Tutti Frutti Treasure Triumphs at Christie's

Lower jaw-drop alert, jewelry hounds! I've been trolling auction results again. I know. The first step is admitting you have a problem. BUT - if I went on a diamond diet, who would bring you face to face with the likes of THIS amazing creature?

What is this explosion of Art Deco decadence, you ask? It's a Cartier 'Tutti Frutti' bracelet - and those are real diamonds designed in the shape of an undulating vine, with real emerald bead leaves and real ruby flowers and berries.

Ain't it just diVINE?

The Tutti Frutti jewelry category emerged after Jacques Cartier designed this staggering little number called the 'Hindu Necklace" for one of America's richest women, Daisy Fellowes, in 1936.

How do you know it's Tutti Fruiti? Look for precious gemstones or cabochons in the shape of flowers, berries and vines. Look for diamonds. Don't look at the price tag.

The Tutti Frutti bracelet at the top of the post went for a cool $1,880,332 yesterday - the highest price at auction for a Tutti Frutti jewel. So you might want to look into a winning lottery ticket, a pig flying or hell freezing over if you want to grab one for your own collection.

HOWEVER. In typical Insider style, I gawk at the gazillionaire gems and come down to earth with fun fruity styles with 'mere mortal' price points.

Who doesn't love these Tutti Frutti-inspired treasures on Jewelry.com? C'mon! Click on any image for more info - and get in touch with your inner fruitcake!

Royal Wedding Jewelry: Catherine Wears Cartier & Robinson Pelham

The royal wedding jewelry shining from Kate Middleton (now Her Royal Highness Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) was an understated display of elegance, grace and delicate diamonds.

The Tiara:

The subject of MUCH speculation, Kate 'borrowed' the Halo Tiara from The Queen's coffers, which was made by Cartier in 1936. The Queen's father, then the Duke of York, bought the bauble for the Queen Mother, then the Duchess of York (still with me?), who then gave it to her daughter - then Princess Elizabeth - on her 18th birthday.

Set in platinum, the priceless jewel is made from old and baguette-cut diamonds, with the upper part forming a range of lotus flowers and the lower 'zig-zag' part forming a removable piece that can be used as a bandeau.

No word yet on whether or not Catherine gets to keep it for her own collection - or if it's just a loaner. Stay tuned!

The Earrings:

Kate's understated earrings by Robinson Pelham were a gift from her parents - and were specifically designed to match her tiara. Nice touch.

According to Today Show blogger, The Windsor Knot, the earrings are diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond drop and a pavé-set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.

Inspiration for the design comes from the Middleton family's new coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves. Cool.


The Ring:

Kate's wedding band, which ALMOST didn't make it on her ring finger (nice work, Wills) is a rare band of Welsh gold by Wartski, who also crafted the Welsh gold wedding bands for Prince Charles and Camilla.

Prince William famously declined to wear a ring because he 'doesn't have a taste for jewelry'. It's a happy day. I'll leave this as a rare "No comment".

Overall, we witnessed a delicate diamond display that's in keeping with Kate's understated jewelry style. We'll see how long that lasts now that she has access to The Queen's stash!

Paris Hilton Falls for Cartier

When guys find themselves in the doghouse, buying jewelry may seem patronizing and trite, but let’s face it: diamonds do things to a jewelry hound that are beyond our control.

Exhibit A: Paris Hilton. She and her reality TV star beau, Doug Reinhardt, broke it off in June after an argument, but the dapper duo was spotted walking the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival this week looking cozy, cute and very much a couple.

What gives? Cartier. And lots of it.

Reinhardt was spotted whipping out his Black Amex at the Cartier store in Venice where he purchased not one simple diamond. No. He bought the ENTIRE Panther line of rings, necklaces and bracelets for his beloved. Yes, THE Panther Collection that Rachel Zoe and all the fashionistas have been coveting of late.

So will the rekindled romance last? The jury is out – especially since Hilton was spotted canoodling with soccer stud, Cristiano Ronaldo, this summer - one fella who just might trump a Cartier windfall. Yum.

What do you guys think? Have you ever been wooed by jewelry? Or is the gesture just a lame attempt to buy your love? Weigh in!

Cartier Celebrates The Cougar

Diamonds, gold, sapphires, rubies – bless their hearts, they never discriminate. No matter how many crow’s feet, eye-lifts and hot flashes we women might get, they love us all with equal abandon. But these days it’s more than jewelry that’s taken a liking to women of a ‘certain age’.

It’s guys. Young, hot, guys.


46-year-old Demi Moore flaunts her 20-something Kutcher catch around like a proud feline and Sharon Stone’s 51 years haven’t prevented her from showing more glorious ‘gam’ at Cannes than a Vegas show girl convention. And let’s not forget about Madonna, Katie Couric, Ellen Barkin, Susan Sarandon – all cradle robbers, all fabulous.

So what better way for the Cougar to flaunt their prowess than with a big blingy cat worth beaucoup bucks.

Enter: Cartier.


They may call their coveted cats “The Panther Collection” but there’s no better way for the Cougar to shine in my book. Extravagantly priced (it’s Cartier after all), the line is made out of only the finest metals and purest diamonds and gems.

But you don’t have to have an Ivana Trump budget to nab a cougar-inspired gem of your own. Check out Jewelry.com’s collection of cat jewels and add a little shimmer the next time you flirt with the pizza guy.

Meow!

A Diamond Redemption – Anne Hathaway Rules Palm Springs

What a difference a day makes. Maybe it’s the Cartier diamonds, but Anne Hathaway did a complete 180 from Monday’s fashion misstep at the Bride Wars premiere with a stunning red carpet walk at the Palm Springs International Film Festival last night. Which is a relief, honestly, because I unleashed a mean can of bad karma on the Rachel Getting Married star for her outfit choice yesterday. Yikes.

Appearing in a form-fitting Balmain black corseted number from the Spring ’09 collection, Hathaway dripped in gala presenter, Cartier’s, diamonds to accept her Palm Springs honor for the Jonathan Demme-helmed film. And her diamond right hand ring is downright drool-worthy. Thank heavens you’re back on track, sister, and just in time for the Golden Globes this Sunday.

Other diamond divas included a flirty Amy Adams in diamond drops and a flower right hand ring, and the ageless Mary Hart in a vintage Cartier ensemble.

I was hoping the A-list wattage, including Clint Eastwood, Sean Penn, and Leonardo DiCaprio, would keep a major fashion blunder from repeating itself on the West Coast, but, alas, Suzanne Somers’ ensemble happened.

A glitter hound can dream.

Click here for a complete list of the night’s honorees, and set your DVRs for the red carpet shenanigans this Sunday for the 66th Annual Golden Globes. I dare the pants suit to make an appearance. I dare it.