Every year we can count on the fact that there will be ups and there will be downs, there will be tears and laughter, joys and sorrows. And, there will be jewels to dazzle up all of those moments! As the holiday’s are basically here, and the year comes to a close, we want to know: Was it all you hoped for? Joint Venture Jewelry takes the time to reflect on the year’s greatest moments of bling, glitz, and sparkle! We’ve complied our Top 10 Best Jewelry Moments of 2011.
Royal Wedding
It’s easy to say this was the biggest wedding of the decade! As a full day event, starting at 6am in the US, we all woke up early and watched the handsome Prince William and stunning Catherine Middleton exchange vows in Buckingham Palace on April 29. We could go on and on about the hats, the dresses, and the celebrity guest list, but what really caught our attention was the kiss! William and Kate kissed twice on the balcony, and we’re glad they did! Not to mention, Kate’s engagement ring, previously the late Princess Diana’s, and her knack for style has become the talk of the year! We wish the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge nothing but the best!
Best Engagement Ring: Reese Witherspoon
Bring on the bling! In a year filled with high-profile engagements and impressive jewels, People Magazine overwhelmingly picked Reese Witherspoon’s rare 4-carat Ashoka diamond ring (set on a pavé diamond-and-platinum band) as the hands-down best of the year! And we couldn’t agree more- Reese is the perfect combination of sultry, classy with southern flair! The Oscar winner’s ring has 62-displayed facets and rounded corners to create a dazzle like no other – no wonder she said “I do” to the sparkler.
Twilight’s Bella and Edward’s Wedding
When we say s
parkle, we can’t forget about Cullen sparkle! It may not have been the biggest wedding of the year, but it sure had the glitz! Twilight fans showed their support as Breaking Dawn Part 1 showcased Bella and Edward’ s long anticipated wedding. Although the jewelry was not a focal point, we couldn’t resist Bella’s diamond and sapphire comb and vale. Such a classic, something blue, vintage piece.
Goodbye To the Queen of Talk: Oprah
After a quarter-century on TV, Oprah said goodbye to The Oprah Winfrey Show in May in several spectacular, star-studded Farewell Specials. Oprah is know for many things, but I think we will miss her classy style, that sparkle in her eye and willingness to change the lives of everyone she encountered! Her “aha” moments will never be forgotten.
Oops, Britney Spears did it again!
It’s an understatement to say Britney Spears has had an up and down career. Yet, 2011 has proven good for her. “She’s in a good place now,” says ex-husband and father of her two children, Kevin Federline. She’s got her life back on track now, just finished up her Femme Fatal Tour, turned 30 at the beginning of December, and is now newly engaged, (again) to long-time boyfriend and previous manager, Jason Trawick. She’s got a sparkler 3 ct Neil Lane original. We hope 2012 is just as good, if not better, for the singer.
Gene Simmons & Shannon Tweed, Finally Married
After spending 28 years together, Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed finally exchanged vows on October 1, in front of 400 guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Besides Shannon’s three dresses, another stunner was her 27-carat Goel Talasazan engagement ring. Gene’s ring, by the same designer held special meaning to the couple. They took gold from her fathers wedding ring who died when she was 24, to make a two strand wedding band which represents the couples two children. “I look at my wedding band now and think, what was I afraid of all this time?” shares Simmons. We are so glad the two finally tied the knot and wish them much happiness in the future!
Kim’s (not so) Fairytale Wedding
Kim Kardashian got engaged to NBA basketball star Kris Humphries in May, after only 6 months of dating. Whether or not we want to admit it, we all became engulfed with the Kardashian wedding. The nuptials took place on August 20th, while E! News was set to air Kim’s Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event over two nights in October. We all watched the over-the-top wedding, only to be disappointed after Kim filed for divorce after just 72 days of marriage. We all want to know, could the latest Kardashian spin-off be the final straw for viewers? Is this the end of the Kardashian Era?
“Big girls need big diamonds” -Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor was known for many things: screen icon, humanitarian, and hopeless romantic. When she died on March 23 at age 79 she left behind an extraordinary jewelry estate amassed during her glamorous life as a movie star and high-maintenance beauty. To liquidate Taylor’s estate, an auction took place at Christie’s in New York. The first day of the auction saw a record-setting $116 million sell-off of Taylor’s fanciest jewels. The highlight of the auction was a huge pearl “La Peregrina,” once worn by European royalty. The piece (shown on right) sold for a record $11.84 million. All profits from the sale went to the Elizabeth Taylor Trust, and her AIDS Foundation. Christie’s said the sale was a recognition of her ‘taste and style’ as well as her ‘panache and glamor’.
Beyonce’s Baby Bump
It was the most rocking performance of the year, as Beyonce, who stopped mid-performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards to rub her belly shocked us with her baby announcement with husband Jay-Z. The singer dazzling in purple sparkles above, has won 16 Grammy awards and said in an interview recently that she felt she had achieved enough in her career to settle down and make family a priority. “I just wanted it to be from me, and I wanted it to be something that was a celebration of something so beautiful,” Beyonce said of her theatrical announcement. And it is a beautiful thing, many couples mark the special occasion with “Push Gifts” for the Mother to be, and of course something sparkly would always be best!
Trend Alert: Collar Necklaces
Collar necklaces can never truly go out of fashion, they’ve just evolved and made a huge comeback on the Fall 2011 runways. And we just can’t get enough of these statement collars! Hence why we think they have become the biggest jewelry trend this year!
Did we miss your favorite sparkling moment? Leave us a comment with your Best Jewelry Moment of 2011. We hope 2012 is filled with just as much bling!
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from the Staff of Joint Venture!
After only one month of dating, Jenna’s mother and stepfather came to visit and met Brad. While Jenna was at work, Brad couldn’t pass up the opportunity to express his intentions of marrying her. After two months of dating, he began looking for the perfect ring and found it (he hoped). He consulted her sister and his own sister to make sure that he was on the right track and went with his original choice. Two weeks later, he drove all night to West Virginia to enjoy a Bob Evans breakfast with her dad. He made it back to Raleigh in time to have dinner with Jenna that evening, so she had no idea that he had been gone.
After exactly three months of dating, Brad bought the perfect ring (she agreed) and when the afternoon became free unexpectedly, he decided to propose that day instead of waiting any longer. He asked Jenna if she wanted to explore a hidden waterfall that they had discovered together previously and requested that she bring her camera to take some pictures. At 95 degree temperatures, Jenna reluctantly agreed. After a little walk on a forest trail, Brad asked Jenna to sit on a rock overlooking the waterfall. He presented her with a long box for their “three-month-iversary,” which contained a necklace and earrings. Much to her surprise, the box also contained a poem that he had written her two months prior. This time an additional stanza had been added. As she read the poem aloud, she noticed Brad fumbling around in his pocket. With the ring ready, Brad offered to read the final stanza:
We were sadden to hear about fellow long-time, family-run jewelry store, Jolly’s Jewelers, closing its doors early next year. Jolly’s has been in business for 130 years in the triangle area, making it North Carolina’s oldest family-owned jewelry company.
Frank Jolly Ragsdale, the fifth generation of the Jolly family said Wednesday that he is retiring. The recession and what he calls a loss of integrity in the jewelry business forced him to make the decision.
“It’s an obstacle. If you’re going to compete, you have to get in the ditch with everyone else, and I’m not going to do it,” the 64-year-old Ragsdale said.
As a small, local, family jewelry store, Joint Venture Jewelry strives to remain its honestly and integrity with fellow jewelry stores owners in the area as well as each of its valued customers. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Jolly family and wish you well in retirement. The Triangle will miss you.
In addition, we urge everyone to remember to shop small, shop local and support your community this holiday season. It’s about making your hard-earned money go further, fueling the local economy, and helping to preserve the unique character that is the Triangle.
Do you wear a watch?
Or do you opt to use that trusty iPhone for the time of day? In today’s society, watches have become less a necessity and more of a style signature–are you choosing wisely? Many use the most accurate devices for telling time, like cell phones, computers, and iPads. But watches are more than just time. When women meet women for the first time, they quickly glance up and down, nit picking their outfit from head to toe. When men meet men, their clothes, hair style and the like are not important. The only two things that matter are his shoes and his watch. See how important a watch is now?
The real question is… what kind of statement are you making? Especially since men don’t wear many accessories, their watch, or lack there of, can tell a lot.
For the man who doesn’t wear a watch:
His style is simple. He’s technologically advanced, relays heavily on his smart phone, which is always attached to his palm. Fashion and his outer appearance are not important to him and he doesn’t care to elaborate on it. Understated is the name of the game.
Who wants to be that boring? Watches can truly enhance your status and can instantly upgrade any outfit. A fine watch will always compliment a suit and equally so, a top-notch wrist watch can turn scruffy jeans and t-shirt look into a confident yet relaxed individual with excellent taste. So now you just need to decided what is your style. Here’s a guide to watches and what they say about you:
What a watch says:
Gold, Silver Bands: The strap of your watch can make or break your look! Gold tends to be more flashy, a two-tone metal band is classic. Most popular today is two-tone as it goes with everything. It says your sensible, practicable and can withstand the test of time.
Leather Straps:
Leather straps can be tricky. They can’t get wet and tend to need replacing as the color will fade, get dirty, or retain a slight odor. Be careful when selecting the color – go for basics. Look at your shoe sole, or belt for inspiration. Don’t be afraid to go bold– colors can be fun as long as it’s not your standard everyday watch.
Oversized\Chunky Watch: The bigger the better! (Now, where have you heard that one before?) The oversized face shows power, strength, and quickly becomes the statement to your outfit. Are you an Alpha male? Large watches are sporty and show that your more than just a suit, you’ve got an adventurous side too. Yet be weary, too large and it can get flashy.
14k LeCoultre Watch $1,800
Slick, thin, streamline Watch: Think, Bond, James Bond. This is your traditional dress watch. It’s cool, sophisticated and looks great with a tux! Wearing a tie to work? Mid-to-upper-level Exec? This might just be your everyday watch, yet for the rest of us thin watches say dress up not everyday wear.
Remember when selecting a watch make sure it’s age appropriate! Men it’s time to grow up, once you’re out of your 20′s that plastic Nike watch can only be used for workouts or lounging by the pool. Oh and that velcro one–it’s time to upgrade dude! Remember a watch is one of the first things people notice about you and you don’t want to have an immature, young, cheap look with your first impression, now do you?
Now that you have an idea of size, metal, and look. Let’s get a little more specific: When selecting a watch factors like price, longevity, wearability, accuracy, and label go into your decision making process.
Rolex: Wearing a Rolex watch can go one of two ways, and it’s all about how you present your timepiece. A Rolex can be an understated, timeless and incredibly masculine accessory — if you don’t go around throwing it in everyone’s face. Those that wear a Rolex — and want people to know it — will be seen as such. Wear a Rolex proudly, do a little research into why the brand has become the most powerful in the world, and think of it as merely an extension of your own self. If you put the Rolex on a pedestal and showboat, you’ll come across just like most people who wear a Rolex — like a used car salesman. You truly get what you pay for here. Rolex can withstand the test of time, thus the perfect multi-generational watch.
2007 Sea Dweller Rolex $7,200
Tag Heuer: Tag has a great reputation and has a long list of athletic celebrity endorsements. If you’re going for a fashion statement, look no further! It’s accurate and sporty and some awesome athletes represent the company.
Tag Heuer Grey Face Watch $450
Timex: This is by far the most accurate watch. It’s really the best bang for your buck. With lots of different models and styles and very affordable, it’s the most practical choice.
Cartier: A beautiful timepiece. This watch says you appreciate where you come from. As an “old money” brand, this watch has been around for a while and isn’t afraid to let you know it’s a classic.
1990 Sterling Silver and 18k Yellow Gold Cartier Watch $1,500
Belair: Typically a private label watch due to his great warranty and overall excellent wearability. Joint Venture Jewelry label watches are Belair. They are the best, non-high grade watches. Made in the USA with Swiss parts. It says you don’t care about status symbols. And your other watch could quite possibly be a Rolex.
Joint Venture Jewelry label Belair Watch $432
What watch are you wearing now? What do you think your watch says about you? Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.
By Kayla O’Connor
As the holiday shopping season approaches, we all start to feel the crunch! Fighting the crowds to find that perfect gift, trying to stretch your budget and hoping the people you are buying for love their gifts! When did the holidays become so much hassle it’s not enjoyable?
Black Friday Crowds
This year, we decided to take the guess work out for our gift givers and throw a Ladies Night Out, Naughty or Nice Holiday Wishlist Party! We know what you’re thinking, “why didn’t someone think of this earlier?” Not only is it a good reason to get together with your girlfriends, drink some wine and have some fun, you also have a good chance to get the gifts you want!
Bummed you missed it? Don’t worry, stop by to put your wish list together before December 1 and receive a $100 off coupon for your gift giver!
Store Associates Lisa Shook and Jen Hankin helping some ladies at our Wishlist Party
Everyone gets so stressed out, and fed up by the time the New Year comes, you may feel like you didn’t get a chance to enjoy your holiday shopping. It can become very difficult keeping track of gifts you have suggested to different people. Making a wish list allows everyone who is buying for you to keep track of what you want and what has been bought. Life is good!
Other great reasons to create a wish list, besides keeping your sanity, are convenience, saves time and saves money! These are all really great reasons in our book, and the inspiration for our Naughty or Nice Wishlist Party!
Our Wishlist Party encouraged ladies to leave the men and children at home, grab your girlfriends and put a wish list together. “You tell us, we’ll tell them!” The wishlist party was for two nights on Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18 from 4pm-7pm. We had such a great turnout both nights and want to thank all of our ladies for making our holiday party such a great success! There was music, great food and plenty to drink! As a bonus for attending, every customer had their name entered into our raffle to win a number of great prizes.
Wishlist Raffle Prizes
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