Jewelry designer, Orianne Collins, a jewelry designer with boutiques in Switzerland, is making her U.S. debut in a big way, signing a long-term lease agreement for 655 Madison Avenue in New York City. Her new neighbors will include luxury brands like Barneys New York, Baccarat, Hermés and the Pierre Hotel.

Her "O.C. Concept Store," will offer both her fine jewelry as well as other luxury lifestyle items in a two-level, 3,400-square-foot space. The store will open this fall and will sell items like beauty and cosmetics, art pieces, TVs, laptops, books and music on the first floor. On the lower level Collins will sell her jewelry line, watches and other pieces from designers and contemporary furniture. There will also be a champagne bar.

Collin is of mixed Swiss and Thai origin and grew up in Switzerland. She chose jewelry as her main medium of expression because "it is the most universal form for immortalising the inspiration." The Collins last name comes from musician Phil Collins, her ex-husband. She was his third wife and the couple have two sons, Nicholas and Matthew. She reportedly received a £25 million settlement when they divorced in 2006 which is the same year she began designing jewelry. Her New York City boutique will open in the fall.

Iconic jewelry designer David Yurman has expanded his brand yet again with the opening of a new 2,000 square foot Madison Avenue flagship location. The three-story shop-within-a-shop townhouse offers his classic collection of jewels plus one-of-a-kind pieces as well as an entire third floor devoted just to bridal collections, his newest endeavor.

The modern space mixes contemporary design with the expected elegant additions - marble flooring, oversized mirrors - with a decided lack of ostentation - the ceilings offer sleek dark wood paneling with inset lighting rather than large fixtures, so that the focus stays on the jewels in the cases rather than the shop itself.

Offering designs for both women and men, the Yurman brand is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Can't visit in person? Use code DYMOM for free shipping, just in time for Mother's Day.

712 Madison Avenue. At 63rd Street. www.davidyurman.com.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have designed an $11,000 pair of black diamond, emerald and white gold serpent cufflinks for famed London luxury goods house Asprey to benefit a children's charity. The luxe accessories are the first item for men in the Protector Collection, the line of limited edition fine jewels and silver objects created by the couple in collaboration with Asprey which my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported on last fall. The design of the Protector black diamond serpent links with 18k white gold bases and emerald eyes is based on Jolie's reflection on the serpent as an iconic guardian and cultural symbol of family protection, inspired by a ring she was given while pregnant with the couple's first child Shiloh in 2006. Each piece in Protector Collection is a limited edition, handcrafted at Asprey's London flagship store in New Bond Street. The black diamond serpent cufflinks match rings, earrings and a pendant in the women's collection. All proceeds from the Protector Collection pieces are being donated to the Education Partnership For Children of Conflict (EPCC). Co-founded by Jolie, the organization raises awareness and funds to educate child victims of war, conflict and natural disasters.

[via JustLuxe]

Nick Cannon got Mariah Carey a unique piece of bling to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. The couple, who decided to renew their vows, were married in April 2008 after dating less than two months. For the occasion Nick had jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills create a customized candy ring pop made of pink sapphires, white gold and white diamonds. The pair both love the childhood treat and Mariah also has a song called "Candy Bling." Jason Arasheben, the CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills, told People Magazine that the ring comes in a box complete with a spinner so that you can see it sparkle under the lights inside.

This wasn't the only piece of bling Miss Mariah got recently. She also received a -crystal bedazzled iPad with her signature "M" from Elizabeth Arden, the maker of her fragrances. Check out videos of both after the jump.

The Montauk Bracelet ($495) by Mr. Lucite himself - Alexis Bittar - is like a beautiful explosion of turquoise stones coming from a jagged edged crystal. Its breathtaking presence is reminiscent of a family heirloom that has been passed from one generation to the next. The Montauk Bracelet has a balanced feel between old world sensibilities and modern appeal. I especially love its eye popping color that will add such vibrancy and fun to your outfit. It measures at 2.5" diameter and 1.5" high.

Twilight Eclipse is set to hit theaters this June and now true fans can have their own little piece if it by buying their very own copy of the engagement ring Edward gives to Bella. Co-designed by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer and Infinite Jewelry Co., the ring appears just as it's described in the book: a domed-oval gold ring with brilliant cut diamonds. Handmade by artisans with an open-work gallery and 13 diamonds totaling approximately 1.06 carats, the ring is available 14k yellow or white gold for $1,979.

Infinite Jewelry Co. also offers two less expensive versions of the engagement ring, "fine" for $479 (CZ instead of diamonds) and "fashion" for $35 (CZ and gold plating), along with other Twilight-inspired jewelry pieces like Bella's bracelet and a necklace representing her broken heart.

Jewelry is good, jewelry with history is even better. Earlier we considered the results from the recent Sotheby's auctions now a quick look at a couple of stunners from Christie's "Jewels: the New York Sale" which happened on Thursday. The Emperor Maximilian Diamond, a 39.55-carat, I color sold for $1.76 million nicely above the pre-sale estimate of $1 million and $1.5 million. The Emperor Maximilian Diamond is one of two large diamonds that the the Archduke Maximilian acquired in Brazil in 1860 before he was named Emperor of Mexico at Napoleon's urging. Later Napoleon dropped support of Maximillian and the young emperor found himself facing the firing squad. Legend has it that he was wearing this stone in a small pouch around his neck when he was killed. The stone was given to his wife, Princess Charlotte of Belgium, who later sold the jewel. The cushion-shaped diamond has been owned by famed diamantaire Laurence Graff and by Imelda Marcos.

But the piece I was most curious about was the Catherine the Great Emerald Brooch. The large emerald and diamond brooch adorned one of the world's most powerful and ruthless female leaders ever to live, Catherine II of Russia. She ascended to the throne in 1762 and her long reign marked a time of Russian expansion and success. She was also a noted jewelry collector with the resources to acquire the world's best gems. This brooch was given to Sophie Dorothea, princess of Württemberg, as a wedding gift on the occasion of her marriage to Catherine's son and successor Tsar Paul I in 1776. It has a hexagonal cut Colombian emerald estimated at between 60 and 70 carats. The stone is surrounded by rose and old mine-cut diamonds set in silver-topped gold. It was estimated to sell for $1 million to $1.5 million and went for $1.65 million to a private Middle Eastern buyer.

The Christie's sale racked up $41.25 million, with 85 percent sold by lot. The biggest seller wasn't either of the two pieces mentioned above, Instead that honor went to a heart-shaped, 28.28-carat D flawless diamond, which sold for $3.78 million, an impressive $133,000 per carat. History has its merits but for diamond lovers, a D flawless grading can be even more important than provenance.

This week, Sotheby's sold the ruby ring that once belonged to Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924).

The cushion-shaped ruby ring weighs 8.66 carats. The ruby is flanked by single-cut diamonds weighing approximately .12 carat and is mounted in platinum. The ring sold for $2.098 million, including the buyer's premium. Its pre-sale estimate was $1 million to $1.5 million. The ring was sold as part of the Magnificent Jewels sale at Sotheby's, along with the collection of impressive jewels that belonged to philanthropist Patricia Kluge.

Gardner was a philanthropist and visionary patron of the arts whose personal collection of fine and decorative art is housed in her former home, now an esteemed Boston museum, called the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Gardner Museum, which is filled with paintings, sculpture, tapestries, furniture and decorative arts from cultures spanning thirty centuries, has remained essentially unchanged since her death in 1924.

Gardner was born to a prominent New York family and in 1860 married financier John 'Jack' Lowell Gardner of Boston. She was strong-minded and intellectually curious and enjoyed her reputation in Victorian era Boston for leading an avant-garde lifestyle. Gardner frequently traveled abroad to expand their knowledge of art as well as European and Asian cultures.

Jewelry for a cause doesn't always have to be clunky and obvious. Naturally, it's good to let people know you're supporting a cause, but if you're too showy about it, you just look silly. This year, celebrate Earth Day both subtly and elegantly with a BeadforLife necklace by Amanda Pearl.

BeadforLife is an organization which employs Ugandan women, allowing them to earn money by turning colorful recycled paper into beads. The organization provides regular income to hundreds of women, including 150 who graduated from their training program for self-sufficiency.

We asked hip young Seattle designer Amanda Pearl Brotman, whose Clutches for a Cause we featured last year, how she got involved with BeadforLife:

"I learned about the BeadforLife beads and organization through my dad, who had attended an event in Seattle surrounding BeadforLife jewelry and forwarded me information on the organization. After visiting their website, I knew immediately that I wanted to become involved. I love the beads and knew exactly how I would like to use them in my Spring collection and immediately ordered half a dozen bags to work with. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with BeadforLife. It's a great cause, the beads are beautiful and I look forward to finding new ways to work them into the collection season after season!"

The attractive, colorful and positive energy-infused necklaces are available from Amanda Pearl and select retailers for $348.00.

The other day I mentioned Wendy Brandes' earrings in "Sex and the City 2," but she's not the only designer who is seeing her earrings in a movie this week. Judith Bright jewelry has three different pairs of her airy dangles on Jennifer Lopez in the "The Back-up Plan." Signature Judith Bright pieces in the film include her hand-formed and hammered Paisley earrings; Ashley earrings, the India Marquis earrings with turquoise drops shown at right and her RockLess Stacking Cuffs, hand-hammered and organic stacking cuffs.

While she had provided several pieces to the film's costume designers, Judith Bright wasn't sure they would end up in the movie and was thrilled to see them on Jennifer Lopez. It's been a fast rise for Bright who began her formal jewelry design career just six years ago, after a career as President of Quincy Jones Music Publishing in Hollywood, California, She studied at the Le Arti Orafe School of Jewelry in Florence, Italy, learning, among other skills, silversmithing and wax carving. In 2004, she and her family settled in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to "The Back-up Plan," Judith Bright's jewels have appeared on television shows including "Gossip Girl," "Samantha Who?," "The New Adventures of Old Christine," "Better Off Ted" and others.

To celebrate the new placement Judith Bright Jewelry is offering 20% off to anyone who sends their "Back Up Plan" movie ticket stub into the studio. The deal is good through May 31.

The "Sex and the City 2" tie-ins just keep coming. Hotels are busting out the themed packages and brands like Möet & Chandon Champagne will appear in the movie and sponsor special events. But my favorite tie-in comes from jewelry designer Wendy Brandes whose snaky gold shoulder-grazing Cleopatra earrings appear on Kim Catrall (Samantha) in the movie. According to Brandes' blog if you want the exact pair of gold and diamond Cleopatra earrings from the movie, they will be available at Broken English Jewelry in Santa Monica, California. You can buy an un-Catrall worn pair for $7,250 from the Wendy Brandes website or pick up a silver version for $450.

Part of being a Trump it seems is having a few side businesses. Following on the heels of Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and ex-wife Ivana, Melania Trump is the latest to have a jewelry line. The former model is launching her own line of costume jewelry, "Melania Timepieces and Fashion Jewelry" with QVC. National Jeweler reports that pieces will retail from $30 to $200 and will first air on QVC on April 30 at 9 p.m.

It's a far cry from Ivanka's pricey diamonds but Melania said in a press release that she is proud to debut her "collection of premium, affordable timepieces and jewelry and make it available to millions of women across the country. " Watches in the collection are inspired by streets in her three favorite cities: New York, Paris and Palm Beach. The idea is that those who watch QVC might aspire to Melania's life as the wife of a wealthy jetsetter and can grab their own little luxury. For a look at some of the pieces check out Stylelist's interview with Melania. The news follows the recent QVC announcement that it was partnering with the Smithsonian Institution on a line of jewelry based on pieces in the Smithsonian collection.

Kwiat partnered with golfer Cristie Kerr to bring attention to her Birdies for Breast Cancer foundation and came up with a pinkified version of Kwiat's Signature Platinum Star Collection. The set includes delicate, diamond-drop earrings as well as a pendant of the same design set in 18-carat pink gold and with a pink sapphire and surrounding diamonds. Kerr will wear both pieces on tour throughout 2010 and 10 percent of all proceeds will go directly to benefit Birdies for Breast Cancer. The pieces are available at Kwiat retailers nationwide.