The other day I mentioned a company working on virtual shopping technology that lets you try on watches via computer. But how about engagement ring shopping by iPhone? Stuller has partnered with Gemvision Corp. on an app that lets you try on a ring no matter where you are using the iPhone camera. The app is called "Live Diamond Try-On (brought to you by Red Box Diamonds)" and will be available for free this summer from the App store. Users can select a diamond engagement ring, choosing metal, carat size, style and more then try it out for size on their own hand. To get the full effect you can put the iPhone on your hand and tilt it to get a sense of the ring's sparkle as it shifts. The image can be saved and e-mailed and posted on Facebook or Twitter. The user can then get the real thing using the app's "find a jeweler" function. Will this lead to virtual proposals with no real ring required?

Proving once again that luxury brands have no sense of humor, Cartier sued Apple over an iPhone app that displayed obvious fake watches including a version that looked like Cartier's popular Tank design. The "Fake Watch" and "Fake Watch Gold Edition" apps allowed users to show the time on " look-alike famous wristwatches" on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. The obvious fakes used names like "Relax" for Rolex and "Carpark" for Cartier. "Fake Watch" was a free download and "Fake Watch Gold Edition" sold for 99 cents in Apple's iTunes store. No word on if Cartier sued the maker of the app, Digitopolis Game Studio.

But almost as soon as the fracas began, it was over. The Wall Street Journal reports that Cartier is withdrawing the suit that it filed earlier in the same day after the apps were removed from iTunes.

The one word I keep hearing when people describe the new iPhone app from our sister blog Daily Finance is slick. And indeed it is. It offers free real-time stock quotes from BATS Exchange and 15-minute delayed quotes from NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX; real-time financial news that lets you track business, company, and sector news and dozens of other news topics from over 3,000 sources; interactive charts; the ability to create up to 25 different portfolios and watchlists and much more. It's user-friendly and it's the kind of app you can live in, following it from basic market status to the news and research on various companies. Best of all, it's free. You can download it here and see a video on how it works here and for some screenshots click over to TUAW's review.

Here's an interesting reason to go on a cruise, help with your gadgets. Crystal Cruises is offering the services of a "technology concierge" whose job it is to train and educate guests on their latest gadgets. The concierges can tell you how to get the most from your iPhone, Blackberry, Kindle or GPS device. The ships' Crystal's Bistros will offer the latest technology magazines and Crystal's "Gadget Committee" plans to continually add new technology and update their in-house education to ensure the Technology Concierges remain current. I just want to know where you apply to be a technology concierge.

I've been known to complain about pink gadgets and pink gadget cases but these pink iPhone cases are girly without being dainty. Element Case is offering a Limited Edition Valentine's Liquid Case that fits the classic iPhone and iPhone 3G. It's a tough case that protects your phone on all sides. The hard shell case is built to withstand rough handling and offers access to all ports. And once your phone is locked in, it's not going anywhere. The case has flip lids that protect the screen when not in use. Built especially for those that use play games on the iPhone, the case offers a little extra room to hold on, making it function a little more like a PSP or Nintendo DS.

The Valentine artwork was developed by graphic designer Nancy Ogami. They will make 100 custom back painted pearlescent pink cases each numbered and is customized with "your message or name" engraved on both the gray lid and the translucent flip lid. The case sells for $119 and the last order processing day for guaranteed shipping by Valentine's Day is February 10 (February 7 for Europe).

Bose is out, the iHome is in. The iHome is made specifically to house your various Apple devices and the sound it creates packs a punch!

The iHome devices are equipped to operate with iPods and iPhones as well as Zunes and most MP3 players with an audio cord - or even Bluetooth technology.

The range runs from $49.95 to $199.99 and any order over $99.00 comes with free earbuds. Our pick? The Rotating Alarm Clock, $79.99, at right. Check out the gallery to see what it does (it flips!), and for more cool products like the color-changing iPod player.

Shop the iHome store here (finally, a music site that doesn't crash your web browser).

Phone customizer extraordinaire Peter Aloisson is at it again, creating a new most expensive phone. We've seen diamond iPhones before but this one is worth 1.79 million euros (around $2.45 million). The phone doesn't just feature a generous sprinkling of brilliant cut diamonds around the edges, it also features the King's button, a home button with a 6.6 carat diamond. The diamonds are set in white, yellow and rose gold.

[via The Telegraph]

Perfect for any iPod device or iPhone, the DEOS diamond headphone covers add just a bit of bling to your earphone thing. Depending on the diamonds you choose the price can range from $4,500 in black and white to $60,000 when adding colorful diamonds of yellow and pink hues. If you're going to spend thousands to decorate your earbuds, especially more than $5,000, DEOS (Defining Expressions of Sound) is at least willing throw in a complimentary shuffle or iTouch.

[via Cult of Mac]

The iPhone 3G is a beautiful accessory, yet to be properly attired...till now. Orbino Italy has designed three cases for your iPhone 3G, and each is lovelier than the last. Finally, you can protect and adorn your iPhone without cheap plastic or garish designs.

At right, you see the Strada:
"The Orbino Strada Tre Case transforms your 3G iPhone into a premium Italian accessory with a case entirely stitched by hand in gorgeous Tuscan leather. The case features an open face for easy access and includes Orbino's patented spring-loaded removable combination belt clip and desk stand in polished palladium metal. Prices start at $99."

This is the limited Brown Crocodile edition, available here.

Click below to see the other two new 3G iPhone designs, as well as other elegant, Apple-specific cases from Orbino.

I'm not generally a big fan of diamond-encrusted cell phones but I think the iPhone lends itself to the idea better than others because it's so sleek and has such a limited area where diamonds can be placed. Claiming to be the world's first real diamond-studded iPhone, the Apple iPhone 3G by Swiss jeweler Knalihs Athem is made with 475 brilliant cut diamonds totaling 3.75 carats. Only 50 iPhone 3G handsets will be created on a made-to-order basis, with the first 10 units being sold at the special price of $10,000. iPhones 11-50 will be priced "sharply upwards."

I'm not sure what that translates to exactly but it sounds like if you want one you better move fast.

There's the Swarovski-fied iPhone pouch that Mercedes intro'd during Berlin Fashion Week. Then the "I Am Rich" app came along, soon to be removed by Apple but not before eight eager customers added the illuminating ruby application to their cells. Now, in an attempt to outdo the most luxurious (or at least ostentatious) iPhone accessories, Noreve brings us its hand-crafted leather case adorned with 272 diamonds. That's a whopping 6.8 carats of bling for your 3G. The French company based in St. Tropez has crafted glittering iPhone cases in colors ranging from black to red to a vintage shade of sand.

Available through the Noreve North America website, the case retails for $14,990.

The latest hot iPhone application that has caught everyone's attention is the "I Am Rich" app by developer Armin Heinrich. The app costs $999.99 and displays a glowing ruby-like light. and the words I Am Rich. Open it and it will load which Heinrich calls a secret mantra that may help you you to "stay rich, healthy, and successful." Ridiculous? Certainly, but rather clever too and subtler than having Amosu hook you up with a diamond or gold-covered iPhone.

Technologizer is conducting a poll on whether or not the app should be pulled from the App store. So far it looks like most are in favor of keeping it.

UPDATE: And it's gone. Apple has pulled the app from the store.

3G iPhone, check. Mercedes GLK, check. How to merge the two? Enter a new exclusive "pouch" (more like a Birkin for your cell phone), crafted from white napa leather and glittering in Swarovski crystals to stash your phone. Currently even trickier to come by than an iPhone last Friday, the pouch has been released in a group of just 40 limited editions to be raffled off during this week's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. But they'll come to market in October 2008, along with the GLK, the "compact SUV" (oxymoron, anyone?) that made its stylish debut driving Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall to her first Berlin fashion show.

This is the fanciest case I've seen yet! Not just gold in color, this carbon fiber leather case is studded with forty-two diamonds (3.2 carats total) set in 18K gold. The diamonds are VVS1 clarity and H color making Case-mate's handcrafted Diamond Case very luxurious indeed. Limited quantities are available for $20,000 each. It certainly is quite the accessory for those that already have it all...or those that just need a little extra bling.

[via Shiny Shiny]

Oooooooh, aaaaaaaah. Let the admirers stare and envy you as you not only whip out your new iPhone to answer a call or check your email, but as you whip out your new black iPhone. It's the ccPhone, and it's not only an iPhone modified to be a cool matte black color, but it also comes with a selection of new music, videos, screen art, and even an exclusive address book program.

If you want one you're going to have to get right on it though, as the ccPhone is available in a limited edition of just 50. Preorder only and will ship on November 15th. $2000