However through this bitterness, we do hold a keen interest on the ‘little things’ purchased by our celebs. These ‘little things’ consist of jewellery or the newly christened name ‘bling’. So here I will take a peek at the most well-known ‘bling’ champions, from rappers to royalty – here they are!

First on my list is none other than rapper Lil’ Jon:

Now according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the self-proclaimed ‘King of Crunk’ owns the largest diamond pendant on the planet. The pendant shown on the left; displaying the words “Crunk Ain’t Dead,” contains 3,756 white diamonds. This is equivalent to almost 73 carats worth of diamond; all set into the 18-karat gold template.
The pendant weighs in at 12 pounds and displays an impressive 7 inch height. Yes I can hear the whisper of jibes now… It really does have that ‘tacky charity shop’ charm to it. Yet despite this, this pendant is worth over $500,000!!

Madonna

During her comeback in 2005 and at the ripe age of forty-seven, Madonna sported some rather fancy false eyelashes. Designed for the music video ‘Sorry’, the singer wore these custom mink lashes. They hold very petite diamonds that are equivalent to 0.75 carrots, and cost a whopping $10,000!

Swiftly moving on to another rapper and hip-hop artist – Mr Bigg.

This rapper, after being shot directly through his right eye; decided that to be a little different, he would have a diamond fitted into his eye socket. The obvious and less imaginative name attached to him is ‘Diamond eye’, you may snigger but his right eye socket alone is now worth a reportedly $70,000 dollars.

Of course celebrity engagements usually boast more publicity than the actual wedding, with the entire focus surrounding ‘the ring’; the men really do have their work cut out. Here we move onto Jennifer Lopez and her engagement ring presented to her by Ben Afleck. The ring was a pink solitaire diamond of 6.1 carats from Harry Winston and said to be worth over $1.2 million. With only a handful of them mined each year, pink diamonds are one of the rarest.

Queen Elizabeth

Now I move onto our Monarch and home of some of the most outstanding and exquisite jewels. Though not necessarily branded ‘bling’ as such, the Queen holds an array of beautiful jewellery; especially necklaces. The Victorian Suite Necklace was a wedding gift to our now Queen when she was just a Princess in 1947.

Bringing an entirely new level to ‘something blue’, this necklace also had matching earrings. Although no exact prices have been attached to this or any of The Royal family’s jewels, we only have estimations and presumptions. I do however predict that this would blow Lil Jon’s ‘pendant’ out of the water!

Finally, I move onto a man that ultimately became the ‘King of Bling’ through one outrageous purchase. So despite attempting to take over the Guinness World Record for his pendant shown in the picture, Akon owns his very own diamond mine in Africa, for ‘obvious reasons’.

After reviewing some of these celebrities and their possessions; it begs the question of why the need for all this ‘bling’? Are they really creative souls that desire lavish purchases, are they fulfilling some sort of personal need? Or, a more realistic guess is that they are probably just bored! Too much money and not enough time to spend it. Despite various ‘bling’ being rather beautiful and classy, the majority of it really doesn’t seem that appealing, but; everyone needs a hobby!

Author’s Bio

Jenny is 100% fashion mad and currently works for Ladbrokes Bingo.

Silver and white gold were previously the most popular choice for consumers when purchasing jewelry. The general colour of the whiter metals is subtle, and can be worn with any outfit quite easily without hesitation. Gold is a strong colour and usually makes quite a statement, which is exactly why it is back on top.

Bold prints, wacky colours and multi coloured hair are a key trend. Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, and Katy Perry are the ambassadors of this new trend. They are often seen in outrageous bold and colourful prints, and dye their hair pink, blue, or bright yellow. They also often wear striking gold jewelry.

Without a conscious thought, we all take inspiration from what we see in the media, and we a drawn into new fashion trends constantly, so these bright clothes, and bold jewelry are making their way into our closet.

White metal jewellery becomes lost amongst these bright prints, and is almost considered mainstream and ‘boring’. Yellow gold is now different. In a time when we love retro, it’s no wonder yellow gold has snuck back onto the fashion radar.

It is no longer being marketed as a dated metal. It is now seen as a fun, bold and unusual choice. Its properties as a metal are also something to be noted. Its rich tones will never tarnish, unlike silver. Gold itself is expensive as the cost of precious metals has steadily risen in value. However many designers produce gold plated jewelry which provides the rich warm tones of gold, at a fraction of the price!

It is no wonder yellow gold has made a return. Silver and white gold have dominated the market for so long, it was only time we would consider other metals and made different choices from each other. With such an abundance of beautiful gemstones and metals out there, why stick to the mainstream white gold and diamond ring? It’s only now we are starting to remember this!

Author’s Bio

Kirsten is the owner of Kirsten Hendrich Jewellery. She designs and makes all her own handmade silver jewellery pieces, and will shortly be launching gold designer jewellery.

The great thing about having something personalized is that it becomes incredibly sentimental to you, and it becomes part of your identity. You don’t just have to stick to a necklace with your name on it though! You can opt for many different types of styles and trends, whichever suits you best.

Charm Bracelets

These have become incredibly fashionable in the last decade, with brands like Pandora offering wonderful and classy styles. With Pandora you can design everything about your bracelet; the size, the metal choice (Gold, Silver, etc) and then you can choose each and every charm. They have thousands to choose from, so you won’t be short of options either!

Engraving

Engraving is a great option for those who want to personalize a piece of jewellery you already own. You could have your initials, your name or even a favourite quote put onto anything. Necklaces and rings are probably the most popular choices though, and offer the most flexibility. Engraving is also one of the best options for men wanting to personalize something. You can have watches, cuff links, chains, dog tags, all engraved easily and cheaply.

Photo Engraving

Photo engraving is a newer option in personalized jewellery. It’s done with a fascinating method which etches the photograph onto a metal surface, which could be used as a pendant on a necklace or bracelet charm. The effect is pretty and usually very accurate to the original image. You could get a photograph engraved onto a pendant instead of opting for a locket (think of it as a modernized locket) and watch as people ask with interest how you created such a beautiful and original piece.

The important thing to remember about personalized jewellery is that it is supposed to express something about you and your personality. The more beautiful pieces are ones that have been carefully thought about and that really mean something to the person wearing it. Personalization makes a great gift too for loved ones, so bear it in mind next time you are struggling for ideas for gifts! People love nothing more than receiving something personalized and made just for them.

Author’s Bio

Tiffany Cole is a top jeweller, and lover of new trends. She currently works for Sue Tables, specialists in hand stamped silver jewelry.

• There is nothing unique about name brand jewellery.  If you buy a name brand piece of jewellery, you are paying mostly for the name.  In fact, having the name brand on a piece of jewellery can mark it up by as much as seventy percent.  And what are you getting for that price? A generic piece of jewellery that you will begin seeing other people wearing all over town.

On the other hand, if you get a handmade item from a jeweller, you will know that you are getting a completely unique piece of jewellery that nobody else has.  If your friends are envious of your new ring, you can rest assured that they will never be able to find the same one – because you have the only one.

• You can choose exactly what stones you want if you are buying from a custom jewellery specialist.  If you buy a chain store ring, it has already been crafted and finished before it hits the stores – you have no input on the design of the ring.  On the other hand, if you go to a local jeweller, you may be able to design or customize your ring exactly as you want it.  If you find a nice ring design, but do not quite like the stones that are placed in it, you could possibly choose from the jeweller’s selection of loose diamonds and find exactly the one(s) that you want.
• Getting a piece of custom jewellery instead of name brand is one of the smartest purchasing decisions you can make.  Besides getting a one-of-a-kind item for a good price (which is almost unheard of today), the jeweller that made it will probably offer free services along with the jewellery.  If you ever need it resized, re-shaped, engraved, etc., the jeweller will probably take care of that for you for free.

Author’s Bio

Erick D. Smith is a blogger from Southern California and writes for a San Diego Jeweler about the differences you’ll see with custom-made jewelry — from choosing loose diamonds to designing your own rings.

Financially, getting cash for gold makes sense for all involved parties. Retailers appreciate the extra cash flow from customers with more cash on hand, as stores work to boost sales. Consumers enjoy the wider range of gift options available to them now that their budget has significantly expanded. The extra cash spreads joy up the line, to anyone involved in commerce. Extra cash flow, in general, can only be beneficial, and now more than ever is when quick, easy cash is greatly appreciated.

Cash for gold can be acquired by anyone and everyone. All that has to be done is to dig around in the bottom of dresser drawers or musty garages and find some old gold jewelry. Somewhere you’re bound to find tangled chains, pairless earrings, and broken bracelets. The actual process of getting cash for gold is fast and easy. You can choose between pawn shops, jewelers, or online gold buyers. Online gold buyers usually offer the most cash for old jewelry because they have less overhead to pay for. All you have to do is request a CashPak off the website. Send back your gold and a short form, and a cheque will be mailed back promptly. This process can be completed within a matter of days, to ensure that you get cash for gold in time for the holiday sales.

Jewelry is a great accessory for any holiday wear, and if your jewelry is looking past its prime, a great way to revamp your jewelry wardrobe is by getting cash for old gold jewelry. The cash earned can be used for some new costume jewelry that will go well with your new evening gown or holiday dress.

Any way you look at it, trading in old gold for cash is a great option. The kids will definitely appreciate the expanded budget, and so will you. No taking on longer hours or larger workloads before the holidays. Get cash for gold in time for the holiday shopping sales.

Captain Cash for Gold is a leading online gold buyer. Their dedication to reliability and trust goes unmatched. With them you can get cash for gold for the highest payout, and your gold is fully insured in a FedEx envelope.

1. Diamond studs. This is hands-down the most useful accessory in any woman’s wardrobe because it can be paired with absolutely anything.  You can wear them to work, when you take your kids to the park, or for any fancy affair such as dinner, the opera, or a coronation (for example).  In short, they are THE perfect accessory (unless, of course, your ears aren’t pierced, in which case clip-ons would be more appropriate).

2. A sensible handbag. You likely have an assortment of totes that range from ginormous, Samsonite-sized shoulder bags to petite little evening clutches that won’t hold much more than lipstick and an I.D. card.  But regardless of what you use to cart your crap hither and yon for particular events or activities, you should have one sensible bag that is durable, stain-resistant, and has enough room for everyday items (a wallet, cellphone, keys, and a small makeup bag) without too much extra space for all the stuff you don’t need.

3. Comfortable black heels. Whether you’re wearing a fashionable business suit, your LBD, or a pair of jeans, you can always find a way to work in a pair of black pumps.  Regardless of your outfit, you will likely want a pair with pointy toes (to elongate the line of the leg) and a moderate heel (around three inches is tall enough to be sexy but short enough to comfortably manage a brisk pace).

4. A cashmere scarf. While many women may feel that this is a seasonal item, a light scarf can be an everyday piece if you get the right one.  A super-soft feather-weight cashmere in a neutral shade can be double looped and worn loose for a fashionable daytime look that works in summer (with a striped tank) or winter (with a V-neck sweater), or tucked under the collar of your coat to hang loose at night.  You can even drape it over your head and toss either end over the opposite shoulder for an elegant, retro look on those rare occasions when you drive with the top down.

5. Stylish shades. Nothing can class up an outfit like the right pair of shades.  Avoid those that speak to a certain era (like the wayfarers of the 80s) or a particular person (most women have a hard time pulling off the Elvis Costello look).  Of course, there are some women’s styles that are iconic and timeless, so if you find a style that brings Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly to mind, snap them up.

Sarah Danielson writes for wedding ring sets where you can find information on what to look for when shopping for engagement ring and other fine diamond jewelry.

What’s Hot in Fashion Accessories?

If you’re not sure what’s in style this season or which fashion accessory will elicit cries of delight, take the time to look through some magazines and prowl stores where you’ll be sure to see what’s hot. Don’t forget to think about the recipient while you’re looking around. There may be plenty of great ideas out there, but if you can’t imagine the person you’re shopping for wearing them, you need to move on to something that suits her personal style.

Three great fashion accessory trends that are prominent on many shopping lists this holiday season include chandelier earrings, a handbag, and any kind of “statement piece.” Each of these gives you plenty of options.

Chandelier Earrings

Chandelier earrings are bold, intricate pieces with lots of detailing that swing from the ears. They can be anywhere from an inch long to long enough to brush the shoulders of the wearer. You’ll find wonderful versions made from silver, gold, and other metals, all featuring elaborate details and lots of beadwork, filigree or crystals for added sparkle.

Chandelier earrings are ideal fashion accessory gifts for the woman who appreciates unique style and craftsmanship. They draw attention to the face, framing it beautifully. Chandelier earrings look especially lovely when worn with an elegant up-do or short hair. Consider sparkling crystals, precious stones, or dainty metal work for dressier outfits, or look for ethnic inspired earrings featuring natural stones like turquoise to accent a more casual look. Chandelier earrings with filigree work and black beads are a great way to bridge the gap from daytime to evening – they look wonderful with jeans and a tee or a favorite little black dress.

A Great Handbag

Every woman is on the lookout for a great purse or handbag to fall in love with. It has to combine great looks with versatility, style, and durability. If you give her a handbag that combines everything they need with standout style, you may win her undying devotion. Look for bags that are constructed out of top quality materials with strong seams and sturdy shoulder straps so she can carry everything she considers essential.

Oversized handbags in original prints are very popular this year as fashion accessory gifts. You’ll find handbags in all shapes and sizes, many of them featuring metal trim and unexpected touches like ruffled accents. Designer originals are always a great choice – they’ll last for years and always look great.

A Statement Piece

A statement piece can be anything from a gorgeous hair clip to an unusual bracelet. A statement piece is any kind of jewelry that is bold enough to become the focal point of her look while standing alone. If she’s wearing a statement piece, any other jewelry should be simple and unobtrusive.  Wearing more than one statement piece can be too much, tipping the scales toward overdone or gaudy, but a single statement piece can “wow” everyone.

Necklaces are popular fashion accessories and statement pieces because they are so versatile. A long, heavy chain necklace is one style that’s currently being seen on the runways, often with an asymmetrical embellishment of some type such as a beaded flower. Another popular accessory is the “bib” necklace featuring a wide, curved center section that’s ornately trimmed and suspended on a chain or strand of beads. You’ll often find bib necklaces fashioned from a variety of materials, combining elements such as crochet work, beads, sparkling crystals, fabric, and intricately carved clay trim.

The best fashion accessory gifts are the ones the recipient loves and turns to again and again, whether she’s dressing up for an evening out, going into a business meeting or running errands. Give her a great set of chandelier earrings, a fabulous handbag or a great statement piece, and she’ll think of you every time she reaches for her new favourite fashion accessory.

Diane Ferraro has been studying fashion accessories for more than ten years.  She is now a freelance writer and blogger.  When she is not learning the latest trends, Diane loves to travel and spend time with her family.

Add Some Colour

While there is something timeless about a simple gold piece of jewellery or a standard white diamond, don’t you feel the need to add a little bit of colour? After all, you would never only wear simple white outfits would you? Of course not, because you want some colour and vividness to your wardrobe. So why not add some to your jewellery as well? The latest trend in precious accessories is to add a little bit of colour.

Natural or Faux?

There are some jewels that are naturally breathtaking and colourful. Rubies are the most obvious jewel that comes to mind when you think about vivid, eye-catching colour. A beautiful ruby or faux ruby necklace can add a little bit of zing to any evening attire. But you don’t have to stop with red. There are jewels, both natural and synthetic, that can perfectly accentuate any outfit.

Be Daring

Don’t be afraid to get a piece of costume jewellery or synthetic jewels to liven up your accessory choices. If you’re wearing a formal, black ensemble, a well placed, coloured gemstone necklace or pair of earrings can be the perfect thing to add a sense of drama to the occasion. You don’t have to be conservative with your colour choices any more. There are dozens of different shades and cuts that you can add to your jewellery collection without breaking the bank. If you’re wearing a less expensive piece, you’re the only one who needs to know.

So break away from the boring jewellery rut by adding some dashing colours to your collection today.

Going Big

We use our hands a lot to express ourselves. Why not add to the drama of your natural expressiveness with a chunky silver bracelet. Nothing catches the lights like a beautiful piece of silver jewellery. Chunky style silver bracelets are the perfect accessory for any night out. Pair a thick silver or jewel-encrusted bracelet with a few simpler pieces for a very dramatic effect.

Bling without the Sting

Of course, most women would love to have some of the big, expensive pieces of designer jewellery that the Hollywood A-Listers wear, but most of us don’t have thousands of dollars lying around for our weekend nights out. That is the beauty of costume jewellery. You can find some big and daring looking pieces online or at some of your local stores. It’s possible to spend $50.00 on a piece that looks like it came straight out of the Academy Awards pre-show. You probably wouldn’t feel too secure wearing a piece of jewellery that cost more than your house for a night out with the girls, would you? These are the perfect occasions for big, daring pieces of costume jewellery. If you buy a thick faux diamond necklace and it just doesn’t work out, at least you didn’t have to mortgage your house to get it.

So go big and get exciting with your jewellery choices. If you have a huge bank account and don’t mind the expense you can buy diamonds. If you’d rather hold onto your cash, go with some beautiful costume jewellery, but be sure to go big for that old-school, glamorous look.