Recently in Man Snob Category

To do a collaborative collection for collaboration's sake is just plain dumb. So you can imagine my fascination when H.Stern announced it had designed a collection of jewels inspired by and honoring architect Oscar Niemeyer. Now 102 years old, Niemeyer, a native of Brazil--which also happens to be where the H.Stern brand hails from is best known for his fascination with curves. What's even more special, the collection of jewelry is based on his own sketches. They include a jewel designed by Niemeyer in a silk-screen print from the 1980s, and various others inspired by the female form, which he recorded in different designs. When I first saw the collection, I fell in love with Niemeyer's ability to seemingly bend straight lines, "transforming curves into a natural solution for his creations." H.Stern has gone and done the same with gold and diamonds. Rings, bracelets and earrings, meanwhile, emphasize simple lines, interspersed by empty spaces.

The H.Stern Collection by Oscar Niemeyer includes jewelry in gold and diamonds, divided into eight different lines and baptized with the names of designs, works and some famous projects. The sub-collections, with names like "Favorite Woman," "Pampulha," "Brasilia" and "Curves," convey the simplicity of the outlines: loose, free and flowing.

Available at H.Stern boutiques nationwide, 1-800-7HSTERN, www.hstern.net

Ladies, start saving your pennies now. A pair of Imperial topaz, ruby and diamond JAR ear pendants that once belonged to Ellen Barkin are on the block again as part of Christie's upcoming "Jewels: The New York Sale" on Oct. 20. (The earrings originally sold in its Ellen Barkin Collection sale four years ago as part of 17 JAR pieces that went on the block.) Gorgeous, right? The jewels were specially created for Barkin by the incomparable Joel Rosenthal of JAR and are comprised of an elongated oval-cut Imperial topaz stone surrounded by circular-cut diamonds and ruby clusters, with a diamond-set link. The pair has French assay and maker's marks and comes in a JAR pink leather fitted case. As for their lineage? Barkin wore them to a 2005 Vanity Fair Oscars party. FYI: at the original auction, these ear pendants sold for $710,400 (they were estimated to bring in $80,000); this time around they're estimated to go for $300,000 to $500,000. And that's being conservative.

Pearls were a big part of Vera Wang's fall runway collection, and statement making pearl necklaces--such as this gorgeous confection--were the centerpieces. Simply put: this necklace is going to look hot come fall. Don't you just adore the pearls fashioned into bundles of flowers--all attached on a metal mesh base that's both cool and lightweight? It's sure to be a conversation starter, be it paired with a floral Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress or slick Jil Sander pantsuit. Just remember: this necklace is more than enough jewelry for any neckline. Keep the earrings and bracelets at home!

$795, available at Neiman Marcus

Just when I thought Van Cleef & Arpels' Alhambra collection was getting majorly overexposed--counterfeit versions are a dime a dozen in Manhattan--Blake Lively goes and makes me change my mind. She was spotted on the set of "Gossip Girl" not too long ago wearing the jeweler's turquoise and white gold butterfly pendant as she shot scenes for the upcoming season. I love the light hue of the turquoise butterfly--the "Lucky Alhambra"--combined with the 18K white gold. The best part? This lovely necklace is part of Van Cleef's permanent collection. Timeless--just how I like my jewelry.

$2,500, available at Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques

I have always loved Chanel's J12 watch line from the moment it first launched. The instant classic style of the ceramic timepiece helped make it a best-selling piece amongst the jet-setting fashion crowd. Now Chanel is introducing its first official men's diving watch spinoff, dubbed the J12 Marine, and tapping none other than surf legend Laird Hamilton to help promote it.

Hamilton, this being his first-ever watch endorsement deal, will join Diane Kruger and French actress Anna Mouglalis as Chanel personalities who will be on hand at select events and public appearances (more direct impact than simply lending their faces to an ad campaign I suppose).

The J12 Marine arrives in Chanel boutiques this month and is available in a series of sleek combinations: either a black band with a black or blue face, or a white band with a white face. It comes in two sizes, a 38 mm. retailing for $4,700 and a 42 mm. retailing for $4,900. Also of note: it's waterproof to more than 300 meters, has glow-in-the-dark numbers and hands, a steel unidirectional rotating bezel, a self-winding Swiss movement and a rubberized strap with openings that allow water to flow through.

Clad in a delightfully simple red column Valentino gown while attending a private dinner celebrating the opening of the "Valentino Garavani Archives" private museum on the outskirts of Paris, Jessica Alba was a picture of sheer perfection--save a ruffle or two. To complement her look? A soft upsweep hairdo and a stunning Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet. The diamond dazzler she donned on her wrist, which carries a six-figure price tag, is from the jeweler's iconic "Butterfly" collection and features 13 carats of diamonds set in 18-karat white gold. Gorgeous, no? I love a bracelet that is designed more like a cuff and doesn't go all the way around the wrist; it's a bit more unexpected but at the same time completely appropriate for such an occasion. The butterflies are elegantly crafted and I like how on one side the bracelet splits off into two--like a wishbone--to allow for two additional butterflies to emerge.

Looks like style has made its way onto the sidelines. Keen watchers of the World Cup may have noticed Germany soccer team head coach Joachim Löw's trademark cobalt blue v-neck sweater; but look closer: you'll see the bracelet on his wrist. Family heirloom? Self made? None of the above. Instead, Löw's trinket is part of Tod's new "My Colors" braided leather bracelets that have been fashioned in all the national teams' colors. Word has it they were ordered for the entire German national soccer team, and while they lost to Spain in the semi-finals, they did at least get them that far.

Available in a slew of color combinations (light blue, white/red/green; red/black/yellow, red/white/light blue, white/red, yellow/green, yellow/red, with/light blue, blue/red/white, red/yellow/green), they're meant to foster team spirit and togetherness. They remind of the lanyard bracelets I made as a kid; they're fun to collect and I recommend wearing multiples at a time. It's a chic and simple summer look that'll easily and quickly add some oomph that crisp buttondown.

$225, available at Tod's boutiques

Bulgari's philanthropic pact continues on. The Rome-based jeweler has announced plans to introduce a second one-of-a-kind ring, whose design emulates the B.Zero 1 jewelry line, this October October as part of the company's charity campaign Rewrite the Future with Save the Children launched in 2008 during its 125th-anniversary celebrations.

The beautiful silver and ceramic ring follows in the footsteps of a silver ring introduced in 2009 that paid homage to the silversmith origins of the founder of the company, Sotirio Bulgari. The ring features the Save the Children logo engraved on the inside and is a stunning way to do some good while acquiring a new bauble. I'm a big fan of the B.Zero 1 line both as a ring and timepiece, so I'm happy to see Bulgari capitalizing on the collection's handsome and clean lines.

For 2010 and 2011, the Italian jeweler pledged 6 million euros, or $7.5 million at current exchange rates, to support quality education for children most in need globally. Last year, Bulgari raised more than $9 million to improve the quality of education for over 10 million children worldwide.

$370 (of which $75 will be donated to Save the Children), available in Bulgari stores worldwide, select department stores and on the brand's U.S. Web site.

Cameron Diaz always knows how to make a statement--but in the most subtle of ways. Take, for example, the Pomellato necklace she wore to the recent Rio de Janeiro premiere of her new movie "Knight and Day." The "Tango" necklace, fashioned in 18-karat rose gold and burnished silver with countless brown pave diamonds and handmade in the Italian jeweler's Milanese workshop, was a soft and seemingly natural complement to Diaz's soft, wavy hair and loose-fitting forest green dress. It's hard to tell, but Diaz also sported Pomellato's "Lola" earrings in smoky quartz. It's really the necklace, however, that tells the story--as not only did Madonna recently wear the "Tango" necklace and matching brown diamond bracelet on the May cover of Interview, but said bracelet can also be attached to the necklace for an entirely new look!

$57,000, available at Pomellato NYC (741 Madison Avenue, 212-879-2118)

One of the highlights of Paris Men's Fashion Week these first few days was definitely the Hermès presentation for its upcoming new timepiece, the Carré H. What's most evident about it is its square shape: Hermès teamed up with designer Marc Berthier to launch the watch, whose surprisingly odd shape is considered a rarity in watch fields. Creative director Pierre-Alexis Dumas said the case, made from lightweight titanium, had been softened by way of its rounded angles, while the dial featured interlocking squares designed to draw the eye. "I know from experience, having worked for years on silk squares, that if you don't create a dynamic within a square, it becomes boring quite quickly," he explained. "These small nuances and details mean the object is not static." The Carré H will be available in a limited edition of 173, which is the number of years since Hermès was founded in 1837.

$14,860, available to pre-order at Hermès boutiques