The Bigger Shame: Britney Spears's New Album Is Horrible or the Fact She's Wearing David Yurman in Promoting Said?

Check out my glorious jewelry.
Pay no attention to my criminally-bad music.

So Britney Spears's new album Britney Jean, which critics have nigh universally panned, dropped on December 3. My question to you, dear reader, is this:

What's the bigger shame: that this album is a mess of filler and overproduced dreck or the fact that Brit Brit is donning DY in the promotion of said mess? At the end of the proverbial day, what is, to you, worse: the production of bad music or the cheapening of a stately luxury brand? 

The Made-in-China Controversy Continues: DY Gets Called out on Facebook

It's no secret that David Yurman produces a portion of its jewelry in China. I reported on this empirical fact back in April of this year. Still, when an individual publicly confronts the company on the matter with a tone resolutely accusatory, one cannot help but take notice.

A week and a half ago, Facebook user Jenny Flowers posted this message to David Yurman's wall:

Why the New DavidYurman.com Is a Beautiful Disaster

If you're reading this blog, chances are you've already visited the new DavidYurman.com. The site underwent an interface and online store reboot back in mid-October, and yes, the new site layout and product images are, well, beautiful. Let me ask you a question, though: Have you attempted a purchase using the new checkout system? If so, I'm sorry. I bought over this past weekend, and let me tell you what: The experience was bewildering at best, frustrating at worst.

BEAUTIFUL

Yes, the new site design stuns, but enter the checkout process at your own risk because, at the time of writing, it is a...

David Yurman 'Buzzes' Carbon Fiber on Facebook

David Yurman published this promotional image (see below) to its Facebook page this afternoon, which features pieces from the company's new Carbon Fiber Collection for men:

The DY Carbon Fiber Collection:
Available Now Coming Soon Coming Eventually

(Image Credit: Facebook.com)

A shortened URL accompanying the image, leading this DY fanatic to assume (giddily) the product was now "live" on DavidYurman.com, but alas, clicking through takes one to a "New Designs, New Materials" page on the site on which the items are (drat!) missing.

Oh, DY's social media team, how you do toy with my emotions. I wanted (expected?) item descriptions, price points, and hi-res studio shots. Instead, I was left with the ability to purchase Griffin (and you know already my thoughts on that collection.) Harumph. I'm going to go stew for a while. You know where to find me. (On the couch in the other room, compulsively reloading DavidYurman.com.)

DYguy out.

Evan Yurman Made Chief Design Director at David Yurman

David Yurman (left) with son Evan (right) at the David Yurman 

Meteorite Launch Event on October 3, 2013 in New York City. 

(Image Credit: BFA NYC)

WWD reported this morning that Evan Yurman, the thirty-one-year-old son of parents David (72) and Sybil, will now oversee all design at the high-end jewelry company, signaling a promotion for Evan from "heir apparent" to "heir actual." This post will be updated should details, which are scant at this time, emerge.

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Five: The Pinky Ring

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His fifth and final pick, which is his "best overall" for the season in general, is the pinky ring, a look that DYguy maintains "brilliantly offsets yet reinforces one's masculinity."

From DYguy:  The pinky ring is here to stay, and I love what it says about its wearer, which is, essentially, this: "The man's a bad ass." After all, who else is confirmed enough in his identity and masculinity to adorn his daintiest of fingers? My advice to all gentlemen out there is to "man up" this season and rock this devil-may-care look, which I consider to be one of the subversive and edgy in jewelry today.

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Four: Meteorite

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His fourth pick, which is for the new year of 2014, is meteorite, a stone which recently secured its very own collection at David Yurman.

From DYguy:  Put simply, meteorite ravishes the eye. Its crystal structure lures, intrigues, and stimulates. No other exotic stone in my collection has garnered more compliments from friends, acquaintances, and colleagues alike. There is no better way to start a new year than by putting your best foot forward, and that "foot" in men's jewelry is undeniably meteorite.

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Three: Cognac Diamond

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His third pick, which is for the winter holidays, is cognac diamond, DYguy's longtime preference over white diamond (and even more so over black).

From DYguy:  White diamonds, while undeniably stunning in their light refraction, can give off what sometimes seems a cold light. Not so with cognac diamonds from David Yurman. These gems, whose hue conjures sunsets and lazy summer afternoons, provide one with a visual escape from the greys, whites, and blacks of the winter months (not to mention their inherent color warmth complements just about any holiday party ensemble).

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Two: Ironwood

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His second pick, which is for the months of November and December, is Ironwood, a collection to which DYguy warmed slowly.

From DYguy:  Ironwood didn't have me at hello... or at second hello... or third. The collection has won me over, however, and I'm now one of its most ardent defenders. The pieces are superbly styled, lightweight, and to my deep satisfaction, patina beautifully. I've made Ironwood my November-December pick because what better time of the year is there to wear jewelry exuding a wood grain motif than when, with the coming of winter, the inherent woodiness of trees is made bare? 

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick One: Dino Bone

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His first pick, which is for the months of October and November, is dino bone, a surprising selection given DY no longer designs with the stone.

From DYguy:  Dino bone, though discontinued, is not just a stone for fall, it is the stone for fall. Its magnificent burnt orange color conjures turning foliage, and nearly all the pieces into which it is set are statement pieces, which I love to don in fall, a time of the year when even nature exhibits a flair for the dramatic. Oh, and just because a DY design is discontinued does not mean one cannot get the look. The DY outlet in Sunrise, FL (954.838.9979) still offers much dino bone (and at reduced prices!).

On the Horizon: A New Website for DY?

On Friday, @IntiGalaxy posted this (see above) to Twitter, making me wonder if DavidYurman.com will be receiving soon another enhancements upgrade (its checkout system was recently updated) or an entire redesign. (The tweet does say "[a] brand new website," which suggests the latter.) Either way, I'm not surprised DY wants to make adjustments to its site's interface. Check out the screen captures below, and you'll see why (and perhaps experience a touch of deja vu). I guess both jewelry makers bought the same layout package or employed the same designer? Either way, it's time for DY to step out with an original, proprietary interface, methinks.

That's all for now; DYguy out.

A Tease of New-for-Fall-'13 Pave Phantom for Men

Helping us out, @gregmaczko posted this (see below) to Instagram this evening, giving a glimpse at David Yurman's latest men's collection, which is kind of new, kind of resurrected and features color-change garnet set in black titanium.

Image Credit: @gregmaczko (Instagram)

Are these designs available now online? ...Are you kidding me? Much to my our mutual frustration, not a single piece from the F/W '13-14 men's line has debuted on DavidYurman.com. As evidenced by this 'gram, however, the pieces are available in the Nashville boutique, whose telephone number is 615.298.1190. (Yes, I had that on file.) Give 'em a ring, and surely they'll be happy to Fed-Ex one of these beauties to you.

That's all for now, dear reader. DYguy out.

Five Questions about the Lance Bass Ring-with-a-Ding Hubbub

So in case you haven't been keeping up with your Lance Bass news (I only sort of fault you for this), the former popstar is now engaged to his boyfriend of almost two years, Michael Turchin. Evidently Turchin said yes on Sunday, September 1, as that is the date on which Bass posted this Instagram:

Image Credit: @LanceBass (Instagram)

Two days later, @DavidYurman posted this (see below) on Twitter:

You see, a source told People Magazine Bass "went to three stores and couldn't find anything [ring-wise]" until, at Saks Fifth Avenue, "[h]e saw a David Yurman ring, and he knew that was the one...." Well, of course, @DavidYurman had to reach out publicly once this (soft) news broke.

Only the story doesn't end there. Yesterday afternoon, Bass responded to @DavidYurman's tweet with the following:

Feast Your Eyes on David Yurman's Regal Willow Collection -- Images, Video (Updated)

At an inconveniently late hour on a Friday night, Twitter user @peterjprins posted a link to a site on which a David Yurman Willow Collection promotional video had been uploaded. The clip, which is 2:11 in length and classic Yurman in aesthetic, is everything the F/W '13-14 campaign videos should have been and more. Beguiling, seductive, and characteristically artful, it is not to be missed. Click through for additional screen captures and a link to the clip.

At Last, a David Yurman F/W '13-14 Men's Collection Preview (Now with Tag Necklaces!)

Late last night Instagram user @burniebear shared these (see below) images, which were captured, it seems, at a DY fall preview event at/for Nordstrom Perimeter in Atlanta, Georgia. Revealed are three bracelets and several rings, mostly band-style, from David Yurman's F/W '13-14 Men's Collection. Revel in the artistry. (My impressions are posted as image captions.)

Of the three designs showcased here,
my initial preference is for the middle one,
though I suppose I should see all in their full glory
before making any verdicts.

Hi-Res Photos of New Additions to David Yurman Meteorite Collection Emerge

In a Robb Report sidebar titled "Heaven Sent," the following two high-resolution images of soon-to-be-released pieces from David Yurman's Meteorite Collection were featured. (Do note that the latter was previously teased by Instagram user @gregmaczko.)

Image Credit: RobbReport.com

Get a Glimpse at the David Yurman F/W '13-14 Women's Collection

Instagram user @emilylkane was in Menlo Park, New Jersey earlier today previewing the David Yurman F/W '13-14 Women's Collection and was kind enough to upload for public consumption these collages of sumptuous new product:

I absolutely adore--ADORE--the ring in the middle frame
on the right, which is from, if I'm not mistaken,
the soon-to-be-released Willow Collection.

How to Best Clean David Yurman Jewelry (with Pavé Settings)

Whenever you take jewelry with pavé settings to a David Yurman boutique to have them cleaned, what you receive is a lightning-fast ultrasonic treatment. Your pieces are dipped in water and exposed, only for a moment or two, to a high-frequency wave "bath" through which particulate matter is pulled away. Your jewelry comes back to you looking better but not entirely like new. The approach detailed below, however, gets one markedly better results. Cheap, quick, and easy, this proven-effective treatment (of DYguy's own design) restores David Yurman jewelry with pavé-set gemstones to showcase form. Let's get started.

Dos & Don'ts
The following four-step process was designed for use on/with David Yurman jewelry whose base is primarily sterling silver and which feature pavé-set gemstones, such as rubies, diamonds, or black diamonds. Designer jewelry should be treated with care and cleaned on a regular basis (i.e., once every month or two months, depending on frequency of wear). NEVER use harsh chemicals or silver cleaning solutions and/or dips on David Yurman product and especially not on those boasting inlays, mixed metals, and/or set stones.

Materials
This treatment calls for the following items:
everyday dishwashing liquid (such as Dawn)
a linen dish towel or cloth
a sterling silver polishing cloth (Connoisseurs brand recommended)

How to Best Clean David Yurman Jewelry (without Pavé Settings)

Whenever you take your jewelry to a David Yurman boutique to have it cleaned, what you receive is a simple ultrasonic treatment. Your pieces are dipped in water and exposed to a high-frequency wave "bath" through which particulate matter is pulled away. Your jewelry comes back to you looking better but not like new. The approach detailed below, however, gets one markedly better results. Cheap, quick, and easy, this proven-effective treatment (of DYguy's own design) restores David Yurman jewelry to showcase form. Let's get started.

Dos & Don'ts
The following five-step process was designed for use on/with David Yurman jewelry whose base is primarily sterling silver. Do not complete this procedure on DY pieces with pavé-set gemstones, such as rubies, diamonds, or black diamonds. (Clean these pieces using this alternative system, specifically designed for product with pavé settings.) Designer jewelry should be treated with care and cleaned on a regular basis (i.e., once every month or two months, depending on frequency of wear). NEVER use harsh chemicals or silver cleaning solutions and/or dips on David Yurman product.

Materials
This treatment calls for the following items:
a kitchen bowl
everyday dishwashing liquid (such as Dawn)
a soft-bristled toothbrush (the cheapest available)
a linen dish towel or cloth
a sterling silver polishing cloth (Connoisseurs brand recommended)

What Can't Come Quickly Enough

The store's usually-enticing displays
looked, on this visit, a little rough.

This weekend brought, among others things, a trip to the David Yurman Chicago boutique on Oak Street. While my visit was, overall, a positive one (is it ever not?), it was also, unfortunately, an unremarkable one in three ways, which I will now enumerate below. These are, officially, The Three Things That Can't Come Quickly Enough:

1. Removal of Bündchen, Posting of Upton (or Menghia... or Mali or Hemingway)
Hasn't Fall 2013 launched? Why is an oversize Gisele still featured to the left of the store's front doors? Don't get me wrong; I love the model and her work for DY, but that image is from the Fall 2012 campaign. Out with the old. In with the new, right?

2. Demotion of Griffin Collection
Yes, I solemnly declare I seek the withdrawment of the Griffin line. I've now inspected thoroughly most of the rings in the collection and can say they are as I've all along thought--that is, average at best. Being such, they should not occupy a half of a display case (as they presently do), not in a boutique with only four men's collection cases! According to the sales professional with whom I spoke, the designs are only selling "OK" due to their being crafted for a "very specific customer" and having not all the "kinks [in design] worked out." Enough is enough, I say. Feature one piece--my vote goes to the red jasper signet ring--and place the rest in back stock.

3. Release of New Men's Product
Part of me really believed F/W pieces had debuted, just not online. That part of me was wrong. There are, at this time, no new men's arrivals in the DY boutiques either. And so we continue to wait. I've heard rumblings of a mid-September release. As always, I'll keep you posted.

That's all for now. DYguy over and out.

DY Ay!

Whatever you do,
DO NOT purchase this piece...
at least, not at this MSRP.

While checking the David Yurman e-commerce site this morning in search of new product roll outs (I told you: when they emerge, you'll be the first to know), I noticed this exorbitantly-priced "new arrival"--a sculpted but unadorned sterling silver men's ring from the Armory Collection. The price is, as you can see, an anything-but-reasonable $2800. Now, understanding that some diamond-encrusted DY goes for less than that, I think it is safe to say this is an "oops!" on site management's part... that or this is some very special Ag. (See what I did there? "Ag" is the chemical symbol for silver. Yes, that high-school science comes right back to one, doesn't it?)

Anyway, I'll creep on this product for the next couple days. If there is a drop in the list price, I'll let you know.

UPDATE: While there have been no changes to this product listing on DavidYurman.com, I have received in-boutique confirmation that the lofty price point is intended for a version of this ring that is loaded with black diamonds. The piece pictured here should retail for no more than $300-400.

This Morning: Kate Upton for DY, Tonight: The Rooftop Soiree

Kate Upton for DY

It brings me great pleasure to report the face of David Yurman for fall 2013 is none other than 21-year-old model and actress Kate Upton. These photos (see below) from the soon-to-be-released campaign, which was shot by Peter Lindbergh, were published to Glamour.com this morning:

Kate Upton | Image Credit: Glamour.com

Kate Upton | Image Credit: Glamour.com

Other models featured in the campaign include Dree Hemingway (25), Anais Mali (22), and my personal favorite Catrinel Menghia (27):

Dree Hemingway | Image Credit: Glamour.com

Anais Mali | Image Credit: Glamour.com

Catrinel Menghia | Image Credit: Glamour.com

While these shots represent anything but a departure for DY--they are quintessential Yurman--it is refreshing to see Upton afforded, for once, the dignity she duly deserves. She's been so long objectified in images such as the one below (a cover for men's magazine GQ) that seeing this work for DY might, for some, provide quite the shock.

Kate Upton | Image Credit: onemansblog.com

The Rooftop Soiree

The 2012 Rooftop Soiree and Campaign Video Reveal
Image Credit: houseofharperblog.com

The New York Observer is reporting that tonight David Yurman will hold its Fall 2013 Rooftop Soiree at 24 Vestry Street in New York City from 6:30-8:30 PM. The event, which is invitation-only, represents and signals the kick off of the new season for the company. As photos emerge from the gathering, this entry will be updated to include them. (Oh, and David Yurman, what do you say to an invite next year?) ;)

UPDATE: The soiree is through, but the images keep coming. Here are some of my favorites from this evening's event:

Jason Binn of DuJour.com with the master and his muse
Image Credit: @jasonbinn (Instagram)

Mid-event
Image Credit: @anahitaglitters (Instagram)

Revelers bid adieu to day.
Image Credit: @carolyn_hsu (Instagram)

Darkness falls.
Image Credit: @tristanvalencia (Twitter)

Kate Upton in a little black dress
Image Credit: @DailyFrontRow (Twitter)

A glamified Upton
Image Credit: @carolyn_hsu (Instagram)

And So the Waiting Game Begins...

Fall 2013. It's coming. It's imminent, even. Last year, on August 2, 2012, David Yurman teased its fall campaign. On August 8th, then, the company began releasing images from said campaign. What I'm saying, folks, is that big things are coming, which is why there has been so little to report over the past month and a half or so. The only "news" (if you can call it that) from that period was this: a survey conducted by The Luxury Institute revealed the top three jewelry brands preferred by ultrawealthy women--those with a minimum net worth of $5 million--are, in descending order, most beloved first, Tiffany & Co. (blech), David Yurman (woo!), and Cartier.

And that was it. Then, last week, our friend @gregmaczko posted this to Instagram:

Pictured are soon-to-be-released additions to the men's meteorite line. Greg is especially fond of the rose gold signet ring featured in the bottom frame (and so am I!).

Around the time of Greg's posting, this (see below) hit Twitter:

And so we do just that--we stay tuned. Our feelers are out there. We're standing at attention. The second there is news to report or an update to share, you know, dear reader, I'll be on it for you. Until then, be, live, and work "in perfect harmony." (Yes, that's a reference to DY S/S '13 sub-campaign copy.)

Donning David Yurman: Madonna, Adam Lambert, and Keifer Thompson

Hot days call for haute jewelry, evidently, as recently Madonna, Adam Lambert, and Keifer Thompson (of Thompson Square fame) have all donned David Yurman. Check out their looks in the pics below; the caption for each provides additional details and, if available, product purchase information.

Who: Madonna, The Queen of Pop
What: David Yurman Diamond-and-Onyx Cufflinks
When: Tuesday, June 18
Where: New York premiere of Madonna: The MDNA Tour
Get the Look: Style and Pricepoint Unknown
(There is no hi-res capture of the product worn.)
Image Credit: Madonnarama.com

Who: Adam Lambert, Singer-Songwriter
What: David Yurman Extra-Large Tag
When: Saturday, June 15
Where: Pittsburgh "Pride in the Street" Show
Get the Look: Exotic Stone Pietersite Necklace, $1025
Image Credit: tjr_pics (photobucket)

Who: Keifer Thompson, Half of Country Music Duo Thompson Square
What: David Yurman Wide Black Onyx Three-Sided Ring
When: Tuesday, June 18
Where: Presumably at Home (?)
Get the Look: Exotic Stone Three-Sided Ring, $375
(NOTE: The purchase link above is for the narrow version of Thompson's ring.
The exact style worn by the singer is no longer available online.)
Image Credit: @thompsonsquare (twitter)

Tell me: Who, in your opinion, rocked DY the hardest? Sound off by posting a comment or shooting me an E-mail.

David Yurman Wins Human Spirit Award at Couture 2013

David Yurman at the Couture Awards 2013
(image courtesy of CoutureMusings.com)

The Couture Design Awards 2013 were held Saturday, June 2 at The Wynn in Las Vegas, and the winner of the Human Spirit Award was none other than the one and only Mr. David Yurman.

According to National Jeweler, the distinction is intended, each year, to honor a member of the Couture community who "stands out for exceptional generosity of mind and spirit."

Rapaport News quotes Yurman as saying in his acceptance speech, "I cannot accept this award by myself." He then, evidently, summoned to the stage his wife, Sybil, who he introduced as his love and muse.

Previous winners of the Human Spirit Award include ViewPoint President Jim DeMattei, who won in 2012, and Reinhold President Marie-Helene Morrow, who took home the honor in 2010.

My congratulations go out to Mr. Yurman on his personal win, although I believe congratulations are also in order for the team of professionals behind Yurman, the brand, who uphold every day its founder's high standard of excellence.

David Yurman Releases New S/S '13 Men's Catalog

You have the right (and privilege) to be awed by DY's latest men's collection catalog, which is presently on its way to stores, boutiques, and customers' homes nationwide and also available for online viewing. In this booklet the viewer is treated to another a showcase of dazzling product, more poignant in-line-with-the-DY-lifestyle quotations, and another series of shots featuring Ben Hill, the face of David Yurman Men for two campaigns now. (He was preceded by Jon Kortajarena). See below for screen captures of the digital catalog and profiles of fresh-from-the-studio DY men's product with, of course, my own original commentary (because, yes, I just can't help myself).

The shot on the left is, in my opinion, the most outstanding and memorable from the forty-page booklet. (I'm indifferent to the array of tags and necklaces on the adjacent page.)

Yes, of course the Griffin Collection is featured, and no, it has yet really to grow on me. I do, however, love the Armory cross ring displayed in the shot on the left. Retailing for $395, it is one of the most affordable pieces of Yurman out there.

I had to include this spread. These are the offerings from the catalog I love most of all. Just my luck, though: They are Signature Collection high-jewelry offerings, which means their high style is paired with an equally high price tag. Ah well. The signet piece on the left page with the lines of green color--the stone is opalized wood--will be mine in my dreams, if nowhere else.

Maritime rope design? Check.
1.29 carats of diamonds? Check.
The price? A fair $3900.

This new arrival to DY.com practically
demands to be rocked as a men's
pinky ring. It retails for $295.

Coming Soon: The David Yurman Miniature Pinky Ring for Women

Seeing is believing. @islandfeversisters gave Instagram users yesterday this preview of what is to come from David Yurman. It appears that Waverly rings with colored gems and miniature pinky rings will soon be available. Get your pocketbooks ready, ladies. While price points have yet to be determined, these pretty creations will likely cost an equally pretty penny. I'll update this posting with additional details as they emerge.