Ellen Pompeo wears Gurhan on cover of Self magazine, April 2010

Gurhan once again can be spied on the cover of a magazine. It seems not a month goes by that you can’t spot one of his 24 karat gold creations from the grocery store checkout line, and this month is no different.

A 24 karat bangle bracelet with cabochon cut emeralds can be seen on the April 2010 cover of Self magazine. The emeralds are bezel set and the wide bangle features the hammered texture typical of Gurhan’s work. These details combine to create a look that is at once reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman jewelry, and yet still perfectly attuned to the style of today. Check out more examples of Gurhan’s jewelry and you’ll see what I mean.

Gray’s Anatomy actress Ellen Pompeo wears the bracelet stacked with other bangles for a modern, layered look.  What I love about this cover is Pompeo’s casual attire: a simple blue tank top and white jeans.  Her look goes to show that you needn’t reserve your ‘fine’ jewelry for some special occasion. You can mix it in with your everyday wardrobe, just as Pompeo does here – and, might I add, effortlessly.

A stunning necklace of 24 karat yellow gold and diamonds from renowned designer Gurhan was featured in the April issues of InDesign, a magazine that focuses on the jewelry industry and jewelry design. The necklace features a handful of rose cut diamonds in a variety of shapes* bezel set in Gurhan’s signature 24 karat gold.

While the pairing of this necklace with such a va-va-voom Marilyn Monroe inspired dress isn’t quite my cup of tea, I do think this is an ideal bridal piece. Feminine and romantic, the piece would go brilliantly with a variety of looks, whether you were going for Middle Earth elvish princess, romantic Victorian, 30s glamor, or some modern alchemy all your own. Meanwhile, the classic styling insures that it will be coveted 30, 40, or even 100 years from now, when some future bride is ready to trot down the aisle.

*Educational footnote: while typically we think of a diamond’s cut as indicating its shape – or, sometimes, the quality of the cut, as when we refer to a “fine cut” or “ideal cut” – a rose cut diamond can come in a variety of shapes. The ‘rose cut’ refers to a flat backed stone with, usually, somewhere between 3 and 24 triangular shaped facets. Rose cut stones have been used at least since the 1500s, and continue to be used today in jewelry with an antique or ethnic vibe.

Untitled by Polyvore Member Jaane

Clearly, we adore H.Stern. And so, it seems, do the style obsessed. Over at polyvore.com, one of H.Stern’s classic pieces – a star ring fashioned from natural colored diamonds and H.Stern’s signature ‘noble’ gold – is gettin’ a lot of love. With more than a dozen user created looks, the polyvore community shows the versatility of this classic H.Stern design. My favorite is above, but maybe that’s just because I’m a House fan and adore killer heels (even if I don’t have Olivia Wilde’s wicked muscle tone). My top 12 short list is linked below. Which is your #1?

Check out 12 More Looks featuring the HStern Stars Ring on Polyvore

You can check out (and, better yet, buy) the stars ring in three different levels of bling: small, medium, and large.

While fashion and style have infiltrated TV with shows like Project Runway, Top Design, What Not to Wear, and seemingly every show on Bravo, it’s exciting to see  contemporary jewelry design represented in less familiar territory. The first season of USA’s new hit caper, White Collar, features the distinctive designs of Gurhan in almost every episode. In the series, Gurhan’s mixed metal jewelry adorns actresses Natalie Morales, Alexandra Daddario, and Tiffani Thiessen.

Gurhan’s mixed metal pieces, like those featured on the show, are handmade from pure silver and pure 24 karat gold, occasionally accented with gemstones such as turquoise, diamond or pearl. In some pieces, contrast is heightened through the addition of a patina which gives the silver a black hue. Like all of Gurhan’s work, his pure silver and pure 24 karat gold pieces illustrate a meeting of the ancient and modern world, where hand made details can be found on boldly modern designs.

The New York Times has christened White Collar “a winsome, quick-paced caper that is part Catch Me if You Can, part Shampoo.” The show, which was just picked up for a second season on the USA Network, follows the possibly not so reformed con-man Neal Caffrey (actor Matt Bomer) as he helps the FBI snare other high profile criminals, but not without an pursuing an agenda of his own. With Manhattan as its backdrop, White Collar has no shortage of expensive playthings, fast cars, grand homes, and – as evidenced by the presence of Gurhan’s designs – stunning jewels

With a company history stretching back more than half a century, the Brazilian based H.Stern brand is one of the world’s premier designer jewelry houses.  Through copious design awards, celebrity devotees and frequent media coverage, H.Stern has become a genuine icon of the fashion world.  From one-of-a-kind designs to collections like “Cobblestones”, “Stars” and their collaborations with Diane Von Furstenberg, the brand’s unique designs are organic, innovative and eminently fashionable.

The February 2010 issue of InStyle magazine features a collage of diamond jewelry pieces which display knotted designs. From yellow to white and rose gold, these dazzling pieces represent a festive and elegant tribute to  the intricacies of love.  Prominently featured in the group is a pair of H.Stern “Zephyr” diamond dangle earrings.

H.Stern’s “Zephyr” collection is an ethereal assemblage of wispy and flowing designs crafted in 18k noble and yellow gold with champagne and white diamonds.  Each piece is delicately crafted with the diamonds suggesting stars.  The overall effect of these elegant jewelry creations is of streaking light in a night sky.  The featured dangle earrings are made up in 18k yellow gold with warm champagne diamonds.

Few actresses are as inextricably linked with fashion as Sarah Jessica Parker.  Her starring role on HBO’s groundbreaking show Sex in the City cast her as the consummate fashion junkie who devotes the majority of her earnings to amassing one of the New York City’s most impressive designer shoe collections.  However, her character doesn’t just stop at shoes, and over the show’s 6-year run, Carrie Bradshaw and her cohorts became modern style icons.

This aspect of her character’s persona has bled into Sarah Jessica Parker’s celebrity life as well.  Media coverage of her casual and Red Carpet outfits is always heavy and hotly debated. Fortunately for SJP, she usually comes out on top of the debates.

The alluring star is featured on the cover of Glamour magazine’s January 2010 issue looking relaxed, easy and stylish.  Pairing sequin Christian Louboutin heels with a sequin bolero, white t-shirt and worn jeans, her look is effortless glam.  Jewelry aficionados will also notice her H.Stern “Highlight” gemstone ring.  This bold design combines Stern’s instantly noticeable 18k noble gold with champagne diamonds and a large candy gemstone – the perfect bauble to finish of SJP’s unique style.

As one of the world’s most beloved celebrity personalities, Oprah Winfrey is arguably the most influential woman in modern pop culture and possibly the world.  With today’s news that the 25th season of her TV talk-show will be her last, this media maven is certainly ending her run on a high note.  The show has become the highest-rated talk show format program in history.  However, with two magazines, a wildly popular book club, Oprah.com, an XM Satellite Radio show and her upcoming OWN (Oprah Winfrey Newtork) TV channel, it’s clear that her position as the queen of media is as strong as ever.

On the cover of the December 2009 issue of Oprah’s O magazine, she is pictured posing with her good friend and fellow talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.  In the picture, Oprah wears a bold Hera diamond ring from designer jewelry house H.Stern.  The ring is crafted in 18k noble gold and displays over four carats of pave set champagne diamonds in an elegant leaf design.  This is a perfect style for fall and winter with an autumn color palette and dazzling sparkle.

The Hera jewelry collection has been one of H.Stern’s most popular of late with a slew of high-profile celebrities choosing to don these designs at red carpet events.  It’s fitting that such a monumental personality like Oprah would choose to wear jewelry from H.Stern as the brand is also a testament to enduring fashion.  With a history that stretches back over half a century and countless awards, H.Stern is a paragon of excellence in the designer jewelry world with a style that is totally unique to the brand.

The WJA (Women’s Jewelry Association) is an organization that has been working to empower women in the timepiece and jewelry industry for over 25 years.  With 13 regional chapters and their headquarters in Chicago, the WJA is actively helping countless women to achieve their professional goals.  Each year, the organization holds an awards event honoring excellence in a variety of aspects of jewelry from design to retail and beyond.  This year’s event was held at Pier 60 in New York.

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.

As younger sister to Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson had the potential to be forever overshadowed by her mega-star sibling. However, the petite beauty has so far released 2 successful #1 albums along with having consistent acting roles in film and TV.  Her marriage to emo-pop king Pete Wentz has resulted in both further fame and a son named Bonx Mowgli Simpson-Wentz.

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.

As one of the latest additions to an evolving cast of characters in the Twilight movie franchise, Julia Jones will surely be a household name in short time.  Taking on the role of Leah Clearwater, the sole female werewolf in the pack, Julia is joining one of the hottest and most obsessed-over movie casts in cinema history.  Julia brings her own brand of gorgeous to a group of young actors that is already endowed with an overabundance of sex appeal.

The October 26th issue of OK! magazine features an interview with this talented and fortunate actress.  Discussing the relationship dynamics between cast members both on screen and off, Julia notes that the group is “constantly joking around and having fun.”  Her enthusiasm for the project is clear.

Along with donning stylish designs from the likes of Calvin Klein and Jimmy Choo, Julia models a pair of rings from jewelry designer H.Stern in the article’s photo spread.  Both rings are bold and display H.Stern’s unmistakable style.  The “Celtic Dunes” design is crafted in radiant 18k cold with a serpentine curvature and hand-rendered finish.  Her “DVF Power” ring is also crafted in 18k yellow gold with a massive rock crystal gemstone that absolutely screams fashion.

Though New Moon will be released in theatres worldwide very shortly, Eclipse has just begun production and anxious fans will have to be patient while they wait to see Julia’s contribution to this ongoing saga.