New limited edition platinum Omega watch

Swiss watchmaker Omega has unveiled a new limited edition platinum watch, which it calls an "exquisite creation".

Named the Skeletonized Central Tourbillon Co-Axial Platinum Limited Edition, the watch is entirely crafted by hand.

Described as the "ultimate expression of the watchmaker's art", only 18 will be made, with each signed by the individual watchmaker responsible for making it.
The tourbillon mechanism was originally created to counter the effects of gravity on the watch, by rotating the entire mechanism every 60 seconds.
A platinum casing finishes off the stunning watch, along with a black alligator bracelet, and the entire mechanism can be clearly seen.

Omega has been manufacturing watches since 1885 and has previously used platinum to make its limited edition watches stand out. Among them was the Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch, released last year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Other prestigious watchmakers to have used the precious metal in their creations include Patek Philippe, Rolex and Parmigiani Fleurier.

Anna Kendrick chooses platinum for SAG red carpet

Rising star Anna Kendrick was one of the many screen idols who chose platinum for the red carpet at the recent SAG Awards.

Anna Kendrick wore platinum and diamond cluster earrings by Kwiat to the star-studded event, which honours achievements in acting across film and television.

The actress features in 'Up in the Air' alongside George Clooney, she received a nomination for a SAG award in the best supporting actress category, losing out to Mo'nique, star of 'Precious'.
George Clooney was nominated for best actor, while Vera Farmiga also received a nomination for supporting actress, although both also lost out.
Anna Kendrick has quickly built up a strong reputation in Hollywood after performances in the Twilight franchise and 'Elsewhere'. She has also starred on Broadway, receiving a Tony nomination at the age of just 12 for her role in 'High Society'.

She is set to star in 'Scott Pilgrim vs the World' later this year, as well as 'Twilight: Eclipse'.

Golden Globe winner Toni Collette chooses platinum

Photo credit: StartrakPhoto.com.

Toni Collette, one of the big winners at the 67th Golden Globe awards, chose to wear platinum jewellery as she graced the red carpet and collected her statuette.

The actress, who famously starred in 'Muriel's Wedding', won the award for her performance in Showtime's comedy 'United States of Tara', and complimented her stunning Elie Saab dress with a set of platinum and diamond drop earrings, bracelets and rings by Neil Lane.

Australian actress Collette had the audience in stitches when, during her acceptance speech, she recounted her first Golden Globes experience.

She said: "The first time I came here 15 years ago I was on the loo and missed my whole category."

Other nominees who chose platinum for the internationally televised event included former Oscar winner Helen Mirren, draped in Chopard earrings, bracelets and rings, and Julianne Moore, who picked a platinum and diamond ring by Bvlgari.

Tina Fey, star of 30 Rock and an alumnus of Saturday Night Live, also selected pieces of platinum jewelry from Fred Leighton's collection to sparkle on the red carpet.

Hollywood A-Listers go platinum at the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Platinum makes diamonds sparkle brighter on the red carpet, so it's no wonder why our favorite stars opted to wear platinum jewellery to the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Style expert Michael O'Connor notes that "Celebrities are choosing one area to highlight, whether that's a large statement necklace in platinum, big earrings or stackable cuff bracelets." Michael O'Connor adds that "Colored gemstones are making a big appearance on the red carpet. We're seeing more in the cooler palettes, such as blues and greens." Since platinum is a naturally-white metal, it will maximize the brilliance of colored stones too.

Following is a list of platinum baubles that celebrities wore on the red carpet and at parties:

Toni Collette: Platinum and diamond drop earrings, bracelets and rings by Neil Lane.
Emily Blunt: Blackened platinum and colored diamond bracelets and earrings (30 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz. Platinum and diamond ring by Neil Lane.
January Jones: Platinum and diamond bracelets by Neil Lane.
Zoe Saldana: Platinum rings and bracelet with ruby and diamonds by Neil Lane. Platinum and ruby earrings by Lorraine Schwartz.
Drew Barrymore: Platinum and diamond stud earrings (24 carats), and a platinum and moonstone ring (80 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz.
Olivia Wilde: Platinum bangle and earrings with diamonds and black onyx by Tiffany & Co.
Penelope Cruz: Platinum and diamond earrings (20 carats), platinum and diamond bracelet (42 carats), and a platinum and pink diamond ring (7 carats) by Chopard.
Nicole Kidman: Platinum bracelets with diamonds and emeralds by Fred Leighton.
Halle Berry: Platinum and diamond bracelet by Kimberly McDonald.
Jennifer Garner: Platinum and diamond bracelet by Bvlgari.
Lisa Edelstein: Blackened platinum earrings with blue sapphire and diamonds, platinum bracelet, flower brooch and two rings by Lorraine Schwartz.
Ginnifer Goodwin: Platinum and diamond cuff, ring and earrings by Neil Lane.
Kate Winslet: Platinum and diamond earrings and bracelets by Tiffany & Co.
Tina Fey: Platinum and diamond earclips, bracelet, ring and bands by Fred Leighton.
Jennifer Carpenter: Platinum and diamond earrings, rings and bracelets by Neil Lane.
Julianne Moore: Platinum and diamond ring by Bvlgari.
Kate Walsh: Platinum and diamond earrings, bracelet and ring by Neil Lane.
Rose Byrne: Platinum and diamond hair clips and brooch by Neil Lane.
Maggie Gyllenhaal: Platinum and diamond drop earrings (14.32 carats) and bracelet (59.16 carats) by Bvlgari.
Marion Cotillard: Platinum and diamond hair clips (12 carats), and platinum and diamond bracelets (53 carats) by Chopard.
Lauren Graham: Platinum and diamond earrings, platinum and diamond cuff (90 carats) and a blackened platinum and diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
Calista Flockhart: Platinum and diamond earrings and ring, and platinum necklace with pearls by Cathy Waterman.
Elisabeth Moss: Platinum and diamond sautoirs (144 carats), and platinum and diamond drop earrings by Chopard.
Julie Benz: Platinum and diamond drop earrings (16 carats), platinum and diamond bracelet (27 carats), platinum and yellow diamond bracelet (45 carats), and a platinum and yellow diamond ring (12 carats) by Chopard.
Helen Mirren: Platinum and diamond earrings (18 carats), platinum and diamond bracelet (25 carats), and a platinum and diamond ring (7 carats) by Chopard.
Jeanne Tripplehorn: Platinum and diamond drop earrings (11 carats) by Chopard.
Amy Poehler: Platinum and diamond earrings (9 carats) and a platinum and diamond bracelet (70 carats) by Chopard.
Sofia Vergara: Platinum and diamond earrings (10 carats) and a platinum and diamond bracelet (34 carats) by Chopard.
Jessica Simpson: Platinum earrings by Neil Lane.
Ashley Olsen: Platinum and diamond earrings (22 carats), platinum and diamond bracelet (27 carats), platinum and diamond bracelet (54 carats), platinum and diamond ring (9 carats), and a platinum and diamond ring (11 carats) by Chopard.

Mila Kunis dazzles in platinum jewellery at film premiere

Mila Kunis selected platinum jewellery for her appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film 'The Book of Eli' on Monday (January 11th).

The actress attended the red carpet event wearing a pair of platinum earrings and a bracelet with diamonds and onyx, plus a pearl bracelet and a platinum ring with diamonds and onyx - all designed by Neil Lane.

Taking on a role in the dystopian drama represents a new challenge for the Ukrainian-born star, who until now has mainly focused on comedy during her career.

She is perhaps best known for her part in television series 'That '70s Show', while she has also received acclaim for voicing character Meg Griffin in hit animated offering 'Family Guy'.

"It was just a conscious decision that this is what I want to do with my life. I looked at it as something fun," she told Metro Canada recently.

"I worked because I was able to work, and then when I was 20, I was like, 'OK, this is going to be my career so I'm going to make smart choices and I'm going to go about it as a career versus just a fun thing on the side'."

The Book of Eli, which also stars Denzel Washington, is set to hit cinema screens on Friday.

Ivanka Trump to headline US jewellery conference

Platinum jewellery specialist Ivanka Trump has been selected as the keynote speaker at a special conference set to be held in March.

The 28-year-old will headline the Women's Jewellery Association's (WJA) Women in the Know event, which will take place at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

Trump is expected to discuss the value of a dedicated attitude to the jewellery industry, creating a strong identity and how individuals can use uncertainty to their advantage.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have Ivanka Trump as this year's keynote speaker," said Anne Valentzas, vice-president of education at the WJA and Leo Schachter Diamonds' vice-president of marketing.

"Among the many insightful business lessons Ms Trump will share with us will be those learned during the inspiration, development and production phases of her jewellery line, which are perfect for our WJA audience."

Trump's line, known as Ivanka Trump Fine Jewellery, is based in Manhattan and offers modern interpretations on pieces crafted from platinum, gold and diamonds from the 1920s through to the 1960s.

Early registration for the March 12th event runs until March 1st and WJA members can pay $200 to secure their tickets, while non-members must pay $225.

Designer unveils rare platinum mobile phone

A rare new platinum-based mobile phone worth almost £100,000 has been launched.

The Nokia Supreme features solid hallmarked veneers and eight screws crafted from the precious metal, while also being encrusted with 12.5 carats of pink diamonds.

In addition, the handset boasts a three-carat flawless centre diamond and a diamond mount for the navigation buttons on the interface.

Each phone contains a total of 1,225 individually-set sparkling gems and a total of 83g worth of platinum.

Designer Stuart Hughes revealed that just three units have been made for sale at £99,995 each.

"There is no finer relationship than platinum and diamonds. They are pure, rare and eternal," he told his official website.

"The Nokia Supreme is a true celebration of your individuality."

Mr Hughes also hit the headlines last year when it was revealed that he had designed the world's most expensive iPhone, featuring an array of gold and diamonds and costing £1.92 million to purchase.

The handset, which took ten months to create, was commissioned by an anonymous Australian gold mining magnate.

UK company launches platinum bee cufflinks

A British couture jewellery firm has launched a new set of platinum cufflinks, luxist.com reports

Wright and Teague is selling the cufflinks - which feature the design of a bee on a short chain - for £3,900 at its retail outlet in the upmarket Mayfair region of London.

All the company's offerings are handcrafted at its own workshop and each one is hallmarked by the London Assay Office to guarantee the authenticity of the precious metals used.

"The seeming immutability of precious metals is transformed through a precise, intuitive understanding of craftsmanship driven by the energy of innovative ideas to become an object of serene beauty," the jeweller notes.

Wright and Teague has received a number of film commissions for its jewellery, including the pieces worn by Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Platinum shines for jewellery buffs in India

Platinum Day of Love™ TV ad named Top 10 Best Ads of 2009

NDTV Profit, India’s leading business news channel, has included Platinum Guild International’s Platinum Day of Love™ as one of the top ten Indian TV commercials in their much anticipated yearly “All About Ads countdown 2009”.

“Platinum Day of Love™” introduces the concept of a very special day for married couples to commemorate and acknowledge the day they found true love – and, more importantly, each other – with Platinum Love Bands™, rings crafted from platinum, the rarest and purest of precious metals.
The commercial shows a married couple sitting at a railway station waiting for the train. The woman begins reminiscing about the time of her marriage, when everything about her wedding was 'arranged' by everyone around her. She comes back to the present when the train enters the railway station and she readies to enter it. Suddenly, she feels lost because she can't seem to spot her husband. Almost panicking, she heaves a sigh of relief after she spots him amidst the crowd. At that point, both, the man and the woman, seem to realise how much they love each other.
Speaking to Campaign India, Narayan Kumar, director and chief creative officer, Metal Communications said, "The task was to take brand Platinum from its strong but regional presence and make it truly all-India. Since there has always been a traditional relationship between jewellery and marriages in India, the challenge was to find a genuinely new emotional and real 'connect'.
As is evidenced by the growth of matrimonial websites today, arranged marriages in India are truly alive and well. In a true inversion of what obtains internationally -fall in love and get married - a majority of India still goes by getting married first and finding love next. The moment or day of finding love is often more important to the couple than their date of engagement or even their wedding day. We christened such a day the Platinum Day of Love. It is the couple's own special day discovered for themselves by themselves and not decided upon by elders or anyone else."

Platinum and diamonds sparkle at jewellery show in India

Gorgeous models adorned with glittering jewels sashayed along the catwalk in India's southern city of Chennai to showcase the latest trends in diamond jewellery on Thursday.

In addition to diamonds, there were rubies, emeralds and platinum jewellery.

Experts say it's just the beginning and diamonds, along with platinum, have a long way to go.

N Anantapadmanabhan, proprietor of NAC Jewellers, said, "See, today for the middle class, gold has gone beyond their reach. So what has happened is that diamond is affordable and platinum is also affordable.
A one gram, two or three grams platinum ring with a single diamond is great. And they also feel very proud when they possess platinum or a diamond ring."

Visitors at this exhibition and fashion show were equally upbeat about diamond and platinum jewellery.

Priya, visitor, said, "Diamonds have resale value and anytime you give them back you get the cash back. So my preference would be diamonds studded in 18 carats, and I really prefer diamonds."

At one time, India was known for quality diamonds the world over.

Click on this link to see the video:
http://english.cctv.com/program/cultureexpress/20091230/101845.shtml