It’s Music Video Monday!

Confession: I love “So You Think You Can Dance.”

I just started watching it last season, and it really captured my imagination!

I particularly enjoyed this dance performed by contestants Courtney and Mark, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. The song (”The Garden” by Mirah) has such a hypnotic beat — after listening to it, I was like, “Must. Vote. For Courtney. And Mark.”

If there were flowers growing in this dark, creepy garden, I would imagine that they’d look something like the creations in Dior Joaillerie’s Milly Carnivora line.

Clockwise from top left: Egratigna Angélique Ring, Egratigna Chipie Ring, Epinosa Verte Ring, Epinosa Vertes Earrings. Prices available upon request from dior.com.

Crafted from white gold and lacquer, they come in bright colors — a little too bright. They remind me of predatory plants that lure victims to their demise with irresistible colors. These are just the kinds of twisted blooms that would kiss… and kill.

And it totally works. I now cannot resist the urge to get one of these rings. Your wish is my command.

Out of Control,
Olivia

To watch a super-sweet video of the crafting of a Dior Joaillerie Ring, click here and then click “Collections” and “Milly Carnivora.”

So, Easter’s just around the corner.

I know that, for a lot of you, this conjures up images of bunnies and Easter eggs and chocolates, but for me, it conjures up memories of getting dressed in my very best clothes to go to church.

Well, Olivia still attends church regularly, and still enjoys dolling herself up to look better than her Sunday best on Easter Sunday.

Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Infinity Cross Pendant, $225 at tiffany.com.

So how beautiful and appropriate a piece is this Infinity Cross by Elsa Peretti? Crafted from a single piece of metal, it’s a great way to show the world what I believe, and to show the world that I’ll believe it forever.

But I love that the shape is subtle; it’s not shoving my beliefs in your face. It would be just as appropriate at a cocktail party as it would be in the front row at church on Sunday.

So when Easter comes, I know I’ll be ready for church. And for Easter brunch. And for dinner with the family. And for hanging out with friends…

Faithfully,
Olivia

Sundown yesterday marked the start of this year’s Passover festivities.

Passover is a Jewish holiday; a holy remembrance of how Jehovah God liberated the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt.

In the Torah, God commands the nation of Israel to keep this festival as a memorial of what He had done for them forever.

Well, these days, you can show your faith by keeping the traditions of this holiday and by wearing your faith — not on your sleeve, but around your neck.

David Yurman Star of David Necklace, $295 at neimanmarcus.com.

David Yurman gives new meaning to the Star of “David” with his design featuring this universally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and faith.

Made from sterling silver with an 18K yellow gold finding, this beautiful piece would make a wonderful heirloom to pass down from generation to generation.

Shalom to all of you on this Passover day!

Peacefully,
Olivia

Today, I had to opportunity to visit the Los Angeles County Musuem of Art, or LACMA.

It’s a great museum, filled with art from all kinds of different countries and times. And, while visiting the Ancient Art wing, I discovered that “jewelry as art” isn’t a recent discovery.

LACMA has an excellent collection of ancient jewelry from around the world — I didn’t even get to check out all of the collections that contain pieces of jewelry. But I did get to check out the exhibits featuring Islamic jewelry and ancient Greek jewelry, and those were amazing!

Check out this bracelet. It’s from the 11th century, and it was made in either Egypt or Syria; they’re not sure. But wouldn’t it go just beautifully with your favorite LBD?

And this ring and these earrings from 11th century Iran. Wouldn’t they be elegant at a garden party?

These bracelets and this ring were found in Egypt, but the style is Roman. This would be so cute with jeans and a cute top!

And here’s what an ancient Greek woman might have had in her jewelry box. Some of these necklaces are just to die for!

I think this proves why vintage jewelry never goes out of style. When it comes to jewelry, you’ve got your regular pieces, your timepieces, and these: your timeless pieces.

Nostalgically,
Olivia

Do you ever look in your overflowing closet and feel like you have nothing to wear?

Most women have closets full of clothes and jewelry boxes full of… well, jewelry (what did you think I was going to say? Easter eggs? Pocket link? Very small rocks?), but often find it difficult to put individual pieces together in order to create a look. Some of us can’t even keep track of the clothing and jewelry we own!

Enter Weardrobe.

Weardrobe is a website where you can create a virtual closet and even share your style with the world! You start by uploading a picture of yourself wearing one of your favorite outfits. Once you upload that photo, you can tag the pic with descriptions of the clothes you’re wearing. The website even links to certain retailers so that others who covet your style can buy the same pieces!

Once the photo is tagged, the item tagged becomes part of your “closet,” which is separated into different categories, such as pants, tops, skirts, dresses — and, of course, jewelry! You can look at your closet and click an item in order to any photo in which that item has been tagged.

And you can also look at other people who have the same item to see how they’re wearing it! It’s a great way to get inspired! It’ll breathe new life into your old clothes!

Olivia recommends that you take immediate advantage of this wonderful tool and begin taking inventory of what you’ve got. And if you’ve got it, flaunt it.

A closet is a terrible thing to waste.

Rejuvenated,
Olivia

It’s Music Video Monday!

When I was but a wee lass, my parents bought me a violin. This was back when every Korean parent wanted his or her kid to be the next Sarah Chang. They promised me that, if I practiced every day, I would become a famous violinist and travel the world and make lots of money and, more importantly, make them proud.

Well, I didn’t practice every day, and I didn’t get famous. The only thing left from that era of my life is an abiding love for classical music.

One of my favorite symphonic suites is Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherezade. Inspired by the tale of Scheherezade in the Arabian Nights, it features a beautiful violin solo that never fails to make me wish that I’d stuck with it and practiced every day.

Well, I can’t change the past, but I still love Scheherezade. And so does Boucheron.

Boucheron Sheherazade Pendant, $27,000 at boucheron.com.

The prestigious French jewelry house has designed a beautiful pendant inspired by the story of Scheherezade.

Scheherezade was the daughter of a Persian Grand Vizier, who served a cruel sultan named Shahryar. Every day, Shahryar would marry a different woman and have her executed the following morning. The kingdom soon started to run out of girls for him to marry, and Shahryar told the Grand Vizier that, once that happened, the Vizier’s head would be next on the chopping block.

In order to save her father, Scheherezade agreed to marry Shahryar herself and, on their wedding night, told him a marvelous story with a cliffhanger ending.

Wanting to hear the ending, he decided to keep her alive for one more day. Scheherezade told a new tale every night for 1,001 nights. After her story was done, Shahryar realized that he had actually fallen in love with Scheherazade, and so they lived happily ever after.

This mysterious pendant of white gold set with sapphires, diamonds, pink tourmalines, and amethysts conjures up images of flying carpets, bazaars, and sultans living in sumptuous palaces.

And, like its namesake, it keeps me coming back for more.

Addicted,
Olivia

We talked a little yesterday about synthetic diamonds — what they are, how they’re made, and where you can get them.

We learned that they’re cultivated from “seed” diamonds — microscopic specks of diamond — but did you know that they can be made from any purified carbon source?

Get this people: that means that you can make a diamond out of human hair — or even human remains!

These diamonds are called “memorial diamonds,” and they’re quickly rising in popularity!

How do you do it? Well, you can expose human hair to heat treatment in order to extract the carbon. You can then turn that carbon into a diamond using the HPHT process (which we discussed in yesterday’s blog).

You can also filter and purify cremated human remains and then turn that into a diamond, once again thanks to HPHT.

The implications are astounding. You could wear a necklace made from your late grandmother. You could have earrings made from your first pet cat. You could even sport an engagement ring made from your fiancé’s hair!

I think a diamond is a classier keepsake than most cremation jewelry, but what do you think?

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Remembering,
Olivia

Memorial diamonds can be commissioned in the United States by LifeGem.

Yesterday, I wrote about April’s birthstone: the diamond. In that post, I alluded to the fact that diamonds have been duplicated in labs. What I was referring to was the fact that there are several companies that can synthesize diamonds.

Well, I thought it might be a good idea to dig in to what they are, how they’re made, and whether or not they’re worth the money.

Gem-quality synthetic diamonds are mainly cultivated using two different processes. The first is “high pressure, high temperature,” or HPHT. A microscopic diamond “seed” is placed in a special oven that can exert thousands of pounds of pressure and work up temperatures as high as 2,700 degrees Celsius. Through this process, that speck of diamond grows, one atom at a time, until it gets to the desired size — usually about 2.5 carats, which takes four days. This process mimics the conditions under which diamonds form naturally, deep in the earth’s crust.

The second process is called “chemical vapor deposition,” or CVD. It involves pumping gas into a chamber that “rains” carbon. Eventually, in about two to four weeks, a nugget of a diamond will form. This process is closer to the way that diamonds form in space. The great thing about this process is that, if you add nitrogen to the gas, the impurity in the diamond actually makes it turn yellow — a far cheaper way to get yellow diamonds, which rarely occur in nature and are consequently much more expensive that clear diamonds.

So what are the benefits of buying a synthetic diamond? Well, they look like a diamond, feel like a diamond, and shine like a diamond, but they cost 15% less!

And, best of all, synthetic diamonds don’t need to be mined, so they are guaranteed conflict-free, every time!

A lot of people turn up their noses at synthetic diamonds, calling them “cultured,” like pearls, and insisting that they just can’t compare to the real thing.

I, however, can see why the niche for this product is growing so quickly — if I can get the look for less, that’s exactly what I’m going to do!

Faux Real,
Olivia

Synthetic diamonds can be purchased at Apollo Diamond, Chatham Jewelry, D.NEA Diamonds, and Gemesis.

If your birthday is in April, then your birthstone is the diamond!

You may already have read our intro to diamonds (Diamonds 101 in WooU), but let’s review anyway.

The diamond is the hardest naturally-occurring mineral on earth. Its name comes from the ancient Greek adamas, which means invincible. Another mineral that gets its name from this Greek root word is adamantium — the fictional mineral that is infused into Wolverine’s skeleton in X-Men to make his bones into indestructible metal.

All geeky fangirlishness aside, a diamond is the quintessential gemstone — the first gem that comes to mind when you think of jewelry. Songs have been written celebrating it, nursery rhymes comparing stars to their luster. It’s often imitated and even duplicated.

So let’s celebrate all of you fabulous April Diamonds out there with a few different ways to rock your birthstone!

Affordable Accent

fettY Aries Zodiac Necklace (also comes in Taurus), $675 at barneys.com.

Whether you’re a courageous Aries or a determined Taurus, these ultra-hip Zodiac necklaces will show your true self to the world. And the diamonds used in this necklace are conflict-free!

The Investment Piece

Frank Gehry for Tiffany & Co. Torque Bead Ring, $1,650 at tiffany.com.

Y’all know how I feel about Frank Gehry. And, since I know that you April Diamonds will accept nothing but the best, I suggest you try on Gehry’s Torque ring for size. The idea is classic, but the execution is so modern — everything we’ve come to expect from the fabulous Mr. Gehry!

Living in Luxury

Diamond in the Rough Champagne Bubbles Necklace, $22,000 at neimanmarcus.com.

It’s your birthday — this calls for a celebration! And a celebration always calls for the best champagne! I love the paradox of these rough diamonds creating such a refined piece of jewelry.

You April diamonds are tough, but beautiful. Shine on, my friends, shine on!

Brilliantly,
Olivia

Confession: I love food.

I love eating it, I love smelling it, I love making it. I love fruits and vegetables, meats and grains, desserts and appetizers. Sweet or savory, I can always find a food to fit my mood.

And now I can find jewelry to satisfy my cravings! Food-inspired jewelry is on the rise, and I can’t think of a tastier trend for a hungry public!

Take, for example, this “Creamed Corn” bangle by Carole Tanenbaum. Doesn’t it make your mouth water? I can practically taste the sweet, creamy kernels of corn slipping over my tongue.

Carole Tanenbaum Creamed Corn Bakelite Bangle, $500 at caroletanenbaum.com.

Let’s not forget the main course: whether it’s bacon, ham or pork chops, this little piggie is a wonderful, magical animal when it comes to filling me up.

Finn Pig Charm Necklace, $2,725 at barneys.com.

And, for dessert, a sweet treat in the form of a cupcake charm bracelet. With sprinkles made of tsavorite and pink and blue sapphire, it’ll bring out the kid in you — but with the sophisticated touch that only Tiffany & Co. can bring to the table.

Tiffany & Co. Cupcake Charm Bracelet, $1,350 (charm) and $1,500 (bracelet) at tiffany.com.

When I look at these sumptuous pieces, I can’t help but to drool a little. I definitely have an appetite — for bling.

Hungrily,
Olivia