SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Watch Me Now!

Women's watches tend to be more boring than a week-long Edith Wharton book club session, so thank goodness for EOS New York, who brings a playful-but-tough sensibility to its rugged-but-luxurious oversized watches. Sure, some of the designs are a bit over-the-top, but that's what's unique and interesting about 'em (besides, they're not even close to as gaudy and overdone as some of Jacob the Jeweler's watches! AND these don't cost the equivalent of a down payment on a house! LOL).

I first stumbled upon the EOS New York flagship store, located in the West Village, after a quick look-see at Reiss (which is located only blocks away). I was instantly drawn by the white-on-white interior design and the futuristic-looking display cases. Once I peered through the glass, I was fascinated by some of the watches I saw. Their "Uptown" collection includes safer styles (think heart-shaped dials, thin leather straps, metal chainlink bands, etc.) for women who prefer dainty and understated pieces. The "Wild" collection, however, is where all the fun is at (ain't that always the case?!) Most of them have wide straps (some are as wide as cuffs, which is ingenious since they eradicate the need to rock bangles and tennis bracelets... These can be your sole pieces of arm candy and you definitely won't be feeling like your arms are naked). There's a broad range of designs -- some boast faux snakeskin straps, while others feature distressed leather with buckles, or silk-covered straps bearing Chinese iconography. The dials, meanwhile, come in all shapes and colors (so you can say goodbye to the tired mother-of-pearl bit).

This Safire style (pictured above in green) is one of my faves -- it features over 120 genuine Swarovski crystals and pearls around the dial, and the two-toned band ups the va-va-va-voom factor. It's the type of watch you can wear with jeans, a tank top, and dark purple fingernails (for a very Avril-Lavigne-meets-Tilea-Tequila look) or which you can dress up with a nice pair of green or lilac slacks and a classy, understated top. The key is to keep the rest of your outfit simple: you can't have a watch like this competing for attention with your shoes, handbag, earrings, etc. Just let the watch speak for itself.

Cue Juelz Santana's "Clockwork": "You hear the sound of the tick/ you hear the sound of the tock....And get it right!!!!!" Word.

$125; Visit EOSNewYork.com

Ring of Fire (As in, It's Hot!)

At 12 pm EST today (that's now, my East Coast gals), this gorgeous Judith Ripka ring goes on sale for 50% of its original price. How? Where? Well, the fabulous folks at Gilt.com are launching their Judith Ripka sale today, offering the luxurious baubles crafted by the DeBeer's Award For Diamonds Designer winner at affordable price points.

Ripka's designs are classic and timeless -- think beautifully mounted amethyst or blue quartz rings, pavé diamond-and-gold cuff bracelets, and Pretty Woman-ready, throat-hugging necklaces (your remember that scene when Richard Gere gives her the gorgeous necklace before they venture out to the opera? Well, one of Ripka's necklaces could have been inside that box!).

See, this is just one of the many benefits of being a member of the Gilt Groupe, an invite-only community that provides access to the brands we all lust after at prices up to 70% off retail (now THAT's what I call a sale!). This week alone, they'll have sales on Chip & Pepper, Valentino Red and MINT by Jodi Arnold wares.

But all good things come to an end -- and when it comes to a great sale, that end comes rather quickly. Each sale lasts 36 hours BUT, even then, items sell out at lightning speed so, if you've already mentally added this ring to your jewelry box, you better act with the quickness.

Judith Ripka berge black onyx ring, $1700 (its original price is $3400). Visit http://www.gilt.com

Stones Throw

I'm digging the gypsy-like vibe that characterizes some of this summer's jewelry trends — in particular, how natural stones are becoming the focal point in necklaces and earrings, with large, chunky amethysts, topazes, opals and corals making a bold statement. Though this stone has been cut and styled to obtain this perfect oval shape, there's still a raw vitality to it, an unbridled energy that seems to reinforce its connection to the earth. And hey, it's purr-ty. The jade pendant, which has been dyed an antique rose hue, conjures up a certain innocence that is accentuated by the small smoky quartzes (one is a teardrop shape while the other one is a tiny, marquise-cut stone) and the 18 kt. gold vermeil leaf charm. Handmade by designer David Aubrey, this 3-inch long pendant will rock your world.

David Aubrey 18 kt. gold vermeil jade & smoky quartz and 18 kt. leaf charm necklace, $80. Visit FredaLA.com

The Sweetest Things

If you have a vicious sweet tooth or you just appreciate quirky and kitschy things, you'll appreciate artist Tadaaki Wakamatsu's collection of Patisserie rings, which draw inspiration from yummy desserts like tropical sorbets and rich chocolate morsels. Wakamatsu uses PVC for his stunningly realistic renditions (no seriously, if you wear these around gluttonous types, you might just get your finger bitten) of these popular treats. The Tropical Ice Cream ring features a mini scoop of white/yellow/red ice cream (my guess is it's a lemon/raspberry/mango sorbet, but that's just my theory/imagination). The Chocolate with Coffee Bean ring, meanwhile, features one tiny chocolate square (note the small ripples running diagonally across, which give this a straight-out-of-the-Godiva-box feel) and a single coffee bean used as garnish/decoration. The line is meant to be a Japanese homage to the quaint French patisserie. Available exclusively at MoMA stores, these brass rings are sugary treats that won't cause cavitiies.

Tropical Ice Cream ring, $45; Chocolate with Coffee Bean ring, $45. Available at MomaStore.org

Like A Feather

Remember a few years ago, when feather earrings were all the rage (particularly those fashioned to look like peacock feathers)? I was a huge fan of the trend, but I hated how delicate most of those pieces were... A strong gust of wind was enough to blow one of them right out of your earlobe (or they'd fly all over the place as you pressed them against your ears in hopes of preventing them from breaking loose) and, if you ever tucked a set of earrings away in a bag, then you know how easily the feathers can get all mangled, climped together and essentially deformed.

Fortunately, the 7-year-old, California-based jewelry line Double Happiness (launched by sisters Stephanie Wells and Alisa Rottenberg) offers a much more practical take on the look. Their enamel-and-gold earrings have the same free-spirited, peace-sign-in-the-air flavor, but they're way sturdier and unique. Available in three different color schemes, these are haute hippie chic. And hey, you won't find them at every street vendor's table.

Double Happiness "Pavi" earrings, $136; Visit DoubleHappinessStore.com

Spin Doctors

You may lust after the sparkly trinkets dwsigned by Cathy Waterman, Harry Winston and Jennifer Kaufman, but c'mon, who doesn't like some fun, super cheap costume jewelry? Personally, I'm always drawn to any store with some cutesy fake baubles. I can spend $20 and come out with two funky earrings that I know are going to make an outfit pop (and hey, if I lose an earring or it turns greener than a pea pod after a couple of wears, it's all to the good.. Not like losing a 3-carat diamond stud earring or anything). So, in that spirit (and as a nod to all my backpackers and boombox-bumping peoples out there), I bring you these matching enamel turntable pieces. The red-and-black pendant (so very Queen of Hearts) comes with an 18" inch chain, while the matching ring has an adjustable band (to fit everything from bony fingers to chubby little stumps). They're $7.99 each, so y'all better show the DJs out there some respect and do like Zhane (meaning, get the party started!)

Enamel Turntable Pendant and Enamel Turntable Ring, $7.99 each. Visit GirlProps.com

Marine Life

Those damsel-in-distress watches with the stamp-sized faces and the chain-link metal bracelet straps (or the 1/2-inch thick leather straps) are taking a backseat this season as women embrace more rugged, oversized pieces. The trend is particularly refreshing for me since trying to locate those silly Roman numerals on those teeny-weeny watches is entirely too much work for my blind self. And, while this is just a theory, I feel like oversized watches are universally flattering -- in my opinion, when a watch strap is too thin, it can make yor wrists look the size of Kathy Bathes'. Plus think about it: if you're gonna splurge on a watch, don't you want it to stand out? With a larger piece, the watch becomes an integral part of your outfit: it's like a cuff bracelet that just happens to be extremely functional.

Now, this isn't the first time large watches have become all the rage, but what I dig is that they're becoming so much more fashion-forward. These aren't fugly outdoorsy watches with faded leather and ugly orange reflectors on the dial, nor are they rave-ready pieces that glow in the dark or have crazy metal loops dangling from the strap for no apparent reason. No, these are contemporary and refined, a modern take on a classic shape that was once restricted to the men's display area of your favorite luxury jewelry store.

TechnoMarine is taking the trend to new levels with its Diamond Color Cruise collection, which updates the best-selling and oh-so-popular Diamond Cruise watch by introducing funky candy-like colors (lavender, bubblegum pink and pool water blue), as well as mod black and white hues (for those with safer tastes). The watch features three hands and chronographs and is available in the original 40 mm size or the Magnum (45 mm) size. The mother-of-pearl bezel is dusted with 116 white diamonds ('cause we love that icing, don't we?.) So, ladies, you don't need the bezel to be "courtesy of Audemars" like Jay-Z said -- let TechnoMarine upgrade you.

TechnoMarine Diamond Cruise Chrono watch in Pool Water Blue, $2000. Available at Tourneau, Bloomingdale's and Macy's. For more info, visit TechnoMarine.com

Beading Is Good For the Soul

These aren't just cutesy bracelets made from your basket full of goodies at Beads of Paradise or some other bead store du jour. These beads are hand-crafted by a group of 100 women in the Acholi Quarter of Uganda and are then sold through the non-profit organization Project Have Hope, which utilizes the proceeds from the sale of these items to feed these women's families and send their children to schools. In this year alone, Project Have Hope has sponsored 73 children's schooling and enrolled 14 women in vocational training programs. You can contribute to the cause by sponsoring a child ($150 will pay for one child's tuition for an entire year) or you can host a bead party and encourage people to support a good cause by catering to their own vanities (in other words, trick them into doing a good deed!). And, since every little bit counts, you can always order any one piece for yourself. After all, these necklaces and bracelets are simply breathtaking. Various shapes are used — from elongated, bean-like styles to spinning top-shaped goodies — in exotic reds, oranges, blues and greens. But that's not all -- the beads are actually made out of recycled magazine paper, which is what gives each single bead those subtle, alluring color gradations. Forget a Tupperware party, ladies; this is where it's at.

Red band-style bracelet, $10; Green single-strand bracelet, $5. Visit ProjectHaveHope.org

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Whenever I look at this cuff, I think of that America's Next Top Model episode when Eva Pigford had to overcome her arachnophobia and pose with a gigantic tarantula crawling on her hand. Somehow, the girl managed to pull off a stunning picture, but I just remember the crying and the frazzled nerves (then again, that pretty much happens every season; someone's always afraid of at least one challenge -- whether it involves heights, snakes, swimming or anything else).

Anyway, the point is you can now do the whole spider-on-the-hand look without actually having a fuzzy, multi-legged crature on your skin (not that you ever planned to go there). This resin, ivory-colored cuff bracelet by Jessica Kagan features a carved spider and cobweb design that manages to be bold and rugged without looking like a Halloween prop. Let your spidey senses tingle.

$160. Visit http://www.shopbop.com

Drinking Games

It's the day after a big game (the NBA Finals, Superbowl, the NBA Play-Offs, or the Figure Skating championships -- whatever floats your boat), and you're looking at the mountain of empty beer cans your friends (or your man's friends) left behind. Now, most of us would huff and puff, wrap these up in recyclable bags and take them to the nearest garbage area. BUT, if you're a handy, artsy young thang like Vermont-based jewelry designer Dana Roth, founder of D-Licious, you'll just whip out your Xacto knife(or whatever other metal-cutting tool out there!) and start tearing up all that aluminum to make some quirky jewelry for all you lushes out there (yes, I'm one of them too!). The aluminum is secured by sterling silver rivets and protected by sterling silver end caps, so you don't have to worry about getting cut or injured in the name of fashion. Each cuff is 1 1/4" wide -- big enough to make a bold statement without functioning as a liquor billboard.

Genius, isn't it? Plus, what's most hillarious is how Roth tries to cater to everyone's beer tastes -- her cuffs feature logos from brands like Guinness, Miller Light, Lucky Lager, and more (though I'm about to lobby for a Corona cuff!). And, if you're not the drinking type, you can always go for one of the soda bracelets (which are slightly smaller at 3/4" wide) -- pick from designs that include Sunkist, Dr. Pepper and Coca-Cola.

Now, THAT's what I call recycling!

Cuffs, $120; Bracelets, $90. Visit http://www.elsewares.com