zhang ziyi's engagement ring

I was quite surprised when I first read that Zhang Ziyi 章子怡 was engaged. She's so private I didn't even know she was dating! Or, maybe in America, she just wasn't a big enough star to have that sort of press published. (Personally, I'd rather read about her engagement than to endure another cover story on any of the Hiltons/Lohans/Hills girls/etc., but you get the point.)

After much roving, I finally found pics of her gargantuous ring. I have no idea who made it, what cut it is, etc., but it's definitely a sparkler. (That double starfish ring is to die for, though!)


Congrats to her and her MOGUL fiancé, Aviv "Vivi" Nevo. Up until I read his name in Vogue, I had never heard of him, but as his outings w/ ZZ have been more frequent, he is starting to get into the spotlight himself. One example was via this investigative report from the New York Times. It appears, they are very interested in him, too!

As for the ring, even though it's so huge, it doesn't come off tacky at all. The design of the ring feels classic and stately, unlike Mariah's ring pop. :P Can't wait to see pics of her wedding, which is supposed to happen next year...!

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Battle of the Price Tags #3

Gucci Black/White/Yellow Printed Cashmere Sweater $499 (originally $1,240)
vs.
Forever21 Daisy Sundress $22.80
Savings of $476.20

Hermès Extra Wide Enamel Bracelet in Silver and Palladium plated $630
vs.
Lee Angel Thick Stretch Cuff, Black $165 (originally $235)

Savings of $465

Bracelets for a Cause #2

In celebration of Love Day this year (June 19th), Cartier is launching their 3rd Annual Love Bracelet to benefit a variety of charities. This year, the theme is music, so all of the celebrity ambassadors are various artists/musicians.

In the past, while the bracelets only had one Love ring, this year, the design has two intertwined rings, one in 18kt white gold, the other in 18kt rose gold. Each bracelet is formed with a silk cord, with a choice of 8 colors, each color representing a charity. For each bracelet sold ($995), $200 will be donated to the charity that corresponds with that color.


2008
Janet Jackson - Ovarian Cancer National Alliance - Gunmetal Grey
Fergie - Peapod Foundation - Orange
Good Charlotte - Richie-Madden Children's Foundation - Deep Green
Eve - Women in Transition - Peach
Common - Common Ground Foundation - Khaki
Emmy Rossum - Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Pink
Hilary Duff - Blessings in a Backpack - Purple
Ashanti - Boys & Girls Club of America - Royal Blue

I am actually surprised that there aren't any red cords this year, as that would be the most obvious color for Love Day. In the past, a red cord was designated for YouthAIDS.

Here are the colors and charities from the 1st and 2nd Love Charity Bracelet drives. The 2006 version only had one rose gold ring, while the 2007 version had one white gold ring. It seems that the version from this year was designed to bring those 2 rings together.

2007
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw - Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation - Chocolate Brown
Djimon Hounsou - SOS Children’s Villages - Deep Copper
Eva Mendes - The Art of Elysium - Navy
Julianne Moore - Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance - Lavender
Rihanna - Believe Foundation - Sea Foam Green
Usher - New Look Foundation - Gold
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener Trust - Lilac
Elie Wiesel - The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity - Yellow

2006
Rosario Dawson – YouthAIDS – Red Bracelet
Salma Hayek – Human Rights Watch – White
Scarlett Johansson – USA Harvest– Baby Pink
Spike Lee – Kanbar Institute of Film and Television/Graduate Division/Tisch School of the Arts/ NYU – Purple
Edward Norton – Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust – Green
Sarah Jessica Parker – UNICEF – Blue
Michael Stipe – Mercy Corps/Gulf Coast Recovery – Black
Liv Tyler – The Breast Cancer Research Foundation – Deep Pink

There is the sense of inflation, since the bracelet was sold for $475 before, with $100 going towards charity. It's double that now. So that's what you have to pay for the name Cartier, huh?

If I had to choose a color, I think the grey one looks the best, as it's neutral, can be worn every day, and it's for a very good cause. I also like the pink, as that brings in the theme of love, and again, for a very good cause.

If you happen to be at Cartier looking for something in the Love collection, note that 10% of all sales on June 19th will benefit the partnered organizations.

Learn more about the Love collection here.

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Bracelets for a Cause #1

Fashion empire heiress Margherita Missoni is on a mission to help save the orphans in Africa, and she is doing so by collaborating with designers to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Every few months, a new item will be for sale, one version that is more luxurious and expensive, and the other version a more mass-produced, less expensive piece. Proceeds benefit non-profit organization OrphanAid Africa.

I wish I knew about this sooner, as I really LOOOooooove the Lux Limited Edition version ($640) of this Ileana Makri-designed bracelet, which is comprised of pink gold, diamonds, and moss silk. It is already sold out on Yoox, but I found that I can buy it from Colette, if I didn't mind paying extra for the dollar-to-euro conversion as well as shipping! I have a weakness for anything that is pink/rose gold (loved it before it was trendy way back when), as I think it looks lovely on any skin tone. I ~might~ consider buying it from Colette, as I think the design is stunning (the oval shape of the pendant was inspired by an African fabric pattern), and it is for a good cause! The normal edition ($240) of this bracelet isn't too shabby either, but who doesn't love their wrist to be covered in diamonds? I would take 30 diamonds over 1...hehe...


Anyhow, I emailed customer service, but I'm sure they'll tell me it's all sold out. I will have to ponder the Colette option, or maybe I'll just wait to see what other fun pieces will be added to this cause. Stay tuned...


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carrie bradshaw jewelry

As we all sit in anticipation, waiting for "Sex and the City" to finally hit theatres, you can think about accessorizing yourself just like the ladies from the Big Apple. I must confess, for a movie with so much hype in terms of fashion, the movie tie-ins have been mostly sub par, where the product peddling has ranged from a Mercedes SUV (sorry, but the ladies HARDLY ever drove on the show), lingerie, Houlihan's (cheap food), Vitamin Water, Steve and Barry's (cheap clothing?!?) Skyy Vodka (click here for yummy recipes), perfume, etc. Anyhow, now you can wear jewelry, just like what the ladies wore on the show. Jennifer Fisher's jewelry will be featured in the movie, but you can purchase those exact designs for yourself. I think they're cute, but pricey considering the very "handmade feel" of the pieces, but that style is popular these days, so to each their own.


All jewelry available at Jennifer Fisher NYC:

Heart Pendant with Diamonds - no price available
14k Cuff Bracelets - Yellow Gold - $660
Gold Hoops - Yellow Gold - $1980
18k Fancy Hoops - White Gold - $1980
Skinny Hoops - Yellow Gold - $440

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds." - Aesop

I am truly enchanted by this collection of bird jewelry from Lladró. The Magic Forest collection, from their Re-Cyclos line, are simple yet elegant, where the white ceramic birds are both at one with nature while channeling one's inner minimalist. I am SOoooo smitten by the necklaces, rings, hair combs, tiara...basically, all the pieces!


I would have immediately purchased at least one or two items, until the thought of accidentally damaging them from normal use stopped me from buying ceramic jewelry. On a daily basis, if it wasn't silly to wear birds in my hair, I would do so everyday. (It seems it's only suitable for bridal use... :P) Adornment comes in all forms, from precious, glittery stones to warm woods and jangly plastic, so why not with cool, graceful ceramic? I would be happy with even just that one adorable ring. Or maybe the hair combs...sigh...

Lladró - Magic Forest Collection

Open Necklace - $600
Choker - $525
Pendant Necklace - $425
Stud Earrings - $95
Long Earrings - $175
Hair Comb - $175
Brooch - $225
Cufflinks (gold-plated) - $145
Hair Stick - $300
Ring - $125
Bridal Crown - $600
Bridal Tiara - $525

ashlee's gifts to her bridesmaids

I didn't really give a hoot about Ashlee Simpson's wedding to Pete Wentz, BUT, I always like to hear about what kind of party favors/gift bags are given away at these functions. Apparently, she was very generous to her bridesmaids, giving them a gift bag worth $650. Among the pieces in the gift bag was an "Alice in Wonderland" tote bag, t-shirt, and a Dillon Rogers 14kt gold charm necklace. On each charm was the initial of the bridesmaid, a wishbone, and Ashlee's favorite number 3.


I have to say, I like how she planned the bridesmaid's gifts. Very thoughtful in terms of the necklace, but I love the "Alice in Wonderland" theme even more.

To create your own version of the gift bag, check it out at Intuition.

Alice Tote - $60

Alice in Wonderland Short Sleeved Tee in Black - $39

Dillon Rogers 14 kt Personalized 3 Disk Necklace - Wishbone - $475

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scarlett's engagement ring

I was only gone for a week, but another celeb gets engaged!? Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds may not be in the same caliber as Angelina and Brad, but have to say, they are both equally easy on the eyes. So what does a gorgeous guy buy for his gorgeous gal when he wants to make things official? A very simple solitaire ring (by celebrity standards, anyways...have you seen Mariah's ring lately?).

Wouldn't you know it, but this ring is actually very old-fashioned, in terms of a single diamond, with a yellow gold band, not the white gold or platinum that one would expect, and it's actually very charming. I can't find any clearer pics of the ring than these for now, but I think this ring says a lot about this couple. They are obviously not flashy, but quite traditional, which is refreshing for Hollywood standards. I wonder if they will actually have a wedding, since Ryan's engagement to Alanis Morissette only ended in a break-up.


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mariah's engagement ring

With rumors swirling about whether or not Mariah Carey tied the knot with Nick Cannon, here are some up-close-and-personal pics of the ring, designed by Jacob & Co. It's giant and gaudy and blinding, but I think it suits her diva attitude.

"The ring is crafted from platinum and features a square emerald cut fancy light pink diamond as the center stone surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds and two half moon diamonds on each side. The center stone alone weighs 10 carats, and the total carat weight of the ring is 17 carats. It's valued at $2.5 million."

Not sure about those "tabs" flanking the sides of the emerald-cut stone. I think one center stone would have been elegant and pretty enough, but I guess they weren't going for elegance, were they?!?


Pink diamonds are so purdy...

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Battle of the Price Tags

Gryson Tate (Paper Patent) $875

vs.
Gryson for Target Drawstring Tote Bag $49.99
Savings of $825.01

Dior Diorette Yellow Gold Ring $5,550
vs.
Juicy Couture Garden Party Ring $88

Savings of $5,462

Louis Vuitton Monogram Tissé Rayure Clutch $1,850
vs.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Airliner Jacquard Wallet $198

Savings of $1,652

crystal diva

I'm only halfway through "War of In-Laws II" (野蠻奶奶大戰戈師奶) and while the first 7 chapters felt forced and rushed, the characters are slowly growing on me, and the storyline is less muddled now.

The one thing I was excited about watching this series were the stylish fashions all the characters would wear. (The plot was loosely based off of "The Devil Wears Prada.") A full designer wardrobe was furnished for all the major characters, and in this day of globalization, just because you see it on a character in Hong Kong doesn't mean you can't buy it in the States.

From what I gather, some of the sponsors for this series include Valentino, ck Calvin Klein, Hermès, Armani, YSL, Heidi Slimane, and of course, Louis Vuitton. I'll try to cover those pieces in a later post, but what I was really drawn to was all the great jewelry that Myolie Wu 胡杏兒 got to wear. I read the credits in the back and discovered that Swarovski sponsored all of her jewelry, so of the key pieces that I thought looked the most stunning, here they are.

Cloe Pendant

Cherry Blossom Necklace

Claw Crystal Satin Pendant

Born Pendant

Stonehenge Pendant

I usually wear very dainty pieces myself, but I love how Myolie was able to show how easily it was to incorporate very substantial pieces into every day work clothes, and not look too ridiculous or loud about it. There was a very tender balance here in not overdoing it, and letting the jewelry sparkle for itself. I am so inspired I might pick up a few pieces myself!

Swarovski Cloe Pendant, gold-plated - $115

Swarovski Crystal Cherry Blossom Necklace - $330

Swarovski Claw Crystal Satin Pendant - $260

Swarovski Born Pendant - $85

Swarovski Stonehenge Pendant - $95

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