How to achieve Red Carpet Style - By Michele Lau

If you would love to achieve that Red Carpet look, but don’t know where to begin, The Jewelry Channel’s selection of fine jewelry is a great place to start creating your celebrity style. With some thought and planning, it's never been easier to achieve a glamorous star-style look that’s uniquely yours.

With the award season well underway, we recommend a pair of sparkling chandelier-style earrings as your glamour-ready accessory. A real “WOW” earring is quite possibly the savviest investment a girl can make for instant, dramatic impact.

Earrings are like a picture frame for your face. The gemstone color that you choose is your story-teller. Are you looking for a mysterious appeal? Smokey Quartz or perhaps Moonstone! Clear diamonds are a tasteful classic and work well with all outfits, while black & smoky tones create a more subtle and sultry style. Or, for sheer drama, rich jewel tones never fail to make a first class impression.

When choosing a pair of earrings, consider the size of the drop. It might make sense to go for shoulder-skimming earrings if you're a party girl who loves high fashion; but if the furthest you're going to venture is the office party or local hang-out, it's probably better to opt for a more wearable size.

Also take into account the style that best suits you: large, wide chandelier earrings are perfect to widen a narrow face whereas long, slim-line styles will beautifully slim and flatter a rounder one.

Red carpet occasions give celebrity glamour girls a license to go bold with dazzling necklaces. Plunging and strapless necklines abound for this holiday season. Festive events ensure every fashion diva the perfect backdrop for a show stopping statement piece. The good news is, this is a celebrity look that can be easily achieved.

Strapless necklines are the most versatile and can easily carry the most dramatic of necklaces. For the slenderizing 'v'-necklines, a simple rule for elegant style is to follow the 'v' shape. A sparkling pendant can look particularly effective in both cases.

Celebrities love to show-off toned arms with a dazzling bracelet or bangle. Layering bangles has become increasingly popular with many stars and the key to this look is to mix and match a variety of styles. Odd numbers of bangle bracelets look most interesting.

How do you choose the perfect bracelet or bangle to achieve your Red Carpet look? The most important factors to consider are balance and proportion. A striking small, delicate bracelet looks best in proportion on a smaller frame, and a larger bracelet or bangle is best carried off with bold jewel adorned designs on a larger wrist.

With bold bracelets, adhere to the motto of less is more with just a pair of complimenting earrings. For full-on glamour, a delicate bracelet or bangle worn with a coordinating simple necklace and earrings exudes class. Keep in mind the style of the dress when choosing your accessories. Remember fashion rules are made to be broken! If you love the way you look with a big bold bracelet on your wrist, go for the Red Carpet drama and have fun!

Keep an eye out for our Red Carpet jewelry shows coming up on The Jewelry Channel. Check your program guide at www.tjc.tv for specific times and dates.

Stocking up for Winter by Bonnie

This winter has been slow in coming, but will be around long into the New Year, and we all must be prepared. Every year, certain looks return while new trends are born and this year will be no different. You will see the comeback of the layered look, and a fresh influx of colors you may never have imagined could work in the frost.

Those winter chills bring on lots of layers, and they are good for much more than just keeping warm. This year’s jewelry layers are meant to keep you stylish. First off, you will be pleased to know that because layering is so very, very in, you can mix and match your favorite pieces from years past with a couple of brand new items as well. By putting any pendant on a longer, more bulky chain you immediately renovate the entire look of it. By wearing several bold rings you don’t just make a statement, you demand that that statement be acknowledged. And of course, when you wear your bracelets, one is just never enough.

Following the eco-conscious movement of getting back to nature in every aspect of living, even jewelry designs now have that organic appeal. Now this was seen quite a bit last year with the warm earth tones and neutrals like red ochre and terracotta, but this year natural goes bright. Fresh greens and yellows add a lot of zest and excitement to the winter doldrums. Some of my favorite gems for the season include Amethyst, Emerald, Rhodolite, Russian Diopside, and my number one this winter is Peridot. As a matter of fact, Peridot was the talk of the town at the New York Fashion Week back in September. It is quickly gaining huge popularity, and with TJC introducing new designs on a daily basis, there is sure to be a perfect match for everyone. I also recently saw a diamond ring that features the luscious yellow diamonds, and wow, what an entrance it could make! As you may have heard me say a few times, this season, green is the new black. But don’t think for a moment that black is going to take the backseat, consider it a duet. With the return of elegant dressing, a dark palette is a must. Go for pewter, metallics, violets, grays, graphite’s and anything that is funky and mysterious. Then pile on your vivid colored accents and head out. Something a bit more daring to try would be the black onyx, black spinel or an icy white gold band with any of the gorgeous sapphires in it. Always keep in mind that jewelry is meant to be seen, enjoyed and shared. So be sure to treat your friends to a taste of your good style this holiday season.

The impression to achieve is going to be romantic and artistic. By romantic, I mean imbued with a desire for adventure. If you have never worn three or four necklaces at once, you really must try it. Go out on that limb, and I think it will really give you a confidence boost. By artistic I mean extravagant and imaginative. Your shoes, handbags, jewelry and other accessories should be a presentation of your personal style, a way to let the world know what you are all about, but as always, you should wear your accessories, don’t let them wear you. Even if it is a simple pearl bracelet, wear it with attitude. Try unexpected combinations and follow the latest trends all while staying true to the classics that you know will always work.

Latest Trends by Sarah Lou

Hello! And thanks for taking time to visit my blog! If you’ve tuned in to one of my shows, you may be wondering where that strange accent comes from?! Well, I have been with the Jewelry Channel in the UK since we launched back in early 2006. I then moved over to my new home town of Austin, Texas, and am loving being a host on your screens! So my job is to tell you a little about the most popular looks from across the pond…

Back at TJC UK, diamonds definitely lead the way, and now with our new range of coloured diamonds, you can have that look you’ve always dreamed of. We always see the celebs flashing coloured diamonds, and now, ladies, you can too! Choose from rose pinks and soft yellows, electric blues and greens and even rich reds. All the colours we love from our gems, but with the sparkle you only get from a diamond. Look out for coloured diamonds during our shows and be an individual!

My hottest gemstone of the month has to be Kunzite. Ever since we fist presented this stone over in the UK it’s become a ‘must have’ for the woman who wants feminine glamour. Its’ pretty rose pink and violet hues, teamed up with its incredible ability to sparkle, put it at the top of my wish list! I’m on the look out for a loose Kunzite to set myself – why not try the same? When it comes to this beautiful gem, the bigger the carat weight the better, and it’s definitely one to add to your jewelry box.

Before I log off, I want to share some jewelry news from the recent European fashion weeks in London, Paris and Milan. This season’s look is ‘wearable luxury’. The main color trends were influenced by the environment and include soft greens such as green sapphire and amethyst, and natural blues such as aquamarine. Rich exotic colors will be a big hit this season- strong purples and warm reds such as labradorite-andesine. A little flash of neon in your gemstones was also popular- try a coated pink topaz for affordable fun.

And the pieces you can’t live without this season?

- Cocktail rings are still very much the way forward, but this time with a European elegance – big pieces with attention to detail and expert craftsmanship.

- -A big statement necklace. If you really want to treat yourself, look out for an Iliana Tanzanite.

- Multi gemstone pieces, but in keeping with the same color. For example Kunzite and Spinel, or Aquamarine and Tanzanite.

- And last but not least, a fabulous pair of drop earrings!

Now you’re ready to celebrate the holidays in style!

Happy Shopping,

Sarah-Lou

Apatite Quality

All about Crystals by Dan Dennis

Hello friends, and welcome to my blog! Today I’m going to talk about what I love the most, gems ….. and some things you just might find pretty interesting about them too!

One of the best reasons to watch us here at The Jewelry Channel is because of the many beautiful gems you will see during the course of a day. As Head of Talent, I take pride in knowing that all of our hosts are quite knowledgeable about the gems they are selling. Whether it’s facts, fiction or folklore, you can always find a new tidbit or two to pick up on while you’re watching our network, and our fine jewelry bargains --- well---they speak for themselves.

So enjoy my blog and remember to keep it tuned to The Jewelry Channel all day all the time. Where else can you get fun facts, happy faces, and such beautiful jewelry all at the same time.

Remember my motto that I live by every single day:

“It’s always a good day, when you learn something new”

Learn something new every day by watching us here on The Jewelry Channel.

Dan Dennis

“Did You Know That…”

Did you know that

There is a mineral crystal that you can actually make disappear? It’s true! If you put a cryolite crystal into a glass of water, the crystal will disappear right before your eyes! The reason this happens is because cryolite refracts (bends) the light that enters the glass the exact same way that water does. So, when the cryolite crystal is in the water, it appears to be the same to the naked eye as the water itself.

Did you know that

Quartz crystal geode section

Certain crystals can tell time. Have you ever heard of a watch with a quartz movement and wondered what it was all about? Well, quartz is a very hard mineral with crystals that vibrate very rapidly when they are exposed to electricity. Long ago it was discovered that these vibrations were so precise that when measured, they kept perfect time, right down to the second. That is where today’s quartz movement watches got their start.

Milarite crystal fingers

The gem Milarite has crystals that grow so long and thin that they resemble the hair of a human being. This has caused it to also carry the name “hair pyrite.” Don’t go running for the brush and comb too soon, however: these hairs aren’t the soft and manageable variety. They’re hard and brittle, and could slice your hand in a heartbeat. Don’t worry about it too much though: at 5.5 on the hardness scale, it’s a pretty soft mineral, and there’s little chance you’ll come in contact with it any time soon.

Did you know that

Agate crystal with geodes

A geode starts its’ life as a hollow rock with a bubble of water or air. The bubble slowly fills up with minerals that are dissolved in the water, and eventually, they form crystals around the inside of the bubble. What’s left of the rock gets worn away over time, leaving a rock full of crystals when it is finally cracked open. Did you know that geodes are sometimes known as “Thunder Eggs?” Besides the agate (pictured above) amethyst is also often found in geodes.

Did you know that

Sulphur Crystals

You can find minerals in your own bathroom? Yep, just check it out! Talcum powder is made of talc, which has the dubious distinction of being #1 on the MOHS Hardness Scale. In some cases, being #1 is a good thing, but not in this case. Talc is the softest and most easily scratched mineral of all. It is generally extracted from huge mines across the U.S.A.

Got any shampoo in there? How about some bubble bath? Both of these contain minerals like sodium and sulphur.

Switch on the bathroom light, and you’ll find the copper wires bringing the electricity to the filament made of a mineral called wolframite. The filament lights up the glass bulb which is made of quartz.

Even your bathroom mirror, made of glass from quartz and backed in silver, plays its’ part in the crazy scenario of “minerals in the bathroom.”

Did you know that

Halite (A.K.A. “Table Salt.”)

There are approximately 3,000 different varieties of minerals, but only about 300 of them are actually ever put to use in our everyday lives. Many of these are found in tandem, and it takes scientists known as mineralogists, to separate and identify each one. A few, such as halite, are edible. You might know halite by its’ more common name: table salt. Others, such as a nasty substance called yellow orpiment, are deadly poisonous. Remember that if you’re at a party, and some server says “Yellow orpiment, madam?” Be sure you turn him down.