Regarded as one of the top wedding band manufacturers in the United States, Benchmark is renowned for offering classic wedding band styles in contemporary metals as well as precious metals. By partnering with Benchmark, 25karats.com is determined to offer their clients a broader choice of beautiful wedding jewelry in distinctive metals.

“This new collection is a very special addition for 25karats,” says Matt Aksu, CEO of 25karats.com. “After all, brides-to-be shouldn’t be the only ones to enjoy the thrill of shopping for their wedding rings!”

The new wedding band collection offers more than 300 styles in various stunning metals, including titanium, cobalt, seranite, argentium silver, sivold, gold, platinum and palladium. This new launch is a welcome addition to 25karats’ current collection of over 10,000 wedding bands, with 14K, 18K yellow and white gold, platinum, and palladium. Experts are forecasting that the Benchmark Collection will increase the sales by up to 20% during the 2012 wedding season.

“We expect to see such a boost in sales because the price of gold is skyrocketing,” Aksu points out. “Not only are contemporary metals an affordable alternative, but they’re very trendy and cool as well!”

Fans of 25karats.com are already lining up to take advantage of the new Benchmark collection with Benchmark’s Lifetime Guarantee that provides free sizing for the life of the band. Additionally, 25karats.com is happy to offer all their customers with their famous money back guarantee, in addition to free shipping.

“More choice means that more men will be able to find that perfect wedding band which represents their love,” says Aksu. “And at 25karats.com, we’re proud to be a part of that special day!”

About 25karats.com:
25karats.com was established in 2008 by a team of experts with many years of experience in both jewelry industry and e-commerce with a simple goal of providing the best online jewelry shopping experience for their customers. By controlling their sourcing, manufacturing, and product distribution, 25karats can bring fine jewelry to the public at exceptional prices while raising the quality bar on the competition.
25karats has offices at the heart of Manhattan’s Diamond District, which allows for immediate access to some of the best resources in the jewelry industry, both locally and worldwide.

We’ll toss out Gwyneth Paltrow. This competition comes down to the former Friends star in Aniston and the do-good actress, Jolie.

For Aniston’s multi-level, swirl-design sparkler, he tapped Silvia Damiani; for Jolie’s giant emerald-cut stone, he worked with their long-time jeweler and friend, Robert Procop. Back in 1999, Aniston’s ring, which she debuted during a Sting concert in NYC, was estimated to be worth around $500,000; jewelry expert Michael O’Connor quoted Jolie’s ring to be somewhere around $250,000.

Has 48 year old Pitt gotten a bit more conservative when it comes down to the price tag?

So what do you think? Here’s Jennifer’s former ring:

And here is Angelina’s elongated tablet shape emerald cut ring:

The gilt bronze Breguet carriage clock was crafted between 1831 and 1832 and sold for 4000 francs in 1853 to a Monsieur Le Comte Vladamir Komar. It is a rare clock with grande and petitite sonnerie striking, quarter-repeating, pull-wind alarm and calendar.

It is sold with its original gold-tooled red morocco leather fitted travel box, original key and a certificate. Antiquorum estimates the clock will sell for $109,513 to $164,272.

It was rumored that Natalie Portman was secretly married to Benjamin Millepied at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday. The Oscar winning actress’s engagement ring appeared to have developed into wedding rings as Benjamin was also spotted with a wedding band on his ring finger.

The famously private couple got engaged in December 2010, after meeting on the set of Black Swan, and Portman gave birth to their first child, son Aleph, in June 2011.

Angelina Jolie was amazing in her black velvet gown with a thigh high split and custom-made black velvet peep-toe platforms. She finished her look with a pair of diamond drop earrings.

Bérénice Bejo’s Chopard channeled classic Hollywood glamour with oval and round shape emerald stones accented with diamond earrings.
 

Gwyneth Paltrow looked very elegant in her off-white Tom Ford gown. She added a bold cuff and an oversize flower design diamond cocktail ring to glitz up her look.

 Jennifer Lopez made an impact in her dramatic cream gown by Zuhair Murad and completed her look with Salvatore Ferragamo clutch. She showed off her pair of glittering Lorraine Schwartz earrings on the red carpet.

Jessica Chastain was charming and very romantic in a flowing black gown with intricate gold detail by Alexander McQueen. She finished her look with $2million worth of Harry Winston earrings.

Michelle Williams looked incredible in her Louis Vuitton gown. She wore a ribbon brooch at the waist of her gown and completed her elegant look with 30-carats of diamonds set in silver on gold from Fred Leighton.

At this year’s Oscars, Jean Dujardin and Meryl Streep certainly weren’t the only winners.

See the full list of 84th Academy Awards Winners:

Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson, “Hugo”
Best Art Direction: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schavo, “Hugo”
Best Costume Design: Mark Bridges, “The Artist”
Best Makeup: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, “The Iron Lady”
Best Foreign Language Film: “A Separation”
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help”
Best Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
Best Sound Editing: Phillip Stockton and Eugene Gearty, “Hugo”
Best Sound Mixing: Tom Fleischman and John Midgley, “Hugo”
Best Documentary: “Undefeated”
Best Animated Feature: “Rango”
Best Visual Effects: “Hugo”
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource, “The Artist”
Best Original Song: Bret McKenzie, “Man or Muppet”
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, “The Descendants”
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
Best Live Action Short: “The Shore”
Best Documentary Short: “Saving Face”
Best Animated Short: “The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore”
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Best Picture: “The Artist”

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins better known mononymously as Adele, who is a British recording artist and songwriter has been dating Old Etonian Simon Konecki since last summer. The pair enjoyed their first ‘official’ outing together at the Grammy Awards.

The diamond has been named the Argyle Pink Jubilee by the mine owners.
The Argyle Pink Jubilee will be cut and polished over the next ten days and it will go on a tour around the world, with showings in New York, Hong Kong, Geneva and elsewhere, before being sold in an auction later this year.
“Argyle Pink Jubilee  isn’t the most impressive of all time; in 2010 a 24.78-carat “fancy intense pink” diamond sold for a record-setting $46 million.” a Rio spokesperson said.

On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead in her guest room at a hotel room in Los Angeles. Items that belonged to or were used by the late pop icon will be sold by Julien’s Auctions in March. Included will be a black velvet dress with metallic silver ribbon with an estimated asking price of $1,000-$2,000 and faux pearl drop earrings worn by Houston in the hit 1992 movie “The Bodyguard,” expected to fetch $600-$800.

Heidi Klum & Seal reunion called off after both stop wearing their wedding rings. When the estranged couple first announced  their split in January, there were hopes that the couple would reconcile eventually after nearly seven years of marriage.

Valentine Treasures

Valentine treasures are people who
have often crossed your mind,
family, friends and others, too,
who in your life have shined
the warmth of love or a spark of light
that makes you remember them;
no matter how long since you’ve actually met,
each one is a luminous gem,
who gleams and glows in your memory,
bringing special pleasures,
and that’s why this Valentine comes to you:
You’re one of those sparkling treasures!

By Joanna Fuchs