Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

Dear Leslie,

Brooke in TX

A watch is the smartest graduation gift ever. Getting a grad a watch like the Joya Ladies Sterling Silver 1/5 Carat Diamond Watch with Violet Strap above is a way to balance fun, fashion, and economy. At just $150, this is a reasonably priced graduation gift. To be sure, it’s one graduation gift that will be used! This watch features a violet snake grain leather strap that sets off the mother of pearl dial and the 40 diamonds in the bezel. It’s a great look! If purple isn’t the perfect color, there are many more to choose from.

Dear Leslie,
I love the look of diamond earrings but I am having a hard time finding options in my budget. Can you help me find something substantial that fits my budget?

Sarah in AZ

By using a combination of smaller, less expensive (but not less exquisite) stones, the designer of these earrings is able to really pack a punch with their design. These 1/2 Carat Princess Cut Diamond 14K White Gold Earrings feature eighteen sparkling princess-cut diamonds that are invisibly set on glistening white gold settings. So many diamonds! Grouped together they make for a dramatic look and from afar the diamonds appear to be just one large stone. This is a great way to get more impact on a budget.

You know the old saying for weddings - something borrowed…something blue… Well, I never thought I would suggest wearing blue gems with your wedding gown, however this 8-9mm Cultured Freshwater Pearl and Blue Swarovski Crystal Sterling Silver Necklace pairs the look of pearls with a hint of light blue to a magical result. If you’re considering a pearl necklace as a wedding accessory, you really must consider this necklace. Pearls are the essence of classic elegance and beauty and many women wear them at their wedding. This gorgeous necklace features lovely white, cultured freshwater pearls, sized between 8 and 9mm, and delicate sky-blue Swarovski crystals.

May’s birthstone is emerald! These beautiful stones can occur in nearly every shade of green, and come from exotic places like Colombia, Brazil, India and Madagascar. It should come as no surprise that emeralds have been prized for their beauty since antiquity, and are even mentioned in the Bible. Celebrate your sweetheart’s May birthday with this beautiful diamond and pear-cut emerald white gold pendant. Jewelry fans are fortunate that emeralds look great cut a number of different ways, and the gorgeous gleam of the glamorous pear-cut emerald in this pendant is highlighted by three sparkling diamonds. Give it today for just $195!

More love than cash this Mother’s Day? Never fear. You can still give Mom a beautiful piece of jewelry this Mother’s Day. Here’s a pair of beautiful iolite and sterling silver earrings. Twelve rich-hued blue-violet round-cut iolites are set in a shining sterling silver setting. These are beautiful, elegant earrings that will fit any wardrobe - and any budget. They’re only $50 - which can be split into two convenient, affordable monthly payments of $25!

By now, you all know how much I love colored pearls, especially chocolate pearls! Pearls are usually displayed in a simple setting, but it never hurts to show them off a little bit. Here, two gleaming drop-shaped freshwater chocolate pearls are set into a fourteen-carat setting studded with dazzling diamonds. This unique and glamorous earring set can be yours - or Mom’s! - for just $295.

Can’t pick a stone to surprise Mom with this Mother’s Day? Run the option play with this eight carat multi-gemstone fourteen-carat bracelet. Cheerful citrine, sky-blue topaz, elegant peridot, mystical amethyst, glamorous garnet, rosy rhodolite, and regal iolite are oval-cut and alternated in prong settings around this beautiful seven-inch bracelet. (Your mother is sure to have something that matches it!) Give Mom this wearable rainbow for just $295 - with free Fedex shipping and guaranteed Mother’s Day delivery if you buy today!

Dear Leslie,

Will in San Antonio

Dear Will,

Opals require a little extra care, but the shimmering beauty of an opal is well worth the little bit of extra time they take. The absolute most important thing to remember about caring for an opal is to remove it any time it might be scratched or damaged. Opals are among the softest gemstones, about the same hardness of glass, so it’s important to keep them from hazards. To clean them, simply wife them with a damp cloth, with perhaps a little mild detergent. Never, never, never have an opal piece cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, and this can crack them. Opals are most commonly seen in rings, but why not keep these delicate beauties out of harms way by choosing ones set into earrings? These opal and iolite gold earrings feature iridescent three-carat opals and rich, royal purple iolites in a simple gold setting. This is a gorgeous, regal piece that, at $225, costs far less than a king’s ransom!

Nothing beats pearls for elegance. With diamond and white gold accents, these earrings are perfection. They’re just the thing for Mother’s Day. These 18Kt White Gold 11-12mm South Sea Cultured Pearl and Diamond Earrings feature rare, luminous South Sea pearls paired with round, brilliant diamonds in white gold settings complete with Omega backs.

It’s not too late!!! There are two days left for FedEx shipping that will have your gift delivered by Mother’s Day!!!

I want to take advantage of this festive occasion to show off a lovely piece of turquoise jewelry. A large oval-cut turquoise is set in a fourteen-karat gold ring detailed with three diamonds on each side. This is a great piece of Southwestern style that will be a great addition to your accessory cabinet. No color is more distinctive than turquoise, and you can use this to add a bright, memorable note to any evening outfit - and since the ring is only $225, you’ll have plenty of funds left to shop for an outfit to match it!

You still have time to find a gift for Mother’s Day, but time is running short! Speaking of time (subtle, eh?), look at this beautiful lapis lazuli and sterling silver woman’s watch by Julie Leah. Each link in the band features a beautiful blue cabochon cut lapis lazuli, and the mechanism of the watch itself is backed by a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. The face of the watch is mother-of-pearl and marked in sterling silver. A great gift for mom, or any special woman in your life - and a great deal at only $95!

Never fear, readers - I’m by your side during the runup to Mother’s Day! If nothing else I’ve mentioned recently has caught your eye, take a look at these chocolate diamond and pink gold star earrings. A pink gold star encloses a heart encrusted with ten chocolate diamonds. This is a fun and happy piece that is equally at home on a lazy afternoon with friends as with an evening out on the town. Give them to Mom this Mother’s Day - that’s nine days away! - for only $95.

This Mother’s Day, there’s no excuse for not getting Mom some gorgeous jewelry. There’s no color more beautiful than the clear, rich purple of amethyst, and it’s showcased magnificently in this 14-karat sterling silver and amethyst bracelet. Twenty-six octagonal cut amethysts shine out of a delicate sterling silver setting. This is a beautiful and timeless piece anyone will be proud to own - and at $85, it’s a gift that shows what’s in your heart without damaging what’s in your wallet.

Yes, it is possible to give Mom an elegant and memorable jewelry gift this Mother’s Day for under $100! In my searches, I found many high quality pieces that would make perfect Mother’s Day gifts. In particular, these 14K White and Yellow Gold Diamond Heart Earrings for just $85 will make this Mother’s Day a special one. Two tones of precious metal are beautifully combined in these romantic, versatile earrings. Due to the two tones of gold, these earrings can be matched with yellow gold, white gold, platinum and silver jewelry! The stylized heart designs are exquisitely crafted from warm yellow and cool white golds and accented with twinkling diamonds. These precious earrings feature traditional post backs.

I’ve made it my personal mission this year to make sure all of my readers’ mothers receive beautiful jewelry this Mother’s Day. One of the best gifts I’ve seen this year is this 14-karat yellow gold and diamond butterfly pendant. This is a light and graceful piece that will bring a smile to any mother’s face. You’ll be smiling, too - not only because you’ve given a great gift, but because you did it for only $165! As an added bonus, ice.com is offering free shipping on all orders over $150, and guaranteed Mother’s Day delivery on orders received before 1 P.M., Wednesday, May 7th!

May 5th is the one hundred and forty-sixth anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexican army dealt the French army a crushing defeat. Today, this is celebrated in the United States with a celebration of all things Mexican, especially tequila, salsa… and turquoise! Show your Cinco de Mayo spirit with this beautiful turquoise bead bangle by Andrea Barna. Cubic turquoise beads are attached by short links all around this lovely sterling silver bracelet, allowing them to move slightly and give this piece a festive and exotic feel. Wear it your next fiesta for only $175!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner - exactly two weeks from today! Show your appreciation for Mom with this lovely freshwater pearl and green Swarovski crystal bracelet. Delicate pale green Swarovski crystals alternate with luminous freshwater pearls in a beautiful two-strand bracelet. The luster of the pearls alternating with the twinkle of the diamonds produces an arresting effect in light that any mom will be thrilled to wear. Buy it today (and beat the last-minute rush!) for just $35.

Dear Leslie,

Ron in TN

Well, the first step is asking for help! Good for you! It’s great to involve the children in picking out a Mother’s Day gift. This is what the holiday is all about. However, children don’t always have developed and sophisticated tastes in jewelry. My suggestions is “limited choice”. Limited choice means find two or three pieces you think your wife will like at Ice.com. Then get your kids around the computer and ask them which ones they like out of just those two or three pieces you’ve pre-selected. Get their feedback and then make a decision with their help. Of course this isn’t as easy as just signing their names to a gift you chose. However selecting a gift this way will be so much more meaningful!

One way you can help make Mommy sparkle is with this pair of Cultured Freshwater Pearl and Diamond 14K Gold Earrings. At just $75, these earrings will fit any Mother’s Day budget. These elegant earrings feature round, luminous, white 6.5-7mm cultured freshwater pearls, accented with diamonds, and suspended on delicate 14k gold European latch wires.

This is the second part of a series highlighting wonderful jewelry investments that you can make with your upcoming economic stimulus package payments. You can read my first post about a fabulous diamond ring here. To help jumpstart the economy, the IRS is sending taxpayers like you and me between $300 and $600 each to spend any way we like.

If you do not have a classic gold chain, using this windfall to gift yourself with this 14K Yellow Gold Necklace is a perfect way to go. The beauty of warm, gleaming yellow gold is on display in this spectacular necklace priced at just $495. A classic sleek snake chain is exquisitely crafted from lustrous yellow gold and finished with a secure clasp. This very versatile look is elegant and you’ll find yourself wearing this piece all the time

I’m sure a lot of you upcoming June brides have been running through your checklists and making sure everything is set for the big day. Make sure you don’t forget something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue! If you’re really stressing, why not combine something new and something blue by purchasing this lovely sapphire, diamond, and white gold pendant. A graceful, symmetrical design hold a four diamonds and three sapphires. This is a delicate piece that will accentuate, not overpower, your look for your special day. Best of all, at $150, it won’t make the slightest dent in your honeymoon funds!