DWTS' Maksim Chmerkovskiy To Launch Jewelry Line

Dancing With The Stars jewelry usually comes in the guise of the big, bold and blingy ballroom baubles found on the show's leading ladies. But hunky dance pro, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, isn't one to be left out of the mix.

The hottie hoofer and Kirstie Alley-partner tweeted that he's,

"VERY EXCITED to announce that my jewelry line "MAKSIM" is being launched at the end of May! Amazon.com and Endless.com Retailers all over the country shortly after!"

No word yet on price points or design elements, but he promised to post some teaser pics soon. Stay tuned. He also tweeted that while MAKSIM is a men's jewelry line, women will be able to sport his styles too.

"My jewelry line is predominantly for men, but women can certainly wear it. Pictures coming soon so you can tell me what you think."
 
Somehow, I don't think he'll have a problem attracting the female audience.

Click here for more "Dancing With the Stars" jewelry buzz!

Lindsay Lohan's Jewelry Line Lunch

What would my life be without a Lindsay Lohan jewelry post, right? After 90 days at Betty Ford, Li-lo is on the loose again, and the jewelry buzz is following her like a neglected puppy dog.

But let's all share a moment of silence, shall we, and send out our most positive thoughts that instead of 'misplacing' loaner jewels or 'borrowing' samples from her friends' launch parties, Lindsay's jewelry news will take a more legitimate turn for 2011. 

So far, so good.

Apparently, jeweler Pacal Mouawad (famed for partnering with Nicole Richie on her House of Harlow line, among other stars) lunched with Lohan where they reportedly 'discussed' a jewelry line of their own.

And what did she get for her trouble? How about a 10-carat diamond heart Rosette necklace worth $25,000 smackers? I'd stay off the sauce if I were you, sister.

"Lindsay is looking great, she has a positive attitude, and we are looking forward to an amazing 2011 spending a lot of time together," Mouawad told people.com.

To be continued...

Snooki's Sparkling Party Ball

Hold on to your hair extensions! Snooki is starting a jewelry line.

As if fist-pumping, hippo-charging and spray-tanning weren't enough to populate her glittering resume, Jersey Shore's Princess of Poughkeepsie is adding "bauble designer" to her list of many talents.

DiamondShark.com has partnered with Snooki (nee, Nicole Polizzi) to create the "Snooki Party Ball 2011 Limited Edition Pendant".

The necklace is identical to the one she wore on New Year's Eve when she rode inside a giant ball in Seaside Heights, New Jersey - with a plastic red 'keg cup' as her other glittering accessory. Nice work.

The pendant features a carat's worth of created pink sapphires set in a ball silhouette made from polished and rhodium-plated sterling silver on an 18" chain - and goes for the guidette-friendly price of only $49.

In the sage words of Snooki, herself, she feels we all need one for our own jewelry box because it's: 'frickin' awesome".

But Snookolytes need to act fast - the Party Ball is only available for a limited time here - although rumor has it this is just the first of a larger collection of smushy Snooki sparkle.

Welcome to 2011, jewelry hounds.

Angelina Jolie Shines at "The Tourist" Premiere

Angelina Jolie's red carpet fashion choices lately have left me, well, underwhelmed. There are only so many incarnations of the black gown/diamond stud combo we jewelry hounds are expected to endure on the most beautiful A-lister in the world, right?

But she SO redeemed herself at last night's New York premiere for her latest flick, The Tourist, in a sultry winter white Versace number and unique emerald-cut beryl earrings that sent me scrambling to find out more.

So here's the skinny:

Of course someone as gorg. as A-Jo has to have her own personal jeweler, right? Enter, Robert Procop - Asprey's former CEO who's bejeweled Brad Pitt's better half for the past ten years or so.

Turns out, the earrings she wore on the carpet last night are part of a collection she and Procop collaborated on together - with all proceeds benefiting Jolie's personal charity, The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.

And the emerald ring Brad Pitt wore on the carpet last night also served as inspiration for one of the pieces, WWD reports.

Unfortunately, we mere mortals won't be able to snag some for our own collection since the items are only available to Procop's personal clients - and are priced accordingly. Whatevs. As long as it's for the children...

While these beryl beauties aren't as stunning as the emerald earrings Jolie made famous at the 2009 Oscars, they are a WELCOME reprieve from the snoresville stud earring Jolie had in heavy rotation while promoting her last film, Salt. (see my earlier rant here for more)

Although it's hard to complain when she's got the best accessory of all on her arm... Just bring Brad and I'll keep the snark to myself.

Lindsay Lohan: Jewelry Lover to Jailbird

Lindsay Lohan was spotted last night at Ana De Costa's jewelry show in Los Angeles looking fresh-faced and ready to consume - far from the frightened soon-to-be sentenced drama queen we might have expected.

The jewelry show featured D-listers Brittny and Lisa Gastineau's new jewelry line, 'Tres Glam' which features their signature 'eye' theme - a power symbol known to 'ward off danger' according to the mother-daughter duo.

Too bad Lindsay didn't pick one up, cuz...well, it's slammer time again for our favorite tabloid fixation.

People Magazine reports the stunned actress was cuffed and led away by authorities after the judge sentenced her to prison until her next hearing on October 22nd - almost a month away!

At least she spent her last night of freedom doing something worthwhile. What do you guys think of Li-Lo's latest chapter?

Celebrity Jewelry Line Round-Up

What would our lives be without the constant stream of celebrities selling jewelry? It seems like yesterday that Nicole Richie was one of the first to make a successful go of it, but now every reality show star and D-lister is throwing their hat in the ring.

Here are the latest names list to jump into the jewelry biz:

1. Nicky Hilton

Paris Hilton's more productive younger sister is launching a high quality/low price jewelry line inspired by her own collection.

“I’m a crazy jewelry collector,” Hilton tells WWD. “I’ve always known since I was a teenager that I wanted to do a line. Whenever I bought something, whether at a flea market in Paris or a bazaar in India, I’ve been collecting pieces.”

Her line will have styles inspired by her mother and grandmother's David Webb pieces in addition to some with an edgier feel a la spikes and snakes. The collection will range from $35-$480 and will be sold exclusively at Endless.com before branching off to other locations.


2. Priscilla Presley

Priscilla Presley's line for QVC is the aptly named Priscilla Presley Collection, a line of bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings that's part rock-and-roll, part red carpet glam.

The former Mrs. Elvis launched her line yesterday with prices that range from $35 to $170.

3. Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe already have a jewelry line with the brand Virgins, Saints & Angels, but Kim's solo stint with Loren Jewels brings her name to a higher-priced couture line of gems.

Loren Ridinger has often put her Loren Jewels on red carpet divas like Eva Longoria Parker, Jennifer Lopez and Alicia Keys, according to Luxist. The blue and white diamond earrings shown above have 38.62 carats of diamonds and sell for a cool $19,000.

4. Shoshanna Gruss (Lonstein)


This former Jerry Seinfeld flame and successful fashion designer is partnering with QVC darling, Judith Ripka, on a costume jewelry line that includes crystal heavy pieces and statement necklaces that sell for $20 to $80.

"I wanted my costume jewelry line to have the same versatility as my clothing line–a collection of pieces that can make a seamless transition from day into evening. I love being able to wear a dress to a daytime luncheon and then out to a concert later that night, with just a change of jewelry and accessories," Gruss told Fashionista.com

Her line launched yesterday on QVC with styles still available on www.qvc.com.

5. Christie Brinkley


Christie Brinkley's line on (you guessed it...) QVC was inspired by her Hamptons lifestyle. The Christie Brinkley Jewelry Collection is done in sterling silver and includes bracelets, cocktail rings and dangle earrings with quartz, sapphires, topaz, agate and other gems. Prices range from $45 for a woven leather bracelet to the higher priced gemstone bracelet pictured here for $393.

"This line is a celebration of all the things I love." said Brinkley in a press release.

Who is your favorite celebrity designer? Tori Spelling? Kelly Bensimon? Ramona Singer? I'm partial to Nicole Richie's House of Harlow line. Weigh in!