Diamond earrings, perhaps? (alicia_sto via stock.xchng.com)

Amazon.com, which started off selling books and has branched out into almost every retail sector, is often credited with being the first site to make a go of online retail sales.

Every year, the online retail giant publishes a list of its top holiday sellers in every category. Let’s see how diamonds and jewelry did this year…

According to Amazon, the top-selling item of jewelry this season was a pair of diamond stud earrings set in 10 karat white gold. The diamond earrings were followed by a sterling silver and amethyst butterfly pendant and a pearl earring set.

However, the top-selling piece of jewelry for 2011 was a very modest creation – a sterling silver heart charm bracelet with a toggle closure that retailed for an extremely affordable $2.39.

Amazon’s top-selling watches were sport and fashion designs rather than high-end diamond-encrusted timepieces costing tens of thousands.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Amazon’s own Kindle e-reader led its electronics category, and three makes of Levi’s jeans were the top holiday sellers in clothes.

Angry Birds, Tetris, and Pandora Instant Radio were the best-selling apps from Amazon’s Appstore for Android.

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It’s always interesting to see what uses people lucky enough to have an excess of cash on hand will find for diamonds. Some time ago, the Israel Diamond Blog discovered that actress Mila Kunis had forked over about $7,000 for a facial treatment that used genuine crushed diamonds and rubies.

Apparently, diamonds aren’t only beautiful, they can make you beautiful, too!

Just ask Madonna, who used crushed rose-cut diamonds as part of her on-stage makeup.

But diamond looks aren’t only for celebrities. The UK has embraced the diamond beauty trend whole-hog, with Frost of London is selling a special edition of Model's Own Gold Rush Couture nail polish for £83,000 (nearly $129,000).

When a diamond-based anti-aging cream debuted last month on the QVC home shopping channel, over 4 million jars sold on the first day at a price of £29.50 for 50 ml. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s hype, but we do know that the cream contains particles of actual diamonds. Whether it works – we’ll wait and see if the diamonds deliver the promised lift and sparkle for the skin.

Diamond treatments for nails, skin… and hair? Indeed. Once again, brought to you by the Brits! The CafeMom blog reports that Harrods salon is now offering a blowdry with Truffle by Fuente products, which supposedly contain bits of diamonds and meteorite dust. The diamond blow-out will set you back roughly £270.

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Sometimes fine diamond jewelry is more about innovation than anything else.

Shaun Leane, the UK jewelry designer who was featured in a BBC documentary on London's diamond trade back in February, has unveiled the result of his recent collaboration with fashion icon Daphne Guinness – a bejewled glove that took five years to craft.

The 18 karat white gold glove combines the structure of armor with the fit of a lace or silk evening glove. 

Over a kilogram of gold went into the piece, which is embellished with more than 5,000 pave-set white diamonds. Diamond birds surround the arm, while a handmade metal cuff protects the wearer's hand.

Every section of the glove – which can be worn as a hand glove or extended into a long evening style – was made by hand to fit Guinness' measurements.  

The launch drew fashion royalty – designer Tom Ford; editor Suzy Menkes; and Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen, who recently gained international fame for designing Kate Middleton's royal wedding gown.

And not for nothing – guests were presented with solitaire diamonds as souvenirs of the evening.

Shaun Leane is one of the UK's most sought-after jewelry designers. In June, Crossworks Manufacturing announced that it would be collaborating with Leane on an exclusive jewelry collection featuring Argyle pink diamonds.

"Shaun is an amazing innovator and creates jewelry that is elegant and poetic. His ability to create beautifully crafted jewelry came immediately to mind the moment we had the opportunity to create a luxury jewelry collection using the rare and beautiful Argyle pink diamonds," said Dylan Dix, marketing director of Crossworks.

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