Graff Unveils The Most Valuable, And Quite Possibly The Ugliest, Watch In The World.

At this year's Baselworld, the annual horology show, Graff unseated Hublot as having the world's most expensive watch.

Pearls That Purr: Mikimoto X Hello Kitty Collection

Mikimoto is known to have the finest pearls in the world. What is known as a "Mikimoto Pearl" has been selected from only Akoya pearls of the finest quality, determined by the beauty of the pearl's luster, form, size and color.

The Japanese company has teamed up with Sanrio to bring us a small collection of Hello Kitty inspired pearl pieces. A multi-strand necklace, a pair of earrings, a bangle bracelet and a a single strand of pearls with diamond bow, available in various lengths.

The collection launched first in Paris in January 2014, then in Japan.

Necklace & Earrings set are sold together for a base price of ¥ 27,700,000 ($264,618.37 USD) and the cost with tax ¥ 29,085,000 (or $277,840.10 USD)

The necklace is made of multiple strands of luxurious Akoya pearls accented with diamonds, Hello Kitty's trademark bow made of deep red rubies, pave diamond encrusted yellow gold nose and onyx eyes.





The Earrings with french backs are made of luxurious Akoya pearls accented with diamonds, Hello Kitty's trademark bow made of deep red rubies, pave diamond encrusted yellow gold nose and onyx eyes.


The Bangle with pearl bow sells for a base price of  ¥ 55,000 (or $525 USD), with tax Tax ¥ 57,750 (or $552 USD)


Lastly, the single strand of pearls with diamond bow is available in choker length (40cm), Matinee length (60cm), Opera length (80cm) and Rope length (120 cm). Prices upon request.



Information and images courtesy of Mikimoto.
dedicated website http://hellokitty.mikimoto.com

Handmade Skull Ponytail Holders by Michael R. Doyle of Moon Raven Designs Are Boo-tiful.

I came across these quite by accident and immediately fell in love with them. As a matter of fact, I had to buy one - and did. Beautifully rendered skulls hand cast in various materials are placed on elastic bands for use as pony tail holders. Available as yellow bronze, sterling silver plated white bronze, black resin, ivory resin and even a sugar skull version cast in oxidized sterling overlay on white bronze. Prices vary depending upon materials.

Bronze:




Sterling Silver Plated White Bronze:




Black Resin:




White Resin:



Oxidized Sterling over White Bronze:




A black resin Raven skull and sterling silver over white bronze T-Rex skull are also available:






The bands are easily replaceable (as one would not want to have to toss the piece of art when the elastic is stretched out). 



Moon Raven Designs (Mrd74 on etsy) of Victoria, British Colombia is jewelry with an edge inspired by nature - ravens, crows, wolves, bears and much more. They specialize in Corvidae skull jewelry and it's all handmade in Canada by Michael R Doyle who works with his wife Dianne.

Some other examples of their work:





They ship worldwide, have superb reviews on etsy and make lots of beautiful pieces of jewelry and accessories.



Shop the etsy store here

Moon Raven Designs on Facebook
and on Twitter

WHOLESALE ORDERS WELCOME FROM BRICK AND MORTAR SHOPS AND BOUTIQUES.

© All rights reserved. All content and designs contained in this shop are protected by copyright belonging to Michael R. Doyle and the Registered Trademark of Moon Raven Designs

Mordaunte's Coffin Shaped Gemstones & Jewelry Are A Spooky Way To Sparkle.

Mordaunte's Coffin-Shaped Gems and Jewelry specializes in semi-precious faceted gemstones, cut into a perfect 6-sided coffin shape by exclusive contract with an international gemstone company. Gemstones include colors such as Blood, Death, Shroud, Moss, Flesh, Scalded, and Pentacle. In stock sizes range from 3 to 10 carats.



"So far, I am the only one in the world that does this", states Mordaunte - owner, designer and creator (shown below).



In addition to the gemstones, she designs and creates finished jewelry in both men's and women's fashions. These include rings, earrings, pendants, and tie tacks, done in sterling silver as well as 14k gold. In keeping with the coffin-shaped design, purchases are even shipped in a cardboard coffin-shaped box. Mordaunte's clients buy her jewelry for costume decoration, funerary wear, immortalizing a departed loved one, wedding sets, and everyday wear with a "kick". "Most people don't realize it's a coffin shape until you tell them - they just comment that it's a beautiful stone", says Mordaunte, "When I mention that it's a coffin shape, they gasp - "That's awesome!". Many customers refer to her business as "The Morbid Tiffany's".




Mordaunte started her custom coffin-shaped gemstone "business" from her desk in her basement in the spring of 2000. She offered 3 different stone materials in two sizes. She then set up a internet service-provider website and went into business. Slowly, but surely, the business grew both in the USA and Internationally. More and more interest was revolving around her unusual gemstones, especially the idea of offering them in pre-made jewelry. Being in the IT field, she had never set a piece of jewelry in my life. However, after much research and "trial and error" she started setting her gemstones in oval and marquise pre-made settings.




As the business continued to grow it took on a life of it's own. Mordaunte began supplying jewelry to celebrities and rock bands that had found her online site. She was invited by the people at OzzFest to be a vendor on their tour. Radio stations and TV shows asked her for interviews. Haunted Houses, Horror Conventions and Gothic Nightclubs contacted her to be a guest and a vendor at their events. In 2005 Mordaunte re-designed the coffin gemstone shape to the perfect 6-sided coffin you see today and has added several colors to her line since then.



The coffin-shaped gems have made many a wicked woman happy and have been used as engagement rings, such as in the examples shown below.

A white topaz coffin gem surrounded by real diamonds makes for an unusual engagement ring:


above black glove image (cropped) © All rights reserved by Countessa Di Fangxious

Other jewelers use her stones as a source for their own creations, such as Lyndsay Brown of Idle Hands Designs on etsy who makes them into pendants, rings and cufflinks set in sterling silver:



shop for the above jewelry at Idle Hands

Coffin Gems and Jewelry Facts:
•All Coffin Gems are cut from genuine semi-precious stones such as sapphire and garnet
•The perfect 6-sided "toe pincher" coffin shape is exclusive to Mordaunte's Coffin Gems
•Each Coffin Gem is expertly faceted, polished and inspected by a professional gemologist
•Sizes are exact - weights are approximate (different gemstone materials weigh differently)
•Visit the Birthstones page for traditional and modern birthstone color charts
•Visit the Gemstones page for color choices and size comparison
•Each piece of jewelry is custom designed in Sterling Silver to hold the Coffin Gems, but is available in other settings upon request



Mordaunte's Coffin-Shaped Gems and Jewelry can be viewed and purchased at her online store - www.coffingems.com

Matchstick Diamond Jewelry Launches In Absolutely Adorable Packaging.

Launched by Britain-born Louise Carter, Matchstick is a new brand of diamond baguette jewelry. The five pieces in the collection, each of which are available in 18k white, yellow or rose gold, include a Boy, a Girl, a Dog, a Small Heart and a Large Heart.




Each represent universal symbols of life to the designer and each piece lives in its own house, a lovely oversized matchbox with sweet line art illustrations.








Shop Matchstick Jewelry here