InsideLux – The Luxury News Authority

When Elizabeth Taylor passed of congestive heart failure on March 23^rd, she left behind not just an estate, but a collection of tangible memories from her iconic 79-year life. Before being sold off at the New York City Christie’s Auction house, the actress’ collections of jewelry, fashion, accessories, memorabilia and art pieces will go on a world tour, beginning in September. Fans around the world will be able to visit Liz’s personal belongings in Paris, Los Angeles, Dubai, Moscow, London, Geneva, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.

The auctions will take place at an evening gala on December 13^th, two bidding sessions on December 14^th, and an online-only Christie’s LIVE sale throughout the 10-day exhibition. With her full estate valued between $500 million and $1billion, there is no telling what kind of revenues will be made.

As a new member of the British Royal Family, Kate’s first visits around the globe are crucial in achieving a positive first impression. How else to show support for her Canadian hosts, while still boasting her own country’s pride, other than her famous fashions? Day two of her Canadian tour, Kate highlighted her “regular girl” reputation by re-wearing her engagement photo white ruffle dress, designed by Reiss Nanette. Representing Canadian culture, she used her accessories to boast the Canadian flag’s colors- Red and White, and to go a step further, creatively placed their national symbol, the maple leaf throughout her outfit. Her red hat was adorned with maple leaves and the diamond brooch, adding a hint of sparkle to her white dress, was also in the shape of a maple leaf.  Tying in her British pride was British Royalty’s signature accessory- the hat, designed by Sylvia Fletcher at Lock & Co.

Mouawad, a Dubai based jewelry designer has set another Guinness World record in the “most expensive” accessory category. Famously known for their collaboration with Victoria’s Secret, Mouawad created the $11 million “Fantasy” bra, setting the world record for the most expensive diamond encrusted bra in existence.

Now, after ten artisans invested 8,800 hours of work, Mauawad is proud to announce their next Guinness World Record for the world’s most expensive purse, “1001 Nights”. Handcrafted from 18kt gold, the heart shaped clutch dazzles with 4,517 diamonds. An assortment of 56 pink, 4,356 colorless and 105 yellow diamonds, the record-breaking bag weighs in at 381.92 carats and is priced at an incredible $3.8 million dollars.

As the saying goes, diamonds are a girl’s best friend but it’s safe to say shoes come a close second and a combination of both can make a girl easily fall in love.

Say hello to Eternal Borgezie Diamond Stiletto, a creation of jewelry designer Christopher Michael Shellis for British jewelry house Borgezie.

The Eternal Borgezie Diamond Stiletto which took three years to develop is hand crafted from solid gold and features 2,200 diamonds along the straps and edge of the shoe totaling 30 carats.

If you can afford it, each pair of the Eternal Borgezie Diamond Stiletto has a starting price of £100,000 along with a £1,000 a year guarantee.

Less is more in Piaget’s newest Sienna Miller campaign. The second photo recently released illustrates the brands appreciation for simplicity, elegance and the difference between luxurious and gaudy. True to real life, Sienna is dressed in monochromatic colors, black bottoms, a simple t-shirt and fitted cream blazer. Piaget’s 37-diamond wristwatch rightfully upstages the small hoop earrings and matching rings, balancing the easy-going outfit with the diamond accessories.

Mattel has collaborated with world-renowned jewelry designer Stefano Canturi to create the world’s most expensive Barbie. The doll, which costs about $10-20 at the local toy store, is draped in customized diamonds, running her price tag up to almost $550,000.

This rare collectible was created to coincide with the opening of the Barbie Basics Collection in Australia. The diamonds were sourced from Australia’s Argyle Mine, which is one of the largest diamond producers worldwide. Their pink diamonds typically attract prices up to twenty times that of a comparable white diamond, with some auctioned for over $1,000,000/ct. This rare jewel is the centerpiece of Barbie’s gaudy necklace, surrounded by 3.00 carats of white diamonds. The jewelry set is completed by a Cubism-inspired emerald-cut diamond ring. More pictures over the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

This Ladyhawke Tourbillion timepiece is the brainchild of Boucheron and Girard-Perregaux who joined forces in 2007.  The Ladyhawke Tourbillion’s design is a falcon clutching a watch powered by the Tourbillon which comes with three gold Bridges.  The Tourbillon itself consists of 72 components for a diameter of one centimeter and a total weight of 0.3 gram, and is entirely hand-decorated and assembled. Boasting of a 72 hour power reserve, this exquisite creation features an articulated bracelet with an invisible clasp mechanism.

The stunning timepiece is made from gold and is adorned with yellow, pink, white diamonds and rubies totaling 25carats and is described by it’s creators as “the embodiment of High Jewellery and High Watchmaking”.
The Ladyhawke Tourbillion timepiece is bound to become a collectors’ edition.

Technical features:
(JBT00202): Ladyhawke Tourbillon High Jewelry in white gold set with 833 multicolored diamonds and rubies, Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with three gold Bridges.

Movement: Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with three gold Bridges, manual winding.
Base plate of the movement set with 178 pink, yellow and white diamonds, bridges angled by hand and skeleton barrel. Power reserve: approx 72 hours Bracelet: articulated bracelet wit invisible clasp mechanism
Setting: 25.3 carats of yellow, pink and white diamonds and rubies.

Famed by Anika Noni Rose at the 2007 Oscars, these overwhelmingly iced shoes were bound to go down in history and make cameo appearances in luxury news sources for years to come. Kwiat Jewelers and Stuart Weitzman joined forces in masterminding these “dream” shoes. Decked out with 30 carats of colorless brilliant-cut diamonds, the 1,420 stone pair of shoes carries a tag of $500,000.

Harry Winston has paid spectacular homage to the great city of New York with his collection inspired by and named after the city itself. Featured below is the Skyscraper platinum set ring that any New Yorker would be proud to boast. This cushion-cut cabochon sugarloaf sapphire atop rows of cascading diamonds embodies the architecture of the Chrysler Building and holds 2.70 carats of round cut brilliant diamonds.

The most awkward thing about Christmas is realising that no matter how much someone means to you, you’re just not quite sure what gift to buy them.

Will they like what you buy, will they have one already, will it really show that you care? All questions most of us ask ourselves at some point during the frantic build up to Christmas.

Insidelux to the rescue! During this week and next we’ll be bringing you a series of luxury Christmas gift idea posts to ease your festive stress and show you some of the hottest luxury Christmas gifts around.

First up we have luxury jewellery from the award winning British Jewellery Designer Kimberley Selwood.

Kimberley Selwood has exhibited her work in plenty of prestigious places including London’s Barbican and at the Natural History Museum during past London Fashion Weeks. Her jewellery is one of the luxury jewellery world’s best kept secrets.

This Gold Necklace from her ‘Order in Chaos’ range is my pick of the bunch. Priced at £790, it can be customised with diamonds and gems through Kimberley’s exclusive bespoke service at extra cost.

The gold necklace is ideal for stylish friends, lovers or wives who appreciate originality and unusual design.

Here’s the official blurb for her Order in Chaos range “The award winning Order in Chaos Range’s key influential elements are orchids, fractals and the Chaos Theory. Using lace-textured precious metal creates a tactile quality complimented by the complex arrangement of the elegant hand-pierced patterns.”

You can browse the whole luxury jewellery range at www.kimberleydesigns.co.uk and order online. Also available from selected stockists including The Dorchester Hotel, London.