Michelle Obama 'Brooches' the Fashion Subject

Vintage diamonds, yellow gold, glittering gemstones – we’re seeing a bevy of beautiful variations on the brooch theme these days. The sensibly stylish, Michelle Obama, is now synonymous with the jewelry trend, and she launched yet another brooch blitz last night on the Tonight Show.

“I want to ask you about your wardrobe. I’m guessing about $60,000, $70,000 for that outfit,” Leno joked.

“Actually this is a J. Crew ensemble. We ladies, we know with J. Crew. You can get some good stuff online,” a gracious Mrs. O replied.

“Do you order it all online? Doesn’t that take the fun out of it?”

”When you don’t have time, you’ve got to click.”

Indeed.

We are still on the lookout for the brooch details (which, like her convention brooch, most likely came from her own jewelry box), but the J Crew ensemble included their Italian Deco tank, Crystal-button colorblock cardigan in Silver Honey and Metallic cloque pencil skirt in Metallic Sour Lemon.

Even Mrs. O knows it’s all about metallics this season, ladies.

Until recently, the brooch was a forgotten jewelry accessory relegated to Victorian era museum exhibits and grandma’s jewelry box. But with Michelle Obama’s help (and TV’s hit Mad Men), it’s clear women of all ages can “spread the wealth” with this glittering jewelry trend.

Hear The Bling In Your Ears

With the stock market falling like Wiley Coyote off a cliff, it’s probably best to plug your ears to any more bad news, right? And what better way than to do it with a little bling for your favorite accessory (aside from jewelry, of course) – the ipod.

Yep, you read it right. You can now bedazzle your ipod earphones with a variety of sparkly solutions. London-based company, DEOS, came out with a line of snap-on earphone covers that makes going to the gym or toodling about town a red carpet affair.

If you are an investment bank CEO, or are related to one, try your hand at the white diamond encrusted model for a mere $60,000. Or dial it down a notch with the black and white diamond option for only $4,500. If you’re looking for a bling-fest without taking a hit out on your wallet, Swarovski crystals cover a more affordable version, with prices ranging from $110 - $200. Now that’s a bargain even FDR would be proud of.

So whether you're still living in the Gilded Age or are yearning for a New Deal, put a little bling in your ears to drown out the gloom and doom!

Huge Diamond Found in Africa

One whopper of a diamond was unearthed this month at Gem Diamonds’ Letseng mine in Lsotho, a small kingdom inside South Africa. The company announced the 478-carat rough gem has the potential to become one of the largest round-cut diamonds in the world. My hands are shaking…

The diamond, which has not yet been named, is the 20th largest ever to be mined and could yield a 150-carat polished stone of the highest quality. That would dwarf the 105-carat round-cut Koh-i-Noor diamond seized by Britain from India in the 19th century, which is now part of the Crown Jewels.

Gem Diamonds reports that two bigger stones - 603 and 493 carats - were found in the same mine in 2006 and 2007, respectively and a 601-carat diamond was mined there in 1960. Good grief!

Clifford Elphick, Gem Diamonds’ chief executive said, "Letseng continues to reward its shareholders with the production of these significant diamonds and to confirm its position as one of the great mines in the diamond industry. With a further 45 years of life remaining, we expect Letseng to make history for many years to come." Indeed.

We'll be tracking the progress of this little beauty to see if things shape up as expected. It beats following the stock market.