Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

Nothing says Fall like the beautiful combination of orange sapphire and brown smokey quartz. This pair of 2 1/3 Carat Smokey Topaz and Orange Sapphire 14K Yellow Gold Earrings will add elegance and class to those first chilly Autumn days all the way through the holiday season. These elaborate earrings have classic glamour. The brilliant 14k yellow gold setting is complemented by the unique orange sapphires and gorgeously contrasted with the impressive smokey topaz center stones.

Remember, sapphires are September’s birthstone. While the traditional September sapphire is blue, the orange sapphire in these earrings would make a wonderful and unique gift for a September birthday.

Celebrate the changing of the seasons with a new ring this Fall! For just $295, you can own this earthy and elegant 14K Yellow Gold Citrine and Tiger Eye Ring. Unique and enchanting, this chunky ring is stylish and bold. Crafted from 14K yellow gold, this great piece features a brilliant citrine gemstone surrounded by earthy tiger’s eye. A versatile and powerful look perfect for Fall!

While doing my research for September’s birthstone, the sapphire, I ran across many beautiful items of sapphire jewelry. I’ll try to feature them in the next few posts. One piece of sapphire jewelry that really caught my eye is this pair of 2 3/8 Carat Yellow Sapphire, Orange Sapphire and Diamond 14K White Gold Earrings. They’re very reasonably priced at just $495 – especially considering the large number of gemstones in these earrings. Two stunning blossoms are artfully composed of orange sapphires, yellow sapphires and white diamonds. These lovely earrings are set in 14K white gold and offer a vibrant splash of color to any outfit. In spring they’ll resemble beautiful blooms. However, the Autumn hues in these earrings will go perfectly with Fall attire.

Dear Leslie,

Rob in Charlotte

Often times men buy their wives and girlfriends flowers on special occasions or when they’re thinking of them. Why buy flowers that will fade when you can select a gift with enduring beauty? This Rose Blossom Brooch with 24K Gold Accents is just $30 and is a perfect “thinking of you” gift. The glorious beauty of nature is on gorgeous display in this delicate brooch. A perfect rose blossom, complete with leaves, is exquisitely preserved, touched with gold plated accents, and placed atop a dainty yellow gold plated pin. It’s a lovely look.

As you know from my previous posts, the traditional birthstone for September is the blue sapphire. However, if you’re ready for a little more excitement, there’s no need to leave the sapphire family. Sapphires come in a rainbow of colors.

A great example of the diversity of color in sapphires is this 1 1/2 Carat Multi Sapphire 14K White Gold Heart Pendant and Chain. Vividly hued sapphires add a touch of dramatic color to this beautifully modern pendant. A graceful, stylized heart motif is beautifully crafted from gleaming white gold, set with multicolored sapphires, and suspended om a dainty chain. The wide range of colors means that this pendant will be suitable to match with any outfit. At just $295, this pendant is also wonderful priced and right for any budget.

Named after the Greek word “sapphirus”, meaning blue, Sapphires have long been a favorite among priests and kings, who considered them symbolic of wisdom and purity. These gemstones are prominent among the British Crown Jewels, and Prince Charles chose this as the engagement stone for his fiance, Princess Diana.

In ancient times, Sapphires were thought to be protective against envy, and even against poisoning. A common belief was that a venomous snake placed in a Sapphire vessel would rapidly die! Ground to a powder, the blue stone was believed to cure colic, rheumatism and mental illness, and to strengthen eyesight.

The Sapphire is second only to the Diamond in hardness, making it a durable gemstone for setting into jewelry. A gift of Sapphire represents sincerity and faithfulness. As nourishing to the soul as gazing up at the sky on a summer day, this brilliant blue gemstone is truly a heavenly choice!

If you or someone you love is celebrating a September birthday, a blue sapphire is the right choice. This 1 Carat Blue Sapphire and Diamond 14K White Gold Pendant and Chain is a wonderful choice at just $350. Brilliant sapphires and fiery diamonds sparkle together gorgeously in this simple and very elegant pendant. A gracefully curving design is beautifully wrought in lustrous white gold and studded with dazzling, graduated, 1.60mm to 1.80mm sapphire stones.

You’re probably aware of how many choices of precious metals we have in our jewelry. Why settle for just one?! Nothing could be more versatile than combining as many precious metals as possible. That way you can pair the piece with anything in your jewelry collection.

This 1/2 Carat Diamond Geometric 14K Yellow, Pink and White Gold Pendant and chain is just the thing to get the versatility you need. This piece features a modern and very chic design with the unmatchable combination of icy diamonds and three tones of precious gold for just $395. Delicately crafted interlocking ellipses are beautifully crafted and pair up for an elegant, versatile look.

Show off one of the world’s most beautiful stones in this arresting opal and yellow gold starburst pendant. Marquise-cut, shimmering opals are arranged in a dramatic, eye-catching starburst pattern. The changing, iridescent colors of the stone and the classic warm gold of the setting are sure to catch the eye and charm. An absolutely glorious piece for just $175!

I wanted to take a moment to show you how beautiful mixing two tones of gold can be. Jewelry pieces featuring both white and yellow gold have always been popular. They combine the best of both worlds: the warm, rich hue of yellow gold and the sleek sophistication of white gold.

Jewelry with both white and yellow gold means that you can wear it with any of your other jewelry pieces. Many times women chose to wear one color of gold – white or yellow – rather than mixing up the colors. Jewelry with both yellow and white gold can be worn with both white and yellow gold jewelry already in your collection!

This 14K White and Yellow Gold Ring is a perfect example of the the very best in two tone gold jewelry. For just $295, you get so much beautiful white and yellow gold. The lustrous beauty of cool white and warm yellow gold is on gorgeous display in this sophisticated ring. An openwork design of polished yellow and white gold make a dramatic, minimalist look that complements any ensemble.

Although we may still be dealing with summer heat, it’s never too early to get your jewelry collection. This garnet and yellow gold bracelet is just the thing for a fall jewelry collection. The rich, beautiful red of garnet and the shining yellow old create a warm, autumnal look that’s just the accessory for the coming season. A simple, elegant piece for just $225!

Dear Leslie,

Sarah in Arizona

These delicately feminine 3 1/2 Carat Multigemstone 14k Yellow Gold earrings glitter with a pastel rainbow of multiple gemstones. A beautiful row of multi-hued gems are set in a sculpted design of glistening yellow gold with swirls of color and diamonds. It’s a fresh, colorful look for everyday. The variety of colors means that you’ll be able to wear these with any outfit. They’ll become a favorite in no time!

White is probably not a “color” you think about when considering colorful gemstones. However, white stones can be dramatic alone or paired with other gems as in this 1/3 Carat Black and White Diamond 14K White Gold Pendant and chain. Charming and elegant, this oval pendant is studded with sparkling white diamonds and exotic black diamonds which get their color from an enhancement process set in lustrous 14k white gold. This delightful piece also comes with a delicate white gold chain. It’s very reasonable at just $295.

Other white gemstones include pearls, mother of pearl, opals, and, of course, diamonds.

Black gems are often over-looked when we discuss colorful gemstones. But black gems can really add a sexy touch of glamour to just about any outfit!

Some black gemstones include: black rhodium, black onyx, black pearls, granite, and black cubic zirconia. Also black ceramic and and black enamel make fascintating pieces of jewelry.

This Sterling Silver and Black Cubic Zirconia Necklace is a perfect piece to help add a touch of black to your jewelry collection. The exquisitely crafted sterling silver design is overlaid with dramatic black cubic zirconia in this striking pendant. It’s a modern and chic look that is just $50.

Well, I thought that I had finished up my series on colored gems with my last post about purple gemstones. However, I received several emails from folks asking me about other gems – including brown, black, and white gems.

In this post I’d like to share with you about brown gemstones. Chocolate diamonds, chocolate pearls, champagne diamonds, cats eye, tiger eye, and smokey quartz are just a few of the many gems that are shades of brown. These are all wonderful choices for accessories going into the Fall season.

A perfect accessory this Autumn is this beautiful 1/4 Carat Chocolate Diamond and Chocolate Cultured Freshwater Pearl 14K White Gold Ring. For just $295, you can add a breath-takingly beautiful and regal accent to any outfit with this spectacular pearl ring. Highly sophisticated, these chocolate cultured pearls are crowned with gorgeous brown diamonds and set in 14k white gold.

In my final post in this mini-series about colorful gems, I’d like to feature purple gemstones. Purple gems are great any time of the year, however we see many purple tones in the spring time.

Purple gemstones include amethyst, purple jade, and tanzanite.

This lovely Purple Jade and Quartz Sterling Silver Pendant and Chain is a great way to incorporate purple into your wardrobe this winter. Fancy purple jade is set in cool, lustrous sterling silver and enlivened with a Quartz snowflake motif. A delicate chain completes the piece. It’s a very feminine pendant.

The next color of gems that I’d like to feature in my series of colorful gems is blue. Blue is a dynamic color that is perfect any time of year. In the Winter blue echoes the icy weather. In the Summer, blue reflects the clear sky and blue waters of the pool or ocean.

Blue hued gemstones include blue diamonds, blue sapphire, blue topaz, blue agate, and blue chalcedony.

This 7 3/4 Carat Sky Blue Topaz, Tanzanite and Iolite Sterling Silver Pendant and chain is perfect for anyone that loves blue. This gorgeous pendant is an enchanting whirlpool of indigos and pale blue gemstones. The center jewel, a beautiful sky colored topaz, is surrounded by tanzanites and iolites and set in sterling silver. It’s available at an amazing price of just $85!