Kate Middleton Wedding Jewelry: The Trouble With Tiaras

Kate Middleton's wedding jewelry has been the subject of MUCH speculation in bauble land, especially since she's apparently the only one who will be wearing a wedding band now that Prince Wills opted out of the sacred ritual.

So. Most royal watchers are fixating on the tiara - a favorite past time with this crowd. But does Kate have to wear one? In a word: YES!

Lady Diana chose to wear her own family heirloom when she married Prince Charles - the Diamond Spencer tiara. But since Kate is, how shall I say this delicately - a lowly commoner - it's likely her family doesn't have a stash of tiaras at the ready.

The Queen could, of course, choose to lend or (gasp!) give Kate a tiara from her vast collection - which would be seen as a sign of confidence in the bride. (Click here to learn more about the Queen's tiara collection - and which one is the current Kate frontrunner).

I love the idea of a NEW tiara making it's debut (along with an Alexander McQueen wedding gown, fingers crossed!) and InStyle's wily editors apparently agree since they recently asked some of the jewelry world's top designers to sketch out their vision for a Kate Middleton wedding tiara in an awesome pictorial. 

I love this one by Chopard (of course).

And that wacky Alexis Bitter's interpretation is just crazy enough to drive the Queen to an early grave.

So what will mack out the mellon of this most famous bride? We'll just have to ride the neverending Royal Wedding pre-party wave - and keep the guessing games going until the big day on the 29th.

In the meantime, JewelClub is getting in the spirit with the launch of their Royal Sample Sale today - with lots of great Kate-inspired sapphire sample sale steals, royal watchers!

And YES the  Royal Wedding Live Tweet party is ON! We're using #royaljewelry for anyone who wants to join the fun. And YES - I will be getting up at 4AM to see it live. And YES - I think I may have a jewelry addiction problem.

Jewelry Sample Sale Scoop! 20% Off For Insider Readers

Sample Sale Coupon Codes!! Who doesn't troll the Internet searching for them when you want to engage in some shopping therapy, right?

Well look no further, jewelry hounds! Sample Sale sensation, JewelClub - known for their 'secret' sales and crazy prices - is giving Jewelry Insider readers an additional 20% off their stash of fine jewelry that's already priced way below retail (70% - 80% off).

Just use INSIDER20 at checkout through Monday, March 28th!

The discount is valid for any style at any price. So if you want spend the tax refund on a carat-heavy diamond right hand ring  - now is the time!

3/4 ct Diamond Ring: Retail: $1749; JewelClub Price: $565.47 Insider Price: $452.38!

Or that cocktail ring you've been wanting for the little black dress? Done!

Black & White Diamond Pearl Ring: Retail: $579 JewelClub Price: $190.13 Insider Price: $152.10!

Or for those fashionistas that are uber-organized? Stock up on gifts for your girlfriends.

Ruby & Emerald Cherry Pendant: Retail: $329 JewelClub Price: $125.41 Insider Price: $100.33!

Trust me. When they open a little white box instead of a grocery-store-bought bottle of cabernet, you'll be the hit of the dinner party.

Throw in JewelClub's FREE shipping policy, and you've got yourself one heck of a Sample Sale Scoop!

My thanks to the folks at JewelClub for deeming us all worthy of their super secret sale coupon code for the next few days (the offer is valid until midnight EST on Monday, March 28th).

Shop, sparkle and save, my shiny sisters!!

Oscar Jewelry for Less

My trip down Oscar jewelry memory lane earlier this week kicked my diamond-infused fantasy life into overdrive.

How amazing would it feel to hold that Taylor-Burton 69-carat diamond - let alone pick it out from your own personal jewelry stash and wear it down the Oscar red carpet in a dress to match your eyes?

Or. OK. How great would it be to hold those Angelina Jolie Oscar emeralds in your grubby little hands or walk the red carpet with your own personal set of body guards like Natalie Portman at the Golden Globes earlier this year.

Who doesn't love body guards?

Thankfully, I'm not alone in diamond dreamland. JewelClub is riding the Oscar jewelry fantasy wave like Laird Hamilton on a tsumani - with a whopping collection of (count 'em) 20! Oscar jewelry looks for less on their smashing sample sale site.

They've got real-life alternatives to Liz's Taylor-Burton diamond dream, Angelina's emeralds, Julia's hoops, Natalie's diamond bib neck, Gwenyth's teardrops. They even have glittering ghosts from Oscar's past - like Sharon Stone's diamond drops and Nicole Kidman's "Tom Who?" earrings from 1995!

It's a strong showing of pre-Oscar jewelry fashion to give us a taste of their Oscar sample sale to come - and it's one doozy of a show stopper.

They claim their price points deserve their own gold statue, and I can't disagree. Check out their Oscar Couture Sample Sale here and let me know what Oscar jewel you want for your own collection!

We may not go home with Brad Pitt every night - but, darn it! - we can certainly have earrings that look like they do!

Valentine's Day 2.0

Valentine's Day is creeping up on us faster than a Charlie Sheen relapse, jewelry hounds, and the holiday of love has me thinking:

Why is it that only couples get to celebrate Valentine's Day? And more importantly? Why is it that only women who are in a RELATIONSHIP get the jewelry spoils from this bling-filled occasion?

 

It's high time single ladies get in on the Valentine's Day action too. Starting now.

Besties like Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, for example, should get each other diamond heart pendants this year - or Eva Longoria should splurge on a diamond right hand ring to celebrate the fact that she no longer has to put up with basketball highlights and boring conversation!

1/2ct Diamond Heart Pendant, $199.93

Mothers can give to daughters, daughters can give to mothers...

Mother & Child Diamond Pendant, $74.19

Or maybe your favorite teacher, bartender, or (in Charlie Sheen's case) lawyer deserves a little love this Valentine's Day?

3/8 ct Diamond Flower Right Hand Ring $234.01

You get the idea, right? I'm just saying that the 'romantically involved' shouldn't have a monopoly on a holiday that celebrates meaningful relationships. And (more importantly) diamonds.

Thoughts?

P.S. JewelClub is having a Valentine's Day Sample Sale this week, and the merch is selling faster than (fill in the blank....) at a Charlie Sheen house party (click here for more).

Get while the gettin's good!

Deal Alert! Valentine's Day Jewelry For Less

Valentine's Day is to jewelry what the Oscars are to Awards Shows. There's Christmas, birthdays, Mother's Day, anniversaries and the like, but we women hold out our highest hopes for the "gift in a little box" on this day most of all, right?

C'mon! Admit it!

But our friend the 'male' tends to, well, procrastinate when it comes to getting into the Valentine's Day spirit, if memory serves. So here's a little hint, fellas, to keep you out of the last minute "flowers and candy" gift-giving rut.

It's called JEWELRY. And it doesn't get any easier than this:

1. JewelClub is having a pink and red gemstone sale to honor the holiday of LOVE - and there quite a few pieces under $100. We're talking FINE JEWELRY here, folks. Diamonds, gold, sapphires, etc.

Here are a few of my favs (click on the image for more info) or click here to see their entire stash:

2. I also saw these awesome 'personalize your own'' candy heart necklaces today on Luxist that are selling for under $50 from Zedena Designs. They're made out of enamel over copper and hang from a sterling silver chain.

3. And if you want to go the 'bended knee' route, there are SO many affordable engagement ring options out there today. Click here for my Guide to Affordable Engagement Rings for more creative ideas in that department.

So let's make Valentine's Day 2011 the year we forgo flowers for fine gems! Chuck the chocolates for carats! And procastinators? Stay tuned for more affordable jewelry tips in the days to come. 

JewelClub Clears the Coffers

The new year isn't just a good time to make (and break) resolutions. It's open season for clearance sales. And while most bargain shoppers stock up on holiday staples like wrapping paper, tree skirts and tinsel towers - my kind of hunt involves diamonds. Lots and lots of diamonds.

So let's give it up for JewelClub, who once again blows everyone out of the water when it comes to online price busting. This week they're holding their one-time-only New Year's Vault Clearance sale, which is a glittering collection of all their onesie styles at 85-90% off retail.

For the uninitiated, onesies is merch-speak for styles that have only one piece of inventory left on the shelves. So it's not the 'runt of the litter' product. On the contrary, it could be some of the season's best styles. There's just only one left in the coffers so - they slash and burn the price to make room for new stash.

And let's not forget - with jewelry (unlike clothing, handbags and shoes) things like gold hoops, pearl strands, and cocktail rings never go out of style. So you're not stuck buying patterned tights and a ruffle shirt at rock bottom prices that will promptly go in the back of your closet and stay there to rot with the rest of your 'too cheap to pass up' purchases.

I haven't been able to confirm how long this sale lasts, but what I do know is the inventory isn't going to last long. It's rule #1 of a good sale, right? Get in early. Get out quick.

So check out the JewelClub onesie selection and let me know how you make out. And feel free to tweet or comment with any other great jewelry sales I should know about!

Celebrity Engagement Blitz

Celebrity engagement news is breaking big today! Here's the scoop:

From "Black Swan" to Baby Momma:

Not only is Natalie Portman engaged to her (gorgeous!) choreographer boyfriend, Benjamin Millepied, they're also expecting their first child. The Black Swan star met her hubby-to-be on the set last year (he choreographed all of her numbers), and the Oscar buzz is building along with her little ballet-dancing bun in the oven.

Portman has been on the red carpet all month promoting the film (and Dior's new perfume), but despite a mention of 'eating a lot' lately - this news is a total shock.

No ring sighting yet, but stay tuned.

Hef's Getting Hitched:

The other shocker today is news that everyone's favorite bachelor octogenarian popped the question to his 24-year-old playmate girlfriend, Crystal Harris.

"After the movie tonight, Crystal & I exchanged gifts. I gave Crystal a ring. A truly memorable Christmas Eve," Hefner, 84, tweeted. "When I gave Crystal the ring, she burst into tears. This is the happiest Christmas weekend in memory."

Later, he clarified, "Yes, the ring I gave Crystal is an engagement ring. I didn't mean to make a mystery out of it. A very merry Christmas to all."

What kind of ring exactly remains to be seen, but my guess is Hef will make sure his bunny's got enough 'carats' to keep her satisfied.

But celebs aren't the only folks with romance on their minds. With New Year's Eve around the corner, many questions have yet to be popped. So fellas? If you need a little nudge in the right direction - check out the amazing post-Christmas engagement ring deals on sample sale sites like JewelClub.

And check out my 'Affordable Engagement Ring' guide here for more sparkling solutions.

In the meantime, congrats to the happy couples!

Lady Di Sample Sale Steals The Spotlight

Let the royal wedding jewelry games begin, my fellow bauble lovers. It's official. Everyone and their mother wants a Princess Di-inspired piece of jewelry for the holidays.

I have to admit - much like those wily obituary writers who have their Keith Richards piece done WAY in advance  - I've been waiting for the Prince William proposal to rock the celebrity jewelry world for quite some time now.

I mean, c'mon, lad! Eight years is enough!

So. I had all my ducks in a row when the stars aligned last week and apparently - so did sample sale site sensation, JewelClub. 

While jewelry manufacturers are scrambling to get their Lady Di merchandise in stores for the holiday shopping season, JewelClubers already have a collection curated, priced and ready to go - today.

Of course I pored over their Lady Di Sample Sale stash that went live at midnight - and they have the Kate ring up the wazoo for folks who want a replica. But they go one better by including royalty-inspired sapphire styles that allow women to put their own personal stamp on the trend. Cool.

Not only that - but they've thrown in a nod to the other royals who've walked down the aisle in emeralds, rubies and other gems to boot. (Did you know Fergie wore a ruby engagement ring? I guess her poor decision-making skills started after the divorce.)

We've got until the clock strikes twelve on Wednesday to take advantage of their generous pricing (up to 80% off retail) before our princess fantasies turn into proverbial pumpkins. So get on it jewelry hounds and gift givers! It doesn't get much bigger than this in terms of trend meeting taste.

 

Even Keith Richards would be impressed. Alive. And impressed.