Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

Dear Leslie,
What’s a good gift for my 60 year old mother in law?
Dale in Waupaca, WI

When a woman gets to a certain age, she looks best in jewelry with a little gravitas and oomph. Also considering the family dynamics that might be involved, you want to get something impressive, but not over the top.

The yellow gold and ruby earrings shown above might just be the perfect thing. The vivid red of rubies are perfectly festive for the holiday season, and will brighten up the rest of the year as well. The stylish asymmetrical design adds a slightly modern touch telling her you know she’s still with the times. At only $150 you can impress without breaking the bank.

Dear Leslie,
What are baroque pearls? I think “baroque” and I think gaudy taste in interior design.
Carey in Knoxville

While Baroque style in art used exaggerated motion and detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur, Baroque pearls are far from “gaudy.”

The term is used to signify pearls which are not round in shape. Because of the irregularity of shape, Baroque pearls offer a unique appeal for those seeking a twist of individuality to a classic necklace.

Pictured here is a stunning Baroque Black Tahitian Pearl Necklace.

Sagittarius, the ninth Sign of the Zodiac, is the home of the wanderers of the Zodiac. It’s not a mindless ramble for these folks, either. Sagittarians are truth-seekers, and the best way for them to do this is to hit the road, talk to others and get some answers. Knowledge is key to these folks, since it fuels their broad-minded approach to life. The Sagittarian-born are keenly interested in philosophy and religion, and they find that these disciplines aid their internal quest. At the end of the day, what Sagittarians want most is to know the meaning of life, and if they accomplish this while feeling free and easy, all the better.

Sagittarians are symbolized by an archers arrow which symbolizes the projection of self toward new horizons both literally (long voyages of exploration) and metaphorically (deep or far reaching studies, new ideals, new spheres of activities).

If you’re looking for a birthday gift this month, consider one of these necklaces to remind the Saggitarian in your life to think big and follow thier quests.

As if you needed one more reason to shop online, Ice.com has announced free shipping on all orders. That’s totally free, no matter how much the order.

Don’t worry, it’s still the same reliable FedEx service, but now it arrives safely at you door for free, making holiday shopping even easier.

Dear Leslie,
My mother just adores winter. I’ve never been a huge fan myself, but she finds the whole season magical. I’m trying to get everyone personal presents this year, and if I can find the perfect piece of winter jewelry, I would love to get it for my mother. Can you help?
Denise in St. Paul

Denise, I have the perfect thing. This sparkling snowflake necklace. I love the graceful and evocative design and all the shimmering diamonds.

Also you should know that for a limited time you can win one of these fabulous necklaces from Ice.com. Just go to the homepage and click on the link to the right for a chance to win!

Dear Leslie,
My wife is an artist with eclectic tastes. She generally doesn’t like traditional gemstone jewelry, but I would still like to get her something nice for the holidays. Do you have any recommendations of a necklace a little off the beaten path?
Aston in Flagstaff, AZ

A few things come to mind. The first one is this fantastic turquoise necklace. Turquoise is very fashionable these days and yet remains unique because of the individual shape of each stone. In this necklace, three strands of turquoise are accented by sterling silver for a look that is a perfect alternative to traditional gemstone jewelry.


For a very different look in the same style try this red coral necklace. Where turquoise is cool, the red-orange tones of this coral is vibrant and alive while still being fabulously laid back.

Yet another way to go is with this warm luminous tiger eye necklace.

Best of all, all of these options are very reasonably priced. Not one is over $100, making sure you can impress your wife without breaking the bank!

Dear Leslie,
With Christmas right around the corner already I want to start shopping soon to avoid the crunch. I’ve always felt jewelry is the perfect gift for almost any occasion, but of course it is a very personal object as well. If I buy now, will the people I give to at Christmas still be able to return or exchange the items if they prefer something different?
Carolyn in St. Paul

Carolyn, your timing is perfect. November is a great time to get the bulk of your Christmas shopping out of the way. It is always best to save your self the peace of mind and avoid the holiday crunch. Not only that, but you needn’t worry if the recipients of your gifts prefer something else. Each item from Ice.com comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. How’s that for peace of mind?

Dear Leslie
I need the perfect gift, something classy that stands out for blue eyed girl, except I need it to cost me no more that $100. Can we make it happen?
Craig in Salt Lake City

I’m happy to help. You mentioned the girl in question has blue eyes, so the first think that came to mind is this stunning and unique Aquamarine pendant. I just love the design and the gorgeous light blue hue of aquamarine will make her eyes sparkle. 1 carat of Aquamarine, with diamonds and white gold for $95 makes this a spectacular deal for a spectacular necklace.

Alternatively, you can try this oval shaped Aquamarine pendant for a more classic look. Also $95.

Another option is this freshwater pearl necklace and earring set. Get both for just $75. The multi colored pearls and a twist of originality to the classic pearl necklace. When accompanied by the earrings, it becomes a dynamic duo that’s sure to make any woman shine.

What better stone could there be for the month of November? Just as we’re all getting a little blue from the shorter days and cold weather, along comes glorious yellow Citrine, warm as Van Gogh’s sunflowers, to brighten our days.

As you can probably guess, the word Citrine comes from the French “citron”, meaning lemon, referring to it’s golden color. In ancient times, Citrine was used to ward off evil thoughts and the same can be true today. The colors we wear affect our mood more than we know, and Citrine is a great gemstone to wear to scare off the winter doldrums!

Citrine is a hardy gemstone, but should avoid prolonged exposure to heat. With that simple precaution, Citrine jewelry will last for generations.
I’ve included some of my favorite pieces of Citrine jewelry in this post. One of the many reasons to love Citrine is that fact that it is quite an affordable gemstone. Nothing in this post is over $115. Citrine are a great way to step out in style without breaking the bank.

In addition to those pieces shown here, I also want to point you to these stunning Citrine earrings, like the ones worn by Cate Blanchett at the 2005 Oscar Awards. See them HERE