Design Art and Photography

New York–Jewelry designer Steven Edward The Touch is changing things up at the company’s manufacturing facilities.

From now on, all sterling silver, vermeil and rhodium-plated earrings will feature hypo-allergenic surgical stainless steel posts instead of 14-karat yellow gold.

The change will lower prices for earrings by $4.00 a pair.
(Full post Post switch makes for price reduction at The Touch…)

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Named by its new owner for his wife of 16 years, “The Shizuka Diamond” is a 101.27-carat stone mounted into a tiara for its sale at Christie’s in May 2008.

Hong Kong–The rare, 101.27-carat diamond sold at Christie’s spring 2008 Hong Kong auction is now known as “The Shizuka Diamond,” Christie’s announced on Thursday.

The giant stone’s owner selected the name as a gift for his wife of 16 years.

The Shizuka diamond netted $6.2 million at “Jewels: The Hong Kong Sale” in May 2008 and, according to the release from Christie’s, is the largest colorless diamond ever sold at auction in Asia.
(Full post 100-carat diamond gets its name…)

These sterling silver rings are part of Breuning’s new “Silver and Diamonds III” collection.

New York–Jewelry manufacturer Breuning is expanding its sterling silver offerings with a new collection of friendship rings.

The line, dubbed “Silver and Diamonds III,” features 12 matched pairs of rings either in silver only or silver paired with yellow or rose gold inlays. Half of the rings in the collection also feature diamond accents.

Breuning is offering retailers the line, plus a complimentary display to showcase it, for under $1,000.
(Full post Breuning expands silver offerings…)

Rio Grande will hold one of its popular hands-on showcases for jewelry-makers in Tucson this year.

The Catalog in Motion show is set to take place from Feb. 6-9 at the Tucson East Hilton in Tucson, Ariz.

Hosted by Rio Grande, this hands-on tools, equipment and techniques showcase for jewelry-makers is being held during the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
(Full post Catalog in Motion show set for Tucson…)

Jane Krakowski wore dramatic drop-hoop style earrings from Bochic to the 2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards. The earrings are crafted in 22-karat yellow gold and feature ruby studs and rubies at the center.
(Full post Colored stones, hoops top picks at SAGs…)

Jewelry designer Caroline Ballou closes up shop January 26, 2009 Difficult economic conditions have forced Attleborough Falls, Mass.-based designer Caroline Ballou to close up shop, the company announced late last week. Attleborough Falls, Mass.–Jewelry designer and manufacturer Caroline Ballou LLC is the latest member of the jewelry industry to fall victim to the economic crisis.In an e-mail distributed on Friday, the Attleborough Falls, Mass.-based company announced that it was going out of business and will be conducting a closing sale this week.The sale is open to everyone through the close of business on Jan.
(Full post Jewelry designer Caroline Ballou closes up shop…)

The winning design from Chad Allison can be broken down into three separate pieces: a large circle pendant, a small circle pendant and earrings. Shown here is the “master pendant.” New York–Jewelry designer Chad Allison has been awarded the winner’s cup–or mug in this case–in the first-ever Couture-NY Designer Challenge.The brand was one of six Couture exhibitors at the JA New York Winter Show to take on the challenge of re-imagining the iconic New York Greek coffee cup as a piece of wearable art.
(Full post Chad Allison design top pick in Couture challenge…)

This $75,000 diamond pendant is the debut piece from a new SpongeBob SquarePants jewelry collection designed by Nickelodeon and the Simmons Jewelry Co. New York–Nickelodeon’s most rapt audience for its SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon might be the school-age set, but the show also counts die-hard fans well past elementary school, and the Simmons Jewelry Co.
(Full post Simmons Jewelry Co. decks SpongeBob in diamonds…)

Actresses Freida Pinto and Elizabeth Banks in two of the 2008 Golden Globes jewelry trends: drop earrings and statement necklaces.

Los Angeles –Classic jewelry looks and beautifully structured gowns brought a bit of old Hollywood glamour to the 2008 Golden Globe Awards, held on Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Top jewelry trends of the evening included earrings in drop styles and studs, statement necklaces and bold bangles and cuffs, which provided just the right amount of sparkle against such red-carpet fashion statements as one-shoulder gowns, belted waists and mermaid shapes.

Noteworthy stylish celebs included Beyonce Knowles in diamond drop earrings and fringe necklace, Golden Globe nominee Christina Applegate in yellow-diamond drop earrings, flower necklace and rings, and Elizabeth Banks in cushion-cut diamond studs, necklace and flower rings, all by Lorraine Schwartz.

Golden Globe nominee Marisa Tomei capitalized on the statement-necklace trend, wearing Sevan’s one-of-a-kind “Zeus” necklace in carved citrine and diamonds, along with several other platinum necklaces featuring darkened and pave diamond balls by Neil Lane.

Yellow gold and colored gemstones also made a strong showing at the Globes.

Drew Barrymore donned moonstone and opal pendant earrings by Lorraine Schwartz, Kate Beckinsale chose red spinel and diamond chandelier earrings, Sandra Bullock wore yellow gold and turquoise earrings by Amrapali and yellow gold and turquoise snake bracelets by Bochic, and Megan Fox wore yellow gold and emerald earrings, yellow gold and diamond bangles and beaded emerald bangles by Amrapali.

Freida Pinto of the night’s big winner Slumdog Millionare chose vintage yellow gold and diamond earrings and lace cuff bracelets by Lorraine Schwartz.

Perhaps Eva Mendes made the greatest colored-stone statement in a show-stopping vintage turquoise and diamond necklace by Van Cleef and Arples that added color to her all-white Christian Dior gown.

Meanwhile, Tinseltown’s leading men were not to be outdone.
(Full post Timeless jewels light up Globes…)

Carelle crafts gem of a gift for Golden Globes January 09, 2009 Created by L’Oreal with help from colored-gemstone manufacturer Carelle, this compact will be one of the goodies gifted to actresses nominated for Golden Globes in the drama and comedy categories. Hollywood, Calif.–When the Golden Globe Awards take place on Sunday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., the jewelry industry will be poised to see who wears whose jewelry on the red carpet.But when the cameras are turned off, the stars will take off their mostly borrowed jewelry and go home with swag bags.
(Full post Carelle crafts gem of a gift for Golden Globes…)