And now, a word from El Jefe...

THIS IS NOT JEWELRY!!!!!

(FAIL)

What is going on nowadays?
Long gone are the days where people actually took pride in the jewels they are wearing and long gone are the days that jewelers took pride in what they are making.

More now than ever are you seeing the Nuevo rich in the entertainment industry and beyond dig (not too deep) into their pockets to fork over a few dollars for some GARBAGE they dare to call fine jewelry so they could SHINE! Is it worth it? These people are paying money for garbage that has zero, let me repeat …… ZERO value!

If you want the look of flashy jewelry without shelling over big bucks, do me a favor and just buy CZ’s and silver so you don’t waste thousands on product that has close to zero residual value. I’m seeing more and more pieces being made by so-called jewelers using 8 karat gold or even just alloy!! 8 karat gold isn’t even legally considered gold. Jewelers are using clarity enhanced diamonds and just plain old low quality diamonds that can be mistaken for frozen spit!

Years ago jewelers took pride in their craftsmanship and looked at their work as a reflection of them. Now jewelers are trying to just trying to capitalize off of a new young market that simply don’t know better. I don’t entirely fault jewelers for servicing a market to feed their families. I guess I am frustrated that there’s a growing number of consumers that are simply uneducated in jewelry before making a purchase and they are making stupid decisions with their money.

I’m not saying everyone has to buy diamond jewelry from Jason of BH because there are plenty of incredible jewelers out there (you know who you are). I am just encouraging buyers to educate themselves on what exactly they are purchasing. Take the time to learn the difference between good setting and bad, alloy and gold, and low versus high quality stones. Believe me, there isn’t much to it. There aren’t consumer reports for personal jewelers so each buyer needs to take an hour and study what their buying before potentially spending thousands on some garbage piece that is worth virtually NOTHING!!!

Yes, I know you want to shine; yes, I know you want the girls to notice you, but take my advice, save your money and buy right, buy quality. This way you have an asset that holds value instead of a large piece of tin and an empty wallet…. Thank you!
Jason Arasheben| CEO Jason of Beverly Hills

(Good)

"I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back." -- Zsa Zsa Gabor

Stuller's Diamond Try-On App For iPhone

No more excuses guys; they are making this way too easy.

Now there's an app for... getting your lady that special ring she's been hinting about. Yes, you can now get directions to the nearest ATM and try on the perfect engagement ring, all from your cell.

Jewelry wholesaler Stuller teamed up with Gemvision Corp. to create the "Live Diamond Try-on" Application that is available now through iPhone. You simply choose your diamond from an assortment of weights and cuts, then choose your mounting in either white or yellow precious metal. Next, you shoot a picture of your hand, use your touch screen to position the ring on the photo just right and adjust to size. Easy enough.

There's nothing left to do but to spam your girlfriends with the virtual try-on pics of your newly blessed hand.
Don't forget to update your Twitpics.

It's a test worthy new app that should prove to be more useful as the diamond choices are expanded to reach a wider variety of styles and more options are made available to the user. One cool feature it offers is the GPS function that will Goggle Map the nearest retailer that carries your diamond. However, In order to participate, jewelers have to be part of the Red Box Diamond retailer program offered by Stuller, the company says.

For now, its an effortless way to cut down on some of the rock hunting so you can move on to more important things; like getting an actual diamond put on that finger.

~vK

Hope Diamond Revisited

The legendary Hope Diamond is due for a makeover and the public has been given the opportunity to vote in on the new design.

The re-setting of the 45.52-carat deep-blue diamond is one in a series of events planned in honor of the 50th anniversary of the donation of the Hope Diamond.
To mark the occasion, Harry Winston Inc., the famed jewelry company whose owner and namesake donated the diamond to the Smithsonian, has designed three contemporary settings.
The public can vote for their favorite online, at SmithsonianChannel.com/Site/Smithsonian/Hope.html. Voting will continue through Sept. 7, and the winning setting will be announced this fall.
Mounted in its new setting, the diamond is expected to debut in May 2010, coinciding with the premiere of the Smithsonian Channel's Mystery of the Hope Diamond documentary, a film recounting the story of the Hope Diamond, from its birth, to its journey through the hands of the kings and queens of Europe, to its final home at the Smithsonian.
From this fall until the new setting is fabricated, the Hope Diamond will be exhibited as a stand-alone gem with no setting.
During the past 50 years, the Hope Diamond has been mounted in a Cartier-designed platinum setting surrounded by 16 pear-shaped and cushion-cut colorless diamonds and suspended from a chain containing 45 diamonds.
Source: National Jeweler Network

Here's a look at the sketches for the three potential designs.
~vK

Louis Vuitton Monogram Revelation Bag

Just so we can go ahead and end the confusion here, there is nothing suspect about a man bag. Especially if its the new LV Monogram Revelation Keep-all bag.
All my sharp dressed men, collar poppin brothas, 'divos' and Jason exceptionally fashion concious guys, get your murse game up.

Now available through Louis Vuitton is a Revelation Keep-all Bag, which is a part of the famed fashion house’s Fall/Winter accessories range. The piece features a black tonal body, with silver accents, and Vuitton’s raised trademark monogram theme. Retailing for $4,040, it is now available through select Louis Vuitton flagship stores. Source: HypeBeastApproved. ~vK

Birthstone: August

PERIDOT

Don't be mistaken; this isn't a repeat of May's birthstone, the emerald. These green beauties are Peridots which represent the month of August.

Although the two can be very similar in color, as some peridots carry a darker hue, most tend to give off a more olive tone, or a bright yellowish green. It has been said that articles of Cleopatra's most treasured pieces thought to be made of emerald were actually peridots. Go fig.

These gems have a tendency to sparkle even in dim settings which lead sailors thousands of years ago to discover them one moonlit night on the Island of Serpents. As they landed, they were drawn to what appeared to be "glowing" crystals in the sand. Natives of Hawaii, where they are also found, believed that they were the tears of the Goddess Pele when they would find them shimmering in the black sands of volcanoes.

Peridot Mesa, Arizona is said to be the most productive locality for peridot in the world accounting for around 80 percent of lesser quality stones. Another continental US source is in New Mexico. However, some of the rarest and finest quality are found in deposits in Burma because of their color and superior clarity. Over in Russia, peridots were produced out of a meteorite that fell in 1749 in east Siberia. They are also found in Pakistan, Myanmar, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.

Peridots are great for small trinkets and everyday wear although you don't see much of them on the red carpet . Actress Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) did rock a pair at a press conference in Tokyo that were nice, but understated.

Cute look, but in this case less is less. ~vK

JBH Sightings- R. Kelly feat. Keri Hilson "Number One Sex"

Chris Robinson, Keri Hilson and R. Kelly

"Miss Keri Baaay-by" and Kellz shined recently on the set of the duet's new video "Number One Sex".
Keri rocked some of my favorite JBH accessories, while Kelly crooned away in a Dunamis Hercules watch.

Haven't seen much of R. Kelly in a while; do I spy a hot comeback? And *gold star* for Keri's shoe game in the video!
(I can't be held responsible for snatching your stylist ♥ ) ~vK

Jason of Beverly Hills on "The T.O. Show"

In case you missed last nights episode of "The T.O. Show" on VH1, Jason Arasheben made a surprise visit to Terrell's best friend Kita Williams birthday party (2:00). As you would expect, he came baring extravagant gifts.
What better way to celebrate that special day than with a purse full of diamonds?

You can find pieces like this lovely diamond purse necklace at JasonofBH.com.
~vK

Hot Items

These gorgeous flat square rings are found exclusively at Jason of Beverly Hills. They come in ruby, blue sapphire, black or white diamond and each have around 236 stones.

Ruby
White Diamond

Sapphire

You need one in your life. ~vK

Antique Jewelry

I absolutely love antique jewelry. And when I say antique, I don't mean favorites from the nineties that have been forced back to life prematurely in '09. I believe the hipsters dare to call this “vintage”.

No, I’m talking (older than your grandparents) rare finds that aren't massed produced or found at your nearest mall.

This Victorian fringe necklace is made of 18k yellow gold and is about 150 years old. It's timeless design still translates with today's bulky necklace trend. Being an antique, you could jazz up that strapless cocktail dress and not worry about another diva wearing your “say-something” piece.

Now this just screams LA.

When I came across this pendant, I had to fight the images of toy sized dogs in designer handbags.
This 19th century French Portrait locket immortalizes someone’s yapping pup on yellow gold surrounded by natural pearls. You couldn't keep these on the shelf around the dog lovers in Beverly Hills if they still made these today.

The pinky ring game had to have started somewhere; this enameled tiger ring dates from the Edwardian era. Sporting a European cut diamond in his mouth with green garnet eyes, this piece speaks on what would have been the flashy, over the top looks of that time.

Here are a few more scavenger hunt finds from seasons past.

~vK

Diamonds Are....

The French are glad to die for love,
They delight in fighting duels,
But I prefer a man who lives and gives
Expensive jewels.

A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
A kiss may be grand.. but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat
Or help you at the automat
Men grow cold as girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square cut or pear shape these rocks don't lose there shape
Diamonds are a girl's best friend

... Tiffany's!
... Cartier!
Black Starr, Frost Gorham
Talk to me Harry Winston tell me all about it!
There may come a time when a lass needs a lawyer
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
There may come a time when a hard boiled employer thinks you're awful nice
But get that ice or else no dice
He's your guy when stocks are high but beware when they start to descend
Because that's when those louses go back to their spouses
Diamonds are a girl's best friend

I've heard of affairs that are strictly platonic
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
And i think affairs that you must keep the masonic are better bets
If little pets get big baguettes,
Time rolls on and youth is gone and you can't straighten up when you bend
But stiff back or stiff knees you stand straight at.. Tiffany's...

Diamonds... diamonds... I don't mean rhinestones.. but diamonds... are a girls best... best friend"

~vK

Friday Fire- DUNAMIS Hercules Ruby Watch

"Hercules" Ruby watch, recently sold to Khalid Mohammad, member of the Saudi Royal Family.

This eye catching timepiece features red rubies with floating white diamonds in the dial. Click the pic for a closer look; to truly appreciate it, you really have to see the diamonds dancing across the face of the watch. A breathtaking piece.

~vK

**NEW JASON OF BEVERLY HILLS WEBSITE**

JasonofBH.com has a new look...

Today is the official re-launch of the Jason of Beverly Hills Website!
Visit JasonofBH.com for the latest in one of a kind jewelry fashion, celebrity custom pieces, videos and much more.

The new site will also feature a special "Members Only" section for our clients to view regular updates in the making of their piece. Here you will see each step as your JBH masterpiece is being made.

While you are there, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Soulja Boy's Lamborghini Chain

I N S A N E

The request: A necklace to match a Soulja Boy's black Lamborghini Gallardo

The result: A black diamond, FULLY FUNCTIONAL, remote control car pendant, damn.

4500 black diamonds. Over 400 grams of gold. Bragging rights for the next 3 summers.

~vK