When Reboots Go Bad

This is how I've felt for much of yesterday after spending about 6 hours trying to renew SSL certificates....thanks so much Go Daddy for making it all a seamless integration, not.
Now my home computer has issues and unlike my business, I don't have a personal 'tech guy' on call. I can either spend an hour or so solving my problems, or go to the gym. At this point I'm opting for my ipod and the treadmill.
What do you do when you have a computer glitch?
Do you have your own personal 'tech guy' to solve your computer problems for you?

Savvy Shopping - A Father's Day Suggestion For What Was The Sexiest Man Alive

Is this what happens to the Sexiest Man Alive after he signs on to raise a brood of 6 kids?

I think that Angelina needs spiff him up a bit by buying him this little black diamond wedding band for a Father's Day gift with a minute amount of her earnings from SALT.

Black Diamond Band Designed by Bez Ambar $2550 (retail $9,800)

Angelina, just gets better and better.

Perhaps she should have a few more kids.

Savvy Shopping For Father's Day - Gold Coin Cufflinks

After Admiral Cod's schooling of Tessa Scoffs on the correct wearing of cufflinks, and reading her response, I started to ponder on the perfect present for Father's Day. Why not some gold coin cufflinks?

because gold is good
and French History is interesting
why not combine the two with these

French Antique Gold Coin Cuff Links

These cufflinks feature antique Turn of the Century French 20 Centime gold coins from 1904 and 1905, respectively. The front is marked by the famed female profile of Marianne the symbol of France, crowned with laurels, and the words "Republique Francaise." and the reverse has the proud rooster of France and the famous "Liberte Egalite Fraternite."

Whether a cyclical return of a trend or a result of the recession, ancient coin and gold coin jewelry is in high demand. I will post more about this trend later.

Beladora is ELLEated to be in ELLE Magazine

We are so happy to see some Beladora bangles and other vintage estate jewelry in the June 2010 issue of ELLE Magazine.

This Lapis and Gold Bangle Bracelet,

which is a work of art in terms of its design and construction, was one of the featured pieces.

Ironically, we just happened to have this bangle in our case in Las Vegas and it got a lot of attention.

The View From Vegas

It is so good to finally be home after the Las Vegas show.
Like any trade show, from any industry,
it all tends to get a bit tedious after a few days. But I must admit that I did enjoy staying at the Bellagio because the view is so expansive that it was relaxing just to look out the window

especially after spending all day long looking at cases like thisand this

where you must look with a very critical eye in order to hone in on exactly what you are seeking to buy.

After studying row after row of cases holding individual items of some exquisite and not so exquisite estate jewelry...you can be visually overwhelmed.

Happily it was all worth it because Beladora.com bought some beautiful estate jewelry.

You will be wanting to check out the What's New and the Signed Designer Jewelry pages on Beladora in the next couple of weeks as we upload our new Buccellati, Chanel, Cartier, Van Cleef, David Webb, Oscar Heyman and Cathy Waterman jewelry.

Then after standing up all day and schmoozing with the dealers...and then waiting for a cab in the 110 degree heat, it was nice to get back to the Bellagio and to sit down at Petrossian for a little aperitif.

And dinner at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Prime Steakhouse, which was waaaay better than Michael Mina. I can even overlook the fact that they served almost raw foie gras, then proceeded to explain to me how foie gras was supposed to be cooked, as if I didn't know. But overall the meal was delicious and the restaurant was full, because apparently there is no recession when you are in Las Vegas.

BTW, Jean-Georges Vongerichten has a blog. That chef is busy!

After dinner it was the Fontana Patio for cognac & cigars. The Bellagio pond looks peaceful in this photo but it was actually really raucous because the famous fountain show goes off about every 10 minutes and lasts for something like 10 minutes. Still, it was so nice after being indoors all day long to sit outside and thanks to Fontana hostess Jing, we got great table every night.

(Can I just say that after staying at the Bellagio for 5 years in a row, the service is excellent. There are employees that recognize me, even though I'm only there for a few days each year, like John at Sensei. Seriously, how amazing is that with all of the thousands of people who stay at that hotel?)

Finally, after being surrounded by crowds all day long it was just so nice to get back to my room and to appreciate the view of Las Vegas but without all the people and noise.