Jordan Weds BIG as Ever in Palm Beach, 1000+ Guests, 40,000 Sq. Feet

It's no surprise when Michael Jordan does something, he goes big! On April 27th, the long time NBA legend married his long time girlfriend of 5 years, Cuban model Yvette Prieto, in a lavish Palm Beach style wedding.

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Fabulous 23 Dinner Jordan Brand, Dallas

Over 300 people joined them in holy matrimony at the Palm Beach Bethesda By Sea Episcopal Church, followed by a 1,000+ reception at the exclusive Bears Club in Jupiter, Florida. Guests Included Scottie and Larsa Pippen, Tiger Woods, Usher, and K-Jon, who performed for the event his song, "On the Ocean," for the couple's first dance.

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In 2008, Michael, 50, first met Prieto, 35, in a nightclub, after the beauty caught his eye on the dance floor. They boogied together that night and the rest was history!

The Bride wore a gorgeous cathedral train classic, made of French silk voile, handmade with Swarovski crystals, by J'Aton.

"Her style is feminine classic, with a twist of Palm beach flare," an insider said.

Prieto, chose her bridesmaids to wear lilac colored dresses, and the reception was filled with crystal chandeliers, warm candles, white roses, peonies, and decadent shades of purple.

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The best man Scottie Pippen and wife Larsa
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The Reception included over 1000 guests in the exclusive Bear Club, Jupiter, Fl
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Rumored to cost in the millions for the event, the couple spared no expense in celebrating their nuptials in style, as the groom arrived in a $500,000 White Rolls Royce.

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"Yvette Prieto's Engagement Ring and Wedding band are a force to be reckoned with as I am estimated her rock to be at least 10 carats! Many celebrities are pairing their bling with simple bands, like the one Jordan gave her in a thin double shank diamond wedding band for added extra style. Many of today's fashionable diamond buyers are donning for large special shapes in Emerald or Cushion Cuts for added elegance!"

-Daniella Francesco

Gretchen Rossi of RHOOC Ready To Marry Slade In A 4 Carat Canary Yellow Diamond!

In this month's issue of Life & Style Magazine,  The Real Housewives Of Orange County blond cast mate Gretchen Rossi, revealed to readers she was ready to wed by surprising her beau of 4 years Slade Smiley, with a black diamond and gold band, popping the question untraditionally on top an L.A. AT&T building.

"I don't do anything by the book," Gretchen told fans, "It was a really emotional moment!"

Both ready to commit, the couple made headlines last week when Smiley announced he had a surprise of his own, when he presented Rossi with her own 4 carat Fancy Yellow Round Diamond Ring set in a Halo style mounting designed at Newport Jewelers. 

It's no secret these days that Fancy Colored Diamonds are in as celebrities and stylists are all jumping into making jewelry purchases that just make sense investment wise. Who wouldn't want to wear a fabulous custom diamond piece only to know that they made a wise choice and return on investment?

Lebish Polnauer, president and founder of an Israeli- based fancy colored diamond company, said late last year in a statement, "A five-carat fancy yellow diamond increased in value by 180 percent from 2001 to 2011. Compare that to Berkshire Hathaway stock, which increased by 52 percent for that 10 year period.. and Coca Cola, which grew 42.5%"

Gretchen Rossi's Yellow Diamond engagement ring is probably worth in the neighborhood hood of $15,000-$20,000 per carat, depending on the saturation of the Canary color. Her bling probably will continue to rise in value over the years. For this particular Diamond, the shape actually plays a role, as it is tougher to find Yellow Diamonds in this size in a round shape, making the ring even more valuable.

Diamonds Shapes that are cut to keep color inside more saturated are Radiants and Cushions. When they are cut this way, the Diamond facets actually draw in more density in color. When you have a round cut Diamond, the color is the diamond actually bleeds outs more. Which is why most people who buy white diamonds prefer traditional round, because the facet pattern allows light to travel in and out for a nice, bright, shiny, look.

The fact that Smiley bought Rossi a Round Cut Fancy Yellow Diamond, is a great thing to add to the value of her stone. This means the Yellow color was fierce enough on the inside of the Diamond that even though it was cut in a Round Shape, it didn't affect the overall saturation in color!

Great investment In The O.C.!

-Daniella Francesco

New Record Price Fetched For Exotic Blue Diamond By Bulgari

It's the hottest thing in investments among the well heeled, wall street kids, and savvy business entrepreneurs with their hands on the pulse: Fancy Colored Diamonds.

On Wednesday, Graff Diamonds set their sights on a 5.30 carat Fancy Deep Blue Diamond by Bulgari..and won. After a competitive and heated 10 minute auction in central London at the Bonham's fine jewellery sale, the rare gem was closed at it's top bid of $1.8 million dollars per carat, for a total price fetch of US $9.54 million.

Right now the researched investor knows, that fancy colored diamonds are a hot ticket tangible investment, toppling paper stock portfolio and real estate returns by whopping 80%-218% returns per year.

Bidder's from the U.S., Middle East, and Europe all took part in the battle of the Prized Blue Diamond with more then 20 phone lines ringing off the hook during the intense auction, but Lawrence Graff took hold of the cushion shaped diamond which is dubbed as being "one of the rarest Diamond colors in the world."

Matthew Girling, chief executive of Bonhams UK and Europe, said: "It's the loveliest blue diamond I have ever seen."

The ring, thought to have been made in 1965, features the gorgeous cushion-shaped diamond set horizontally.

Bulgari's diamond house and jewel collection has been a favorite of the Hollywood elites since the early 1960's, when the Italian designer broke through. The 5.30 carat 'fancy' blue diamond has been set in a Trombino ring, which is a set of round brilliant cut diamonds around the blue stone and baguette cut diamonds cascading down the shank.


"Blue diamonds are structurally very pure and account for fewer than 1% of all diamonds mined,"
Jean Ghika, director of Bonhams jewellery department for Europe, said: "We are delighted with the price it has made. It was a sensational stone which charmed everyone who viewed it prior to the sale."

Fancy colored diamonds are more rare then white diamonds, for the most part, depending on their saturation in color, and shade of color. Reds, Pinks, and Blues have usually toppled the charts and from the history of these investments in the last 10 years, it looks like Fancy Colored Diamond Investments are here to stay, with the rarity in the gems being something tangible that just simply cannot be re-created easily like a new stock option or piece of a company. For some, they are priceless, for many they are a gem, but for the complete "in the know investor", they are a must among one's portfolio today.

-Daniella Francesco