Gearing up for a test run

Hello again, it's Michelle Graff, National Jeweler diamond editor and world's most inconsistent (but, in my defense, extremely busy) blogger.

In my last blog posting back in February, I did a roundup of the many varied and somewhat ridiculous diamond products now on the market.

Since that time, diamond manufacturers haven't disappointed.

There's the diamond-encrusted mouse figurine from Diamond Trading Co. sightholder Lazare Kaplan.
According to press reports, The Mouse, as it is creatively named, was going to be auctioned off in Malaysia, with bids starting at $20,000 for the 12.36-carat figurine. The Mouse is a display piece that doubles as a brooch and is made using 563 round diamonds, as well as pink diamonds on the rodent's ears, feet and the tip of its tail.

It's 18-karat yellow gold with a silver base and has been dubbed, "the world's largest diamond mouse," as if there were a number of contenders vying for this title. Imagine how quickly the world's largest diamond-studded elephant or blue whale would trump The Mouse.

In addition to The Mouse, I've found the perfect use for the $20,000 iPhone case I blogged about back in February: storing the world's most expensive iPhone.

Priced at $176,400 and designed by Austrian jeweler Peter Aloisson, the iPhone Princess Plus is studded with 318 diamonds weighing 17.75 carats and has an 18-karat gold rim.

Alas, a Russian businessman purchased the iPhone earlier this year, according to news reports, dashing my dream of owning this magnificent phone-case combo.

Do you think he bought the $20,000 case to go along with it?

Next, I move on to hair and body care, with plans to actually test some of these products that claim to give your body and/or locks a diamond-like sparkle.

I recently wrote Nivea Corp. to request product samples of its Diamond Gloss hair-care line. You can see the entire line for yourself here.
The site enables you to watch a movie on hair care and use of the products, in case shampooing or hairspray confuse you.

I expect to be blinding men in New York City with my shiny, super-lusturous hair.

Stay tuned!