Showing posts with label Brilliante. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brilliante. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

For Real, the Winner of the Fake Face Off Is ...



In a landslide victory with 72% of the vote (Wow!!!), Diamonique was chosen by you as the best fake diamond!

Diamonique beat out HSN's Absolute (3%), ShopNBC's Brilliante (1%), Jewelry Television's Bella Luce (0% -- no love for JTV!)

The second biggest vote getter was "doesn't matter, they're all the same anyway" with 12% of the vote and there are still some of you (actually 10% to be precise) out there who "would rather go naked than wear fake diamonds." I can't say that I relate to that particular segment of the population! Put some clothes on people!

Honestly, I would choose Diamonique also. Not because I think it is necessarily better, but because of the lifetime warranty that they offer (but no longer promote). That guarantee is worth spending the extra money. Not too many jewelry items come with that kind of backing.

Technibond on HSN--the gold-plated silver line--also used to be worth the extra money too. But then they got rid of the warranty and now it's just like any other plated jewelry product. Check out the story behind Technibond in my post here.

Here's the thing though. Most of the CZ used in these lines is made by Signity. (Yes, there was a line on ShopNBC by that name that has gone by the wayside and will supposedly return after the beginning of the year under a different name. Apparently there was some confusion between the manufacturer of Signity and the line by same name. I thought that it was very good by the way! Especially the steel and the diamond-coated CZ.)

So, in reality, most of this stuff really is the same. Don't get me wrong though, there are definitely some stinkers out there that look like a piece of cloudy, shadowy, cheap glass.

Since most of the stones are in actuality the same, my main concerns are the quality of the setting and the carat weight. Those flimsy gold setting have got to go. I know that the price of gold has gone up, but trying to stretch one gram of gold over a big ring just ain't gonna work.

Also, those huge stones need to be used sparingly. I have one big honker ring that I bought for fun, but I normally look for low carat weights spread out over lots of stones. I don't know who keeps buying those big rocks, but puh-leeze--for the love of all that's holy--stop!

And to those of you that wouldn't touch a fake diamond with a ten-foot pole, I think that life is short and jewelry should be fun. Spending tons of money and worrying about losing an earring isn't fun to me. Besides, by the time they treat many of those natural stones there's not much left that's natural about it (think Playboy model fake--they've had their nose done, their boobs done, their hair is dyed, they've had lipo, they've been waxed from head to toe, and they have a fake bake--but technically they are real, right?) But to each her own. Whatever you have, enjoy it! :-)

Monday, December 8, 2008

VOTE! Fabulous Fakes or Embarrassing Imitations



I love my fake diamonds.

Go ahead and judge me, I don't care. I'll be too blinded by my bling to notice your disapproving stares.

I am taking a poll though. Check it out on the top of the left-hand column. I want to know what you think about them--the good, the bad, and the ugly. What's your favorite fake?

Monday, August 25, 2008

Syanara Signity & Ciao Charles Winston

Are Michael Valitutti and Charles Winston taking their fake diamonds and going home???


I haven't heard that Signity is leaving ShopNBC, but there are only 60 items left in stock on the website, no items for auction, and no shows scheduled.

Also, taking a look at Michael's website, GemsEnVogue.com, there hasn't been a new show listed since May. What's going on, people? Have TPTB decided to drop Michael?


And then there's poor Charles Winston with only a handful of pieces left. On his website, CharlesWinston.com, he still lists ShopNBC as an outlet for his jewelry, but there are no upcoming appearances listed.








Does ShopNBC want to consolidate all the CZ lines into the Brilliante Collection (which has many upcoming shows scheduled)? In lieu of their ongoing financial troubles, are they wanting a flagship brand like the Q's Diamonique and HSN's Absolute?

Quen Bea loves Signity ... I hope they aren't dropping it!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Today's Blue Plate Specials ... Studly Studs

The HSN TS is a Technibond "Garden of Gems" Textured Pendant with 18" Popcorn Chain. This looks ... how shall I say ... cheap? unattractive? With the exception of the garnet, the gems are washed out and the setting is boring. Perhaps this is my personal bias against most cluster settings or maybe it's just ugly. Who knows?!

(By the way, I have been told by reliable sources that I am a being a bit of a b-i-t-c-h right now due to some crazy PMS so that could be playing into my nasty reviews. Although it's not like they don't deserve it anyway, right???)

I suppose the chain looks decent ... See, I can be play nice! Sometimes. Whatever. I'll just have to go relax in HSN's new Elle Fall Fashion Lounge. There seems to be a lot of room to spread out. Those skinny models don't take up any space at all!

There is a $5 off coupon code for Signature A Club. Maybe this will help Adrienne gain some ground on Joan!

The QVC TSV is a Slatkin & Co. Set of 3 Ceramic Harvest Figural Candles. These are cute, but not fifty dollars worth of cute! I haven't watched the presentations yet, but I'm guessing that there has been talk of breaking this up into three separate presents--hey, you gotta get your kid's new teacher something nice or she won't like him, right?

Good Lord, I am in a bit of a snit today. However, there are lots of Easy Pay offers today. Check them out here.

The ShopNBC OTV is a Sterling Silver / Platinum Brilliante Simulated Diamond Stud Earring Set. Lisa Mason will be sooo jealous of the ShopNBC hosts getting to say "stud" all day will absolute impunity! Not just one stud, but three studs, baby. Poor Lisa.

Anywho, these three studs need to hit the gym or something. They look very fake and even though I have a undying love for fake diamonds, I don't want them to actually look fake. These look like those crystal earrings that come in a set for little girls down at the Walmart.

Sorry, stud.

When I was watching last night, I happened to catch a new line called Sophisticated Steel. I love steel jewelry! And now that the price of gold has skyrocketed, everyone else seems to be jumping on board. I'm sad to say that they were super stingy with the Value Pays though. Check it out here.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Connie Kunkle Cabaret



Turns out that Connie Kunkle of ShopNBC, isn't just a host, she's an actress and singer that has worked at Disney, on Broadway, and for Andrew Lloyd Webber (be still my theater-loving heart!)

Connie will be starring in a performance tonight that will support the Orlando Repertory Theater, which is aptly called “An Evening With Connie Kunkle."

While on stage, she'll also be decked-out some new bling from the Brilliante collection ... that Connie knows how to work all the angles, doesn't she?

Here is a link to the full article from CFS News 13 and to the full video interview.
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