Mani Monday with AZATURE!

Disclaimer: I am not a nail blogger or professional (so sometimes I color outside of the lines and my cuticles look a bit ragged). I am merely a girl who LOVES nail polish!

What can make glitter nail polish even better? DIAMONDS!!!! That's right ladies - fine jewelry designer, AZATURE, has followed up the launch of Azature Black Diamond Nail Polish {the most expensive nail polish in the world}, with a more affordable taste of luxury with this Black Diamond  infused nail polish collection - each containing a real black diamond! I was sent a few shades to try out and I have to admit, while I was a bit skeptical to start, I'm truly impressed with the quality of the lacquers! 

The manicure above features Azature Black Diamond Nail Polish in Blue {inspired by the blue diamond's intensely hued shade, which symbolizes balance and inner strength} and Azature Black Diamond Nail Polish in Champagne {inspired by the sparkle of champagne diamonds}. Both polishes are full coverage glitters, with the very popular textured polish finish. They dry down matte, but look VERY pretty with a glossy top coat. I used two coats on each nail to get full opacity.

I'm not going to lie - initially I was a bit disappointed in these polishes. The first shade I swatched was the infamous Black Diamond shade {the $25 version} and I fully expected it to be full coverage and it was not. Don't get me wrong, it is quite pretty as a topper, but you know how let down you can feel when something doesn't quite meet your initial expectations. However, the other shades glittery shades I tried: Blue, Champagne, and White,  were all gorgeous, full coverage glitters. Stayed tuned for next weeks Mani Monday post, where I'll share a mani using White Diamond and Blush - which is actually a beautiful creme shade. 

And now a little background on the AZATURE: 

Bringing new meaning to the phrase, “dripping in diamonds,” AZATURE, known as the “Black Diamond King,” has created the world’s finest beauty brand: a collection of diamond-infused nail polishes that exude the same luxury as his handcrafted jewelry collection. Inspired by his vast influences, from the craftsmanship and mythology of ancient relics and religion, to his cultural heritage, to modern pop icons like Madonna, AZATURE’s work is intellectual and intuitive, timeless and outrageous.

In August 2012, AZATURE redefined luxury when he created the world’s most expensive bottle of nail polish, dedicated to his mother and grandmother whom he refers to as his “black diamonds.” Consisting of 267 carats of full cut and faceted black diamonds, the symbol of eternal love and empowerment, this pricey lacquer retailed for $250,000.

This October, AZATURE has upped the ante by unveiling the world’s first million-dollar White Diamond nail lacquer, dubbed the lustrous “AZATURE White”. With a price tag of $1,000,000, this exquisite lacquer will redefine opulence and glamour in the world of beauty. The bottle contains 98 carats of luminous AZATURE white diamonds with 1,400 individually hand-selected diamonds set in a platinum cap.

Debuted by longtime brand supporters Kelly Osbourne and songstress Toni Braxton at AZATURE’S White Diamond Affair in Hollywood on October 8, 2013, AZATURE has once again rocked the beauty world.

Upon the sale of the million-dollar bottle, AZATURE will graciously donate the proceeds from the bottle to Lupus LA, the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation and Race to Erase MS, three charities close to the hearts of fans Kelly Osbourne and Toni Braxton.

Given the huge worldwide media sensation that ensued after the brand’s controversial first launch, AZATURE created a more consumer-friendly collection of now 30+ diamond-infused shades. Because every woman deserves a diamond, each bottle of the AZATURE Black Diamond Nail Polish, retails at an attainable $25, containing one individually hand-placed black diamond.

For those looking to experience the exclusive AZATURE White $1,000,000 manicure without breaking the bank, AZATURE created a limited edition version featuring an enriched, long-lasting formula and of course, AZATURE’S signature solitary black diamond, priced at $30 (sold exclusively at Kitson retailers).

AZATURE is available at Fred Segal, Ron Robinson, as well as www.azature.com.

So what do you think? Can a nail polish truly be worth $250,000? I'm inclined to believe that if I had that kind of money to spend on diamonds, black or otherwise, I'd prefer something more timeless-like an actual piece of jewelry. But, hey, to each his own and I do like that the proceeds from the sales go to charity. At $25 a pop for the single diamond versions will you be investing in any of the lacquers from AZATURE {they'd make quite the stocking stuffer for any nail art/polish fan? How much is too much for nail polish? I can tell you honestly, that after trying the polish myself, and taking into account that each bottle contains some amount of crushed diamond, I think the $25 price tag is worth it! What about you? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...