Louis Vuitton 2009 RTW

John Galliano 2009 RTW

Chanel 2009 RTW

Alexander McQueen 2009 RTW

Dolce & Gabbana 2009 RTW

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So what have Parisians been buzzing about this season? The video below is a basic overview of 2009 shows from Paris, there are some shoe looks shown starting at around the 1:00 mark. Video may take some time to load.

So the real question is would a consumer buy shoes that have an “Eco-friendly” production? Well, that depends. It’s all a matter of whether the latest styles, trends and even endorsements are made – most importantly if the shoes are in fact non harmful to the environment after they’ve gone through the usual wear and tear. There is definitely a huge market as it is for these types of shoes it only remains to be seen if it can get mainstream attention.

Imagine a junkyard without millions of rubber soles just sitting there. Not a bad scene I have to say.

Nigel Eco Shoe

Puma at Zappos.com

Seville at Zappos.com

Keep at Zappos.com

Bamboo is technically a large “grass” and it grows very, very fast. Bamboo is being used in all sorts of products now, including in home furnishings, flooring, kitchen accessories and more.

Naturally I don’t expect this to be the type of jewelry that someone might want to wear to a gala, but then again why not? Perhaps a lot of everyday jewelry can be made from bamboo, which even if thrown away by the wearer at one point of time is almost entirely bio-degradable, which is always good for landfills. Which are overflowing presently.

Here are some more resources if you are feeling creative with bamboo.

• Make A Bamboo Bracelet
• Organic Bamboo Jewelry

If you do come up with some of your own, do send us a snap so we can post it up on the blog here.

The above rings are from a jewelry company called ItsNoName, they are selling jewelry in 14-karat yellow gold, sterling silver, and solid platinum. Each ring bears the symbol for the element from which it’s made (Ag, Au, Pt), as well as the atomic number and atomic mass just to be chemically accurate.

The cost? Ranging from $205 to $6500! So if this is something that catches your fancy take a look at ItsNoName and buy some chemistry for you.

Teenagers have obviously caught onto this fad. Not only are they in demand because of their use but they are trendy as well and look great on your hands.

The stone in a mood ring is, essentially, thermotropic crystals which are covered or surrounded by glass. There are many different types of mood rings, and it generally depends on the manufacturer which mood the colors represent.

While some are true believers, the ring mostly changes color due to the temperature. If your body is cool, the ring turns blue or green, the warmer your body the more the chances of the ring turning red.

A general guidance for colors:

• Black: Stressed, Tense or Feeling Harried
• Brown: Anxious, Nervous, Strained, Fearful
• Grey: Very Nervous or Anxious, Scared
• Amber: A Little Nervous or Anxious, Uncertain
• Green: Average Reading, Normal, Not Under Great Stress
• Blue-green: Emotionally Charged, Somewhat Relaxed
• Blue: Relaxed, At Ease, Calm, Lovable
• Dark Blue/Purple: Very Happy, In Love, Passionate, Romantic

Mary of Burgundy – received the first documented diamond engagement ring in 1477 from the Archduke Maximilian of Hamburg.

Princess Mary – may well be the youngest recipient of a diamond wedding ring. A tiny ring with a large diamond was placed on her finger when she was married (by proxy) to the Dauphin of France in 1518 at age of two!

Queen Victoria – wore an engagement ring in the shape of a serpent motif whose coils symbolized eternity.

Queen Elizabeth II – was given a ring created with heirloom diamonds from Prince Philip’s mother’s tiara.

Lady Diana Spencer – received a sapphire and diamond engagement ring from Prince Charles.

Camilla Parker-Bowles – A love affair thirty-five years in the making became one step closer to being formalized when Prince Charles presented his long time paramour with a square-cut diamond ring passed down from the Queen Mother.

Camilla Parker Bowles – The Prince of Wales wedding rings were hand made in court style by Wartski, using Welsh gold.

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Jean Harlow received a 150 carat cabochon sapphire engagement ring from William Powell, which could be seen in the movie “Saratoga.”

Jacqueline Bouvier received from John F. Kennedy a 2.88 carat diamond and emerald engagement ring from Van Cleef & Arpels.

Priscilla was given a 3.5 carat engagement ring surrounded by 21 smaller diamonds from Elvis Presley.

Grace Kelly received from Prince Rainier of Monaco a 12-carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring.

Elizabeth Taylor was given an emerald and diamond engagement ring from Richard Burton.

Marilyn was proposed to by Joe DiMaggio with a platinum and diamond band set with 35 baguette-cut diamonds.

Sharon Stone received a three-stone, three-and-a-half-carat emerald-cut style engagement ring from Phil Bronstein.

Jennifer Aniston was given an engagement ring which was a band of white gold encircled with 20 diamonds, designed by Brad Pitt . Brad’s matching band holds 10 diamonds. Their names are engraved inside.

Jennifer and Brad's Engagement Rings

Catherine Zeta-Jones was proposed to by Michael Douglas with a 10-carat marquise-cut diamond engagement ring.

Catherine Zeta Jones Wedding

Closeup of Jones's ring

If one diamond isn’t enough, then three certainly work very well together. The three-stone diamond engagement ring is gaining in popularity among several of Hollywood’s hottest couples.

The three diamonds represent the Past, Present & Future or in Guy Ritchie and Madonna’s case – for mother, father and son Rocco. Ritchie chose a one-of-a-kind, Edwardian, round, three-stone diamond ring with ornate diamond details throughout the platinum band.

Jennifer Lopez - who flashed a six-carat Harry Winston pink diamond engagement ring some time ago is sporting today a 7-carat starburst diamond accented with two smaller diamonds on a platinum band presented by her third husband, Marc Anthony.

Victoria Beckham – Soccer star David Beckham chose Boodle & Dunthorne to design a 3-carat marquise-cut diamond embraced with a trillion on either side for the former Spice Girl.

Elizabeth Hurley’s engagement ring was a 15.09 carat Asscher cut diamond, set in white gold and surrounded by a pave-set band,made by Chopard who also designed the actress’s wedding band, a white gold ring set with 20 square-cut diamonds with a total weight of 3.91 carat.

Christine Baumgartner – Kevin Costner chose for his wife a 5-carat square diamond with interwoven bands fashioned in a leaf pattern.

Nicole Richie -Is wearing her birthstone, square-cut pink sapphire encircled with small diamonds.

Pamela Anderson – the former Baywatch babe has a yellow gold band topped with a 4-carat round solitaire.

Mary J. Blige – Jacob & Co., provider of luxury timepieces, supplied the R & B singer’s platinum engagement ring, which is embellished with a 5-carat round cut diamond surrounded by a row of baguette diamonds.

Brandy – Jeweler Jason Arasheben completed the 11.5-carat ring only thirty minutes before fiance Quentin Richardson slipped it to the singer’s finger.

Joan Collins – Diva from “Dynasty” wears a heart-shaped diamond ring from jeweler Fred Leighton.

Courteney Cox – Since the number eight is lucky for Courtney, husband David Arquette slipped a vintage ring from Neil Lane with two round diamonds in the shape of an eight on the finger of the “Friends” star’s left hand.

Mariska Hargitay – Actor Peter Hermann present his love with a platinum ring composed of nine round diamonds by New York-based designer Karen Karch.

Kimberley Buffington – Anthony Camargo and David Nakard Armstrong of Anthony Nak constructed a platinum band, accented with pave diamonds, upon which a rare triangular-shaped canary diamond from South Africa rests.

Angie Harmon – Husband Jason Sehorn proposed on the set of “The Tonight Show” with a Bulgari composed of a large round diamond and two baguette diamonds.

Whitney Houston – Her engagement ring has a trillion on either side of a 10- carat oval diamond.

Star Jones Reynolds – The 5-carat Princess cut diamond was purchased at Jacob & Co., the company which had provided a $180,000 necklace for model Christy Turlington to wear during her wedding to actor Ed Burns.

Ashley Judd – Dario Franchitti proposed to the star in December 1999 with a 3-carat cushion-cut diamond and platinum band enhanced with pave diamonds from jeweler Martin Katz.

Kelis – The hip hop star wears a cushion-cut diamond ring embraced with two pink, heart-shaped diamonds.

Heidi Klum - The German supermodel received a rare canary diamond from singer Seal.

Melania Knauss – Donald Trump chose a flawless, 13-carat emerald cut diamond sparkler from Graff jewelers.

Kelley Limp – The “Real World” reality star received from the actor Scott Wolf, a 2.7 carat diamond ring purchased from jeweler Bruce Winston.

LeAnn Rimes -Has a 5-carat solitaire from estate jeweler Neil Lane. She wears her ring with pride.

Britney Spears - The pop princess choose her own engagement ring. Britney wears a 4-carat cushion-cut round diamond perched over joining platinum and pave diamonds. Today though the couple, Britney and Kevin Federline are separated.

Tori Spelling - A delicate Art Deco-style Platinum ring with a focal 1.5-carat round diamond, accented with small diamonds and elaborate design work, was a perfect compliment to the 1920’s Neil Lane brooch the actress wore on her special day.

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos - A Neil Lane vintage 5-carat emerald-cut diamond with two smaller diamonds is sparkling on her hand.

Gwen Stefani – One round diamond, which stands out prominently from a platinum band inset with a row of smaller diamonds, was purchased in Amsterdam.

Christina Aguilera – pop singer is sporting a 5-carat diamond ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster, who also created the wedding bands for Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie.

Even though some marriages are not forever, diamonds are!

More Celebrity Rings

Britney Spears Ring close up

Salma Hayek's Ring

Mariah Carey

Jessica Simpson

Jenna Bush's Wedding Ring

Malena Knauss's Wedding Ring with Donald Trump

Carmen Electra's Ring

Britney Spears Ring close up

Britney Spears Ring

Beyonce Knowles close up

Beyonce Knowles

Ashley Simpson

Ashley Simpson's Ring close up

Tony Parker and Eva Longoria's Rings

All jewelry made in the Georgian Era was handmade. Georgian fashion called for the use of large stones set in a sophisticated rococo style. The diamond was the most favored precious stone at the beginning of the Georgian period.

Soon enough though, diamond alternatives were produced with such quality that it was entirely reputable for even royalty to wear them. Real gems were replaced with glass paste copies and a substitute for gold called “pinchbeck”, which is a mixture of copper and zinc, was also used. Paste, rock crystal, marcasite, and cut steel were also engaged into production to meet the increased demand for white stones.

In the 1750’s various semi-precious gems also began to be used by jewelers. Gems like emeralds, rubies, and sapphires were worn again along with new stones like topaz, chartreuse chrysoberyl, amethyst, coral, ivory, pearls, and garnets were used widely.

All types of jewelry from rings, girandole earrings, memorabilia jewelry, bracelets, crosses, hair combs, buckles, aigrettes, and tiaras were large in Georgian era.

Design and Styling

With the introduction of engraved classical jewelry lava, shell, onyx, and carnelian became popular. After Napoleon had antique roman cameos placed on his crown for his 1804 coronation, they became very popular. Other popular Georgian motifs were intaglios, cameos, mosaic, acorns, Urns, Doves, the Greek key, Phoenix, Wheat, and plumage.

At this time diamond cutters were also introducing exhilarating new types of gem cuts such as rose cut, cushion, and brilliants. Jewelry at this time looked large and bold but they had hollow forms and scroll motifs to save up precious material.

Jewelry styles followed were smaller, lighter forms, often with draped chains and classical motifs.

Oval shapes, and Navette, were common along with inscriptions. Seed pearls, garnets, black enamel and onyx were also often included.

Popular styles of the time included -

• Long earrings, a single drop, or the three drop “chandelier” style were common.
• Short necklaces were complimenting low necklines of the times.
• A row of diamonds or gemstones graduated in size or cameos.
• Favored motifs for brooches were diamond bows, feathers and floral sprays.
• Stomachers were large brooches which covered a gown from the low cut neckline to the waist or just above.
• Chatelaines were worn at the waist, incorporating work implements suspended by chains.

Materials

Georgian gems were often set over gold or silver foil with their backs enclosed with metal. Sometimes, you can detect Georgian pieces by the way the stones are mounted.

Most of the common features included -

• Cobalt blue, black and white enameling
• foilback stones
• low flat goldwork and
• Bezels
• 18k gold and higher

Favored gemstones of the Georgian period were topaz, garnets, coral, aquamarine and mostly diamonds. All precious metals and gemstones were very rare until the 20th century.

Foil backing indicates a fake stone in jewelry today as open work for gems is preferred.

Interesting facts

1. In the days before photography, people wore miniature painted portraits of their loved ones in pendants, brooches and bracelets.
2. Collars or chokers were popular in the period 1770 to 1790.
3. Jeweled bands were worn in the hair, high on the arm, and sometimes on calves, thighs, and toes.
4. Men wore more jewelry in those days than today.
5. Very little Georgian jewelry survived because when styles changed it was recycled.
6. In order to finance the war against Napoleon around 1804, Prussia (Germany and Poland today) were called upon to give up their jewelry. They were thanked with iron jewelry replacements which objects are highly collectible in present time.

Pictures of Georgian Jewelry