Auction giant eBay is getting into the ring design business and they are launching with a "Build Your Bling" contest that has participants designing their own diamond rings. One winner will receive a ring from Gemstoneking, Inc. based on the winning design the winner submitted, up to $25,000 in value. The new eBay Diamond Ring Designer system is an online ring design system similar to Blue Nile and others that has slider selections for choosing diamonds by shape, size, color, clarity and cut. Once you've selected your stone (or stones) you are then presented with a variety of potential settings in gold or platinum. These systems are always fun to play with because the user can easily see how a change in cut or clarity affects diamond price and offer a stress-free way to browse diamond rings.

Entrants can enter from now until February 19 to submit a design and entry for consideration. Other eBay users will vote on the best designs and the participant with the greatest number of votes will be the winner. Two runner-ups will win eBay gift certificates and all three may have their entries on a winners page. The winner will be chosen on February 26.

On February 4, 2010 an on-line auction was concluded for the baseball Alex Rodriguez hit to secure his 500th career home run. A-Rod was the youngest player to do so and only one of a total of 22 players to ever attain the distinction of hitting that many homers. The ball in question brought in $103,579.00. The only other Yankees to achieve the goal are two of the greatest, Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle.

The auction was conducted by SCP Auctions who stock their auctions with quality baseball memorabilia and cards. They are also responsible for the successful sale of Barry Bonds record breaking 756th home run ball for $752,467 in September of 2007. The company has over the years partnered with Sotheby's to sell some of the most important items in baseball history including the bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium ($1.265 million) and the original contract for the sale of Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1919, as well as private collections of other sports superstars such as Ernie Banks, Honus Wagner, Casey Stengel and Pee Wee Reese.

The fan, supposedly a New York area college student, who originally caught the ball on August 4, 2007 had kept the ball in good shape and you could even see where A-Rod's bat connected with the ball. Also, MLB had in expectation of the important at bat pre-marked the ball "A 107" and then after the home run placed a hologram with a serial number on the ball. This insured that the anonymous Internet buyer is assured that they are receiving the real deal. There was some discussion by the New York Daily News that the ball was sold for much less than it might have garnered due to steroid use by baseball players. It also could just be the economy, still not a bad take for a fan just out for a day at the game.

All secrets eventually come out. At the recent London auctions, in which both Sotheby's and Christie's saw several lots set records, Russian collectors poured some money back into the art market, and Laurence Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds, parted with a healthy dose of cash. It's this action that caused a combined tally of £258.9 million (including fees), more than double the result a year earlier.

The UK-based diamond dealer sunk £8.1 million into Pablo Picasso's "Tete de Femme (Jacqueline) at the Christie's auction, spending 100 percent more than the high-end presale estimate for the piece. According to Bloomberg News, Graff confirmed the acquisition by e-mail.

Russian billionaires got back into the game, as well, and they exercised better judgment than they did during the art boom, when prices for artists such as Damien Hirst were propelled to absurd levels.

The Impressionist sector has held on rather well, by comparison. "The market for Impressionist and modern art hasn't been as frothy and speculative as contemporary," said Guy Jennings, partner in the London-based dealership Theobald Jennings. "Last year, prices might have slipped five or 10 percent, but since then there's been some asset inflation. That might not be the case in six months' time if there's a double-dip recession."

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Scarlett Johansson is the new face of Mango and has helped design an exclusive handbag to go on sale in more than 1,390 Mango stores worldwide in March. All profits from the Haiti Handbag will be donated to Oxfam's Haiti Earthquake Response Fund.

The tote is emblazoned with an ancient map of the Caribbean country, with the message "Supporting the People of Haiti" written and signed by Johansson.

"I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Mango to benefit Oxfam. By purchasing this bag, you're helping to provide life-saving assistance, like clean water, to the people of Haiti," Johansson said. Recently Johansson auctioned an evening of her company to four fans to help benefit the relief effort as well.

The Haiti Handbag will retail for £16.90 (about $26.50 USD).

In case you're a Jones-watching type, when it comes to this year's motor yachts you can take your eyes off the Joneses for a moment and turn them to Roman Abramovich. He'll be the one with the year's largest offering, the Eclipse, a yacht already so storied we wouldn't be surprised if it came with a paparazzi deck. That is, of course, assuming the intergalactically expensive yacht even gets finished.

If it doesn't, then the number two motor yacht (pictured), the Dubai, will maintain its place. Superyachts.com has a preview of this years private floating wonders, and a breakdown of the first 100 as far as size goes. In addition to the potential addition of Abramovich, there are two other new entrants to the top ten: the novel looking Swift141, and the 134-meter Fincantieri, which has been in the works for three years. Bringing up the aft is another newcomer: the 73-meter Admiral. Just 73.5 meters will get you on the list, so there's still time to place your order with the shipyard if the economic recovery has been good to you...

Although python is everywhere this season, it's hard to find a bag that does it in a timeless, classy way. When shopping for python, you don't want something that's going to be yesterday's news tomorrow. Enter designer Stefano Marcantonio, a master craftsman who has recently brought his Milan collection to New York. Known for his ample use of exotic leathers, his python-saturated collection this season brings a range of classy bags you can take anywhere. We're loving the Elenore, a rich red python clutch with gorgeous gold hardware to match. And it's a roomier clutch than most, meaning you don't have to save it for the black tie events. Retails for $2500, just in time for Valentine's Day. Check out Stefano Marcantonio's site for purchasing information, and to view the entire lookbook.

Right after the winter holidays ended, the Valentine's Day promotions went up and I thought, good grief, already? But yes, already. You have just a few days left to get a special gift for that special someone. Here's an idea: gourmet brownies from Brownie Points. I received a gift from here a few years ago and remember just how luscious these chocolately creations were.

There are brownie gift boxes ($17.99 - $71.99) as well as individual brownies (only $3 each, but really, who can stop at just one?), in flavors such as cappuccino toffee fudge, chocolate caramel sea salt, butterscotch sensations, peanut butter passion, raspberry caramel fudge, and even classic double chocolate chunk. Up now on the site is the special Valentine's Day collection ($17.99 - $125.99), if you'd rather let Brownie Points help you choose a gift. Some items in this collection also feature popcorn and other candy confections.

I may place an order for myself tonight, and hit the gym, pre-emptively, tomorrow.

One of the most interesting watch movements around is made by Swiss Quinting. It is a quartz movement that is barely visible. Look at the watch and you just won't get how it works. The dials are totally transparent and you can see right through them as the hands of the watch seem to float in space. Quinting makes the movements and the watches. The movements are quartz based and actually fitted inside the watch around the dial in the case. It uses a series of motors that move sapphire crystals that the hands are attached to. Complex models like the Chronograph use many, totally parallel sapphire discs to achieve the functionality. The design is flawless and the engineering is very clever.

I got to handle the watches at the Geneva Time Exhibition in January. They had their diverse line up of models in various case sizes and tones. Some of them are richly decorated in diamonds and are in gold. The watches typically aren't too little, but rather come in healthy sizes (for men and women). You really get an appreciation for how difficult it was to make the watches when you wear them. Seeing your wrist through the watch without any gears or pieces really goes to the heart of the "Mysterious" part of the name. Their new watch for 2010 uses an interesting set of two discs that have "spokes" on them. These turn in opposite directions and help regulate each other in terms of the watch accuracy. What it means for you is a cool looking dial that is constantly moving. Quinting also makes movements for other brands that want to showcase their technology. For example they produced a watch for Dior that I discussed here. Prices for these watch is pretty expensive for a quartz movement, but they have the craftsmanship of a nicer mechanical watch. I'd say the prices for non jewelery versions are typically in the $5,000 - $10,000 range.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

There's a new show at the Eden Rock Gallery on St. Barths this month ... and it represents a bit of a departure from past exhibitions. Doubtless, some considerable talent has moved through the resort's art gallery, with names such as Richard Prince not to be taken lightly. And, the relationship with the New York Academy of Art has ensured that the artists in residence have been unmatched in talent.

The latest show is not short on talent and remains consistent with the reputation the Eden Rock Gallery has defined for itself, but the artist comes from a little closer to home. Jane Matthews will be showing her work in an exhibition entitled "Between Places and People," which features simple but direct subject matter in a fluid style slightly reminiscent of Gaugin (just a hint).

Jane owns Eden Rock with her husband, David Matthews, and it's their commitment to the arts that led to the gallery and the careful selection of pieces to hang in the property's various villas (such as Villa Rockstar).

With "Between Places and People," Jane proves that she doesn't just know how to pick art – she can create it, too. The photos alone caused me to fall in love with this show.

Today's home in Bal Harbour, Florida has a tropical feel that seems almost more Hawaiian in style. The seven-bedroom home is on over an acre wither bay and ocean views. The home's many features include a billiard room with an exotic fish aquarium, garden room with access to the pool, a chef's kitchen with two pantries an a master suite with his and hers bathrooms and walk-in closets. The outdoor space boasts an infinity pool that overlooks the bay. A Tiki hut has a built-in barbecue, under-counter refrigerator and built-in seating. The property also has a half court basketball court and a two-bedroom, two-car garage guest home, a fully equipped home gym, and a massage room. There is also boat dockage. This home is listed at $17 million.

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