After I leave the office I usually hit some clubs and try to get the valet guy to park my new ride up front in the VIP section so that I can impress the ladies standing behind the velvet rope. I am well known in my city for usually sporting around with my different vehicles including a personal helicopter that was given to me on my bday by a close friend of the family. I love action sports and have recently become involved with cart racing. I recently made it to the #1 spot on the waiting list for the newest emmission free racing cart I go by the name “speed racer boy” and most of the time when I am racing, I am usually hitting double digit+ mph numbers and beating my opponents by 2-3 car lengths. Here is a picture of me at Laguna Seca coming in for the final lap with a 20 sec lead to the followers. I am very “green” conscious and have decided that electric racing is the wave of the future and have charged full force into that direction. I figure within a few years I will step up to the Tesla Roadster for normal city driving.

My social life is overwhelming and I am having a difficult time juggling all these girls along with family and business responsibilities. Take for instance the three girls at the school that I attend. Samoni, Suzuki, and Ale are just a few of the many chicks that I have to try to keep happy at all times. How is a guy to do it? I mean seriously! My blueberry is ringing, my parents are calling me for advice, and my cell phone is receiving text messages like Justine. I really can’t handle this. I feel like a mini celebrity being chased by the PAPS and their high-speed cameras.

The best part of my life of course is my family and friends. My Mom is awesome and my sisters are always there for me with advice on chicks and dating prospects, and they regularly take interest in helping me reverse engineer many of the delicate electronic components that I acquire on a weekly basis. One of my good friends and mentors, Randy seems to always be there when one of my gadgets goes haywire and has the coolest set of tools you have ever seen! Man, that guy could fix the holes in Swiss cheese with that tool set. But still, My mommy is my favorite person, I think she is the most beautiful of all.

I strive each to look my best for the ladies and in fact regularly go to the salon for a cool dudes hair cut and styling. I think it is very important how you present yourself to possible dating prospects and regularly stop in to my personal wardrobe consultant at Zegna for the latest previews of fashion and style. Currently one of my good friends Shea is scoping out fashion week in Paris and hopefully will bring back some digits of some of the 9+ models that might be lining up to meet me once I arrive for the finale in my Bombardier Global Express. My family is really into sports both on the soccer field and in the gymnastic studio and I love the fact that my phone continually rings for golf tournaments tee off times with both celebrities and dignitaries alike. Hopefully I will have time to advise our new president on matters that are critical to the stability of our economy.

Well, I am off to Giggles and Huggs in LA and cant wait to to go to the pier and hang out.
Thanks for reading,

Sincerely

N

Ladies watch out! His sexy accent and polished manners will have you weak in the knees and heart pounding with excitement. Yes Chicks dig em…….

We could’nt post his picture here because of the overwhelming bandwidth that might occur with his profile download. But rest assured, he is your man if you can find him. Seen on the private yachts of the elite cruising the med or boarding a gulf stream G650 for a trip to the far east, Chaim is one very cool dude.

Please stay tuned for pictures to come…..

The new phone reminds me of the awesome 8801 I used for so many years. The best part is the perfect single beep ringer exclusive to Nokia. I wish the iPhone had such a ringer. Although now an avid iphone user, I still relish the sheer beauty and build quality of the 8800 series Nokia phones.
The new addition will feature a titanium frame and carbon fiber combined with sapphire glass for prime quality.

State-of-art design and craftsmanship. Made from exclusive materials including glass and metal.

Tap-for-time to display time and missed events by double-tapping the steel surface below the display.

Turn-to-mute to gracefully silence incoming calls and alarms by a simple turn of phone, screen-side down.

Ambient light sensor adjusts the brightness of the screen according to its surrounding to provide vibrant display of light and contrast.

Living wallpapers specially designed to match the design of the phone, and provide a truly unique decoration

View your pictures on the brilliant, 2” OLED QVGA display, supporting up to 16-million colors

Operating frequency
Tri-band EGSM900 GSM1800/1900 MHz
WCDMA 2100 MHz
Dimensions
Dimensions
Volume: 65 cc
Weight: 150 g with battery
Length: 109 mm
Width: 45.6 mm
Thickness: 14.6 mm
Display
Display
240 x 320 pixels, 2” OLED QVGA display supporting up to 16-million colors

Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

A perfect place for a reclusive superstar. From its majestic approach to its volume-esque loft-like interiors, this place sets the standard for mega estates. As you approach the anonymously sited front you see just but a glimpse of the massive home that waits to beckon you to its interior. The impressive front door tells you there is something beyond that is greater then its exemplary façade. As I entered the foyer and gazed in the massive living room with 13’ ceilings I felt like I was in the grand lobby of the nicest W hotel in the world. The main living room, family room and Bulthup kitchen seamlessly blend into one huge loft like experience that can only be appreciated in person. I’ve never seen such an interior, such exquisite details all with an impeccable design. This place exudes luxury at the highest level. I imagined a gathering of my 250 closest friends (do I even have that many?) scattered through out this compound as if it were just a small group of bridge players. If entertaining large groups with social connectivity and space is your dream then this is truly the place to call home.

From the polished white concrete flooring to the retractable floor-to-ceiling windows, I was astonished by the view. Up on the “bird” streets of the hills, having a view says everything. This house has more than just a view, it has THE VIEW! The interior extends to what I must say is the biggest 270-degree terrace I have ever witnessed. It easily must have been 2500 sq feet of panoramic splendor. The interior of the main floor transcends so perfectly to the outside that one hardly notices the transition. The views from every angle remind me of floating above it all calling the world your oyster. It must be the same feeling Leonardo DiCaprio had on the bow of the movie Titanic. The stroll around the terrace enticed me with night views of Downtown Los Angeles, The Pacific Ocean and Century City. It’s common in the Hollywood Hills to have one of these majestic views, but not all three. On most perfectly clear southern California days, Catalina Island invites you to reach out and grasp for some fresh lobster. It all seems possible from up here.

Not wanting to be rude and fall out of place I quickly got back into our exclusive tour and to my uttermost surprise we stepped down the a beautiful wood lined stairwell into another Giant Lounge type room complete with a sound system that would rival American Idol and possibly the longest bar in the Hollywood Hills. Heck, it would even rival Chicago’s famous shark city sport bar. Our guide explained to us that this five bedroom estate is one of the very few in LA that has this much level open space in just the two floors we had toured. But there was more. Around the corner from the lounge was the home theatre media room. I could imagine ticking away my evenings and weekends watching Blu-Ray discs in Spectacular High Definition. I could forget about the pressures from the outside world while protected within my media cocoon all the while wondering how the Wachowski Brothers stretched Trinity into those exceptionally tight leather pants from the Matrix. Now that is what a real home theater is all about. Where is that rewind button again?

I reluctantly continued with the tour (they turned off my movie!!!) and watched as floor to ceiling glass on the lounge level disappeared in the wall to revel the coolest view pool in the bird streets. Wow I could see myself having the greatest pool party ever, one that would make Hugh Hefner take notice. The barbeque, the cocktails, the friends, the bikini-clad girls everywhere. You know what I mean!!!!

As I stared into the gorgeous blue water I was hit with the most intense feeling of deja vu ever. I felt like I had somehow been here before. I thought “wow, is this just wishful thinking I had been here, or is there something to this warm and fuzzy feeling I was having?” My mind snapped like a rubber band tightly pulled and released onto a rolled newspaper. I hadn’t actually been here before with the hot chicks in the pool area, I had seen it on TV on Americas Next Top Model with Tyra Banks. I think it was 2007 cycle 6(?). I had viewed many of the great estates that the incredibly “talented” girls have perused while scratching their way to the top. The pool was what did it for me – the girls jumping in fully clothed on their arrival at the property. Obviously they liked the estate as much as our quaint group of realtors and media folk. Where else can you have a 75’ runway built right in to the living room with plenty of room to spare?

After clearing my mind of sexy bikini clad beauties offering me drinks and the like
I refocused to find myself wandering down the long exquisitely paneled wood hallway to find the master suite, sitting area and master bath. Oh how I so remembered the shower scene from Americas Next Top Model full of hot steamy models. I gazed intently on the massive marble steam shower room that could hold the entire Entourage cast and their fans. The tile floor, the Kohler fixtures and the enormous master closet just couldn’t be explained in simple words. This place was luxuriously sensual and felt like a vacation at a five star hotel. Now, if I could just find a waiter and order a martini.

Down the endless hall adjacent a beautiful wood architectural feature was the complete fully equipped gym room to help us all keep in shape if we are going to entertain all those girls (and be able to chase them).

From there I was again led downstairs to even another level where a guest suite awaited with it top level amenities and endless views. I thought to my self how many levels does this palace have? This house is 8000 square feet of pure magic. As if reading my mind, our tour guide walked us upstairs past the lounge up to the main level and into the kitchen to a private 360 degree floating glass surrounded dining room. Eating dinner in here with this view can only be topped by a five-course meal at The Post Ranch Inn’s Sierra Mar restaurant. To say the least it’s Awe-inspiring. The complete Top chefs gagganeau dream kitchen fit for Emeril Lagasse or Anthony Bourdain allows the host to entertain guests and gather around where it matters most, the food.

Through the hidden kitchen doorway we rose up to yet another level for service quarters, private home office and guest suite with private entrance – all with additional endless views. This home allows the busy executive to run an entire corporation from the peace and security of the penthouse office and guest suites while still being a few seconds away from the family activities. With a 4 car garage one could park their Aston Martin DBS alongside their Prius and have more room for additional toys. This is L.A. – you can have it all!

Check out www.9191thrasher.com for more pictures.

For pricing and contact information contact Bennett Carr of Sotheby’s International

“BEHIND THE WHEEL”, A SERIES

BMW M5 REVIEW: A travel through space and time: Part I

The 2008 BMW M5 sports sedan has been the center of multiple spec reviews since its introduction in 2004. Our goal in this review is to relay to you our reader the experience one “feels” when driving this automobile. Commonly referred to by the “in” crowd as body style “E60 M5” this 4 door stealth demon has much more to offer the enthusiast than what appears on the outside. With the sculptured shape of the standard 5 series along with some perfectly placed body effects, this car takes on a whole new meaning once you are behind the wheel.

First of all, the M offers every imaginable convenience, safety and performance feature fascinatingly combined into the same vehicle with the irony that one would see in a pro basketball player that’s also perfectly at home on the golf course. From its plush leather seats with alcantra headliner to its finely machined buttons, switches and screens all designed to make your experience in “M” space a memorable one.

From its exquisitely appointed interior to its hidden power plant that reminds one of the thrust of Tom Cruises F16 in Top Gun, this car was meant to please from the ground up. With the ability to go from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and still take 4 adults very comfortably to dinner and a play, you have to ask yourself how is this possible? I mean really can you have the best of both worlds? The cabin is quiet, the engine roars and all the while you feel comfortable and secure like a Faberge egg in a leather lined bank vault. This car is so solidly built that it makes one question why all cars can’t be built this way.

As I got into the M5 I noticed a feeling of euphoria and reminiscent memories of my old 2000 (E39) M5 invading my thoughts. My over six foot frame melted into the interior with plenty of room to spare. This new M5 seemed similar, but yet was somehow different, oh so different. What’s this behind the steering wheel? Paddle shifters from an F1 formula car? And where the shift selector is, a seven speed SMG (sequential manual gear) transmission that allows effortless city driving in fully automatic mode. Or complete manual gear control assisted by the silky smooth electronic hidden clutch. This SMG lets the driver shift faster then you can say Google.

The V10 engine started up like the purr of a well-fed kitten and with a little push to the pedal the power and torque erupted into the lion that hides beneath the beautifully shaped hood and grill. I was astonished at the 383 lbs. of torque that pressed me back into possibly the best-designed seats I have ever sat my undeserving rear in. As I came to a stop sign on a 1% incline, I noticed the cars uncanny ability to feel exactly like I was in a manually shifting car like a Porsche 996 even down to the slight “roll back” one feels when riding the clutch.

The ride was so comfortable and the car tracked like it was on rails at the Space Mountain Disneyland ride. How is it possible that I could corner so effortlessly, so flat, yet feel as if I was being caressed in a cocoon of sumptuous luxury that normally one would feel from riding in a fine British motorcar?

With each millimeter of down pressure from my foot, the car seem eager to respond as if to say “its just you and I now with this great stretch of highway ahead”. The further the drive the better, because that means we have to drive all the horrible way back in this incredible synergentic blend of the perfect automobile. Every road bump and pot hole that our innocuously damaged Los Angeles streets and highways had to offer was sucked up and translated into solid comfortable feedback with little disdain for comfort. The electronically adjustable ride dampening system had done its job. Did I mention that this is one solidly built car?

Where else on the planet can you take four of your best pals and zoom into warp drive with as little effort as pressing the hyper drive button on your X-Box’s Need for Speed game? I took one passenger with me as a witness to the comfort and exhilaration from the passenger’s perspective and to point out any salivation that might have spilled from my jaw dropping expressions onto this otherwise immaculate interior. Although we never took the car past the posted speed limit (err we’re not supposed to do that right?) the torque curve never once let up from entering the freeway at 15 mph to quickly rising to uh 65 mph. At least that’s what speed I “thought” we ended at, err yea that’s right 65!!!

The car offers a special option that can only be compared to the cockpit of an X Wing fighter from Star Wars…..a completely visible Heads Up Display that projects your current speed, gear and RPM’s on the windshield directly in front of your view without obstructing the road ahead. The HUD not only tells you exactly when to shift (flashing symbol in manual mode) it also shows navigation directions and other critical info. The display is so perfectly readable in bright daylight and evening that it could be looked upon as a guardian angel safely relaying critical up to the microsecond data while allowing the pilot, I mean driver to keep their eyes focused. You never know when a small wandering creature might innocently enter the path and force the driver to engage the instantly stopping massive 16-inch drilled ventilated brakes. Was this test drive real, or was I dreaming of being in the cockpit of a Gulfstream G550 viewing its million dollar Honeywell heads up display?

As I shifted the SMG transmission into manual mode I felt like Luke Skywalker manually navigating his fighter deep into the heart of the Death Star. Had I gone too far? Will I ever return from my journey, shifting about like a rookie NASCAR driver? As luck would have it, the cars response, feel, and audible feed back were so perfectly delivered I knew exactly when to shift by listening and watching my floating angel ahead of me. The engine responded to my every push and pull of the SMG like the precision buttons on a fine Swiss double chronograph watch. It was awesome, perfect and nothing like I had ever experienced before.

But there was something missing from my experience, a void that I couldn’t place my finger on. It was like I was imagining deja vu although vicariously inspired. And then it hit me. Right before my eyes, below the level of the heads up display and residing on the perfectly machined shifting console was the M power button. I remembered reading about this special “use only in emergency situations” button that would take the normally fuel injected 400 hp beast and transform it into a 510 hp intergalactic time travel machine. As I stared down at the button I thought to myself what would happen if I pressed it? Would I be instantly tele-ported to another place like in the movie Jumper? Would I be fined $25k for pressing the button and then being rescued somewhere afar like someone accidentally pulling the antenna out on their Breitling Emergency Watch? Will the authorities know I have pressed the button? Are the Pre-Cogs watching?

The temptation to engage was so great, but as I started to reach down to press “It”, scenes from my early childhood flashed before me, and thoughts of my friends and loved ones looking for me in other dimensions retracted my hand. I once again grasped the steering wheel with happy content to have experienced this interstellar machine in normal power mode. This car offers so much more then my simple driving capabilities could ever encompass. Maybe for my second encounter, and after I have said goodbye to loved ones, I may consider revisiting the lingering temptation to, as Professor Fate in the feature film the Great Race would say “Push the button Max!!!”

Stay tuned for Part 2, an in-depth warp-drive “M-Power” button engaged review.

Post your experiences, comments or thoughts on the spectacular M5.

Please leave your comments as to what your wish list would entail.

Today one of our graphics people spotted Keanu Reeves awesome 1974 Norton 850 commando motorcycle. Parked along a quiet street in the Hollywood Hills it was patiently waiting for its master to chant “onward vixen”. This has got to be one of the nicest vintage rigs on the street. It looks as if it was just rolled off the show room over Memorial Day weekend for a lil river run trip. The chrome was perfect the bike immaculate. It has the appearance of a fine quality Leica camera, strong, robust and of a build quality that just isn’t seen anymore.

Originally built as a long touring bike with 51 hp at 6250 RPM this baby has a lot of power between the legs when moving along. Although not a Ducati 1098 in speed, the class, look and eclectic feel that one gets from riding the Norton cannot be compared with anything else. This bike was one of the stars on the feature film “My Own Private Idaho” co starring of course with Keanu. Maybe that’s how he came to love these great machines so much. Hooking up with you co-star is a well-known occurrence on Hollywood sets and I can surely say that the Keanu-Norton connection is probably one of the longest lasting relationships that tinsel town has seen.

With a top speed of 118.7 miles per hour this motor with two wheels will get you into ticket trouble faster then Mel Gibson running his verbal motor off to the Malibu Police department. Rest assured that with all the exotic cars, Bentleys and race bikes cruising the area by Sunset Plaza, this Commando would turn heads with its healthy rumble and its infamous rider. It seems now days that exclusitivity is no longer destined to having the newest unobtainable Smart Car, but rather to look back at the past for one of a kind specialty products that although long forgotten hold an important place in history.

Look out Brad Pitt, that’s Kenau rolling up on your Confederate so make room for the beast as it divides the higway and passes by like a steam train pushing north through the snow. Maybe if I am lucky enough someday I will witness Keanu cruising down Sunset Blvd causing confusion with the Paparazzi as to whether to shoot the bike or the rider. Whatever it may be, I hope I am there when it happens.

For all of us tech junkies out there that have been demanding a pda with complete features this one is going to deliver. First and foremost finally having 3G (really 3.5g hsdpa) in a blackberry on GSM networks. This has been as long in coming as the next Indiana Jones sequel. As Verizon and Sprint users know 3G (called evdo on their cdma networks) is basically the speed of a low level home dsl line. What this translates to is speed, yes my friends incredible delicious speed. Speed to check and send emails, speed to surf the internet, and speed to tether it to your laptop too when out and about without a wifi connection around. The ATT 3.5 is faster then evdo.

Along with 3G speed, this modern marvel of wonderment will also have built in wifi to surf at coffee shops and has packed in it a tiny GPS receiver unit for those desperate days when your plane lands in the sahara and you need pin point accuracy to explain your location via wifi on the local “sand” network. Hey, I wonder if I strap 2 of these things on my feet will it allow me to surf around the planet with the ease that Robert Downey does in Iron Man?

The unique shape of the bold really takes a step back in berry design to a more rounded feel like that of the 7000 series a few years back. Once I get my demo model you will get my full review from top to bottom front to back. From the stock photos we can see all of the wonderment happening on the rich looking black screen panel. This new device uses the newest high resolution 480 x 320 LCD panel to provide what RIM claims is their brightest, clearest screen yet. Heck I thought the screen on my curve was awesome. I guess it will be one of those things that once you put your curve screen next to the bold, the curve will somehow loose it glamor and you will once again have dreams of cows jumping over the out dated curve to land in “bolder pastures”

The user interface seems very similar to the current feel, but seems to have a look of high resolution 2 dimensional icons as one were playing with a miniature version of battle zone.
The new look is a “good” one and I think it will set this pda apart from the “others for quite a while.
The keyboard invokes ones imagination of a hybrid mix between the curve and the 8800 series with the “wave” tipped keys. You can see from the pictures RIM has added a very cool separator rim (no pun intended) between the horizontal rows of keys thus allowing some give room between unlike the 8800 series that seemed cramped for many users.

Only a working model test drive will revel the success of the new design. As with most changes, we all acclimate to the new design like the change in a new pair of shoes. First complaining of the wrong fit, then praising the “feel” after we’ve passed the break in period .

The new integrated “itunes” syncing and mass 1GB memory storage along with a removable sd card is going to impress many road music junkies. The video player and new (674 mgz processor) should make it easy to snatch Britney Spears “oops”videos on you tube via high speed 3G.

Gone are the days of waiting and waiting and waiting for the berry browser to find its “web page” let alone try to render it with the snail like processor. In a simple word , this gizmo should “cook” . If you cant wait for the bold to appear on shelves like a magical play station and want an idea of what kind of speed we are talking about visit your local Verizon or Sprint store and demo the browser on the evdo blackberry world phones. Although not a true example this will get you close. The bold is the next step beyond this.

I can see bolds future at parties , in meetings or out and about , mesmerizing, the public with its sheer beautiful façade. I can see any excuse to whip it out at a moments notice like a cigarette lighter for a damsel in distress ready to help look up the weather faster then superman can say krypton.

With its (multi mega) pixel camera the bold will be able to follow Lindsay Lohan around snapping away pictures with its lightning fast processor and sending them on their way to TMZ blog space via 3G before you can say “I’m back in rehab”.

As celebrities que up for the latest in phone fashion (John Mayer already has a blackberry bold, of course John Mayer has a lot of things we all want), the tri band bold will be there to satisfy any globe trotting fractional ownership jet setters needs in over 200 countries. Its seamless integration with high speed data networks world wide will make it the phone of choice for many.

Rumor has it that ATT will be the sole service provider of this new “toy” (we don’t really buy these things other then that do we?) but I am sure that the “other” networks will come along with a similar wrapped package under a different “codename” soon after.

I found myself luckily seated near the front so I could see every facial expression and hear every gut wrenching song and skit projected to the audience. The crowd went wild with such cover songs as “Gimme More” by Britney Spears, “Upside Down” performed in the styling of deaf actress Marlee Matlin, and “Rocket Man” as sung by Stewie Griffin. For “Family Guy” fans this was one super event that combined the best characters and voices from one of TV’s most popular animated hit comedy series. Seth’s appearance and character reminded me of an evening with “Old Blues Eyes”. With a shot glass of whiskey in hand and lit cigarette, he appeared confident, handsome, focused. I’m sure his recent $100 million TV deal with FOX hasn’t hurt his image and in fact has made this dapper guy rise to the “Beckham” level of hotness.

Alex’s stage image is gorgeous and fun, powerful and confident. She has a stage presence that only a true seasoned professional could accomplish. Her entire personality from every TV show and feature film she has been in seemed to come alive with a commanding presence that captivated the audience and sent the crowds in constant unwavering uproars of laughter. All this while the entire “Family Guy” 40-piece orchestra conducted by Walter Murphy generated the perfect musical setting for these two immensely talented performers.

The many plays, musicals and theaters I have seen in the past just didn’t compare to the evening we all experienced together. The nostalgia of the songs, the comical twists of the lyrics and the perfectly executed placement of just the right amount or raunchy sexual humor made this event one that will forever top my list of favorites. For those few hours, the audience was “theirs” to be entertained and swept away into the oblivion of laughter and fun. – Seth and Alex unified the audience and captivated our attention for the entire evening. As they sat on their bar stools front and center stage with no facades, overly done costumes, or a cast of hundreds to support them, they made you feel like you were in a small intimate theater. I only wish my schedule would have allowed me to also see their great performance at Carnegie Hall earlier this year.

I found myself lip-syncing along with Alex’s rendition of “Gimme More” and thinking how quickly we had arrived at the letter G and that soon the fun would be over. As each letter was checked off the list I yearned for a longer English alphabet. I thought, couldn’t we at midstream in the musical hold a special session of Congress and announce our expansion of the English alphabet to match Cambodia’s alphabet of 74? Is this fun really going to end soon with only 9 more songs to go?

Alex’s rendition of Marlee Matlin attempting to sing “Upside Down,” was more then the audience could handle. In the fairness of no holds barred humor, this has got to be one of the funniest things I have witnessed on stage. The Ahmanson signing staff on stage-left that were there to use sign language for those audience members audibly challenged couldn’t stop laughing both physically and through sign as Alex continued her song. Through out the entire evening the audience switched attention from Seth and Alex to the nearby staff signers to see how they would interpret, and most importantly react to the “spicy” sexual content that toped off the evening. The interaction between Seth and Alex and the signers was seamless. They were so much a part of the evening that one would think Alex and Seth actually wrote brilliant delays into the script to add the “signers” as part of the show.

As the show came to an end, one can only wish that maybe there’ll be an HBO special coming in our near future! That way we can all laugh our A$$es off and share in the experience on our 50- inch flat screen TV’s. At the very least, somebody get me a Blu Ray disc of the evening they did at Carnegie Hall so I can at least live vicariously through the TV and still be a part of the show.

There are two things to consider when deciding about diamond studs. First and foremost is the shape of the diamonds. The two most common shapes are either princess cut or round brilliant. Both shapes are equally gorgeous and the stones will shine and sparkle from every facet as light catches each perfectly polished angle. Once you determine what shape to choose, the next thing to think about is the quality of the stones that will fit into your budget and needs. since diamond studs are worn on the ears they do not require the same “highest” quality standards that one might expect or demand from lets say an engagement ring.

QUALITY

Most people are not going to pull someone’s earlobe to get a closer inspection of the quality of their diamond studs. An individual who has a 2 carat vs1 engagement ring might be completely happy with a nice pair of i1 good color diamond studs. To better understand this we must first learn a little bit about what the jewelry industry calls the “4c’s“” of diamond quality. To see in depth the details of stone qualities and how they compare to each other each other click the link for the “4c’s”.

The range of I1-I2 with a color no higher then K is sufficient for most consumers. When deciding upon the quality, always strive for better color then for higher clarity. Our eyes always decipher color before we see details. Be it a red stop sign or an orange highway construction sign, we always see color first. Even to the eye, the difference actually visible between the clarities of 1-1 to SI1 and above is indiscernible. On the other hand a J-K color stone vs a F-G color is easily noticeable in normal light.

Once you determine the correct quality and price point you have budgeted, the last things you have to consider are the mounting type, metal color, and setting type. Princess setting are mostly 4 prong, while round studs usually offer 2 types of mountings. Most popular recently are 3 prong martini cup settings, which allow the full beauty and size to be shown by minimal amount of metal covering the front of the stone. Martini cup settings also allow for the stone to sit closer to the earlobe thus preventing “drooping” due to large stones in 4 prong mountings setting to far away from the earlobe and causing them to tilt downward. Studs can also be ordered with push-backs that allow for easy on and off, or the more secure “screw-backs” that use actual threaded nuts to securely hold your precious gems in place. The newest feature offers a hybrid back that can be pushed on but must be screwed off to remove.

PRICING:

Because of the great quality differences available and the pricing differences between brick and mortar stores vs. the Internet, make sure to do your research before buying.
Obviously the best pricing will be found on the Internet since their cost of doing business doesn’t require an expensive corner location in a mall. When purchasing from the Internet make sure to compare a few sites for pricing vs. quality. Ask yourself the simple questions listed below to insure that your chances of receiving the best product for the best price are realized.

1. How long has the website been in business?
2. Are they accredited by well-known organizations like the Better Business Bureau?
3. Do they offer a no questions asked 30-day return policy?
4. What do they charge for shipping? Many offer free shipping with each purchase.
5. Do they have a toll free number to contact a live person if you need help?
6. Are there customer testimonials on their site?
7. Do they offer a secure shopping experience while on their site? Are Verisign or thwate certificates used to ensure your personal information is secure?
8. Are they members of a shopping rating site like bizrate for people to review?
9. Do they incorporate the latest hacker safe site testing daily?
10. Do they offer a certificate program for diamonds purchased? If so is it from accredited organizations such as International Gemological Institute (IGI), Gemological Institute of America (GIA), American Gem Society (AGS) If not do they unconditionally guarantee and stand by their quality?
11. Do they offer a lifetime trade up policy that will give you full value for your studs if you are purchasing a larger pair from them?

Once you answer these questions and the site seems to pass most of them then it’s just a matter of deciding which site to purchase from. Although the Internet seems proliferated with everyone selling everything from apples to zebras, there are a few well-known jewelry sites that offer outstanding quality and prices along with excellent customer service. To mention a few Blue Nile, Box 888, Mondera, Randolph James, James Allen, Precious Glow, Diamond Jewelry Masters and of course major retailers like ZALES, Kays, or Glimmer Rocks.

Remember that your hardest choice, the shape, is probably the only thing that will be a challenge to see if you get it right. If you have paid attention to hints, comments, and other subtle suggestions that she has projected your way, then most likely your purchasing experience will be a successful one.

Please post any comments or questions and we will quickly respond.