Joe and the Giant Rock

Girls will definitely go wild for the huge diamond engagement ring Joe Francis recently presented to his fiance, Christina McLarty, a Los Angeles entertainment reporter.

The Girls Gone Wild CEO commissioned one of my favorite jewelry designers, Loree Rodkin, to create the ring - and she knocked it out of the park with a nine-carat rock in a diamond pave band with diamonds surrounding the center stone, according to Luxist. And the price tag? Just under half a mil.

Guess there's a lot of money to be made from, um, girls going wild.

Rodkin created jewelry for Elton John, Cher and Steven Tyler, but her most famous client is Michelle Obama - who wore her diamond drop earrings and a diamond cuff bracelet with that stunning Jason Wu gown to all the inauguration festivities (which seems like a lifetime ago).

Click here for more rockin' Rodkin styles - and stay tuned for more Venice Film Festival jewelry sightings! (Insert my go-go dancing Kate Hudson "Cinema Italiano!" impression here.)

Jet-Set Jewelry at the 2010 Venice Film Festival

The 2010 Venice Film Festival kicked off yesterday with a smattering of parties, premieres and pretty people. And while the well-known celebrities are always a big draw (Natalie Portman and Jessica Alba are already turning heads), my favorite film festival pastime is gawking at the jet-set jewelry on miscellaneous red carpet passersby.

Here are some of my favorites so far. But before we take that journey, pause if you will to witness Naomi Campbell's emerald engagement ring from her Russian billionaire boyfriend, Vladimir Doronin spotted at the "Miral" premiere today. Wowza!










Stay tuned for more Venice Film Festival fashion coverage - and New York Fashion Week is one week away! You gotta love this time of year....

JewelClub Gets A Face-Lift

JewelClub, as you all know, is my favorite 'friends and family' site offering crazy discounts on fine jewelry to folks who are invited. All of my readers can get on their 'list' (read more to find out how) - and now there's an even better reason:

They just re-launched with a new look and tons of sexy new product!

I just trolled through the new offerings, and found these three oval-shaped pieces that I've officially added to my wish list (at 70-80% off suggested retail price):

But they've got everything from engagement rings and pearl strands to cocktail rings and blingy bangles. AND they offer free shipping with EVERY purchase.

I don't like to 'sell' jewelry often, but this place is too good to pass up. Especially in this economy. So if you haven't checked it out already, do these four things:

1. Go to www.jewelclub.com
2. Enter your email address
3. Enter this special 'friends and family' code: INSIDER
4. Shop, shop, shop!

Despite my dreams to the contrary, buying jewelry is rarely an everyday occurrence - but at these prices it could actually come close. So check out their new look and all the great new product and let me know what you think.

Here's to shiny things!