Boston: Neiman Marcus, Forevermark

I'm always honored to photograph the fashion and beauty events at Neiman Marcus and at this time of the year it's especially nice to capture a little bling, or in this case A LOT of bling. I mean, what's more captivating than diamonds?

Forevermark knows how to do diamonds, and does it well.

This year, the most talked about diamond is a 25-carat rough diamond, which is part of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book fantasty gift. At 1.85 million the fantasy gift includes a trip to De Beers' headquarters in London, a trip off Namibia's coast where the diamond was discovered, and the design of the diamond into a ring by award-winning jewelry designer Maria Canale.

The evening was hosted by Boston's own philanthropist Corinne Grousbeck, who was wearing the incredible L'Wren Scott necklace and whose birthday was celebrated with, what else, "diamond" encrusted cupcakes!

Here's how Neiman Marcus does it, a glittery evening with the lovely Maria Canale and her exquisite diamond creations...

Jeweler Maria Canale is bringing her exclusive collection of pieces to Neiman Marcus in Boston tonight in the hope that the spotlight piece — a necklace of raw and cut diamonds worn by actress Nicole Kidman and worth $1.6 million — will find a local buyer.

The Boston fantasy gift (if sold, $75,000 will be donated to the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown) is an extension of the upscale department store’s famed Christmas Book. In the 2013 edition, shoppers with money to burn can drop $344,500 for a 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante or $1.5 million for an outdoor entertainment system featuring a 201-inch screen and a state-of-the-art speaker system.

Canale plays a part in Neiman’s most expensive fantasy gift — a rare 25-carat Forevermark diamond, which she will design into a ring. The buyer of this $1.85 million gem also gets a trip to De Beers headquarters in London and a boat trip along the Namibian coast where the diamond was found.

“The (fantasy gift) diamond itself is the amount of the gift. It’s going to be pretty awesome,” said the New York-based designer. “We’re taking inquiries now, and we’ll see.”

Whether the diamond experience sells is almost beside the point for Canale, who enjoys its journey on the pop culture conversation circuit. On last week’s “Saturday Night Live,” Seth Meyers cracked a joke about Neiman’s luxury prize.“Give her the gift that says, ‘My wife can never know about us,’ ” he said.

Tonight’s visit to Neiman, hosted by philanthropist Corinne Grousbeck, promised to be glittering — even for women who could never imagine owning something so over-the-top luxe.

“It is a selling event, but it’s also inspiring people,” said Canale. “We take photos of them. We put the jewelry on them. For clothes, you can just try on a dress. But jewelry is a little more intimidating.”

Grousbeck thinks Canale’s necklace can sell tonight.

“It’s so simple,” she said. “I love when important jewelry is dressed down. So wearable and not in your face.”

- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/style_fashion/2013/11/maria_canale_brings_her_sparkling_collection_to_boston#sthash.CG5nXwxU.dpuf

Boston: Neiman Marcus, Forevermark by Maria Canale

I was delighted to capture the spirit of Neiman Marcus's Forevermark Diamond Collection designed by Maria Canale. With over 30 years of design experience, 20 of which was spent designing for Tiffany & Co., Canale has created many remarkable and recognizable collections. Needless to say, she is no stranger to 'romancing the stone'.

Luxurious is an understatement for these elegant and BRILLIANT baubles, but the true mark of a good diamond is where it comes from. Forevermark diamonds are sourced responsibly under fair practices from a small number of mines located in various countries including Botswana, where I grew up!

The line of rings, necklaces and earrings is the first collaboration between Canale and Forevermark for Neiman Marcus. Join me, along with Corinne Grousbeck, Katherine Chapman, Laura Rehnert, Gwenn Snider, Jeannie Blasberg and more for a night of champagne and diamonds galore!

Models are Adriana and Claire who I last photographed at Zac Posen!