Compact Oscar Style

For some people, the Oscars are a fleeting Sunday night TV show, possibly with a quick glance at the news the next morning to find out who won. Then there are us Oscar aficionados who have spent this entire week luxuriating over red carpet photos, wondering whether Jen actually caught Brad and Angelina's eyes and questioning each actresses' choice of dress and designer. Who can blame us? If you let yourself get sucked in, the Oscars are all about glamour, style and star power. Who couldn't use some of that these days?

Immersing yourself in everything Oscar doesn't have to be a totally frivolous exercise; after all, even Hollywood can give it depth. Some of the weekend's most star-studded parties, like Elton John's post-Oscar night bash and Montblanc's event with UNICEF on Friday night, were charity fundraisers. Right now on eBay there's a special two-of-a-kind jeweled compact that's being auctioned off to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. One of these jewelry-meets-makeup creations went to Kate Winslet as congratulations for her best actress win; the other is the eBay item, which is available until March 1.

At the moment, bidding is well under $1,000 — quite a bargain for a piece that's valued at just over $9,000. What makes a compact cost so much? Large amethysts, red rhodolite and pavé diamonds, designed by the French jeweler Carelle (with a bit of help from L'Oreal, who commissioned the piece). It's been dubbed the Courage Compact, since some people believe the purple and red stones offer protection and strength. Needless to say, those are two things ovarian cancer patients could use plenty of ... and money from the eBay auction will go towards research to find a cure for the disease.

Cynics might argue that companies like L'Oreal create items along these lines as Oscar-related publicity gimmicks, but if the money is going to a cause like cancer research, is it really fair to complain? Chances are the auction winner won't be throwing the compact filled with powder into her purse everyday, but if you're going to invest in a bejeweled keepsake, how great is it that a charity benefits from the purchase? With the stock market plummeting, a piece like this seems like an unquestionably solid investment ... plus the added dividend of doing something good with your purchase.

To bid on the Courage Compact, go to eBay.