Thursday's Chelsea Boots And More

It was hard to pick only one style to feature!

Thursday is the name of a boot company right up THE SAVVY SHOPPER's alley! It's the type of business I love to introduce to my readers. The boot company offers customers the highest quality handcrafted boots at "honest" -- without a doubt, reasonable prices. There are no cutting corners, customers get the best materials available on every Thursday boot or product made. You'll also find comfort, durability, and versatility in their various styles of boots. What you won't find are boots that are made cheap, have poor craftsmanship, or are overpriced. 

Customers pay honest prices for ridiculously comfortable and well-constructed footwear that is incredibly stylish to boot (I couldn't resist the pun:).

Here's how they do it. Thursday Boot Company was launched as a Kickstart campaign in 2014 by Nolan Walsh and Connor Wilson, raising $275,000. There is no middleman. Thursday reinvests what they save by selling directly to customers and putting profits back into premium materials including full-grain leather, supple glove leather linings, and cork bed midsoles for comfort. After launching, word caught on! The company quickly went from selling 1,000 boots per month to 1,000 boots per week.

After succeeding with an array of the highest-quality and chic boots, Thursday expanded into dress shoes, sneakers, jackets, and accessories. Every piece is thoughtfully designed and meticulously tested to be functional and fashionable. 

These full-grain leather boots were made for pounding the concrete pavements of city streets. They won't fall apart after a few wears, after taking a beating, or by getting wet. Thursday's footwear, jackets, and accessories are made for people who live busy dapper lives. There's no compromise between style, quality, or price. 

If Thursday's child has far to go, you can't go wrong wearing Thursday's Chelsea boots for super cuteness.

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Million Dollar Rubies Sold

Imagine owning massive top-quality rubies! Let's take a look at 2 stones sometimes called the king of gems that were sold in 2023. 

First up is The Sunrise Ruby, a rare Cartier Burmese ruby, set with 2 side diamonds in a platinum ring. Last year it was sold at auction by Christie's from the estate of Austrian billionaire Heidi Horten for $13,055,000, less than predicted due to a bit of controversy that is unrelated to the gemstone's origin. In 2015 Ms. Horten paid $30,300,000 for the ruby. According to Christie's, the price was higher in 2015 due to the back and forth of 2 bidders at the time.

Below👇are different angles of the cushion shape, brilliant cut Sunrise Ruby. It weighs 25.59 carats.

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Mozambique, a country in Southeastern Africa, is emerging as a rich source of premium-quality rubies. Our 2nd gemstone is a Mozambique ruby that fetched $34,800,000 at Sotheby's last year, setting a new record for the price of a ruby. 

Called the Estrela de Fura (Porchugese for Star of Fura) Ruby, at 101 carats uncut, it's both the largest gem-quality ruby ever found, as well as, the highest price ever paid at auction! Cut down to 55.22 carats by gem dealer and cutter Francois Garaude into a cushion shape, this stunning ruby bears remarkable symmetry and balance. It is gigantic, unheated, and clean making it a rare natural ruby. The ruby's pigeon blood color is equal to the celebrated Burmese rubies. Under ultraviolet light, the Estrela de Fura ruby radiates a strong fluorescence. 

In addition to oohing and ahhing, all I can say is a regular person's rubies are very small and flat in comparison!😊

BTW, The Sunrise and Estrela de Fura rubies were acquired by anonymous private collectors. The new owner of Ms. Horten's ruby lives in the Middle East. I always hope these huge ideal gemstones eventually end up in a museum so the public too can see them.

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And now here are jewels for average people like you and me. 😛 

Below👇are smaller, less-perfect rubies from Macy's or Saks. Perhaps not heirloom nuggets, yet they are pretty too, no? Each piece is 1-9/10 carats, a versatile size that can be worn both daily and to galas ... and the cost is more attainable. Remember my motto: First a dreamer, then a realist!

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Georgous Ruby Jewelry But Small & Pricey

I've had my eye on these Effy rubies and diamonds in 14k rose gold hoops selling on Macy's website for a while because they're classic and gorgeous! I love the rose gold and baguette-cut rubies sandwiched between 2 lines of small round diamonds. But because of the small size of the earrings (mentioned in the reviews) compared to the relatively high price, I don't think we're getting enough for our money even when they go on sale. It isn't the greed of Macy's or Effy (the vendor) in particular that I fault for being so costly. Universally across different retailers, we are now charged more for less than substantial pieces of jewelry. Why?

Lali Jewels (left) and LeVian (right)

Gem-quality rubies (and red gemstones in general) are rarer in nature, therefore rubies tend to cost more per carat than sapphires or diamonds. (Gem-quality emeralds are even rarer so cost more per carat than rubies, sapphires, and diamonds.)

Le Vian (left) and Effy (right)

To be called a ruby the corundum (stone) must be red. Frankly, some of these ruby stones I'm featuring on the blog look more like pink sapphires online, but perhaps they are darker in the retail store? To recite an industry saying, "It's a pink sapphire if you're the buyer and a ruby if you're the seller." Both can be lovely gemstones, just be sure the price matches its color!

The jewelry featured in today's post is beyond cute and so tempting, especially near Valentine's Day. I just can't believe the steep prices of over $1,000 for such slight pieces!😳

Why has dainty jewelry gotten so expensive? One reason is the price of gold is higher so now we're asked to pay through the nose for flimsy pieces of jewelry!

Is it worth it? People must decide for themselves, but if I saved up weeks of salary in exchange for tiny earrings or a thin ring, I'd be disappointed after opening the box regardless of how pretty the design is. Perhaps I'd feel somewhat taken, and clearly, I'd feel I could do more with the money elsewhere.

Macy's in-house brand (left) and Lali Jewels (right)

One way to lower the cost of fine jewelry is to find pieces in 925 sterling silver instead of 14k or 18k gold, suitable for earrings, necklaces, also rings, and bracelets you don't wear daily, i.e., jewelry you don't bang around. Like gold, silver is a precious metal yet softer than gold. I own 2 pairs of earrings (10'' round freshwater pearls and 4-carat lab-grown white sapphires with silver posts. Each durable pair costs under $100.)

Even freshwater pink pearls with tiny marquise-shaped pink tourmaline earrings (below↓) are pricey! Some people love delicate jewelry, but how much are customers willing to pay for it?

Macy's in-house brand (left) and LeVian (right) - all the jewelry is sold on Macy's website

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Friends, is love ... as in the love of gold jewelry blind? Nowadays are you buying or passing on fine jewelry?🤔

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Trendy Rapunzel Hair 2024

 

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Golden Hair

Have you noticed how long celebrities are wearing their hair lately? I've noticed the trend for several months on actresses of all ages. Sunday's Golden Globes showcased both beautiful gowns and extremely long locks. The hair of some attendees is so thick and long they must be wearing hair extensions and/or hair pieces. Call me naive but it was only after the death of Michael Jackson in 2009 that I caught on to the fact that show biz people wear hair extensions and pieces, as well as, false eyelases, and their lush hair and eyelashes are often not natural. Before my epiphany, I never really thought about it.

Recent photos of Brooke Shields, Rosamund Pike, Amy Adams, and Rihanna. Globe photos: Top - Jennifer Lawrance, Bottom - Taylor Swift and Margot Robbie

Occasionally I've sported long locks myself, and I know longer hair tends to be easy to style, but you spend more time conditioning it to maintain its health and luster. I also kept it trimmed for a clean line free of split ends.

Although I've had long hair, it's never been Rapunzel length which I think is rarely possible without the help of hair extensions, not to mention stylists and a slew of hair products and accessories.

Soon after this (not the greatest quality) photo was taken, I cut my hair to shoulder length. Shoulder-length hair isn't necessarily easier to maintain, but it is lighter, bouncer, and you don't find long strands of hair all over your home -- the annoyance and reason I usually cut it shorter. Argh, I've never had hair any longer than in this photo.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Elle magazine

What do you think of the trendy very long Rapunzel hair length in the media? Stylish or too much of a good thing?

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Diamond Accent Flower Studs

A YouTube luxury influencer, Sophie Shohet, whom I sometimes watch, showed a pair of diamond accent flower stud earrings on her channel that looks familiar. I also own a pair in the same style. Her diamond accent flower studs are ruby stones and likely 18K gold. My studs are sapphires in 14K gold. Hers were designed by her jeweler. I got my earrings at Macy's Herald Square in the mid-1980s. In fact, I'm wearing the earrings in the small blogger photo over on the sidebar.👉

I bought sapphire diamond accent flower studs on an entry-level salary and over the years, I have really gotten my money's worth wearing the classic style of earrings (sometimes daily). IMHO they are as beautiful and elegant as diamond stud earrings, with an ample effect for less moola. ↖Over to the right is a similar pair sold by Macy's today.

I'm glad I bought my earrings years ago as they cost 4 times more now (because the price of gold went up) and as much as I love them the price is (arguably too?) steep now! I'd wait for one of Macy's best sales to lower the cost, or I'd consider buying the earrings in sterling silver (still a precious metal) with the choice of ruby or sapphire stones.

Jewelry was always a splurge but sadly it's getting harder to find substantial gold pieces worthy of the much higher price tag of today.

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Is Jewelry A Waste Of Money?

Photo: Graff - High Jewelry can hold its value if one is rich enough to buy (and insure) it.

Jewelry is an over-priced luxury item I can appreciate. I like leather bags, shoes, and clothes, but I love jewelry😍. Yet due to the great expense, I'm more of a browser than a buyer. First a dreamer then a realist I like to say! I can't afford the big flawless stones that cost 5 or 6 zeros. They're gorgeous and frankly, the cut, carat, color, and clarity I really want! Suffice it to say, I understand the appeal and the temptation, so I may be the perfect person to answer the question: Is jewelry a waste of money?

Photo: Brilliant Earth

In purely a practical sense, the answer is yes! Absolutely! 100%!! Waste. Of. Money!!! Jewelry is always a luxury item and never (or rarely) an investment. We don't need it, we buy it because we want it, but aside from aesthetics, it really serves no pragmatic purpose.

By limiting the supply of diamonds and clever marketing to create high demand {with its famous "A diamond is forever" 1947 slogan), DeBeers, the then monopoly diamond seller, was able to hike up the price of diamonds even though the stones are not rare, but quite common in nature. The high demand and high prices for diamonds are still with us today. Lab-grown diamonds will likely continue to lower their costs in the future.

Photo: Macy's

But it's not just diamonds, the markup on all fine jewelry is significant, however as soon as it leaves the jewelry store, and you own it, the jewelry loses its value. If you try to resale a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or ring, you'll rarely get what you paid for the jewelry. At best, the same jeweler who sold you the piece may offer you its wholesale price. What's more, to recoup a decent percentage of your money, you better be re-selling high-quality jewelry, i.e., flawless stones with substantial, perhaps 18k gold. There's no guarantee you'll walk away with a profit, and certainly not enough of a profit to rebuy the jewelry again. The rare exception is high jewelry (↑top image), as opposed to mid-priced jewelry. There are always high rollers with excessive disposable income looking for top-of-the-line high jewelry. High jewelry (including celebrity-auctioned estate jewelry) is its own niche. Average earners can't afford it.

 

Reselling expensive watches such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, or Tudor Pelagos can also exceed their original value if kept in like new condition (minus scratches) because enough people with deep pockets like to wear these luxury watch brands. 

Photo: Baby Gold

As it turns out, the skimpy a/k/a dainty or light chains, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings are harder to resale at a profit due to less precious metal, demand, and their averageness. To boot, shoppers of 2nd hand markets expect to score bargains.

The true value of jewelry is its beauty along with its sentimental value. A little glitter can complete or add pizzazz to an outfit. Sparkle can make us happy or remind us of the person who gave us a lovely gift out of love ... which is not a waste of money. 

I'd never discourage anyone from buying fine jewelry ... a few curated pieces (within your budget) as things of beauty. Adding some flash to your life should make you feel happy. Just don't tell yourself it's an investment.

Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels 

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#Short: Bad Bunny's Dark and Sparkly Style

Last night Saturday Night Live's host and musical guest, Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) caught my eye with his dark and sparkly style during his performance of the song, Monaco.

His latticework vest made of glittering crystals against his black long-sleeved top and smooth, black, leather, boot-cut pants stood out. The pants were fitted and cozy, as opposed to foolishly tight. 

Then I wondered about his shoes. They were causal smart, black leather boots with pointy (?), narrow toes, and thick elevated heels.

It's a no-brainer, I loved his drop diamond earrings which you can see, as well as, his bracelets and rings which you can't see in the posted photos (but could on a big television screen).

No element was overdone. With the perfect ratio of dark to shimmer, the rapper has an edgy and glamorous style that is Savvy Shopper approved! Not saying Bad Bunny needs my approval, but Savvy Shopper-admired doesn't have the same ring to it, (and spell-check keeps correcting it to the former anyway:). Now where on planet earth can we get Bad Bunny's vest!?!

What's your favorite piece of Bad Bunny's ensemble? 

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Diamond Prices Are Crashing

Photo: istock

As much as I love jewelry I've always known the price of gemstones is arbitrary to a great extent. Jewelry is as much of an overpriced luxury item as Hermes handbags, Manolo Blahnik shoes, or Dior pants and coats. They cost what consumers are willing to pay for them. Never think of luxury items as investments but to be enjoyed as things of beauty only. The value of luxury goods is driven by want not need. If you covet investments, take your money to an investment firm to buy stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, where you'll earn returns on your portfolio. You're lucky to break even by reselling luxury goods after you subtract a 15% - 20% commission.

Photo: That Guy Osiris - I'll take them!

So I'm happy to report an exciting development in the diamond market! In 2023 diamond prices are tumbling down -- about 23% for 1-carat stones and about 15% for 3-carat stones -- according to experts who watch diamond prices such as That Guy Osiris, an ex-diamond trader who has a YouTube channel. 

The reasons for the decline in diamond prices are several: 

(1) Monopoly diamond sellers such as DeBeer aren't as powerful as they once were in setting diamond prices high combined with limiting the supply of gemstones on the market. 

Photo: istock

(2) Nowadays the demand for diamonds is less. Not every bride in 2023 desires an engagement ring. Some wish to put their $7,000 - $15,000 earnings elsewhere such as for a downpayment on a house or car. Millennials are more interested in spending on travel and experiences than buying diamond rings.

(3) A main reason why the price of diamonds is sinking is the greater acceptance by the public of lab-grown diamonds which cost about 1/3 less than diamonds mined in nature. Diamonds created in a lab are chemically and optically identical to natural diamonds.

(4) The process of making laboratory diamonds is getting better and cheaper all the time, and more companies including jeweler James Allan are offering them. According to Liberum Capital Markets, about 25% to 35% of diamonds sold to customers today are lab-grown diamonds.

Photo: That Guy Osiris

5) That Guy Osiris says that industry leader DeBeers is responding by discounting its prices for 2 - 4 carat rough natural diamonds. Recently prices for uncut natural diamonds have dropped from $1,400 a carat to $850 per carat to be competitive with lab-grown diamonds.

All of this is a win, win, win for customers! If diamond prices keep falling, one day I'll be able to afford my fantasy 4-carat stud diamond earrings (that's 2-carats each ear, sister!!), my 20-carat diamond blingy tennis bracelet, and my 5-carat diamond solitaire ring ... no engagement needed!

Diamonds By Bonnie - has an Instagram and a YouTube Channel

I don't care one iota about the lesser monetary value of lab or natural stones as long as I'm not charged for it. Just give this glitter-loving girl her diamonds! I'll start with that big brilliant round diamond at the top of the blog and the pear-shaped diamond ring at the bottom! We can add my fantasy diamonds to my collection later.😉😂

If in the future diamonds cost less, would you value them less?

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