2011 Emmy Awards Jewelry Roundup: Red, Rubies and Rip-Roarin' Earrings

Jewelry gawking at the 2011 Emmy Awards tonight was a mixed bag of 'ho-hum' diamond highlights from the usual suspects and a smattering of show-stopping scene stealers!

Somebody must have sent the 'wear red' memo around Hollywood, because everyone from Lea Michele in marvelous Marchesa to Kate Winslet in an elegant Ellie Saab number showed up in every shade of scarlet.

And while that might make for a boring frock fest (there were no less than seven celebs in red at last count), it does bring with it some sartorial perks. Namely. Rubies.

Lea Michele sported some Lorraine Schwartz stunners, and E! Fashion Guru, Kellie Osbourne, was spotted in dangles and a cocktail ring in the rockin' red gemstone.

Sapphires made a showing on comic genius, Amy Poehler, and Entertainment reporter, Maria Menounos in blingy Bulgari.

And mixed gems sparkled on Emmy host, Jane Lynch.

But it was Sofia Vergara's Colombian emerald door-knocker earrings that sent the jewelry hunters into a frenzy during our Live Tweet session tonight (a shout out to my fab #emmyjewelry peeps!) Wowzers.

Others in the 'jaw-drop' category?

Anna Torv's S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G statement earrings and Heidi Klum's floral fabulosity - all by (of course) Lorraine Schwartz.

Elizabeth Moss' swingin' chandeliers (designer unknown)

And Friday Night Lights ingenue, Aimee Teegarden, rocked a unique earring look by Dana Rebecca.

Diamond divas included an understated Minka Kelly in Dior, Nina Dobrev in Neil Lane, Jayma Mays (also in Neil Lane), Taraji P. Hensen, and Julia Stiles (Forevermark).

And there was a 'black & white' mini trend worth mentioning on Gwynnie and Modern Family Emmy winner, Julie Bowen - both in Neil Lane.

So there you have it, jewelry hounds. Red, rubies, and rip-roarin' earrings were the highlights this year.

When you're done processing all these fun Emmy jewelry pics and poses, come browse the Celebrity Jewelry Sale I curated on Jewelry.com with 'looks for less' inspired by all of the best jewels seen on the Emmy carpet.

And - as always - weigh in here with your rants and raves! Did I miss one of your favorite celebrity jewelry moments last night? Spill it!

Tutti Frutti Treasure Triumphs at Christie's

Lower jaw-drop alert, jewelry hounds! I've been trolling auction results again. I know. The first step is admitting you have a problem. BUT - if I went on a diamond diet, who would bring you face to face with the likes of THIS amazing creature?

What is this explosion of Art Deco decadence, you ask? It's a Cartier 'Tutti Frutti' bracelet - and those are real diamonds designed in the shape of an undulating vine, with real emerald bead leaves and real ruby flowers and berries.

Ain't it just diVINE?

The Tutti Frutti jewelry category emerged after Jacques Cartier designed this staggering little number called the 'Hindu Necklace" for one of America's richest women, Daisy Fellowes, in 1936.

How do you know it's Tutti Fruiti? Look for precious gemstones or cabochons in the shape of flowers, berries and vines. Look for diamonds. Don't look at the price tag.

The Tutti Frutti bracelet at the top of the post went for a cool $1,880,332 yesterday - the highest price at auction for a Tutti Frutti jewel. So you might want to look into a winning lottery ticket, a pig flying or hell freezing over if you want to grab one for your own collection.

HOWEVER. In typical Insider style, I gawk at the gazillionaire gems and come down to earth with fun fruity styles with 'mere mortal' price points.

Who doesn't love these Tutti Frutti-inspired treasures on Jewelry.com? C'mon! Click on any image for more info - and get in touch with your inner fruitcake!

Jessica Simpson's Red Hot Engagement Ring

Not a week has gone by since Vanessa Minnillo started flashing her huge Asscher-cut engagement ring from Nick Lachey, and that wily Jessica Simpson goes and one-ups her with her own ring finger news - namely, a ruby red engagement rock from her beau of six monhts, Eric Johnson.

Meow!

Another 'shocker'? Simpson's ring comes from celebrity designer, Neil Lane, who seems to have a monopoly on newsworthy engagement rings these days. And this one is a real tongue-wagger.

Here's the blingy backstory:

 “Eric wanted the most romantic, beautiful, special ring for Jessica,” Lane tells PEOPLE. The result? A three-stone Lane sparkler with a stunner of a central ruby flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds - each stone weighing over 5 carats. Estimates put the ring at around $100,000, (which is a bit less than the rock Vanessa got. But who's counting?)

While the ruby just so happens to be Simpson’s birthstone (she was born in July), the gem “represents love,” says Lane. “The ruby is a stone of love and it is the most romantic gem and it’s very rare and very, very special.”

Stealing the spotlight from your ex? Also special.

Who's dreaming of a 'red' Christmas? You know who you are! Here are a few affordable buying options:

Still not sold? Click here to see the other singing celeb who recently got hitched with a ruby on her ring finger.

Ruby Lore – Learn About This Month’s Birthstone

Perhaps no gemstone has been as prized throughout history as the ruby. Celebrated in ancient Sanskrit writings as the most precious of all gemstones, rubies have adorned emperors and kings and inspired countless legends and myths with their rich, fiery hues.

As the ultimate red gemstone, rubies have symbolized passion and romance for centuries. Ruby is the birthstone for July and is also the recommended gem for couples celebrating their 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.

Also the color of blood, the stone is symbolic of courage and bravery. Warriors were said to have implanted rubies under their skin to bring them valor in battle and make them invincible. The stone has also been used as a talisman against danger, disaster, to stop bleeding, and a number of other ailments. Its intense color was thought to come from an undying flame inside the stone - or, as some legends would have it, a piece of the planet Mars.

Ruby is the red variety of corundum, a sister of sapphire. Like sapphire, ruby rates a "9" on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it the second hardest material known after diamonds.


The most important factor to consider when buying a ruby is its color. It comes in a variety of shades ranging from purplish- and bluish-red to orange-red. Like sapphire, there is also a translucent variety of ruby that can display a six-point star when cut in a smooth domed cabochon cut.


Rubies are rarely found perfect in nature - which is why many are heat-treated to intensify or lighten their color or improve their clarity. Heat enhancement is a permanent, stable process. Some rubies also have surface fractures and cavities that are filled with glass-like materials to improve their appearance.

For both treated or untreated stones, the safest cleaning method is to just use soapy water or a mild commercial solvent and a brush.