Michelle Obama Jewelry Update

Michelle Obama's Election Night Narciso Rodriguez dress got so much attention, many forgot to inquire about her jewelry. But Jewelry Insider readers were curious - as every good jewelry hound should be - so I tracked down the source of the icey earrings that glittered around the world last week.

The diamond danglers were desinged by chic jewelry label, Loree Rodkin, and Vogue UK reports they are 18K white gold triple dangle earrings in pear, oval and marquee shapes covered with small diamonds, costing an estimated $10,000.

Does this mean that the jewels were a one-time splurge for the frugal First Lady? Or is this a sign of blings to come?

To be continued...

Diamonds Rock the Casbah

Diamonds and Charlize Theron. Now that’s a winning combination. Our favorite jewels made a dazzling appearance last night in Hollywood at the “Rock the Casbah” fundraiser for Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite charity, and the drooling photogs got a lense-full.

While the bearded entrepreneur is stuck at sea trying to break the world record for crossing the Atlantic (what kind of excuse is that!), Hollywood’s beauties came out to show their support.

Neve Campbell made a rare appearance in a classic strapless dress and tasteful diamond earrings. TV personality, Samantha Harris, looked stunning in diamond teardrops, and the always beautiful, Salma Hayek, buttoned up in a black pants suit and silver dollar-sized vintage diamond clusters.

But, as always, all eyes were on the Charlize. Diamonds dripped from her ears, and she worked the trendy off-the-shoulder, little black dress like no other. And while we all have days when we wish, for a moment, we could understand what it means to be Charlize Theron, the Oscar-winner has her own ideas.

"He's got to be that guy that we all just secretly want to live his life," she said of Richard Branson. "Even if it's just for a week, I mean wouldn't that be incredible?."

"He's an inspiration, I think we want to surround ourselves with people who inspire you and push you, and this guy does that on a level that is out of control."

Tickets for the event went for between $750 per person to $50,000 for a V.I.P. table for 10. Guests were treated to a lavish dinner, auction and a performance by Natalie Imbruglia before dancing until the early hours.

Some of the proceeds from the night went to the Eve Branson Foundation, run by Richard Branson's mother, which helps Moroccan women set up small businesses to support their families - hence the Casbah theme.

Looks like they rocked it for you, Richard. Good luck out there!

Let Them Eat Diamonds!

What do three-carat diamond earrings, a four-strand pearl necklace, a pricey Oscar de la Renta dress and a Chanel J12 white ceramic watch get you? A nice batch of controversy, if you’re Cindy McCain.

Vanity Fair did a little digging after Mrs. McCain made her Monday night debut at the Republican National Convention, and their experts estimate that her outfit for the evening cost a whopping $300,000. The earrings alone are estimated at $280k. Do we have a new Marie Antoinette in the making?

To be fair, Michelle Obama wore designer duds throughout the Democratic National Convention, but her brooch bling was, how shall we say, not as awe-inspiring in the diamond department. We’re sure inheriting a beer fortune helps up the ‘ice’ quotient in your jewelry box.

So what does $300,000 mean to us regular folk? According to Vanity Fair:

• One and a half houses, given the national median home price of $206,500.

• A year's worth of health care for 750 people.

• The full array of back-to-school supplies and clothes for 500 kids.

• Enough gas to drive cross-country 543 times.

• 365 round-trip flights from Washington, D.C., to Anchorage, Alaska.
  

Interesting. Very interesting.

Paris Brings the Bling to ‘Seedy’ Lounge Opening

Diamonds and cocktails are quite possibly the perfect combination, and last night’s opening of Apple Lounge in West Hollywood had plenty of them. A who’s who of party girls showed up to christen the new hot spot, including one Miss Lindsay Lohan - there to support current squeeze SamRo in the DJ booth.

Not one to miss a photo op, Paris Hilton wowed the crowd with a chunky diamond choker and a shocker of an icey bangle. Sister Nicky’s tasteful studs might as well have, um, stayed home. Singer Christina Milan represented with a pair of diamond hoops and dancer with the stars, Carina Smirnoff, showed off a rocky right hand ring and some gold dangle earrings.

New York party girl, Allison Melnick, is the brains behind this fruity entry to the LA lounge scene and hopes the location will become a nightlife mecca with a forthcoming Pussycat Dolls lounge opening nearby. But don’t get your hopes up, sportsfans. The space only holds 150 and will open its doors just three days a week. Unless you have a ‘pap’ hiding in your bushes right now, you might want to make other plans.

A Jeweler Trashes Her Diamonds

If you thought you go over and above what's necessary at work - try being a sanitation worker in Staten Island. When a local jeweler accidentally threw away a pair of earrings, the city's cleaning crew jumped into action sifting through mounds of garbage to try and find the missing diamond jewels. And they did.

The jeweler, Haya Sharon ,had put her 3 carat diamond earrings in an empty jar of jewelry cleaning solution. They were cleaned alright. All the way out of the store into the local landfill.

The $20,000 earrings were an 11th anniversary gift from her husband and had just become one expensive load of garbage.

Still, in Staten Island it ain't gone until they say it's gone. The day after the garbage was hauled away, the workers sifted through the garbage and spotted the jar of diamonds.

If you're looking for an earful of diamonds - Macy's has a jarful of diamonds for just $1,000 at Jewelry.com. They're probably not as smelly though as those you could find in a trash heap for free.