Grammy Winning Jewelry Designs

Jennifer Lopez, and her exposed leg, wearing $5 million worth of
Norman Silverman diamond earrings, rings and bracelets
(more photos below).

Most of the fashion talk at last night’s 55th annual Grammy Awards was centered around the CBS memo with its warning not to show too much skin. According to the Los Angeles Times, “The memo specifically warned attendees to adequately cover their ‘buttocks and female breasts, bare fleshy under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack, bare sides and curvature of the breasts.’ They were also encouraged to avoid sheer clothing and thong-type costumes.”

J Lo outsmarted the CBS brass by being revealing and living up to the standards imposed by the memo. Katy Perry abided by the memo by covering up yet still managed to be revealing. Nicole Kidman and Rihanna both looked stunning. The rest of the stars were for the most part, boring in their attire.

As far as jewelry goes, unlike the outfits, many of the designs worn by the stars were bold. Precious metals shined brightly, diamonds and colored gemstones sparkled. Below are few of the highlights.

At the age of 45, actress Nicole Kidman (with her husband Country Music singer Keith Urban), dazzled on the red carpet wearing Fred Leighton's 19th Century green enamel, diamond and gold snake cuff and pyramid shaped gold pendant earrings to complement her Vera Wang gold embroidered gown.

At the other end of the age spectrum (24) and looking just as fabulous was Barbadian singer Rihanna who reportedly was draped in Neil Lane jewelry, including a 100-carat diamond and platinum serpentine bracelet, multiple diamond and ruby serpent rings and 30-carat diamond and platinum drop earrings.

 
Singer Katy Perry is wearing an Adeler 14k yellow gold Chalcedony ring, but I really had difficulty noticing. Like J Lo, she too, abided by the CBS memo and still managed to proudly display her assets, retail: $3,908.

More pictures of J Lo in Norman Silverman jewelry. Above she is wearing a 10-carat diamond stud earrings. Below she is adorned with 2.18-carat diamond band ring, a 9.76-carat diamond band ring, a 33.77-carat canary diamond bracelet, a 31.30-carat diamond bracelet and a 33.68-carat diamond bracelet.

TV personality Nancy O'Dell wearing in a Allia smokey quartz, citrine and spinel earrings, retail: $4590; an Isharya "Black and Nude" pyramid luxe cuffs, retail each: $278; and a Le Vian ring, retail: $247,

A number of entertainers were on hand Saturday night at the Clive Davis & The Recording Academy's 2013 Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Antonio "L.A." Reid at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif. Among them:

Jewelry industry favorite, Jennifer Hudson in Michael M. Diamond drop earrings (above, retail: $30,500; and Demarco 18k rose gold mixed diamond cuff, retail: $187,500.

 

Singer Ciara wore a Demarco 18k rose gold diamond ring, retail: $17,400;a Le Vian 14k Strawberry Gold diamond ring, retail: $8,297,and a Norman Silverman 18k rose gold diamond band, retail: $12,760.

Kathy Griffin is adorned in a palladium Cosmic Meteor ring by D'ette Delforge of 3D Designs, which features a natural octahedron diamond surrounded by round brilliant cut diamonds.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Web site.

Ralph O. Esmerian Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Former owner of Fred Leighton Jewelry, Ralph Esmerian, on February 19, 2007.  (Photo by Marsaili McGrath/Getty Images)

The former owner of Fred Leighton pled guilty to bankruptcy fraud and other crimes Friday in a U.S. District Court in New York.

Ralph O. Esmerian pled guilty to a three-count indictment charging him with wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud and concealment of assets before U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, according to media reports.

Fred Leighton specializes in vintage jewelry and is often referred to as the “Jeweler to the Stars,” where its museum-quality jewelry, rare artifacts and gems are often found on well-known actors and celebrities during “Red Carpet” events. Esmerian bought Fred Leighton in 2005 as a retail outlet for the inventory of his company, R. Esmerian Inc. (Left photo: Nicole Kidman in a 150-ct. 19th Century Riviere diamond necklace by Fred Leighton at the 2011 Oscars. )

Prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office said in November, at the time the charges were filed, that Esmerian borrowed $210 million against the jewels to help finance his businesses. About $177 million was borrowed from Merrill Lynch Mortgage Capital Inc. to buy Fred Leighton, a rare antique and vintage jewelry dealer, according to media reports.

Esmerian reportedly told Cote that the assets and jewels he had embezzled and double-pledged were worth at least $20 million, according to reports. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Massey told the judge that the government valued the assets at between $20 million to $50 million.

under a plea agreement, Esmerian faces from 97 months to ten years in prison when he is sentenced on July 22, according to reports. He could have faced 30 years in prison.

The Oscars Red Carpet Jewelry Fashion

Amy Adams wins the “Red Carpet Bling” award wearing $1.35 million worth of emerald and diamond jewelry from Cartier, including a platinum and diamond emerald haute joaillerie secret watch bracelet worth $1.025 million. The bracelet features a 30.75 carat carved emerald and 575 diamonds (15.38 cts.). It’s matched with platinum and diamond ct. stud earrings worth $35,000.

An inability to sign into Twitter yesterday combined with wanting to actually watch the Oscars led to this listing of red carpet jewelry to appear a bit late. There was much blogging and tweeting last night and from my reading the vast majority of experts and passionate enthusiasts were happy with the selection of jewelry at last night’s event. I hope you enjoy this rundown of Oscar jewelry looks as much as you no doubt enjoyed the other excellent coverage on the Web.

Best Actress winner Natalie Portman accessorizes with Tiffany's jewelry, including a Tiffany rubellite tassel earrings set with rose-cut diamonds, an Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the yard bracelet. In addition, she wore diamond earrings as hair accessories and a diamond ring by Jean Schlumberger.

Portman's Black Swan co-star Mila Kunis wears Neil Lane diamond and platinum cocktail ring, line bracelet, bangle and earrings totaling 30 carats.

Supporting actress winner Melissa Leo in a Forevermark 2.05-ct. diamond drop earrings paired with a 10-ct. Forevermark diamond flower ring.

Anne Hathaway, in a $10 million, 94-ct. Tiffany Lucida Star Diamond necklace. The necklace was paired with 10-ct. diamond earrings from Tiffany, and a 5-ct. diamond ring.

Dame Helen Mirren on the red carpet in a vintage platinum necklace from 1907 set with diamonds and pearls and a large diamond and platinum bracelet from Cartier’s Archive Museum Collection.

Nicole Kidman in a 150-ct. 19th Century Riviere diamond necklace by Fred Leighton.

True Grit star Hailee Steinfeld wears platinum and 10-ct. diamond headband, and a platinum and diamond ring by Fred Leighton.

Sandra Bullock in diamond and platinum stud earrings with vintage platinum and diamond bangles by Harry Winston.

Gwyneth Paltrow in earrings, a brooch, and a ring from Louis Vuitton’s jewelry collection, L’Ame du Voyage.

Cate Blanchett in Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.

Presenter Hilary Swank in Anna Hu jewels on the red carpet.

Best Actress nominee Michelle Williams wearing Harry Winston earrings.

Penelope Cruz in a 10-ct. pink sapphire ring with two carat diamonds by Chopard.

Reese Witherspoon in 35-ct. emerald drop earrings by Neil Lane.

Celine Dion in Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.

Marisa Tomei in Van Cleef & Arpels sapphire, diamond and emerald earrings.

Kate Winslet accessorizes wears Tiffany.

Golden Globe Awards Red Carpet Jewelry Fashion, Part 6

Nicole Kidman in Fred Leighton jewelry.

 

Piper Perabo Judith Leiber clutch, and Bulgari jewelry.

Maria Menous wears white gold diamond ring with smoky and pink quartz by Brumani.

Julia Styles wears H. Stern earrings and a ring with a Kotur clutch.

Naya Rivera wearing jewelry by Neil Lane.

Carrie Underwood wears jewelry by Johnathon Arndt.

Mandy Moore in Chopard jewelry.