Minggu, 25 November 2012
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How to Buy Her Jewelry: Guy-to-Guy Tips from the Gifting Trenches
Senin, 09 Juli 2012
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Buying jewelry gifts for women is about as enjoyable to most men as getting their eyebrows plucked while watching a Real Housewives marathon. It’s intimidating, annoying and – at times- a little painful.
You all know I’ve been blathering on for years about how easy it is to buy jewelry but (like most fellas I know) you listen better when it's one of your own doing the talking. Enter: Michele Giulietti, the Italian ‘Mr. Big’ in Beth Bernstein’s page-turner of a memoir, My Charmed Life.
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| Michele Giulietti and Beth Bernstein at the book party for My Charmed Life in NYC |
In short, he’s battled on the front lines of jewelry gifting for years, learned from one of the jewelry industry’s best - and lived to tell the tale. Take notes, fellas. He's got some great tricks up his well-tailored sleeve.
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JEWELRY INSIDER: "I take it you initially found buying jewelry for women to be an intimidating process. What 'scared' you about it at first?
MICHELE GIULIETTI: Let’s face it: Men know more about skirts, shirts and lacey underwear than jewelry - it’s elusive and adds something that is hard to pinpoint to a woman’s allure. It’s something a man (who doesn’t wear jewelry) finds hard to relate to.
My biggest fear was simply ‘failing’. Fear of failing is a dangerous enemy to good taste and success.
JI: What (or who) eventually made you feel comfortable buying jewelry? How did you learn and what mistakes did you make?
MG: I learned more about it by going out with Beth Bernstein - writer/jewelry expert - and got intrigued by its history.
After being exposed to more and more jewelry, I realized that some of the shy attempts I made in the past were just plain bad purchases.
JI: What tips can you offer to help male shoppers avoid those ‘bad purchases’?
Tip #1: Shop with her. It doesn’t matter what you’re shopping for. You’ll learn how to interpret her taste. Every woman has a style: music, interior design, clothes…jewelry. They generally have something in common. Also, look at the flower she likes: yellow daisies or white roses? Could that provide a hint? I tend to think it does.
Tip #2: Learn a bit about what you’re buying: history, geography, who made it. It will show that when you purchased the gift, it was not just a plastic card operation.
Tip #3: Finally, buy something you like too - after putting yourself in her shoes.
JI. Lots of guys are afraid to buy jewelry because they fear women are expecting a ‘ring’ and anything less will be disappointing. In other words? They chicken out and get something safe like flowers and chocolate instead. What jewelry would you get to let women know they are special without going the distance with an engagement ring?
MG: I just would make her feel that I went out of my way in order to find that piece. Birthstones are a great option since they show her you are making a personal purchase. You are putting more thought into it than just getting her something shiny. Or find that piece that she can really wear - a nice watch, a pair of diamond studs. Something versatile and long-lasting.
JI: Is quality important, in your opinion? Or is it the thought that counts?
MG: Very few people know anything about that. If she sees effort behind the act of giving a gift, she should appreciate it.
JI: Finally, what are the three most important things guys should keep in mind when buying a jewelry gift?
MG: HER. HER. HER. Yes, because I suppose we know her, right? If we don’t, well, maybe then it’s too early to buy stones artistically intertwined with precious metals. You don’t buy jewelry to impress a woman. Never. You buy it because you know SHE will love it. Not because you will look good doing it.
And watch out about your budget! You should never regret having bought jewelry. You can find something meaningful and precious without overspending.
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Intrigued? Read 'em and weep! And weigh in here with your rants and raves!
And guys? Those affordable-yet-meaningful jewelry gifts are just a click away on Jewelry.com - birthstones, diamond earrings, and more! Go get 'em, fellas!
Baca Selengkapnya ....
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Miley Cyrus Engagement Ring Details
Rabu, 06 Juni 2012
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Miley Cyrus got engaged, y'all. And I've got all the engagement ring details for your drooling pleasure.
I'm happy to say that her Aussie fiance (Hunger Games star, Liam Hemsworth), did himself proud by pairing up with Hollywood's uber jeweler, Neil Lane, according to People.com.
The result is a whopping 3.5-carat cushion-cut diamond ring, handcrafted in 18-karat gold with intricately carved diamond floral motifs in an art nouveau pattern with a stone dating back to the late 19th century.
“It was hand-cut around 1880 or 1890 and it’s unique and in its original form,” Lane told People. “At that time no two diamonds were alike, as they were all hand-cut, so it’s fascinating to look at because it hasn’t been re-cut to look contemporary over the years. I find that really romantic.”
I do too, Neil. And Miss Miley apparently approved as well tweeting today,
“Thank you for all the love today. I’m happy to share this news with you all. I feel like all my dreams are coming true.”
She's rich. She's famous. She's got 3.5 carats. Who needs a Jonas when you've got Gale from the Hunger Games! Time to party in the USA! Although she is only 19 to his 22. Pregnancy rumors are already flying around the blogosphere. Hmmmmmm.....
What do you guys think of her rock? Her impending nuptials? Too young? Or true love conquers all?
Baca Selengkapnya ....
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Diamond Jubilee Dish: Carats, Crowns and The Culinan
Minggu, 03 Juni 2012
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Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations are in full swing with Derby dalliances, flotilla festivities and Sirs Elton and Paul waiting in the wings (pun intended) somewhere in the rain to honor Her Majesty's 60th year on the throne (click here for the full schedule of Jubilee fun).
Even though everyone really wants to see what flotilla fashion Duchess Kate will wear (or wear again) on the Thames today, a jewelry hound like myself is going in search of the crown jewels. With a name like DIAMOND Jubilee, how can I resist, right?
First? I have to feature this hip new portrait of Her Majesty by artist Chris Levine, which highlights a new diadem created by royal jewelers, Asprey, just for the Diamond Jubilee celebration. The headpiece is a re-creation of the original worn by The Queen to her coronation in 1953 and features 1,000 white, brilliant-cut diamonds, 25 pearls and a rare yellow diamond centerpiece.
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| Jewelry made from the Culinan Diamond |
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| Queen Victoria's diamond crown worn to her Diamond Jubilee - the only other Queen to reign for 60 years |
For the uninitiated, The Culinan, was discovered in 1905 at the Culinan Diamond Mine in South Africa and weighed in at (wait for it.....) 3,000 carats! They even threw it away at first thinking it had to be a lowly crystal.
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| Royal Sceptre featuring the Culinan I or Star of David (530 carats!) |
But those wily Brits got major mileage out of the rock, and the Queen now has several significant pieces made from the Culinan - including the Royal Sceptre which features the Culinan I (or Star of Africa), which as the largest colorless white cut diamond in the world weighs in at 530 carats.
How's THAT for a diamond jubilee?
And just to make us even more drunk with diamond glee, I convinced the higher-ups at Jewelry.com to give us 20% Off any diamond not already on sale through Tuesday in honor of the celebrations.
Just use code 20JUBILEE at checkout, jewelry hounds. And be sure check out our What's Hot section for our personally curated collection of royal-inspired rocks.
I'm getting more 'jubilant' by the minute....
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