An Elegant Whiteflash Proposal

Dear Whiteflash Sales Team,

 

I asked Holly to marry me Saturday morning, and she said YES!  She hasn't been able to quit smiling since.  She was blown away by the diamond engagement ring.  She keeps saying it's the most gorgeous diamond ring she has ever seen.  I agree with her - I can't believe how brilliant the diamond is and how elegant it looks in the four prong setting.  What a great buying experience!

 

Will you please pass along my sincere thanks to everyone at Whiteflash for making this happy moment in my life possible!  Thank you!

 

Best Regards,

 

Shane

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A Suprise Empire State Building Proposal with Whiteflash

Dear Whiteflash Sales Team,

 

I have some wonderful news to share.  I proposed over the weekend and she said YES!  Now for the story:

 

My girlfriend (now fiancée) and I have been dating for a little over 2 years now, most of which has been somewhat long distance, I live in Philadelphia, PA and she lives in Atlantic City, NJ (about an hour and half apart, depending on traffic).  Last week I asked her what her thoughts were on taking a "spontaneous" trip to NYC on Saturday to do some sight seeing if the weather was nice.  She thought that was a good idea, so after scouring the weather reports to make sure that the weather was going to cooperate, I called her Dad on Wednesday night and asked for her hand.  Unfortunately I had to do it over the phone because her parents live in Syracuse, NY (about 5 hours away) and we didn't really confirm that we were actually going to go to the City until mid-week, so there wasn't really any time for a last minute trip to Upstate NY.  Anyways, her father gave me his blessing and the countdown to the weekend was on.

 

I drove down to her apartment in NJ on Friday night with the ring already planted in the pocket of the jeans that I had planned on wearing the next day.  We took the train into the NYC on Saturday, went to the World Trade Center site, hung out in Battery Park, walked over the Brooklyn Bridge, ate some pizza, and spent the rest of the day walking around and people watching in Central Park.  Once the sun started to go down and the weirdos started coming out in the Park, we took the train back to midtown and walked to the Empire State Building.

 

We had bought tickets to go the top (86th floor observatory) of the Empire State Building online the day before, so everything was going as planned and she had no idea about what was to come.  The security to go to the top was like that of an airport (x-ray machines + metal detectors) and I was REALLY nervous that the diamond engagement ring in my pocket would set off the metal detector, but luckily it did not. So we took a really fast elevator to the top and walked around gazing at the city and all the lights.  After about a half an hour, she started to get cold (it was very windy up there) and wanted to leave, but I still had a job to do... 

 

So I suggested that we should have somebody take our picture while we were up there before we left and she agreed.  We stood there for a little while longer waiting to find somebody to take our picture.  Finally a man and woman came up beside us and I asked the woman if she would take a picture of us.  She said sure, so I handed her the camera and while my girlfriend was putting down her hood and fixing her hair, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me when she turned around for the picture.  She was so shocked that she screamed and started crying and barely let out a yes.  So now we are engaged and I am the luckiest man in the world!

 

Thank you and the rest of the wonderful people at Whiteflash for all of the time and consideration that you put into helping me select the perfect diamond and setting for my fiancée’s engagement ring.  We both absolutely love it and have proudly stated your name when people have asked where we got it from.  I recommend Whiteflash to any and everybody that is looking for high quality diamonds at reasonable prices and customer service that is second to none.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

 

One extremely satisfied customer,

 

Chad

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Sotheby's to Auction 29.53 Carat Flawless Diamond

On October 19th, Sotheby's will auction off a dazzling array of jewels, from a 29.53 carat flawless pear-shaped diamond ring to exquisite pieces designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, David Webb and Tiffany & Co. The sale, which will take place at Sotheby's New York headquarters, will feature jewels from private American collections, as well as a selection of high quality white diamonds and signed and period pieces.

The 29.53 carat pear-shaped diamond is the centerpiece of the auction. The D color, internally flawless stone has been recently determined to be both potentially flawless and type IIa by the Gemological Institute of America. The ring has an estimate of $1.8 million to $2.2 million or $61,000 per carat.

Another stunning piece is a fancy vivid yellow diamond ring by Tiffany & Co., which is set with a potentially flawless emerald-cut stone of 9.55 carats in a diamond crossover mounting. Its estimate is $250,000 to $350,000.

Also featured at the sale will be an 18 Karat gold, diamond and amethyst "Botticelli" necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. Designed with a foliate motif, it has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

A diamond butterfly brooch by Bulgari, which is set with over 24 carats of diamonds, has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000, while a David Webb-designed abstract star-shaped Abalone Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Diamond and Emerald Brooch has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.

The jewels will be on exhibition at Sotheby's New York showroom beginning on October 14th, 2009. An online catalogue is available to preview at Sotheby's website.

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Coats N Totes "Bella" Dog Carrying Bag

Have you ever been walking along, noticed a lovely, large-ish purse, and then, upon closer inspection, saw a little dog in it? Seems the days of utilitarian Sherpa Bags are over, at least for on-the-go, sophisticated dogs and their owners (unless you're flying, then they're the best). Anyway ... Here's a high-end, attractive dog-carrying bag, if you're into a little diamond bling. And if you've ever read Luxist, you know we love our Swarovski crystals. The "Bella" dog carrying bag by Coats N Totes is made of the finest Italian leather, is trimmed in large Swarovski crystals in the front and back, and has two large pockets on either side. It includes a soft padded floor and collar snap. Available in black, pink, or tan, made in the USA. $800

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507-Carat Rough Diamond Found

It looks like a chunk of clouded ice but the stone shown at right is a 507-carat rough diamond found at the Petra Diamonds Cullinan Mine in South Africa. The 507.55 carat stone is believed to be of exceptional color and clarity, and is most likely a Type II diamond. The rough was found as part of a run that also included a 168-carat piece of rough and two other stones of 58.5 and 53.3 carats. A lucky day indeed, the stone is one of the top 20 largest high-quality rough diamonds ever found making it incredibly rare.

The Cullinan Mine has yielded some of the world's great diamonds including the largest "gem-quality" stone ever recovered, the "Cullinan," 3,106 carats rough, and was the source for the Golden Jubilee, at 755 carats rough, and the Centenary, at 599 carats rough. Cullinan also produced the piece of rough that became the Taylor-Burton diamond, a stone that is 69 carats polished. The diamonds will be analyzed by a team of experts and then the long process of determining how to best cut them can begin.

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Rapper Lil Wayne celebrates his 27th birthday with diamond-studded cake

Most commonly known about the luxurious hip-hop lifestyle are their “urban kid” dress-ups but their glitz and bling has always encompassed all aspects of the luxurious lifestyle. Beating (yet again) all that is luxurious, the American Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil Wayne celebrated his 27th birthday with a million dollar Chopard watch and a $200,000 Chopard black diamond chain as gift along with a diamond-studded cake to top it all. It is not the first time that Lil Wayne has appeared on the urban scene owing to his birthday gifts. Last year’s birthday bash included a suitcase of $1 million in cash and there’s little to say that Lil Wayne has done a good job for living to see 27. Happy b’day, Weezy!

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What's the Fuss? Hirst Back (Kinda) at Phillips Auction

At today's Phillips de Pury & Co. auction, Now: Art of the 21st century, handbag designer (and possibly former artist) Damien Hirst is back on the scene with a major auction house. A year ago, he divested his collection of his own work, ostensibly sensing that the market for him was about to crash. Phillips de Pury isn't making any big bets today with Hirst, though. For now, it has two lithographs of Hirst's famous(ly expensive) skull up for sale. For the Love of God, Laugh; The Diamond Skull is listed at £10,000 - £15,000.

Peter Fuss, on the other hand, seems to have nailed it. His piece, For the Laugh of God,, shown above, is also up for grabs. It's a knockoff skull, listed for a little more than half the price of the lithos (£6,000 - £8,000), but the title conveys the spirit. Created when Hirst was peddling the original skull for the princely sum of £50 million ($100 million at the time), For the Laugh of God was originally offered for £100, as a way to help Britain reclaim this "treasure."

While Hirst's skull cost a fortune even in materials, For the Laugh of God consists of close to 9,900 pieces of glass made to look like diamonds and entailed an investment of £250 and 18 hours. Now, it's up for more than 40 times that amount, while Hirst is reduced to selling posters.

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Mikimoto Ups The Donation On Everything Is Possible With Hope Collection

Each year Mikimoto does a series of jewelry pieces for breast cancer. This year Mikimoto has stepped up their actions, promising to donate 50 percent of all sales from the Everything is Possible with Hope collection to the Young Survival Coalition. The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is an international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to addressing the unique needs of young women affected by breast cancer. The piece shown above, features 8mm pink freshwater cultured pearls and a clasp with .20 ct of diamonds in a 19-inch, 18K white gold chain.

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Wedding Bands and Engagement Rings: What is there to know?

 

The wedding jewelry is the most enduring piece of jewelry in married life. These symbols are the signifier of your love and commitment towards your partner. Therefore you can compromise with its quality and excellence. You will, for sure, want to choose one which will be timeless and of high quality. But unless you know about all these you can not be a good buyer and will not know what you are getting the best bling for your buck. It is not rocket science so do your homework and get the best deal.

There are several ways to pick out an engagement ring. Since she'll be wearing for the rest of her life, you'll want to make sure you get it right, or you will defiantly be hearing about it! One option is to propose without an engagement ring, and then go to pick it out together. While this is a sure way to know that she'll like the ring, some people feel this robs the engagement ring of some of its romance. They may prefer to bring her best friend or mother shopping with them, or have a romantic date of preview shopping for the ring. Another option is to study what kind of jewelry she wears - from what kind of metal, to whether it's contemporary or classic, even perhaps "borrowing" a ring to take shop on an online jewelry store, which will also help you to know her ring size.

Wedding bands are something which can make you comfortable with its design and look. It is basically very much comfortable for everyday wearing. The traditional gold wedding bands will remain hot favorite among the couples for years. If you do not like very simple wedding bands then you can buy an engraved styled or even custom designed band. For a slightly flashier look, what about channel-set diamonds? Plain gold , diamond beaded, contemporary sleek looking, two toned, designer, carved, Celtic, unique, hand braided, fancy, gem stoned, titanium, Christian, tungsten, platinum, palladium and matching set wedding bands are available in the market to pick your choice.

But you have to remember that chosen wedding band match with your personality and expressive with your style.

Gold and platinum both are superlative choices for making a wedding band or an engagement ring. In gold white gold and yellow gold are very popular and demanding among couple these days. Yellow gold is the most traditional of metals. Look at the mark inside the band to see what quality the gold is - usually 14k, 18k, or 24k. While 24k is the most pure, it is also the softest. If you work with your hands, you may want to choose 14k or 18k to prevent scratches.

White gold is a hot trend because it coordinates with both silver and platinum jewelry. Platinum is very stylish metal is also the hardest metal and is safe for those with allergies.

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A Mountain Top Proposal with Whiteflash

Hello Whiteflash Sales Team,

First of all, thank you so much for selling my beautiful diamond engagement ring to Jon!  I was blown away by it!  It is so, so, so beautiful!!!! I was so impressed with Jon's selection and he seemed to have such a wonderful buying experience!

Jon wanted me to share the proposal story, it was such a surprise and very special.  Here's the story and I've attached a few photos:

Well, we just got back from a wonderful hike up to the top of Mt. Fuji!!  Jon and I set out on our big adventure on Sunday, started up the mountain around noon and arrived at our "mountain hut" near the top around dinnertime.  Had a nice hot bowl of udon and then settled in for a few hours rest.  We were woken up by the staff at 3am and hustled out the door to continue the climb to the top.  A lot of people had the same idea and near the top, it gets to be basically a single file line of hikers making their way up and it was quite the line of headlamps.

We reached the top right before sunrise and found a spot out of the wind to sit and watch the sunrise.  Just as the sun rose above the clouds, Jon said, "Hey, Lindsey," and when I turned around, he was on his knee with a ring box open in his hand.  He asked me to marry him and after about five "Really?!!'s" from me, I finally said yes.  I of course made him pose for a photo before he put the ring on my hand. We finished watching the sunrise, with me freaking out and jumping up and down, and then we walked around the top of the mountain (there's a giant crater up there) and then we made the long journey down the mountain and back home, smiling all the way.

Thank you so much!!

Best,

Lindsey and Jonathan

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Fantastic Bo Bo Collection Pandas

We've mentioned the adorable Bo Bo from Qeelin Jewelry before but now the bejeweled panda pendant has a new identity, several identities in fact. The Fantastic Bo Bo collection re-imagines the adorable animal in several incarnations including Super Bo Bo with a red and blue outfit with rubies and sapphires, Pretty Bo Bo in pink sapphires with a diamond handbag and necklace, Captain Bo Bo in cognac diamonds with tiny hook and eyepatch and DJ Bo Bo in black diamonds with white diamond headphones and a tiny MP3 player. Precious jewelry has rarely been cuter.

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A $2 Million Bottle of Chambord

The latest in jewel-encrusted liquor bottles is a bejeweled twist on the classic Chambord Royal orb bottle. Chambord by Donald Edge was unveiled in conjunction with the opening of "Breakfast at Tiffany's," starring Anna Friel and Joseph Cross at the Theatre Royal Haymarket London. The unique bottle of French black raspberry liqueur is decorated with more than 60 carats of diamonds, including 1,100 round brilliant cut, pear cut, a square cut emerald diamond, along with pearls, all of which were set in 18 karat yellow gold. The bottle is worth $2 million.

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New Hope Diamond Setting Chosen

The Hope Diamond has gone naked. The 45.5 carat blue stone has been released from its setting in order to be prepared to its temporary new outfit. Last month I mentioned that there were three potential settings being considered for the stone to mark the 50th anniversary of its donation to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History by jeweler Harry Winston. One was chosen, the Embracing Hope setting shown above. Embracing Hope received 45,000 out of a total 110,000 votes cast. The Hope will be on display by itself for the next few months while the setting is prepared by Harry Winston's team of jewelers. The legendary sparkler will then be shown in its glamorous new attire. The diamond will return to its own setting, a platinum setting surrounded by 16 pear-shaped and cushion-cut diamonds suspended from a diamond-set chain, in late 2010.

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Amosu unveils world's most expensive diamond encrusted BlackBerry for $200,366

Alexander Amosu has yet again set his heart on BlackBerry after a slew of BlackBerrys in precious metals including the Pearl Limited Diamond Edition, Tellor and the Pink BlackBerry Bold. The bling king who considers himself the Damien Hurst of his generation, now claims to have created the world’s most expensive diamond encrusted BlackBerry, crafted in solid 18 carat yellow gold and encrusted with 4,459 brilliant cut diamonds (weighing 28.43 carats). The handset is personalized with your name or company logo and comes with a 24-hour global concierge service. Only three diamond-encrusted BlackBerrys will ever be made, and of which one handset costing $200,366 has already been sold to a client in the Middle East.

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Diamonds are Botsawana's Best Friend

 

  

The Diamond Empowerment Fund has brought us to Botswana to show us how the diamond industry has changed the life of the Botswana people. I used to assume after watching the movie Blood Diamonds that diamonds were not acceptable to buy from Africa. However, it is the complete opposite! When diamonds are purchased, the whole country can survive! In Botswana there used to be 10 schools but the diamond industry has now funded 300 schools!

We went into the largest diamond mine! It was huge! The trucks they use to carry the diamonds are 6 million dollars, and each tire is $70,000! How crazy is that?! Look at how small we look in comparison to the tire! We saw all the raw diamonds and the process they have to go through in order to get them ready to be delivered to stores! Thank you for that amazing experience!

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Layered bangles, necklaces get Fashion Week play

Jewelry tends to be either a second thought, of the costume variety or largely absent on the Fashion Week runways, but when apparel and fine-jewelry designers meet on the catwalk, the collaborative results tend to exceed the sum of their parts.

This year, the bangles, cuff bracelets, thick chains and sculptural earrings that found their way into several spring collections featured during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York did not disappoint.

One designer who showed jewelry an abundance of love was Carmen Marc Valvo, whose Spring 2010 Collection featured a number of fine gold jewelry designs provided by the World Gold Council. Valvo's collection was presented during an informal runway show and cocktail event at the Nasdaq building in New York City last Sunday, with images broadcast to the crowds outside via the Times Square Jumbotron.

Valvo's form-fitting gowns and sleek swimsuits, mostly in black, white and other neutrals, made an ideal backdrop for the key jewelry trends at the show, which included stacked bangles and cuff bracelets, layered chain-style necklaces and hoop earrings.

The hues of the precious metals used in the jewelry were varied: There was gold mixed with oxidized silver (via Elements and Alloys), and colored gold--particularly rose gold but also brown--as well as high-karat gold pieces by the likes of Gurhan, which provided a stack of 24-karat gold bangles that was paired with a black swimsuit wrap featuring gold shoulder accents.

One model wore layered rose- and yellow-gold chains for Gold Expressions with a khaki-colored suede safari jacket, an ivory-colored satin-chiffon racer-back tank top and gunmetal-colored lame pants. Another wore gold bangles and gold hoop earrings, which served as sleek, modern accents to a futuristic-looking white and glass-window-beaded cocktail dress.

One example of the 1980s redux that has pervaded fashion runways lately was shown on a model who wore layered gold chains with a black lame trench over a black racer-back tank top and beaded, multi-media cocktail skirt that seemed to channel Run DMC.

Other looks took a different path to old-school elegance, as shown on a model who wore a stack of diamond-accented yellow-, white- and brown-gold cuff bracelets a black plunge-neck swimsuit.

Another jewelry-oriented fashion show came via the Passman Galleries, which debuted its "Cathedral" collection of diamond and black-coral jewelry at Celestino's Spring 2010 fashion show last Monday at the Ukrainian National Institute, where models with upswept hair swanned across the floors of the French Renaissance-style mansion like mistresses of the house.

The Celestino Spring collection was a mix of billowing, loose silhouettes and more tailored ladylike dresses and gowns, and while there was a strong emphasis on yellows and grays, neutral black and white also got play. For the first time, the designer--who noted the role the economy played in developing the season's offerings--included separates: pants, shorts and flowy tank tops.

The substantive fabric used throughout the collection--satin, boucle and lace--proved a perfect backdrop for Passman's bold, one-of-a-kind jewelry, including limited-edition coral bangles, necklaces and earrings, all cast in a sleek, sculptural style that played especially well against the collection's airy pieces.

One model wore a strapless and belted, gray lace dress with Passman's large black-coral and gold "Avant Garde" bangle accenting her slim arm, while another wore a black and gold strapless dress with the brand's open-ended, serpentine "Cobra" necklace encircling her neck.

Long, dangly, sculptural earrings also abounded at the show, for which noteworthy attendees included music and fashion entrepreneur Russell Simmons (who also owns Simmons Jewelry Co.) and model Amber Rose--rapper Kanye West's girlfriend--who closed the show wearing a white lace gown and Passman's "Empress" necklace.

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Dorothy's re-imagined ruby red slippers go on auction

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers which have earned the status of being the most iconic shoes in movie history are finally up for auction. The iconic red slippers have been reinvented by world’s top shoe designers to mark the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz; courtesy of Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Swarovski Crystallized Elements. The 19 designers who were selected to showcase their modern version for this celebration include Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Roger Vivier, Moschino and Alberta Ferreti. These new designs were up for display in Soho from September 15 – 23 and are sure to add a little bling to your wordrobe. The slippers are now up for online auction on September 24 and the proceeds will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The auction is open to global bidders, so all your Hollywood memorabilia collector’s log on to fancy your chances of winning these one-of-a-kind slippers.

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Antwerp Twins New Diamond Cut

A new diamond cut has been recently debuted and it's got an interesting story. The Antwerp Twins cut comes from 3D diamonds and was created while 3D Diamonds chief executive Eva Van Looverren was pregnant with twins. The diamond has two faceted domes, one on the crown meaning that the table, the flat part on the top of a brilliant cut diamond, is gone with either no table at all or only a tiny "culet"-style facet in the center of the crown. The pavilion, the lower part of the diamond, also is faceted in a dome shape. The new cut is designed it show a balanced contrast pattern giving the stone a brighter and more sparkly look.

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When the wedding officiant is a dummy (literally)

For most brides-to-be, their wish is that the wedding ceremony goes off without a hitch. While laughter may be a sign off good luck and happiness, it would be preferred that it does not break out thanks to dumb mistakes.

However, one upcoming ceremony may be chock full of jokes and hilarity and the engaged couple actually hope it stays that way. According to the Vancouver Sun, David Balsiger and Christine Strong of Colorado are to exchange wedding rings and vows this coming weekend with a ventriloquist's dummy officiating.

Children's entertainer and puppeteer Maralee Dawn will be lending a hand to the proceedings, so to speak, as she will breathe life into the dummy, Butch. She is also an ordained minister.

"Admittedly, it's not a solemn storybook wedding," said Strong. "It does have a wedding dress, the presiding pastor Butch dressed in a tuxedo, and a few of the trapping of a traditional wedding - but that's where it ends."

She added that guests can expect "a totally unscripted ad lib humorous ceremony."

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Light" Jewelry Watch Collection by Chanel

Images speak louder than words for this collection of watches that Chanel hopes to not only capture the light, but also look as though it was cut from it. Going back to what made the French luxury brand famous, their wrist watch arm releases a new line of four watches in the "Light" collection of watches.

The pictured watch is the "Tweed," while the other watches are the Ribbon, First Watch, and First Jewelry Show watches. Each of the watches is in 18k white gold covered from top to bottom in diamonds. Each watch has from about 3-10 carats of jewel weight and between about 300 and 600 stones. The watches are feminine and luxurious, while also delicate in design. Serious haute joaillarie watches from the brand that helped make the concept famous.

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Blinged out Switch Plates

When we moved into our new house we immediately replaced all of the off-white, cheap, plastic switch plates with brushed-silvertone covers to give each room a clean and modern feel. Even the smallest of changes in a room can add to the ambiance. Too bad I didn't know about the glamorous Swarovski-crusted switch plates from Diametral. These glittery covers add bling to any space -- although putting them in every room of your home might be a bit much. Available in fifteen different colors including gold, silver, diamond and leaf motifs, these switch plates are anything but bland.

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A Stunning Wedding Ring Set with Whiteflash.com

 

Dear Whiteflash Sales Team,

 

Even though it is very LONG overdue, I just wanted to thank everyone who worked on my gorgeous diamond engagement ring/wedding band set! Marc proposed while we were taking pictures after my graduate school graduation, and I have attached the "best" one. Although it appears that I am excitedly jumping arms out towards Marc, I am actually staring at my ring behind his head!

 

We were fortunate enough to be given the marquise center stone by Marc's mother, and chose to use it based on the sentimental value. Marc teases me that I'm the family jewelry recycler as I have my grandmother's diamond earrings and my mother's first engagement ring diamond (reset into bezel necklace and earrings) as well as several other important family pieces. Thanks to Pricescope and everyone's recommendations, we were lucky enough to come across your company. Chris, you're a saint, and were so incredibly patient as we waded through making such important decisions for a ring I hope to wear forever. Even though I had previously seen pictures of "my" ring on Pricescope, there is absolutely no way to describe how beautiful and well-made it is in person! The pave is just exquisite! I constantly have people grabbing my hand and asking if my ring is an antique as most(myself included) have never seen an east-west set marquise in person.

 

Thanks again to everyone for all of your hard work and making our crazy ideas come to life. I keep scaring Marc by telling him I'm a Whiteflash addict, and Chris can attest to this as he actually "caught" me on the website a few weeks ago! Here's to many more projects to come!

 

Thanks for everything,

Heather

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'Bling My Thing' blings 40″ LCD TV for Paris Hilton

Bling seemed to have reached its apex when every bad boy from the hip-hop world ran out with a piece of blinged-up medallion. But if you’ve known the specialist itself, you’ll think twice. Having blinged things like a Chevrolet Captiva, football table, music players, to name a few, how could they miss LCD TVs and of course, the queen of bling, Paris Hilton. Bling-My-Thing has squashed the frame of this stunning 40″ LCD TV with over 14,000 CRYSTALLIZED TM - Swarovski Elements to complete this dazzling masterpiece. The sort of attention to detail is worth noting like little diamonds and one might stop watching what’s playing on the display.

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Our Stylit.TV Cufflink Winner ImmaDiva

 

Whiteflash and Stylit.TV have come together to giveaway three pairs of Edwar Mirell cufflinks in our Father's Day Giveaway!

 

 

Edward Mirell Cufflinks from Whiteflash.com just in time for Father's Day

Let your Dad look like a leading man this Fathers Day! Gerard Butler and Jaime Foxx were recently gifted with Whiteflash.coms Edward Mirell collection on the set of their new movie Law Abiding Citizen. Other male celebrities who wear Whiteflash jewelry include: Michael Gambo, Warren Sapp, Larry King and Christopher Knight (My Fair Brady).

Whiteflash.com has teamed with Stylit.TV for an incredible Fathers Day contest to give everyone a chance to win those same $350 Edward Mirell designed cufflinks for their Dad.

 Here is the reaction of one of our AMAZING winners and tweeters @ImmaDiva!

 

 

Thanks again for the great giveaway with Stylit.Tv!  When I told my Dad I had won him platinum cuff links just in time for my sister's wedding, he was sooo excited. They were gorgeous.  A direct quote from Dad:  "On your daughter’s wedding day you want to look “classy.”  I loved my tux but the cufflinks that came with it did not add to the presence…they were basic at best.  The Whiteflash cufflinks I wore certainly did add presence…they added “class” on a day I will treasure forever.  Thanks for adding to our great day."

 

Thank you again, they were truly gorgeous!!!

 

 

 

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Find Her Ring Size Without Spoiling the Surprise

You’ve come to the monumental decision that your girl is a keeper, and you can’t wait to ask her to marry you. The problem? You have no idea what size engagement ring to buy her. It’s a common dilemma, but below are some sneaky ways to dig up this crucial bit of information.

If You Want to Go It Alone…
•        If she wears a ring on the all-important finger, you’re golden. As long as she occasionally takes it off, that is. The next time it’s in her jewelry box rather than on her finger, covertly steal it for an hour, take it to a jeweler, and have it measured. If she wears a ring on that finger all the time, however, it’s a trickier process. When she takes it off to shower or do the dishes, sneak in there and make an impression of the ring in a small hunk of soap or bit of clay. If she absolutely never takes it off, you’ll have to be even stealthier. Get her talking about where she got the ring, what kind of metal or stone it’s made of, etc. Ask to get a better look at it (which means she’ll probably take it off) and then make up an excuse to get her out of the room. When she leaves for a few seconds, use that clay or soap to get an impression.
•        Use your finger as a yardstick. Using a ring she wears on her left ring finger, push it down gently on one of your fingers (not your thumb). Make sure that you don’t force the ring. Mark the spot on your finger where the ring comes to rest and then get to a jeweler ASAP to have it measured.
•        If your bride-to-be is a heavy sleeper, measure her finger with a piece of string or a twist-tie while she dozes.
Helpful Hint: If she wears a ring on the ring finger of her right hand, don’t assume that it will be the same size as she wears on her left hand. Many people’s fingers measure slightly larger on their dominant hand. You still have to go digging!

If You Want a Little Help From Your Friends…
•        If a good friend or family member has recently gotten engaged, ask that person to help you out. Next time the two of them are together, the recently engaged woman can ask your girlfriend if she wants to try on her ring. If it’s a perfect fit, great. If it’s a little too big or too small, you’ll at least have a ballpark.
•        If a friend of hers is close to getting engaged, have her ask your girlfriend to tag along the next time she goes to the jewelry store (to give her own guy hints about what kind of ring she want). The friend can ask the jeweler to size her finger and then suggest that your girlfriend do the same.
•        Ask a close friend to talk about her own engagement ring the next time she sees your girlfriend. The friend can ask your girlfriend to try it on so she can see how it looks to other people. It may sound silly to a guy, but it makes perfect sense to a woman!

Helpful Hint: Having her best friend, sister, or mom on your side is ideal, but think hard before you ask someone. Make sure that whoever it is happens to be a phenomenal liar—as in, CIA material. If her best friend blushes every time she tells a fib, she’s not a good resource. And if your girlfriend has always dreamed about calling up her mom and screaming news of her engagement, she might be a little disappointed that her mom already knows.

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The Fashion Statement: Shop Like Europeans

At New York fashion week, you have access to throngs of fashion journalists, stylists, celebrity stylists and buyers. I was dying to ask these stylish people how they have navigated shopping in a downturn. Are they shopping? Are they cutting back? Have their buying habits changed?

Yes, yes and yes (except one self-proclaimed shopaholic who said if she allowed herself to buy one thing, she'd fall off the wagon).

Answers like this came back unanimously: "I used to buy cheap and volume and now I buy fewer things that are better quality and I take care of them."

Timeless pieces top people's lists for fall. A pair of diamond studs. A pair of black pumps. The perfect white shirt. An LBD, of course. And all are planning to make these purchases from well-established designers.

There's little talk of wear-'em-once pieces like plaid trousers, It handbags or look-at-me shoes. If buying more of a statement piece, like the jewelry pictured above they'll wear it a million different ways. In other words, they're shopping like Europeans, not Americans.

"I'm focusing in on what I need and I need a black dress. " said Jennifer Lee Rosth, a fashion editor based in Austin, Texas. "I've been shopping my closet for two years. I was so glad that I had been an American before because I had 15 black dresses. But, now, I'll be more choosy."

 

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Expert Answers: Reasons to Customize Your Engagement Ring

If you are on the fence regarding your engagement ring- to customize or not to customize - check out these top ten reasons why a custom design may be right for you, straight from the experts at Whiteflash.com!

A few of my favorites...

3: You don’t want a traditional engagement ring; you are a trend-setter.

4: You want to be able to remember not only where the ring was bought, but also how it was made.

6: Details only known to you.

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Kanye West Storms the VMAs Stage During Taylor Swift's Speech

Leave it to Kanye West to produce one of the most infamous moments in VMAs history before the 2009 show was even an hour old. It happened after Taylor Swift’s victory in the Best Female Video category for “You Belong With Me,” which beat out Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” Just moments after the diamond studded Swift accepted the Moonman and began her acceptance speech, West stormed the stage, taking the microphone from Swift to announce Beyoncé deserved the award.

 “Thank you so much!” Swift began. “I always dreamed about what it would be like to maybe win one of these some day, but I never actually thought it would have happened. I sing country music so thank you so much for giving me a chance to win a VMA award.”

Before she could continue, West broke in. “Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ll let you finish, but Beyoncé has one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!” Kanye shouted to a mortified Swift and the speechless audience. And as quickly as he ran onstage — MTV cut away to show Pink applauding Taylor, and when they flashed back to Swift, West already had the mic in his hand — he was off, leaving a shocked Swift in his wake.

Everyone at the Radio City Music Hall looked stunned, as the cameras captured an astonished and horrified Beyoncé still in her seat. Soon after, the audience gave a standing ovation in support of Swift. To add insult to injury, after Kanye handed the microphone back to Swift, her time was up, and MTV cut to a video featuring Tracy Morgan and Eminem. Minutes after the incident went down, MTV Chairman and CEO Judy McGrath was feverishly typing into her phone when Diddy came up for a chat. Topic of conversation? What else but West. “Like Diddy just said, ‘It’s rock & roll,’ ” McGrath commented to RS. “And the applause for [Taylor] will be louder.”

According to sources at the VMAs, Swift was seen hysterically crying backstage after Kanye’s outburst, making it convenient that the first part of her performance of “You Belong to Me,” which immediately followed the acceptance speech, was prerecorded. (Swift emerged from the subway exit and performed atop a cab outside the venue live.) Wale, who is serving as MC for the house band, told the crowd, “You can’t fault a man for speaking his mind,” which was promptly met by boos from the Radio City Music Hall crowd. According to our sources inside Radio City, Kanye was promptly tossed from the VMAs after interrupting Swift’s speech and headed to West Village haunt the Spotted Pig. “I’m assuming based on the amount of Hennessey I saw [West] drink that he was not all there,” Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump told Rolling Stone backstage at the show.

Near the end of the show, Beyoncé invited Swift onstage to have the acceptance speech she deserved while picking up her own Moonman for Video of the Year. Later, West posted an apology on his blog:

“I’m sooooo sorry to taylor swift and her fans and her mom. I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would’ve said. She is very talented! I like the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she’s in the bleachers! …………………… i’m in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!……………. beyonce’s video was the best of this decade! I’m sorry to my fans if I let you guys down! I’m sorry to my friends at mtv. I will apologize to taylor 2mrw. welcome to the real world! everybody wanna booooo me but i’m a fan of real pop culture! No disrespect but we watchin’ the show at the crib right now cause … well you know! i’m still happy for taylor! Boooyaaawwww! you are very very talented! I gave my awards to outkast when they deserved it over me… that’s what it is!! i’m not crazy yall, i’m just real. Sorry for that! I really feel bad for taylor and i’m sincerely sorry! Much respect!!”

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Budget Friendly Engagement Rings

It’s proposal season and many future grooms were wondering how to pop the question without blowing their bank account (especially since the average engagement rings costs $4,225).

Debi Wexler, CEO of Whiteflash.com, is here to show you some recession-friendly engagement ring trends-after all, you’ll want to save that money for the Big Day.

Alternative Metals
• Platinum and gold are the go-to metals for wedding rings-but they come with a hefty price tag
• There are plenty of metals on the market that are still beautiful, elegant and less expensive
• Palladium is a growing trend that happens to have a similar look and feel to platinum, but can cost about 75% less
• If you’re more of a traditionalist, choose white gold over platinum. White gold costs 45% less than platinum

Simple Settings
• For the past couple of years there’s been a trend towards micro-pave diamond bands, diamond halos, etc., which can all add to the overall cost of a ring
• These days, some brides-to-be are opting for a more simple, subtle and chic setting
• Diamond Solitaires are less expensive than embellished options, like three-stone rings
• A simple, traditional prong setting or channel set band is also more cost-efficient than an elaborate tension or bezel setting

Double Duty
• Who says you have to have an engagement ring and a wedding band?
• One hot new trend is choosing a beautiful wide band with multiple rows of diamonds and making that your engagement ring and wedding band. Although the ring may cost more than a regular engagement ring, this double-duty ring can help you save more in the long run since you won’t need to buy a wedding band too

Colored Gemstones
• Call it hue-love, but brides are branching out of diamonds! Colored stones like topazes, sapphires, emeralds and rubies are becoming increasingly popular
• Luckily for grooms, they can get a more impressive-sized rock for their money by choosing a gemstone instead of a diamond
• If your bride-to-be loves colored diamonds à la Heidi Klum’s canary diamond then pop the question with a yellow sapphire. Or try a tourmaline if you’re looking to replicate a pink diamond look.

Note: Interesting price comparison for gemstones vs. diamonds using the Emerald ring below: Of course, it’s hard to compare a diamond to an emerald (like comparing apples to oranges), however A 1.59ct D IF emerald cut diamond sold on Whiteflash.com PLUS equivalent setting would be $19,500. VS. Emerald Engagement Ring – square halo diamond emerald (center stone)1.56 tcw with .79 Whiteflash ACA carat total weight in diamonds that is $9,000.

Buy Shy and Save
Shop for diamonds that weigh just under certain weight thresholds. You won’t even notice the difference in size• Buy a .90-carat diamond instead of a 1-carat diamond and save more than $1,000. Plus, the diameter of a 1-carat diamond is 6.5 millimeters, versus a .90-carat diamond’s 6.3 millimeters.
• A 2-carat diamond will cost approx. $19,000 to $20,000+, whereas a “shy” 1.90 diamond of the same quality will cost you $15,000 to $16,000. That’s at least $4,000 in savings!

 

Additional Money-Saving Tips
• Match Away: You’ll spend half as much if you buy a matching or coordinating ring/band set, as opposed to choosing individual rings. You’ll save even more if you buy a “trio” (engagement ring, and his/her band set)
• Negotiate: Many retailers dramatically inflate prices to make a higher margin-but there’s always room for negotiation, so don’t be afraid to go after a deal. Never settle on the sticker price unless you’ve shopped around and you know it’s already a fair price.

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As Platinum's Price Drops, Brides Joy Soars

When it comes to wedding bands, Houston brides love the look and feel of platinum. Who wouldn’t? That cool white luster, that substantial heft, that incredible durability (it’s the strongest of jewelry metals)—platinum just seems so perfectly suited to weddings.

We even like platinum’s relative softness: Platinum “scuffs” easily compared to gold, which means that platinum wedding bands tend to fossilize the many little moments of daily married life (running your hands through Hawaiian sands on your blissful honeymoon, moving furniture around in your newlywed love nest, preparing dinner parties as husband and wife, etc.). Of course, if you crave precious platinum but still prefer an unblemished look, you can always take your band to your jeweler for periodic polishing.

Here’s the thing: While we are crazy for wedding platinum, we aren’t quite as nuts about platinum’s traditionally sky-high cost—as much as five, six or many more times that of an equivalent gold band. Ouch!

Good news: In the last year, platinum prices, always volatile compared to many other jewelry metals, have plunged about 50% from early 2008. Since forecasts are predicting a rebound in platinum’s price in 2010, right now looks like a very good time to get a very good price on a pair of platinum wedding bands.

To find the right platinum pieces for you and your betrothed, better start with the best. Click here for educational articles on platinum, and start testing your metal, Houston brides!

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A Music City Proposal with Whiteflash.com

 

 

Dear Whiteflash team,

I received the diamond engagement ring on Friday and was thrilled.  Later that night, I took my girlfriend to Nashville, TN for a romantic dinner and a special evening in the Music City.  I proposed and she said yes!  She absolutely loves the diamond ring and has received many compliments from friends already.  One girl said that "I don't know much about diamonds, but that one sparkles from all the way across the room."  Thank you for your help; I'll be sure to recommend you to others.

The attached picture is Erin calling her parents to tell them of the good news.

Best regards,

Jason

 

 

 

 

 

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Fabergé Launches New Jewelry Line

After two years of planning, Fabergé, the brand famous for its ornately jeweled eggs, has presented its first jewelry collection in 90 years. In 2007, Pallinghurst Resources teamed up with the South African financial services firm Investec and other investors to buy the name with the plan to revive its Russian heritage. They invited Tatiana and Sarah Fabergé, Peter Carl Fabergé's two surviving great granddaughters, to form a Faberge heritage council to advise the management on preserving the family's legacy. The NY Times reports that the firm also put together a management and design team including Mark Dunhill, former president of Alfred Dunhill and Frédéric Zaavy, a Parisian jeweler.

In a move that is completely modern, Fabergé has said they will not sell the jewelry through retail outlets. Instead they are using a different model, selling through an ornate website, a Geneva flagship store and 15 sales representatives willing to meet big spenders anywhere in the world. Fabergé may be a new line but it has the benefit of a name that is known everywhere and is synonymous with the upper echelons of luxury. The brand began in St. Petersburg back in 1842 and became one of Russia's largest producers of jewelry and art works. The first Fabergé egg was commissioned by Czar Alexander III as an Easter present for his wife and the eggs came to define the line which was famous for the intricate craftsmanship of its skilled jewelers who created tiny marvels fashioned in precious metals and jewels.

The new line is aimed at the ultra-wealthy and does not include eggs but uses a variety of colorful gemstones sourced from around the world to create elaborate effects. On the Fabergé website there are three main collections: Les Fleurs, Les Fables and Les Fauves and each features fantastical designs in the shapes of flowers, animals and flowing shapes. Prices for the first luxury jewelry collection range from $40,000 to $7 million, but future items may sell for $15,000. The new designs have a mythical quality that mimics the sense of wonder felt when looking at Faberge eggs.

The line launches at a time in which jewelers, particularly those that do not specialize in bridal jewelry, are losing customers and facing diminished sales. But the fact that it is a known name may help it in growing economic markets in the Middle East and Asia. The company has said that it expected to turn a profit within five years.

Although there are no Fabergé eggs in the collection, the company may eventually embrace the opportunity to return to the classic form.

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A Truly Magical Proposal with Whiteflash.com

Dear Whiteflash Sales Team,

 

I just wanted to tell you that the proposal went off perfectly.  My girlfriend... now fiancé (Christine) was so surprised and her reaction was great.  Here are a couple pictures of the proposal. 

 

Here is what you will see in the pictures.

1. Me putting the "glass slipper" on my girlfriends foot to make sure it fits.

2. Me putting the diamond engagement ring on her finger after she said yes to marry me.

3. My fiancé and I in front of the Magic Castle.

 

Let me know if you want some better pictures as well as the whole story as to how everything went down.  I would like to thank Whiteflash for making the purchase of the diamond, creation of the ring, and everything else so easy and stress free.  You guys truly are the best at what you do!

 

Thanks,

 

Gary

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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