The truth is the first couple of weeks in January in New York are pretty dead.

No major difficulties getting a taxi in midtown, a dinner reservation, a ticket to a hot Off-Broadway play, or a private room at a karaoke bar at which to sing "Video Games" by Lana Del Ray. We were able to do all these things over the weekend without much hassle or fuss.

But finding parties to write about? That's a challenge.

This is how we found ourselves at the tenth annual Gem Awards on Friday, a gala dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street that, no surprise, bills itself as the "Academy Awards of the fine jewelry industry." Attending the various Oscars of [insert business niche here] has been one of our goals since arriving at this newspaper. And with the fashion renegade Daphne Guinness receiving the Gem Award for "jewelry style," there would at least be some couture pyrotechnics, no? At least compared with 2009's winner in that category, Russell Simmons, and 2010's, Madeleine Albright.

Other honorees this year included Chanel Fine Jewelry, which, as a whole, was receiving the Gem Award for "corporate communications," whatever that means in the context of a jewelry award ceremony, and Candy Pratts Price, the editor at large of Vogue.com, who was bestowed the Gem Award for "journalistic excellence."

Perhaps one year—even after writing today's column—we, too, might be considered for that merit. Not that with all the tributes and prizes thrown our way we have much room in our apartment for another award!

Ralph Destino, the chairman emeritus of Cartier, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Destino also has the unusual distinction of having created the Gem Awards.

"Step into my office," Mr. Destino said, as he pulled a chair out from a table at the banquet hall.

A decade or so ago, the Jewelry Information Center came to Mr. Destino with the hopes of raising its profile. Mr. Destino suggested an award ceremony singling out the industry's marketing, advertising and communication skills.

"Usually we salute a company who does it well, a style person who wears it well, and someone who's done it all for a long time," he explained. "This year I'm the old goat." (He insisted he was not on this year's deciding jury.)

Mr. Destino, who is now working to mobilize the jewelry industry to help train and find jobs for veterans, said he was surprised when he heard he was being given the honor. "I was just coming off the golf course in the Hamptons," he said. "But I don't believe a Lifetime Achievement award means your career is over."

Sadly, Ms. Guinness cancelled her appearance at the last minute, at least according to one of the organizers. Perhaps she was at home deep in the throes of constructing a new piece of glove armour. (She is known for that sort of thing.)Without her, however, the twinkle and karat quotient was sadly diminished. We instead had to settle, in part, for the evening's host, Padma Lakshmi, whose gold Chanel neck piece actually looked as if it was just part of her black gown.

"I figured a lot of people would be wearing jewelry and there would be a lot of diamonds, so I kept it low-key," Ms. Lakshmi said. "But maybe they're jaded." (Jaded!? Ah, jewelry humor!)

The "Top Chef" host said she had no particular tenets about how jewelry should be worn, but just that she's always worn it. "In my home, there's a picture of me when I was 6, and I'm naked except for some underwear. But I'm wearing bangles."

Thankfully, Chanel had brought along the French actress Anna Mouglalis who played Coco Chanel in a movie a few years back. Ms. Mouglalis has been in New York quite a bit lately, filming and doing voice over work for a vampire movie called "Kiss of the Damned."

In the film, directed by Xan Cassavetes, "I'm a good vampire who turns out to be not so good," said Ms. Mouglalis, flashing her smile. "See, I have the teeth and everything."

Ms. Mouglalis was asked to speak about her philosophy on jewelry. "Ten years ago, when I met with Chanel, I was not daring enough to wear it, but little by little, I learned how to tame them. I think jewels should be tamed. Now I put everything on the same arm."

Should a husband have to give his wife jewelry? "Come on, you don't need to be married to give jewelry," Ms. Mouglalis said. "That's really mean. The boyfriend shouldn't be protected by marriage."

What about costume jewelry? "Always real," she smiled. "I'm allergic to costume jewelry. That's my philosophy."

Source: http://on.wsj.com/A4tvdK

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