A senior figure at a jewellers in southern Ohio has revealed that the credit crunch is not impacting on demand for wedding rings, with palladium bands at the forefront.

Heather Bower, sales manager at EM Smith Jewellers, told the Chillicothe Gazette: "We haven't seen anyone really trying to save when it comes to the ring.

"The newest thing now, instead of platinum, has been palladium. It's priced along the lines of gold, but it looks a lot like platinum."

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20090112/NEWS01/901120310

Leading jeweller Harry Winston has announced that it is launching a new range of platinum engagement and wedding rings for the spring and summer of 2009, fashionandrunway.com reports.

Among the designs are rings with vivid pink diamonds and side stones, wedding bands with oval-shaped and emerald-cut diamonds, and rings with oval-shaped and baguette diamonds.

http://www.fashionandrunway.com/fashion/article.cfm?id=11370

Fashionandrunway.com also reveals that Van Cleef & Arpels has produced three new engagement rings for the same period.

They are a Vendome ring with VC A monogram on the setting, an eternity ring with pave diamonds and a conversation ring with blue and white pear-shaped diamonds.

http://www.fashionandrunway.com/fashion/article.cfm?id=11367

Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia has launched a new diamond-encrusted handset which features 1,160 individually set gems and solid platinum in place of the traditional carbon fibre.

The Finnish company confirmed that the 'Nokia Royal' was launched at the Colette store in Paris on 31st January and that only 50 will go on sale.

http://www.product-reviews.net/2009/01/28/the-nokia-carbon-arte-meets-nokia-royal/

Meanwhile, huge numbers of celebrities have been turning out at red carpet events in the past few weeks decked out in platinum jewellery.

Carmen Electra toasted the new year at Lavo in the Palazzo Hotel wearing a pair of platinum drop earrings, rings and multiple bracelets.

http://www.prlabonline.com/

Jennie Garth, Jewel, Lori Loughlin and Marin Hinkle all selected platinum pieces at the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles on 7th January.

Garth wore cluster earrings, a line bracelet and a cocktail ring, Jewel chose earrings, bangles and rings, Loughlin sported earrings and a cocktail ring and Hinkle opted for a bracelet, hoop earrings and a necklace.

http://www.prlabonline.com/

The following day, Virginia Madsen wore drop earrings, bracelets and a cocktail ring at the 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards, while Julia Ormond chose a link bracelet, earrings and a cocktail ring.

http://www.prlabonline.com/

The glitzy 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards on 11th January saw a number of television and film megastars turn out in Los Angeles wearing platinum jewellery.

Prior to the event, some of the celebrities attended Platinum Guild International USA's Golden Globe Awards Red Carpet Jewellery Preview at the Palihouse Holloway.

They were invited to indulge in an experience which saw over $52 million worth of platinum on offer from some of the world's top designers.

http://www.prlabonline.com/

Yvonne Strahovski attended Australia Week's 2009 Black Tie Gala on 18th January - also in Los Angeles - wearing a large pair of darkened platinum earrings, stackable bracelets and rings.

http://www.prlabonline.com/

January was a hugely significant month as it marked the ascent of Barack Obama as US president and a number of celebrities arrived at the inaugural festivities sporting platinum pieces.

Among the stars to show their faces at various events were Mariah Carey (vintage earrings and bracelets), Jay-Z (platinum and diamond clip), Alicia Keys (blackened bracelet) and Demi Moore (cluster earrings).

http://www.prlabonline.com/

There were also plenty of celebrities who selected platinum jewellery for the 15th Annual SAG Awards in Los Angeles on 25th January.

The list included Christina Applegate (complete look), Teri Hatcher (earrings, bracelet and rings), Evan Rachel Wood (pin), Julie Benz (earrings and cuff bracelet), Sally Field (bracelet and ring) and John Hamm (tie clip and cufflinks).

http://www.prlabonline.com/

Finally, Zooey Deschanel was the lucky recipient of an engagement ring from her boyfriend Ben Gibbard - the frontman for Death Cab for Cutie - on 29th December.

The platinum and three-carat cut diamond ring was designed by Neil Lane.

http://www.prlabonline.com/