Comments on: Serious Christmas Bling…

By: dragon

dragon — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:20:23 +0000

Russian diamonds were the cultured diamonds a quarter of a century ago…ten years ago it was Moissanite…I believe they’ve come up with a “better” culture, albeit more expensive. My late mom was a private jeweler aka alahera..

By: DuchessG

DuchessG — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:37:59 +0000

Just to add something to Tommy’s comment about the ‘cultured’ diamonds. I believe they are also called Russian Diamonds, they look like the real thing but are not. That’s what the A list celebs do with their precious bubbles, they get an exact replica of the real thing and wear the copy instead. My grandmother, mother & aunt were all into high end jewels & through an amature’s eye they may seem to appear the real thing. Makakaloko talaga!

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:14:20 +0000

Fried Neurons, foreign tourists specially from Europe are coming not only to NY but also SF and other cities here due to the decline in the $ value, they are all having a great bargain here. Just saw an article yesterday that about 2M+ tourists alighted in NY and about 1M in SF.

By: nunosapunso

nunosapunso — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:18:11 +0000

much as I would have liked to buy “real” jewelry as opposed to ethnic/silver ones, my social circles aren’t really into them and parties we hold are very casual…so even the small pieces that my relatives gave me are just lying in a box..never worn.

still I enjoy looking at such window shops but know that like cocktail dresses, the chances of me getting to wear one for a social occasion is near nil.

By: The Steak Lady

The Steak Lady — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:43:58 +0000

Can i just say drooooool :-) Happy New Year MM and family!

By: bernadette

bernadette — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:37:29 +0000

My cousin and her husband happen to be jewellers in New York and I had the memorable experience of tagging along with her as she went buying for rocks or stones or ice as you call it.:-) I forgot the street in Manhattan but the Jewish community have the dominance in the jewellery business. Their “storerooms” have doors like vaults and you go through cameras as well as a good id check before being allowed to come in. Inside, is a veritable Ali Baba’s cave (sorry for the analogy :-)). Small piles of rubies, emeralds, diamonds, amethysts, etc.—all of different sizes and shapes!…with, of course, a Jewish guy, and his weighing instruments and magnifying glass pieces behind each table. It was really awesome and sort of intimidating. But I love the colors and can see what a clear stone should look like!

By: fried-neurons

fried-neurons — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:31:22 +0000

Yeah, I thought about that when you mentioned bringing half a suitcase full of mangosteen jam in one of your previous posts. LOL.

Sounds like you were in the Upper East Side, though. I didn’t go to the Madison Ave La Maison du Chocolat… went to the one at 30 Rock, and didn’t actually venture any farther uptown than 53rd and Fifth. But I would’ve trekked uptown in a heartbeat for mangosteen jam! LOL.

(Incidentally, this was my fourth or fifth time visiting NYC during the holidays, and I have NEVER seen crowds this thick at Midtown. Grabe! Everywhere… Rockefeller, Saks, Bryant Park, the South Street Seaport, all packed with people. It made me dizzy!).

By: Marketman

Marketman — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:43:45 +0000

elaine, the diamond district is chock full of diamonds. But I also agree with our local craftspeople and jewelers doing a nice job. We just need the stones… :) Iris, they were pretty. Tricia, sorry, no watch pics… fried neurons, we must have been in NY at the same time! And I was staying in the neighborhood you were shopping in. If I knew that ahead of time, I could have dropped off a bottle of mangosteen jam! :) Ted, you MUST do a visit to New York, it is essential… Tommy, I completely unerstand your sentiment. Good synthetic rocks seem like a reasonable alternative to the real thing…but that’s the point I guess, they aren’t the real kahouna. My wife wanted to have her engagement ring checked when I gave it to her because I always used to say cubic zirconia was good enough for me…heehee. aggy, you too must do New York! nina, save, save, save! Chunky, thanks! Gwiz, 2-4 carats is huge, but there were several 30-50 carats on display too!!! :) Madeline, yes, these items do seem wholly inappropriate in the Philippines, in the same way really fancy cars look out of place too. Duday, zero balance? Mine would be negative?! shalimar, I love Asprey, mostly for the silver… MC, yes I have heard of JAR…

By: elaine

elaine — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:36:13 +0000

When my family and I did New York, we checked out the diamond district along fifth ave. I was never a jewelry person but I was a bit awed at the fabulous pieces and knew that I wouldn’t able to afford any of the stuff displayed anyway…I just contented myself with the local alehera back home..they have good craftsmanship as well…

By: iris

iris — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:40:38 +0000

Those are really pretty.