The awards bring out the best and brightest members of the jewelry industry and this year was no exception.  Among the attendees were Gurhan Orhan and Fiona Tilley.  The elegant couple posed for pictures looking relaxed and happy.  Others in attendance included Ivanka Trump, David and Sybil Yurman, and Diane von Furstenberg who was presented with the WJA Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

Event coverage is featured in the November 2009 issue of Gotham magazine with pictures of Mr. Gurhan and many others.

Larry always seems to have the “interview du jour” and his dance card is usually filled with names like Putin, Oprah, Clapton, Ahmadinejad, Obama, Trump and Dog the Bounty Hunter….Just to name a few..

Larry King was born in 1933 in Brooklyn and was raised in Florida where he spent most of his formative years. He cut his teeth in radio in the early 50’s since broadcast TV did not quite have the popularity as it does today.

Remember – this was back in a world where your TV set received 4 channels – and you liked it…. AND if you wanted to change the channel – you would get up off the couch and turn the dial to one of the other 3 channels (sometimes with a pair of pliers) .. Needless to stay Larry stayed in radio for a while.

Since the 50’s – Larry has had  successful careers in radio as well as cable tv receiving even more awards (+10) that he has had marriages (8).

So what does the host one of the most popular shows on CNN wear when he steps out on the town? A Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso!

Despite a series of performance blunders including a botched lip-synch incident on MTV and a poorly received half-time show at the 2005 Orange Bowl, Simpson has persevered as a singer and actress. As a testament to her strength, Cosmopolitan magazine chose Ashlee to be the cover model for their February 2005 issue calling her the “Fun Fearless Female of the Year.”  It’s fitting then to see Simpson in the December 2009 issue of Women’s Health magazine boldy modeling an H.Stern DVF “Power” ring.

The striking ring is a Diane von Furstenberg design produced by H.Stern which is crafted as a symbol of empowerment.  Displaying a massive rock crystal gemstone in warm 18k yellow gold, this gorgeous ring is the perfect complement to Ashlee’s measured confidence and grace.

This Swedish-born belle was raised in Canada and began a modeling career in her teens.  At 17, she won the Ford Supermodel of Canada search and went on to appear in several television commercials.  She soon made a move to California where she has pursued her acting career.

Featured in the October 19th issue of OK! magazine, Malin wears a gorgeous Gurhan gold and gemstone necklace design.  Handcrafted in pure 24k gold, this lovely design displays a large bezel set cabochon gemstone.  The necklace is a classic example of Gurhan’s craft which features all of the charm, passion and beauty that is infused into every Gurhan jewelry design.

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Recent additions to our inventory highlight just how striking and gorgeous Mr. Bicego’s gemstone jewelry creations are. From the “Confetti” collection, we have glowing gemstone drop earrings with amethyst or yellow quartz, and an amethyst necklace to match. These cabochon gems radiate rich gemstone color which is perfectly complimented by the hand finished 18k gold mountings.

From the “Jaipur” collection we have a lovely necklace featuring bezel set gemstones.  Each gem is spaced from the next by a length of 18k gold chain and a hand-finished gold bead.  Along with this dazzling piece we have new “Paradise” collection designs which show off an assortment of multi-colored semi-precious gemstone beads and 18k gold beads.

Each of these beautiful pieces shows off Marco Bicego’s superb eye for color and design.  With prices starting at just $280, there is sure to be something to fit your budget and your wardrobe.

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Once again, Gurhan Orhan has come to the rescue with a breathtaking engagement ring design, featured in the Fall 2009 issue of Instyle Weddings.  The ring is crafted in hand-hammered platinum and features a rose cut center diamond.  The mounting is a “split-shank” style with the center diamond set in a chunky bezel.  The .60 carat rose cut diamond and hand crafted mounting are in keeping with Gurhan’s inimitable style, which is so evocative of ancient jewelry craftsmanship.

As with all of his jewelry designs, Gurhan Orhan has created a singluar piece which represents the finest in modern design.  The magic of Gurhan lies in his ability to create sensational designs which reflect reverence for the artistry of the past while remaining fresh and innovative.  If you’re looking for an unique engagement ring, this may just be the one.

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The dials and bezels of these timepieces, such as the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph shown here, are not just impressive because of the intensity of the glow, but the varied colors of that illumination.   The contrasting white and yellow compounds you see on the dial and the beautiful sapphire unidirectional rotating bezel produce different glowing colors in the darkness, which, aside from keeping hours and minutes clearly demarcated, simply looks amazing when the lights go out.  The single most alluring visual element of the watch is probably the gorgeous sapphire crystal bezel.  By day, its lustrous obsidian-like surface exudes the unmistakable aura of fine quality, and at night–well, there’s that phenomenal glow!  The initial 15-minute sector glows a yellowish green, while the additional 5-minute marks shine in an eerie light blue. Combine all of that goodness with the slightly beveled sapphire crystal and the semi-matte dial, and you have an IWC timepiece that can’t help but catch your eye again and again.

I know some IWC fans were disappointed with the 2009 Aquatimer watches when the new models were announced in January, thinking them too youthful looking, garish, or “Seiko-ish” in appearance.  Others felt the previous generation’s internal bezel was more of a pure IWC concept, and lamented the brand’s return to a more conventional design.  These doubts fade away when you see the 2009 Aquatimers in person–or even good macro photographs.  The fact is, IWC has really done a tremendous job with this model range.  They have all the credentials of a serious diving tool, yet demonstrate the quality and standout character that a top-notch sports luxury watch should possess.

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What exactly do I mean by that?  Well, while the Corum Golden Bridge watch in its various guises is extraordinarily lovely, it also has a delicate and formal appearance–rather like a lovely museum exhibit.  While absolutely superb for formal wear or special occasions, pulling the Golden Bridge off as an everyday watch might be quite the challenge for all but the dandiest dressers.  Corum’s new Ti Bridge watch, on the other hand, showcases a fantastic new titanium case that is super stylish, beautifully finished and most importantly–versatile.  It looks great on the wrist regardless of attire, and draws attention right where it belongs: the amazing C0 007 handwound movement!

Speaking of the Ti Bridge movement, it’s worth making just a couple of brief comments on its origins and visual presence.  While Corum has clearly drawn inspiration from the legendary baton caliber in its Golden Bridge (a brainchild of famed watchmaker Vincent Calabrese) the new caliber presents its own unique constructive and technical features.  It reminds me of the skeleton within a grand skyscraper with its quartet of finely beveled V-shaped supplementary bridges, none of which obstruct the fascinating straight-line layout of the gear train.  Despite the deceptive simplicity and minimalistic beauty of this mechanical gem, Corum managed to achieve an impressive power reserve of 72 hours.

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He was born and raised in Irvine California, a safe southern California suburb which Ferrell says helped him develop his keen sense of humor – mainly because Irving was such a boring place to to live.

After graduating from college at USC, he took a gig with a local comedy troupe in LA – A job he quickly parlayed into a spot on Saturday Night Live where Ferrell came into his own.

After seven seasons with SNL Ferrell graduated to the big screen starring in massive hits such as Elf, Old School, Anchorman, The Wedding Crashers, and Talledega Nights commanding up to 20 million dollars a film.

So what does this one of the world’s highest paid comedians wear on his wrist when he hits the red carpet? An IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph of course…

Technorati Tags: Will Ferrell, IWC

The Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Petite Second watch got its own story sideline in ABC’s “The Unusuals” drama.  During a recent episode, the character of Detective Jason Walsh lends his Girard-Perregaux to his financially strapped girlfriend; unfortunately, while at a pawnshop to trade some jewelry for cash, she is accosted by robbers who make off with the cherished watch.  Girard-Perregaux’s Vintage 1945 collection numbers some of the most elegant and finely crafted rectangular timepieces on earth, a fact these fictional thugs were obviously well aware of!

I’m sure that this intriguing little plot twist was keenly appreciated by viewers of The Unusuals who own Girard-Perregaux and other similarly prestigious Swiss watches.  It should help keep them stuck to their plasma screens to see what happens through the season.