabulous handbags and accessories that we have come to expect from Chanel but this is a jewelry blog so lets take a look at the Chanel Jewelry.

Fashion Bracelets...enamel with their iconic double C logo - Glittering Lucite Bangles

...and shoulder dusting earrings from gold & blackened metal chains - what would Chanel be without chain.

For a full report on all things Chanel see the Red Carpet-Fashion Awards Blog...

This Week in Celebrity Jewels

Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester attended the Court of Jewels Recreation launch at the Harry Winston store, wearing a Marchesa romper from the Spring 2011 collection, Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, Marchesa handbag, and Harry Winston jewels.

Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/11/17/leighton-meester-plunging-neck-line-for-harry-winston/#ixzz15y09ePn7

Halle Berry attended a cocktail party in NYC celebrating Harry Winston's Court of Jewels.

Simply classic in a Dolce & Gabbana strapless dress with Christian Loubouton heels.

The black gown helped draw attention to the number of diamonds she was wearing on her arm.

via CocoPerez blog http://cocoperez.com/?from=newsletter&p=65077

At the American Museum of Natural History’s 2010 Museum Gala on Thursday (November 18) in New York City, Anne Hathaway in dress, shoes and bag from Miu Miu, Bochic earrings and bracelet, and a Fred Leighton ring.