Press: Wall Street Journal puts fake jewelry on blast

Well, it was only a matter of time before the "Bling" wars took it to the next level.

Once upon a time, a guy could get away with a Herringbone or two and he was the man. If you had gold rope (or five), you were certified. Fast forward to '98 and it was mandatory to stay iced up. "If it cost less than twenty it don't look right on me"-- BG, Cash Money Millionaires

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, people lost sight of what it meant to rock real jewelry because now it's all about BIGGER and FLASHIER with no substance. With the suspect-fruity pebble-jewels that are floating around the club, in the latest music videos and on hip hop blogs these days, it has become clear that folks have been getting away with wearing pieces that are, shall we say, not so fresh.

Until now.
My heart leaped when I read a recent article in the Wall Street Journal titled: "Culture of Bling Clangs to Earth as the Recession Melts Rappers' Ice". I suppose it took the recession to finally put the foolishness on blast-- Long overdue. (click here for the full article)

In a nutshell, the article spoke on how many people are dooping their fans and peers because lets face it; everyone seems to be "blinging", but not everyone's pieces are legit. But once again, guys have found a way to literally "outshine" their opponents by calling out those wearing fake jewels.

Not mentioning any names, but rappers have gotten tech savvy with their dissing by bringing out diamond testers to prove the validity of their stones. Drum roll please...
My hopes are that this will eventually put an end to all of the hallow boasting among grown men with something to prove. Owning a dozen glittery chains is nothing to brag about when it's a lie. One day we can get back to appreciating the beauty and rarity of precious stones as well as fine craftsmanship that goes into making the unbelievable pieces that are made for those that can afford it appeal to quality over quantity.

Jason of Beverly Hills believes in a fine balance of both. More and more diamond lovers are seeking out jewelers who only specialize in the OFFICIAL. I'd expect nothing less from a real boss.

Your thoughts on this? ~vK

Moissanite Hype

"Throw your moissanites in the sky if you feel the vibe..."

There have been numerous debates among jewelers since moissanites were introduced to the marketplace back in the 90's. Naturally, there are those who argue that these lab-grown gems are a much better value than the real thing. They shine like diamonds, and are often hard to tell apart, so it makes sense to go for the cheaper version, right?

As far as Jason is concerned, nothing could be further from the truth.

Here are a few reasons why copping the alternative (aka "diamond-lite") might not be the way to go.

First off, in terms of price, there is no denying that you will be digging much deeper into your pockets for a diamond. Diamonds take over millions of years to form and come from the earth; they are rare and precious. Moissanites are made in a lab and take about 3 days to make. They're approximately an 8th of the price of a natural diamond, and yet, they are much more expensive than CZs (cubic zirconia). If you don't mind rocking the alternative, you might as well go for the pop rocks.

With that in mind, if you plan to go in on your purchase, most people would agree that spending money on a man made rock that will NEVER increase in value isn't a wise financial investment. As the saying goes, "diamonds are an investment, moissanites are decorative". Sure, you're chain might be blingin' now, but try going in to any jeweler to sell or trade your piece made with the alternative. Don't take the relentless laughter personally.

The creators of moissonite jewelry argue that they have "..more brilliance and luster than any popular gemstone..." and yet, alot of people find that the extra brilliance comes off as almost too shiny. This can appear cheap on some pieces and is a dead give away that it is not a real diamond.

In addition, it isn't possible to create a pure "white" moissanite. The pic below displays an interesting "rainbow" effect that may attract folks that just want something shiny. Still, while moissanite dealers boast that they are more refractive than diamonds, there have been complaints of them having an unattractive greenish/grey cast.

At the end of the day, the decision on which to choose when making your purchase is based on your own needs and preferences. Many people wouldn't dream of going for anything less than the real deal, and for good reason. But in all fairness, moissanites are a convincing fake --just don't try it on wifey. Imagine you fiancees dismay, after years of bragging about her mega rock, she's hit with the news that she'd been Punk'd with a space rock knock off.

Bragging rights= VOID. ~vK