Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

Dear Leslie,
I really like the look of topaz – especially blue topaz. I have several pieces of topaz jewelry and was wondering if you could tell me more about it. How should I be taking care of my topaz jewelry? Thanks!
Bridgett in Athens, GA

Topaz, the birthstone for November, has been a beloved gem for centuries. The Romans associated topaz, because of its bright sparkle, with Jupiter, the god of the Sun. Even further back, ancient Egyptians believed that topaz was made from the golden glow of the Sun god Ra. Wearing topaz is said to dispel all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight as well! The ancient Greeks believed that topaz had the power to make its wearer invisible in times of emergency and increase strength. Its mystical curative powers were though to change with the phases of the moon!

Brazil and Sri Lanka is where you can find brown, yellow, orange, sherry, red and pink topaz. Pink topaz is also found in Russia and Pakistan. There is also blue topaz, which has a pale to medium blue color created by irradiation.

Topaz is a very tough gemstone but should be protected from hard knocks. A single blow in the right place can split a topaz, a trait it shares with a diamond.

A perfect example of the beauty and elegance of topaz is reflected in this incredible London blue topaz, sky blue topaz and diamond pendant in 14 white gold. The two cool tones of blue topaz coordinate beautifully and make a perfect piece for the office or evening wear.

The glamorous and flirty side of topaz is shown in this dramatic pink and white topaz sterling silver ring. This ring is on sale right now for just $45! It is an amazing deal on this stunning ring featuring the luscious rose hue of pink topaz.

All those magical qualities I mentioned above are definitely represented in this beautiful mystic topaz and diamond 14K gold bracelet. A special enhancing treatment helps create the unique red, green, violet, and blue flashes that shine from the mystic topaz. The oval mystic topaz and accented with 16 diamonds and set in beautiful 10K yellow gold.

The golden brown luster of tiger’s eye has been catching our eye for centuries. It has a changeable silky luster as light is reflected within the exotic bands of this gemstone. Many legends of tiger’s eye say that this gem is beneficial for health and spiritual well being. Many consider this stone to be a psychic protector, great for business, and an aid for achieving clarity. Tiger’s Eye is the Planetary stone for Gemini (May 21-Jun 20) and is the accepted gem for the ninth wedding anniversary. That makes this 14K gold over sterling silver tiger’s eye and cultured freshwater pearl necklace perfect for the office or a special gift. It would be beautiful with a cream or white blouse and brown slacks – a very versatile look!

These 14K gold over sterling silver tiger’s eye and cultured freshwater pearl earring are the perfect matching earrings for the necklace. They are sexy and fun! They’re definitely a must for a tiger’s eye lover!

This luminous, casual and super fashionable sterling silver tiger’s eye necklace is on sale for just $32! The polished round beads of tiger’s eye gracefully twist in this double strand design. …and it’s just $32!

Dear Leslie,
I have a basic pair of pearl earrings that I have had forever. I would like to find some accessories other than a classic pearl necklace that I can wear with them. Do you have any recommendations?
Sarah in Arizona

A basic pair of pearl earrings is a jewelry wardrobe staple – you have to have a pair! Sometimes it is hard to find fresh, new ways of wearing our favorite old pieces. This cultured freshwater pearl and diamond 14K white gold pendant is a perfect choice to update those earrings! This pendant recalls the elegance and grace of a previous era but has a contemporary feeling that makes it perfect for today. The 17 inch chain makes it a perfect length for a variety of necklines. The cutout design keeps this piece light and fun while making a dramatic statement.

If you are really adventurous, you might want to try this out-of-this-world black diamond and cultured freshwater pearl 14K white gold ring. Just imagine your “little black dress” with your pearl earrings and this ring for a Friday night out. It makes a very unique statement for the right person.

Begin to think out of the box with your pearl accessories. There are lots of options out there if you’re willing to be a little daring and creative!

Dear Leslie,
My parents are approaching their fiftieth wedding anniversary, and I wanted to commemorate the occasion by buying my mother something nice. Any suggestions in the jewelry department?

First of all, Katy, congratulations to your parents. To see a couple reach fifty years together is inspiring for everyone, married or not.

Now, on to the jewelry. Of course, the 50th wedding anniversary is the Golden Anniversary, so something simple and golden would make the best gift for your mother. I would personally recommend a nice bracelet, like this intricate 14K Gold bracelet for $350.

And this bracelet made of intertwining 14K yellow and white gold is not only lovely and unique, but a representation of a long-lasting love and a successful marriage, the two different golds coming together to make something beautiful – and it costs only $227.

Here’s to hoping it’s a great anniversary for your parents.

Dear Leslie,
I have a citrine ring that my husband recently bought me for an anniversary gift and I wanted to know the best way to care for it and keep it clean.

Lucky you – citrine is one of my personal favorite gemstones. It’s not very common, so wearing citrine jewelry automatically makes you stand out from the crowd a bit, and who can help but love that cheerful yellow hue? It positively glows in the sunlight.

Anyway, onto your question. Citrine can be cleaned pretty much like any other gemstone. Like all jewelry (except maybe for diamonds), try to make sure your citrine isn’t subjected to sharp blows or scratches. For cleaning, just use suds (and dry well afterwards) or use a standard jewelry cleaner. And try to not to sunbathe in citrine – it can become faded with extended exposure to sun.

Hope this answered your question!

Dear Leslie,
What’s the best way to clean white gold jewelry? Is there any difference in cleaning white gold and cleaning normal yellow gold?

Unlike yellow gold, white gold is plated in rhodium. Therefore, it’s good to have your white gold jewelry replated every once in awhile (you should be able to do this at any good jewelry store in your area).

Between replatings, it can be cleaned like any other gold: just use suds to clean off any grime then restore it to its polish with a clean, dry cloth. Easy!

Dear Leslie,I notice you link to Ice.com for jewelry examples. Is there an advantage to shopping online as opposed to in a physical store? It’s hard to shop without being able to try jewelry on sometimes.

Dear Rachel,

You’re smart to ask. The reason I support online retailers like Ice.com is that buying jewelry online from a large jewelry website is almost like buying it wholesale.

You see, a major online retailer moves enough product that it can afford to keep prices lower and still make a profit. Your local jeweler is a smaller business and as such jewelry you buy in a store in a mall or shopping center will be significantly marked up, much more than the markup on a large online store. That’s how the business works.

Of course, you’re also right about not being able to try before you buy, but that’s what free return-and-exchange policies are for, right?

Dear Leslie,
My only daughter is getting married on June 20th, and in keeping with a family tradition, I would like to buy her a special piece of jewelry to wear with her wedding dress. Her dress is ivory-colored, strapless and well-fitted, no puffy skirt or frills, and I was wondering what sort of jewelry would go well with this style?
Barbara in Savannah

Slim-fitting, “simpler” wedding dresses are often the easiest to accessorize since the jewelry does not need to compete with the dress for attention. There are lots of options when choosing jewelry for a bride, but it is always good to keep in mind the bride’s personal style so that she will feel comfortable wearing your gift.

Earrings are often the best choice when choosing a gift for a bride, as many brides choose to style their hair in a manner that highlights the face, making earrings more noticeable. Pearls and diamonds are both popular styles, and this pair of stunning diamond and pearl drop earrings makes it easy to understand why. The combination of pearl and diamonds (encased in white gold) captures the bride’s elegance and highlights her beauty and by pairing pearls and diamonds, these earrings are guaranteed to match almost any dress or other jewelry which the bride may choose to wear.

You mentioned that your daughter’s dress is ivory colored, an increasingly popular color choice. Although it is possible to wear most white pearls with ivory, you may want to consider this magnificent pair of golden south sea pearls, depending on the exact shade of the dress. These earrings are good for deep ivory or cream dresses, as they will complement rather than contrast the dress shade.

It is harder for me to recommend necklaces without knowing the exact neckline of the dress, but I would like to highlight one of my personal favorites, this amazing diamond and pearl chandelier necklace, pictured to the right. The chandelier style pendant lies close to the neck, highlighting the collar bone and illuminating both face and dress.

If you would like to peruse other necklace options yourself, there are plenty of styles to choose from in Ice.com’s special bridal gifts section.

June babies are lucky enough to have not one, but two birthstones to choose from, Alexandrite and Pearl.

Alexandrite, a gem which varies in color from red to green, was first discovered in the Ural Mountains and is named for the former czar of Russia, Alexander II, as it was supposedly discovered on the day of his birth. Although this gem has a noble history, it was the national stone of tsarist Russia, it is not as popular as the better known June birthstone, Pearl.

Pearl possesses an iridescent quality and has been long regarded as the symbol of nobility. Pearls represent beauty, modesty and purity.

Depending on what ocean they were taken from, pearls can vary in color from white to green to the elusive and hauntingly beautiful black pearl.

Some people even stretch the June birthstone further to include moonstone, another iridescent gem. Moonstones have silvery white sheens and look like the face of the moon. Moonstones are the gift for lovers. Symbolising passion, this stone was believed to bestow the power of clairvoyancy on its wearers.

A new watch is a great Father’s Day gift idea. Men are particuarly tough on watches and need a good quality watch. This 26B67 Accutron Excursion Mens Dual Time Watch with a Stainless Steel Bracelet if on SALE for just $235 and really fits the bill. Featuring a classic round blue dial and a durable stainless steel case, this watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. This watch has a sapphire crystal and built-to-last quartz movement. It’s a class style that any man will love.

These amazing Sterling Silver and Faux Lapis Lazuli Cufflinks have a retail price of $100 but I found them on SALE just in time for Father’s Day for only $19.95! That’s an amazing 80% off the retail price. This might be the most amazing deal I’ve ever featured on this blog! Seriously, there is not a more budget friendly gift to be had this Father’s Day! In these cufflinks, deep blue and opaque, imitation lapis lazuli gleams like the night sky with its azure luster. These gorgeous cufflinks pair vibrant lapis with gleaming sterling silver for an effect that is elegant and unforgettable.

There some amazing deals on Father’s Day jewerly when you shop online. This amazing Men’s Stainless Steel Tungsten and Black Carbon Fiber Bracelet is on SALE for just $65 – marked down from $85. This stunning mens bracelet is crafted from gleaming stainless steel, accented with popular tungsten and black carbon fiber. Great for causal and business attire, this modern piece sits comfortably against the wrist and has a bold and handsome look.

For the past week or so I’ve been featuring elegant pearl jewelry. Pearls are June’s birthstone and I wanted to bring you some of the latest and most affordable pearl jewelry fashions. Today I’m featuring this 3 3/4 Carat Multi-Colored Tourmaline & Cultured Pearl 14K White Gold Pendant that’s on sale for only $395.

Delicate gem tones give this elegantly feminine necklace color and sparkle. A delicate chain with 5 inch drop is beautifully crafted from gleaming pink gold and adorned with tourmaline and luminous cultured freshwater pearls.

This simply elegant Chocolate Cultured Pearl and Citrine 14K Yellow Gold Necklace shows off the richness of the cultured brown pearl perfectly. Each chocolate (brown) pearl is naturally unique in color and is perfectly complemented by sunny citrines. This is a timeless piece with a modern twist on sale right now for 69% off retail at just $115.

You can experience the beauty of pearls every day for under $100. This amazing 5-5.5 mm Akoya Cultured Pearl 16 Inch Strand Necklace with a 14K Yellow Gold Clasp is just $85.Timeless and elegant, a classic strand of cultured pearls is a must-have for any jewelry wardrobe. These lovely, “A” quality Akoya cultured pearls are individually knotted for security and are finished with a 14K yellow gold filigree clasp.

Capture the beauty of June’s gemstone, the pearl, with this Gold Over Leather Bracelet with Sterling Silver and 11-12mm Cultured Pearls on SALE for just $105. Contemporary and stylish, gold toned leather is one of the hottest new looks in fashion jewelry. In this elegantly modern bracelet, beautifully braided leather is gorgeously complemented by a gleaming sterling silver and cultured freshwater pearls.

Make a bold statement with romantic pieces featuring classic gemstones. One of a kind jewelry will make an impression that will last as long as your love!Gemstones have historically been used for their healing and spiritual powers primarily. Because they possessed these qualities they became precious. Royalties would add gemstone in their jewelry, e.g. crowns, to benefit from the gemstones’ powers. Also, priests from various beliefs would use gemstones in rings for similar reasons.

Celebrate June with pearls! In ancient times, pearls were believed to have life-giving powers and the ability to restore youth. They also represent modesty and purity. Pearls go particularly well with with fashion wardrobes with greys and pastels.

You can embrace the beauty of pearls for under $50 with this 40″ Multi-Gemstone Bead and Cultured Pearl Necklace with Sterling Silver Shortener. Nothing captures this season’s funky look better than long layering necklaces. This necklace features multi colored gems and pearls to perfection. A sterling silver shortener is added so you can wear it as a single strand or have fun layering it.