Nail brands are being inspired by jewels. A glitzy red from Nails Inc’s Galaxy collection is shown.

Nail color and packaging are being inspired by jewelry more often (see Nails Inc.’s Galaxy collection, shown above, which sparkles as much as jewels) – and some brands are even using real diamonds and gemstones in both formulations, as well as on packaging.

Brands are also finding ways to make over-the-top, luxe lacquers accessible to the masses.

A Million Dollar Polish

Back in 2012, Hollywood-based jeweler Azature created Black Diamond – a one-of-a-kind nail polish that the brand claimed was the most expensive lacquer in the world, at $250k.

Azature made one-of-a-kind nail lacquers, like this White Diamond Lacquer, with diamonds in the formula, and on the cap. It was valued at one million dollars.

The diamond-infused formulation contained 267 carats of black diamonds. “Each diamond is fully cut and faceted. The bottle’s cap was platinum, with several small black diamonds encrusted on top. This bottle sold in Fall 2013,” says Alee Mills, director of logistics, Azature.

But then the brand topped itself – and created White Diamond, a one-million-dollar polish.

The lacquer was infused with 98 carats of crushed white diamonds – plus one of Azature’s signature black diamonds. “The bottle’s platinum cap was embedded with 1,400 hand-placed white diamonds set in platinum,” explains Mills.

The $30 Version

Super-expensive, one-of-a-kind lacquers that contain real jewels will no doubt get a company lots of publicity, especially when a celebrity gets a million dollar manicure. The lavender-haired co-host of E! Fashion Police Kelly Osbourne was one of the first celebs to try Azature’s Million Dollar White Diamond Manicure, and she sported the nails on the red carpet at the 2013 Emmy Awards.

But brands like Azature are capitalizing on all the publicity by launching lower-priced versions.

Azature uses plain bottles and caps for its lower-priced collections. The scaled-down White Diamond is $30; and Black Diamond is $25 – still a bit pricey for one bottle of nail polish – but, a bargain considering the price of the originals. Plus, there is a real diamond in every bottle, according to the brand.

Azature Nail Lacquer is sold at Selfridge’s London, Ron Robinson in Los Angeles, and at Kitson. And, the brand is truly accessible to the masses now, since it just launched on HSN in December 2013.

Red Carpet Manicure’s gem-infused, limited edition gel polish is on the left. It inspired the lower priced gel polish shown on the right, which is part of the brand’s new Dazzling Gems collection sold at Ulta. Both bottles have protective coatings to shield the sensitive formulation from UV light.

For 2014, Azature is expanding its line to include 40 additional colors.

RCM Moves from the Red Carpet to Ulta

Red Carpet Manicure (RCM), which manufactures nail polish that must be cured using an LED light, is another brand being inspired by gemstones.

RCM’s original limited edition gel lacquers are fancy

Azature sells its Black Diamond retail collection for $25 to $30 per bottle, and is available in different colors. Each bottle contains one real diamond in its formulation.

formulations that were originally reserved for a few lucky celebrities. They include: Amor 24, made with 24k gold dust (Rihanna was a fan); Your Fortune Awaits, which contains crushed rubies; and Set In Stone, an inky black polish infused with genuine diamond powder, totalling 4 carats.

The three colors made their debut on the nails of nominees and presenters at the 2012 Grammy’s and American Music Awards. This collection is packaged in dark colored bottles, to protect the formula from curing when exposed to UV light.

Now, RCM’s new Dazzling Gems Collection is a scaled down version of the above formulations – in more color options. The polish is still produced with real gemstones, but each bottle retails for just $11.99 at Ulta. “It marks the first time the brand has made its prestigious gem-infused polishes available at retail,” says RCM’s spokesperson.

The gemstones used in the formulations range from emeralds to opals, and they have all been certified by the Gemology Appraisal Laboratory.

“We want consumers to have the same access as A-list stars to our specialty nail shades,” says Barry Shields, managing partner, Red Carpet Manicure. “As nail art becomes more popular, we are thrilled to offer the best on-trend and affordable gel nail color to women who are eager to create dramatic manicures,” he adds.

The “Dazzling Gems” collection has 9 color options, including: a ruby polish, Lady in Red; emerald Emmy-rald-winner; aquamarine Trendsetter; sapphire “Hollywood Icon“; amethyst Fashionista; and opal Stealing the Spotlight.

Mine Luxury Lacquer, a brand co-founded by an artist, sells matching rings that are made by casting acrylic nails in molds. The jewelery is colored in the same way the polish is – using only real gold, silver and other precious materials.

To protect the gel formulation from exposure to UV light, the bottles are colored with a protective coating, which matches the lacquer color.

A Luxe Polish & Matching Ring

One new nail brand is skipping the celebs, the department store consumer, and the masses. The brand Mine Luxury Lacquer targets the consumer who frequents art galleries – and has the disposable income to spend up to $500 on a bottle of 24k gold nail polish.

But there’s a good reason for the high price tag – the nail lacquers are colored using only precious metals, like 24 and 22 karat gold, pure silver, aluminum and graphite.

Mine also has an unusual selling strategy. The nail polish is sold at some art galleries alongside a companion piece of jewelry, designed by Veleta Vancza, the brand’s co-founder. Vancza, an artist and goldsmith, has also created rings to complement each nail lacquer hue. The rings are colored using the same minerals that give each lacquer its color. And, they’re cast in molds using a very unconventional material – acrylic nails.

Mine launched in November 2013 at several art galleries, including the Heidi Lowe Gallery in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which also has an online store. (The nail polish is also sold alone, without the jewelry, on the brand’s website.)

So what about the bottle?

It’s made from hand-cut Austrian crystal – see more about it here.

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Online Exclusive: An Austrian Crystal Bottle for a 24k Nail Polish