Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

Dear Leslie,
I got into a fight with my girlfriend. She thinks I’m behind the times and never get her anything fancy and fashionable. Can you help me find something that’s “in” right now and nice enough that it will help patch things up with her?
Dave in Brooklyn

Dave, I have the perfect thing! No jewelry collection is complete without a pair of diamond studs, and this dazzling pair is featured in this months InStyle Magazine. You can’t more “in” than that.

These are truly a gorgeous gift any girl would love, and incredibly “in style”.

Dear Leslie?
What do you get for an eight wedding anniversary?
Peter in Fort Worth

The traditional gemstone for an eight anniversary is Tourmaline. The stone comes in almost every color but is particularly attractive in pink, which happens to be very in fashion this season.

Obviously you’ll want to take the recipients tastes and lifestyles into account, but perhaps these two items will point you in a good direction.

Try this graceful vintage-inspired Peridot & Pink Tourmaline Pendant or this stunning Pink Tourmaline & Diamond Pendant.

Dear Leslie,
I’m getting married this spring. My girlfriends have been such a help to me, emotionally and logistically throughout the whole process that I really want to get them something to say thank you. As these girls are also my bridesmaids, I would love to get them something to actually wear during the wedding and also thereafter that will always give them the memories of this great day they helped me build. What can you recommend?
Catherine in Richmond, VA

I think that’s a beautiful idea Catherine. I browsed through Ice.com and thier Wedding Boutique section with this is mind.

The first thing that caught my eye were these Diamond Hinged Hoop Earrings and this dramatic White Gold Diamond Ring. Both are classy and perfectly suited for a wedding, but wearable for any fancy occasion.

A little simpler but no less fashionable is this Gold Heart Toggle Pearl Bracelet. Heart toggle bracelets being incredibly popular right now, this is something they’ll be sure to get good use out of.

Dear Leslie,
Can you please enlighten me as to how they determine clarity or a diamond?
Meredith in St. Louis

Among the four “Cs” of diamond value, “clarity” embraces the inner appearance of diamonds. In keeping with the precise nature of determining diamond value, clarity has its own scale of measurement.

Nearly all diamonds have inclusions. Bubbles, specks and lines are inclusions that give each diamond its own inner signature. The clarity scale accounts for these microscopic imperfections. Gems with the fewest inclusions are the rarest and costliest.

So minute are many inclusions that they can be seen only under 10-power magnification. That means your diamond may contain inclusions undetectable to the naked eye. A certificate from the Gemological Institute of America shows their location.

	Internally Flawless	Flawless under 10x magnification
	Very, very small inclusions	Hard to spot under 10x magnification
	Very small inclusions	Noticeable to an expert under 10x magnification
	Small inclusions	Recognized easily under 10x magnification
	Small inclusions	Easily noticed under 10x magnification, with minimal loss of brilliance
	Larger/many inclusions	Visible to the naked eye, with slight dulling of brilliance
	Large/many inclusions	Definite diminishing of brilliance

Pisces is the twelfth and final sign of the Zodiac. Symbolized by two fish, it is a feminine water sign ruled by the planet Neptune.

Pisceans are selfless, spiritual and very focused on their inner journey. They have a highly evolved intuition, and are romantic, compassionate and dreamy.

Famous Pisces include Albert Einstein, George Harrison, and Drew Barrymore.

You can get a beautiful, personal gift for the pisces in your life from Ice.com’s Enchantment or Serenity collection

Dear Leslie,
My senior prom is coming up, and I’m already stressing out. There will be lots of photos and stuff and I really need to look good. My dress is light colors and a rounded neck, what kind of jewelry should I wear?
Jessica in Oklahoma City

Alright Jessica, here’s what I’m thinking; let’s take this gorgeous Button Pearl Necklace with orange, pink, purple, and white pearls. The colors will accent your dress, and the shape will highlight your collarbone, and you can’t help but feel pretty in pearls.

We match that up with this pink mother of pearl bracelet and a pair of pearl stud earrings (or look at this set of three, a great deal!) and you’ve got youlself a drop-dead gorgeous look for prom night.

Dear Leslie,
Help! My gold rings turned my fingers green! Is it an allergy?Do I have to stop wearing them?
Sadie in Eureka, CA

This is happened to just about everybody at one time or another. While it’s quite disconcerting, the good news is you can probably still wear them with a few simple tricks.

While jewelry allergies are one of the most common allergies we have, staining is generally caused by a simple reaction between our skin and the metals in the jewelry, particularly in areas we tend to perspire.

When mixed with salt, or sodium chloride (think perspiration) the natural oxidation process of certain metals renders the wearers skin green or black. While gold on its own shouldn’t cause any skin discoloration, it is the metals often mixed with gold, copper, nickel or gold, that do. Gold that is at least 18K shouldn’t cause a problem.

To get rid of the problem, here’s a few suggestions;

Keep the rings clean and don’t wear them while working out. You can try brushing the inside of your rings with clear fingernail polish about once a week.

If those simple things don’t work, taking the piece to a jeweler and ask if it can be coated with a new layer of metal or a clear coating.

If the problem persists, you might think about switching to platnum or titanium jewelry.

Dear Leslie,
Can you point me in the right direction? My wife wants me to find her something simple and classy for Valentines Day, but there’s so much out there I hardly know where to begin. Can you help?
Richard in Boston

Finding the right thing can be daunting, but that precisely what I’m here to help with. Here’s what I’m thinking; Pearls. A pearl necklace veritably symbolizes simple elegance, and within the category there are enough options and variables that you can surely find something you like that fits your budget, as they range anywhere from $50 to several thousand.

Take a look at the collection, see what stirs you.

Dear Leslie,
The big day is coming, and I have no one to buy me a Valentines Day gift! Is it cheesy to get one for myself?
Maya in Deerwood MN

I say, never miss an opportunity to celebrate something. Go right ahead! Or, if it still strikes you as a little funny than find another single girlfriend and get each other gifts. You’ll probably know each other’s taste than a casual boyfriend anyway. Make a party of it
And remember, order from Ice.com before Feb 9 for guaranteed on time delivery.

February’s purple birthstone has been found among the possessions of royalty throughout the ages. Its color is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its color and beauty. Although it is a member of the quartz family, at one point Amethyst was actually considered more valuable than diamonds.

Amethyst and the color purple are associated with the body’s crown chakra energy point, and the gemstone symbolizes love, honesty, and hope.

While we tend to associate red hearts as a symbol of Valentine’s day, legend has it that St. Valentine actually favored amethysts. It is said that the Saint wore an amethyst with an engraved image of his assistant, Cupid.

What a perfect gift for Valentines Day. It’s stunning beauty will certainly make anyone who wears it feel like royalty!

I particularly like the stunning necklace pictured above, these elegant earrings, and this artisan-inspired bracelet.