The Jewelry Insider

August 20, 2014

The jewelry and fashion worlds are mourning the loss of the divine Miss Lauren Bacall. Iconic for her sultry eyes, ash blond wavy hair neatly parted at the side, Lauren Bacall was a Hollywood legend and an innate style savoire flair.

Lauren Bacall in “Dark Passage” 1947

Coveralls, Marlene trousers, and diaphanous gowns codified her look, but it was her eclectic jewelry collection that made the statement. At the tender age of 16, Bacall was discovered by fashion icon, Diana Vreeland, which then kickstarted her storied film career. Lauren Bacall was an avid jewelry collector, coveting designers like Van Cleef & Arpels, Swarovski, David Webb and Grima.

Bacall wearing a David Webb white enamel Maltese Cross

From bold brooches like a white enamel David Webb Maltese cross to delicate string of Deltah pearls (later Imperial Pearl), Bacall’s collection as testament to American style: bold, effortless and elegant.

Bacall advertising for Deltah Pearls

A true blue style spirit animal of ours, we’ve put together a mash up of Bacall’s most memorable looks featuring an exclusive curated collection at JDC to get the look of Lauren. What’s your favorite look and how would you wear it? Share your thoughts!

Lauren Bacall, 1950

Lauren Bacall, 1944

Lauren Bacall, 1955

Lauren Bacall on the set of “To Have and Have Not”, 1944

Lauren Bacall on the set of “Young Man with a Horn”, 1950

Lauren Bacall, Harper’s Bazaar 1943

The Lauren Look Buying Guide… Don any of these divine jewels below, treat your self to a blow out and opt for a lush red lip and channel your inner Bacall. Don’t forget to smoke at least two packs of cigarettes (just kidding) to make your vocal cords sounds as if they’ve been on a sandpaper cleanse. Pick some or all of your favorite pieces and click away!

The Imperial Pearl 10-11 Golden Pearl Ring in Sterling Silver

The Imperial Pearl 9-10MM Golden Pearl Earrings with White Topaz in Sterling Silver

567ct Apatite Three-Strand Necklace

Large Link Bracelet in Silver

Baby Hoop Earrings over Sterling Silver by Charles Garnier

Etched Dome Ring in 14K Gold

Cristina Sabatini Puglia Ring

Honora 60 Inch Ringed Pearl Necklace

The Jewelry Insider

August 20, 2014

As part of our new series Monday Muses exploring Divine Demimondaines known for their opulent collection of jewelry and fashion, today we’ll examine the fabulous life of turquoise provocateur Millicent Rogers.

Born in 1902 as an heiress to Standard Oil, Millicent (add that to your list of cheeky Brooklyn-hipster baby names) was known for her exotic fashions and immense turquoise collection. From Schiaparelli-designed Tyrolean outfits to seeped in sable with her Anna Karenina ensembles, Rogers was a fashion force to be reckoned with.

Once at a ball in the Ritz Hotel, New York, Diana Vreeland once recalled Rogers changing in the middle of the event as a result of having sat on ice cream. The over-the-top heiress even had Charles James (currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) design an entire wardrobe for her. Whats your favorite look and who are some of your favorite jewelry muses? Weigh in and our editors will consider your choice for next week’s post!

After retiring in New Mexico Rogers created her own jewelry collection paying homage to turquoise. For those of you heading Southwest, you can see all of the pieces she designed at her very own Millicent Rogers Museum which has over a whopping 1,000 pieces of jewelry from her collection which you can check out below.

Celebrate the last weeks of summer and embrace your inner Millicent with our American West collection.

American West Turquoise Cuff Bracelet in Sterling Silver

American West Turquoise Torsade Necklace in Sterling Silver

American West Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Ring in Sterling Silver

American West Triple-Strand Necklace in Sterling Silver

American West Three Stone Turquoise Drop Earrings in Sterling Silver

The Jewelry Insider

July 22, 2014

In honor and celebration of Prince George’s first birthday today (Happy Birthday!), we wanted to share this photo of the lovely royal family visiting the Natural History Museum in London.

Royal Family Photo, Photo Credit- www.usmagazine.com

The entire family looked adorable as usual, but what we really loved was Kate’s summery green silk dress (found on the British fashion website Suzannah), which she paired with a pair of simple yet classy pearl drop earrings.

Savannah Budding Heart Silk Green Dress, Photo Credit- www.whatkatewore.com

Pearls are on of this season’s hottest jewelry trends. Check out a few of our favorite pearl drop earrings (similar to Kate’s!) below.

7-7.5 mm Pearl Drop Earrings in 14K Gold

Pearl Drop Earrings in 14K Gold

Honora 9-9.5 mm White Pearl Drop Earrings in Sterling Silver

Earrings with Swarovski Zirconia and Pearls in Sterling Silver

The Jewelry Insider

July 18, 2014

One jewelry trend we’ve recently spotted on the celebs is men’s jewelry (because you know everyone likes to accessorize, and not just us ladies!). From iconic jewelry wearers like Johnny Depp to heartthrobs like Brad Pitt, everyone’s wearing jewelry! Check out the photos below of some well-known male celebs rocking some serious bling. Dare we say we could get a style tip (or two) from these trendsetting men…?

Jennifer Aniston’s hunky fiancé Justin Theroux (can you believe he’s 45?!) just recently graced the cover of Details magazine with a unique gun necklace. Justin is starring in a new TV series called ‘The Leftovers’ and is also a screenwriter.

Justin Theroux w/Gun Necklace

Johnny Depp is pretty much the king of accessories. He always wears a mish-mosh of accessories and pulls it off effortlessly. Johnny’s got the necklace-layering trend down pat.

Johnny Depp w/Layered Necklaces

Looking for some men’s jewelry for yourself or to give as a gift? Check out some of our favorite pieces.Brad Pitt looks good in any outfit (and jewelry). Here he is casually sporting a simple necklace with an all-black ensemble.

Men’s Black Enamel Dog Tag Pendant with Diamond in Stainless Steel

Black and Blue Men’s Etched Dog Tag with Diamond in Stainless Steel

Dolan Bullock Dog Tag Pendant in Sterling Silver

The Jewelry Insider

July 12, 2014

The 4^th of July is almost here! Whether you’re out grilling, relaxing on the beach, or attending a fancy soiree, don’t you think you should celebrate in your very best red, white, and blue jewelry? We’ve chosen several pieces that would be perfect for the 4^th of July, and really for any occasion after the holiday. We’re big fans of versatile jewelry (aren’t you?).

What: 1/10 ct Diamond Star Pendant with Diamonds in 10K White Gold. What better way to celebrate freedom, than with this diamond star pendant? This star will never lose its shine with diamonds totaling 1/10 ct all crafted in white gold.

1/10 ct Diamond Star Pendant with Diamonds in 10K White Gold

What: Americana 5 Piece Pearl Set in Sterling Silver. The name says it all. No need to stress over matching your jewelry with this red, white, and blue earrings, bracelet, and necklace set. Pieces are made with freshwater pearls and set in sterling silver. The necklace measures 18 inches and the bracelet 7 inches (and it stretches!).What: 1 ct Ceylon Sapphire Ring with Diamonds in Sterling Silver. A beautiful 1 ct cushion-cut created sapphire is surrounded by diamond accents and set in sterling silver.Pair With: This is a set that can be paired with numerous outfits. Heading to a fancy soiree? Picture this – a white dress with red, white, and blue freshwater pearls. You’ll be the belle of the ball!Pair With: Best paired with your favorite blue jeans or daisy dukes for an outdoor BBQ. Throw on a red or blue top and you’re sporting all three colors – red, white, and blue!

Americana 5 Piece Pearl Set in Sterling Silver

Pair With: This ring can function as an everyday jewelry piece or a special occasion piece. Looking for something to match your bathing suit on the beach? We know just what you need…a 1 ct Ceylon Sapphire Ring with Diamonds!

1 ct Ceylon Sapphire Ring with Diamonds in Sterling Silver

Happy 4th!

The Jewelry Insider

June 23, 2014

The Empire State Building saw red on Thursday in honor of Cartier’s Love Day. For the third year the company launched a series of ‘love’ jewelry with 10 percent of sales donated to participating charities. This year’s celebration began in LA the day before with a host of Love Charity Ambassadors (Ashanti, Common, Emmy Rossum, Eve, Fergie, Good Charlotte, Hilary Duff and Janet Jackson) showing off their bracelets.The newly designed silk-cord Love charity bracelet features two interlocking Love charms, in white and pink gold. The bracelets are selling for $995 — with $200 going to the bracelet’s designated charity. The next day it was over to New York to the top of the Empire State building as Rihanna, wearing a Cartier tiara (as one does) switched the building’s lights to red in honor of ‘Love Day’.

The Jewelry Insider

May 28, 2014

We’re sure you have all heard about the event of the year already. You know what we’re talking about (at least we hope you do)… – Kimye’s wedding! That would be Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

Kimye Wedding, Photo Credit: www.justjared.com

From the pre-wedding brunch at designer Valentino’s French chateau, to the rehearsal dinner at the Palace of Versailles (yup, you read that correctly), and the actual wedding ceremony in Florence, Italy, the entire Kardashian clan was decked out in Lorraine Schwartz jewelry. The designer, who is one of the most sought-after jewelry designer’s in the world, is actually one of Kim’s close friends (of course she is).

Here are some of our favorite Lorraine Schwartz jewels from the wedding. We wouldn’t mind owning at least one of these gorgeous pieces!

Lorraine Schwartz Jewelry for Kardashian Clan, Photo Credit: raymondleejewelrs.net

Schwartz designed the celeb couple’s wedding bands herself. Kim’s ring was a handmade diamond band, while Kanye’s was a handmade gold band. Kim accessorized her wedding outfit with her 15 carat Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring, and a pair of Martin Katz 18K gold diamond earrings accented by 100 smaller diamonds. The earrings were actually a present Kanye gave Kim more than a year ago. Aw!

Kim Kardashian Wearing Martin Katz Earrings, Photo Credit: www.eonline.com

Kimye Wedding, Photo Credit: www.eonline.com

Kim Kardashian’s Lorraine Schwartz Engagement Ring, Photo Credit: www.myfashionworld.net

The Jewelry Insider

May 23, 2014

Trend alert!

Bib necklaces are a fun and classy jewelry trend to try out this spring and summer. Celebs are accessorizing their red carpet looks with these fashion-forward necklaces. So what exactly is a bib necklace? A bib necklace is a larger piece of jewelry, where a thick section of the necklace sits on the chest, mimicking a baby’s bib. These necklaces were common in 7^th century Greek and Roman jewelry (so you know they’re stylish!), and have been used throughout the ages to accessorize evening gowns.

Kelly Osbourne, Heidi Klum, and Eva Mendes Wearing Bib Necklaces, Photo Credit: www.misskristurner.com

Here are some tips on how to wear a bib necklace.

– Bib necklaces are the perfect statement jewelry pieces. Allow them to be the main focus of your look by pairing them with solid colors.

– Bib necklaces look great worn overtop of your shirt. For instance: wear a button-up shirt with a bib necklace at the collar. Of course, the beauty of these necklaces is that they can be worn with a number of outfits (check out the celebs rockin’ their necklaces with dresses above!).

– Don’t pair your bib necklaces with too much additional jewelry. They should stand out by themselves!

Bib Necklace w/Button-Up Shirt, Photo Credit: www.realsimple.com

Take a look at a few pieces from our collection of lovely and affordable bib necklaces.

Beaded Mesh Bib Necklace in Sterling Silver and 14K Gold, $99

Chevron Design Bib Statement Necklace in Sterling Silver, $79

Beaded Bib Necklace in Sterling Silver, $59

What do you think – will you be trying out this trend this season?

The Jewelry Insider

May 15, 2014

Our favorite film festival has arrived…the Cannes Film Festival, unless you prefer the full French name Le Festival International du Film de Cannes (say that three times fast in your best French accent!). Cannes is fun for a number of reasons. One, who doesn’t love movies? Two, it takes place in France. Three (and this is of course the most important), celebs come decked out in their very best jewelry!

Blake Lively really is a fashion goddess. After her gorgeous Met Gala look, she knocked it out of the park once again during the first day of Cannes. She accessorized her burgundy Gucci gown with a Lorraine Schwartz colored diamond flower bracelet, a diamond vine bracelet, and unique pink diamond earrings with 25 carat ruby drops. We just love the big-earrings look! Wonder if we could pull them off…

Blake Lively @ Cannes 2014

Blake Lively’s Bracelet @ Cannes 2014

Do we even have to say anything about Nicole Kidman? This woman just oozes class. She paired an Armani Prive gown (embellished with tons of bling) with some gorgeous Harry Winston diamond earrings, a Harry Winston diamond bracelet, and a Winston Cluster Line bracelet. Loving the bracelets! Pretty in character for her new film Grace of Monaco where she plays Grace Kelly, don’t you think?

Nicole Kidman @ Cannes 2014

Nicole Kidman’s Bracelet @ Cannes 2014

Earrings were a big trend at the opening day of Cannes. Although many critics didn’t agree with model Karlie Kloss’s dark Valentino gown, we really loved her jewels. Karlie completed her look with ethical pendant earrings from Chopard’s Green Carpet Collection.

Karlie Kloss @ Cannes 2014

Karlie Kloss’s Earrings @ Cannes 2014

Rose gold jewelry is very popular at the moment, and perfect for the upcoming warm-weather months. Zoe Saldana stunned in a white Victoria Beckham dress, paired with Catene rose gold and diamond earrings and an Onde ring. The rose gold creates a lovely contrast with her white dress.

Zoe Saldana @ Cannes 2014

Zoe Saldana’s Earrings @ Cannes 2014

O.M.G. We had to save the best for last. Here is Elena Lenina, the eccentric Russian star, in an extremely poufy red dress and just look at that hair! HOW did she get it to do that? We’re lucky if we get some curls to stay in throughout the day. Her hair is completely dolled up with a tiara, crown, some funky flower looking jewel-encrusted hair pieces, and honestly, we don’t even know what else she could be hiding in there. Any guesses?

Elena Lenina @ Cannes 2014

Elena Lenina’s Hair @ Cannes 2014

The Jewelry Insider

May 13, 2014

You’ve probably already read about Solange attacking Jay Z in the elevator post Met Gala fun, but no one knows why. Well, we have a theory. It may sound a little crazy, but just hear us out! We’ve even given it a witty little name (at least we think it is): Beyonce’s Met Gala Curse. Bey loses one of her Lorraine Schwartz rings at the Met Gala. Hubby Jay Z finds it and stages a mock proposal for the cameras while placing the ring back on her finger. The bad luck starts with Beyonce’s ring episode, and continues well into the night with sister Solange lashing out at her brother-in-law Jay-Z. Bad juju from the very beginning of the night!

Jay Z’s Mock Proposal to Beyonce, Photo Credit: www.eonline.com

Jay Z’s Mock Proposal to Beyonce, Photo Credit: www.popsugar.com

For those of you who haven’t heard the story (although really, it’s all over the place), here’s a little synopsis. There is footage of Solange Knowles physically attacking Jay Z in an elevator at the Standard hotel following the Met Gala. A bodyguard is also in the elevator trying to hold Solange back, while Beyonce is standing by doing nothing. Geez, and we thought we had family troubles!

Solange @ Met Gala, Photo Credit: www.thefashionistastories.blogspot.com

Jay Z, Beyonce, & Solange after Met Gala, Photo Credit: www.pagesix.com

Any other theorists out there who’d care to share…?