Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

A wedding is a special time and brings together two families in a special way. Gifts at this time can be especially meaningful. We all know about gifts for the bride and groom, but it is a nice gesture to give gifts to other members of the wedding party. There are no hard and fast rules for this type of gift giving and it just depends on the emotional connections in your family. The mother of the bride has so much work to do in preparation for the wedding and a gift for her at this time would be a wonderful idea. A gift from the groom or the groom’s family would be thoughtful.

Mother of pearl would be perfect for the mother of the bride! A gift of these mother of pearl 14K yellow gold flower earrings is a great way to show your love and appreciation. The graceful curves are feminine and the blossoms of mother of pearl will go perfectly with a variety of outfits. They’re budget friendly too at just $75.

This freshwater cultured pearl 14K gold heart toggle bracelet is an elegant take on the classic pearl bracelet. The heart toggle is sweet and a wonderful way to remember the mother of the bride during the wedding celebrations. This bracelet is a bargain at just $75.

Many women wear “family” jewelry where the stones in the piece represent their children with their birthstones. I love this idea. This 13 carat multigemstone sterling silver oval pendant with chain is a wonderful complement to family jewelry pieces. This piece reminds me of a beautiful stained glass window and is offered at an amazing price of just $37.50! It’s on sale for a limited time so get shopping!

From a comment: Can you tell me the difference between platinum and rhodium? Thanks, Basha

Basha,

Platinum and rhodium are closely related, part of the same group on the periodic table, and rhodium is found in platinum ore when it is mined.

Rhodium, however, in unique in that it’s even more expensive than platinum – in fact, the most expensive of all the precious metals, which means it’s hard to come by solid rhodium jewelry. But it’s often used as an alloy, both with platinum jewelry and metals like white gold.

Hope that clears everything up for you.

The grass green shimmer of peridot is the birthstone for August. It’s a stone that is said to ward off evil and keep you from having nightmares. It’s a refreshing color for everyday but particularly well suited for pastels and earth tones.

You can bring the beautiful shade of peridot into your wardrobe with these peridot and diamond briolette drop earrings. These earrings will work with many other styles of jewelry – from beads to gold chains. I really like the way the warm yellow gold accents the fresh green color. These elegant earrings are just $175.

This stunning 4 3/4 carat cushion-cut peridot and diamond 14K white gold ring shows the strength of this stone’s color. It would be a wonderful accessory to a business suit or a cocktail party dress. The cushion cut adds depth and the diamonds provide sparkle and shine. Together they combine to make this ring a true work of art.

Dear Leslie,
My wife is turning 30 in a few weeks and I have no clue what to get her. I’d like to buy her something nice, but don’t even know where to begin. Help!
John in CA

Well, jewelry is always a wonderful gift for any birthday but especially appropriate for the big 3-0. Not knowing your wife’s personal style, I’ll give you some recommendations that any woman would love.

You can’t go wrong with a fabulous tennis bracelet for a birthday gift. This 1 1/6 carat 8 inch tennis bracelet in 10K yellow gold is exquisite. The highly polished gold bands in between the diamonds add a unique design feature to this particular bracelet. It’s a great gift at just $335.

If you’d rather get your wife earrings, these 1/4 carat diamond and 14K white gold round earrings are the way to go. They have a classic design that will allow her to wear them with just about anything. The graceful circles of diamonds remind me of flowers and are very feminine for just $295.

If you want to give your wife something extra special, you should surprise her with this incredible 1 carat graduating diamond circle pendant in 14K white gold. The circle pendant is all the rage in Hollywood right now and has been seen on all of the biggest stars. It’s a great way to wear diamonds and add sparkle because the circle really makes a big statement. This pendant comes with a 18 inch white gold chain that displays it perfectly. It is a birthday gift your wife will truly cherish.

Dear Leslie,
I am getting married this fall. I have already ordered my dress and now I am looking for accessories. Do you have a few suggestions for wedding earrings? My dress is a classic style with touches of lace. Many thanks!
Meredith in Orlando

There are so many decisions to be made before your special day! However, with a little planning and lots of help from others, the whole process can be much easier. I am happy to give you a couple of suggestions for earrings that will be perfect for any bride on her wedding day.

Nothing could be more perfect for wedding earrings than a diamond and pearl combination. It is romantic, elegant, and classic. With your hair done up or down, these 14K white gold diamond and cultured rice pearl drop earrings are the wedding earrings girls dream about. The feminine curves of the design evoke thoughts of romance and love with their gentle heart shape. The white pearls will look terrific with any wedding gown.

At just $165, this pair of diamond and pearl earrings are a great way for a bride to wear real gems down the aisle without breaking the bank. Again, these earrings feature a romantic heart design and the pearls are generous and beautiful. They will complement both modern and more traditional wedding gowns.

These diamond earrings in 14K white gold with a floral design are wonderful for any bride, but I think that they would specifically fit the needs for a more mature woman. The lacy interlocking petals of the diamond flowers will echo the lace in your dress. 124 sparkling diamonds grace these earrings. Moreover, these earrings will have a life past your wedding day. They’d be a great choice for a wide array of special occasions in your happy future!

Dear Leslie,
My wife is graduating from nursing school soon and I’d like to get her something to celebrate. Do you have any recommendations of things she can wear with her uniform?
Rob in Kansas

Nursing is one the toughest professions. These hard working people are really at the front lines of our healthcare system and are vital! The job of nursing is very demanding and often requires a special uniform. The type of nursing really impacts the kind of jewelry that can be worn. However, small earrings are a good choice. You don’t want anything big and dangly that might interfere with work or become a hazard. I’ve picked out a few that will be great for nurses or any profession that’s active and requires a special uniform.

These 1/4 carat diamond heart earrings in 14K white gold are perfect for nurses. The small hearts show how much you care and will bring a little bit of joy to patients. These diamond earrings are a romantic twist on the classic diamond stud. They are versatile and will look great with scrubs or an evening gown.

For just $125, these 8-8.5mm Akoya cultured pearl earrings in 14K yellow gold are perfect earrings for a hard working nurses. Pearls should be a part of any woman’s jewelry wardrobe. They are so versatile and classy. Pearl earrings are the perfect way to add an elegant touch to any uniform.

For a touch of feminine color these 1 1/4 carat Rose de France and diamond earrings in 14K white gold are a great choice for nurses. The delicate purple of the Rose de France, a member of the amethyst family, is like a breath of fresh air. It’s light and lovely. The diamonds add a special sparkle to these earrings that have an amazing price at just $95!

Dear Leslie,
I am having an “I have nothing to wear” moment. There is a party that I’ve been invited to in a couple of days, but I am not excited by any of the jewelry in my collection. Do you have any suggestions for pieces that would be perfect for a party but versatile enough for the office?
Nicole in Idaho

Nothing is more versatile than a piece that features different colors of gold. This 14K tri-color gold ball charm necklace features yellow, white, and rose gold is a great example. That means it will work with just about any other precious metal you have in your jewelry box. The gold balls are festive and create a decorative look that is great for a party but will add shine to your business outfits too.

These 14K yellow gold 12mm ball earrings are the perfect earrings to wear with the necklace above. Even by themselves these earrings are fabulous and a great way to take a break from hoops. They’re on sale right now for just $94!

Dear Leslie,
My daughter is starting high school in a couple of days and I want to get her something special to celebrate. It’s important to me that she feels beautiful on this exciting day. Do you have any recommendations?
Hannah in Chicago

I remember my first day of high school like it was yesterday. I was so nervous – meeting the teachers, finding my locker, and the boys! Ugh! It’s a lovely idea for you to get something special for your daughter on this big day. In tough moments she’ll be able to look at it and remember how much you care about her.

This gold heart charm bracelet with a toggle clasp has the perfect sentiment. It’s sweet but not too juvenile. The toggle clasp is sophisticated and the heart adds a gentle touch. It’s perfect for engraving too.

Another perfect choice for back to school is this lovely 14K yellow gold and cubic zircona locket. You can tuck a picture of yourself inside and make this piece extra special. The floral details on the engraving help make this piece suitable for everyday and the cubic zirconia adds a little sparkle. It’s a great way to say, “I love you and good luck!”

Dear Leslie,
Are pink pearls real pearls?
Dawn in Mississippi

Pearls are mysterious and that adds to their distinctive beauty and romance. Pearls are unique among gems because they are made by a living creatures – types of mollusks. Those animals create pearls in a variety of colors inlcuding pink. Pink pearls are real pearls. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and osme people prefer pink. Pink pearls can be a wonderful choice for people with fair skin tones.

These fabulous pink cultured freshwater pearl earrings in 14K gold really show off the beauty of pink pearls. They are a wonderful way to add warmth and grace to any outfit. These $60 earrings are perfect for the office and other occasions that require a classic look.

A little sparkle punches up this 18 inch strand of pink cultured freshwater pearls. Pink Swarovski crystals add a unique touch and allows you to pair this necklace with a party dress for an extra special look – very pretty in pink! It’s a more youthful look and will also look fabulous with pink topaz!

Dear Leslie,
I’ve always wondered about pink gold. Most gold that I see is yellow or white gold. Can you tell me what pink gold is exactly?
Thanks,
Sarah in New Haven

Gold in its pure form is a yellow metallic element but it’s too soft to use in jewelry that way. Most of the time, gold is mixed with other metals to make something called an alloy. An alloy is simply a mixture of two or more metals. Pink gold, sometimes called rose gold or red gold, is a gold alloy where the amount of silver has been reduced and the amount of copper has been increased. So, pink gold is really gold with copper added to give it a special rose color.

This 14K polished pink gold wavy bangle is diamond cut to give it some terrific sparkle. It’s a wonderful example of pink gold. This bangle is a great piece to add to your jewelry collection and will help you stand out compared to the sea of yellow and white gold. It’s definitely unique and it’s just $95!

Another wonderful way to accessorize with pink gold is with these lovely 14K polished pink gold drop earrings. Bringing warmth and grace to any outfit, these pink gold earrings are just $140 for an incredible look. The rose tones of the gold bring out fresh, peachy colors in your skin and look stunning in any light.