Searching for the perfect present? Gemstones are wonderfully personal gifts to mark a special occasion! Full of meaning and personal significance, they can be selected to commemorate anniversaries, birthdays, even to enhance personal appearance. Remember, you can also simply select a gemstone by color.
Go beyond the birthstone! Explore the world of gemstones and add a personal touch to your gift-giving.

Birthstones and Zodiac Gemstones

Is there a difference? Yes! While birthstones are determined by birth month, Zodiac gemstones are matched to your astrological sign. For example, for a birthday of September 22nd, the birthstone (for the month of September) is Sapphire. However, the Zodiac stone for this birthday would correspond to the Libra stone Opal.

Other Special “Birthstones”

These special Day of Birth gemstones correspond to the day of the week that you were born. Monday babies have a different stone than Thursday babies born within the same month or Zodiac sign.
Looking for a gemstone gift that is really unexpected? There are gemstones to match the hour of the day when you were born! Giving the gift of an Hour of Birth gemstone is not only unique and thoughtful but highly personal.

Wedding Anniversary Gemstones

Most people are aware that gemstones make fantastic birthday gifts. But you can also celebrate with wedding anniversary gemstones, marking each distinct year of your marriage with a gem equally as special and unique.

Recently my friend Julie announced she was getting married.  Of course I was over the moon.  Her fiancé is a great guy and it seems they’ve been together forever.  It was time!

A couple weeks later she called me up with a jewelry question.  All my friends know that I know a lot about jewelry (as I should).  Anyways, Julie wanted to know what kind of precious metal I thought she should get for her wedding ring.  Julie was torn.   On the one hand, she felt pressured to get a traditional yellow gold ring but on the other she’s always been a silver kind of girl.  This is true.  In all the years I’ve known her, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Julie wear gold jewelry.  Of course, Julie went on, sterling silver would be inappropriate.  She was disheartened.  She thought her hands were tied.  She thought she was going to be stuck with a yellow gold wedding ring.  Of course, I knew better.

Let me begin by saying that in my opinion, I don’t think anyone should feel pressured to buy any particular type of ring for their wedding ring.  In my opinion, if a couple wants to buy quarter machine rings to represent their eternal love then that’s what they should get.  That said, I thought it was worth mentioning to Julie that if she wanted a silver ring then she should get a silver ring.  Julie though, did not take to the idea.  Although she didn’t want a yellow gold ring, she did want to stick to some tradition.

Given all this information, I did have some suggestions.  Because it’s so hardy, I’ve always thought platinum is the way to go when buying a silvery-white metal.  However, platinum is pricey.  Both Julie and her husband to be work, but they are on a budget and let’s face it, weddings are expensive.  Taking all this into consideration, I suggested Julie choose a white gold ring. 

Now it’s not as though white gold is a new phenomena, but it’s really only been recently that people have been choosing white gold or platinum for wedding and engagement rings.  Thirty years ago it would have been a real rarity.  These days, even though white gold is becoming more popular, I still don’t think many people consider white gold straight away.  People have to be reminded about white gold.  Suffice to say, I reminded Julie about white gold.
  
Well Julie and her fiancé bought their white gold engagement rings and I’m delighted to say the white gold rings are beautiful!  Both Julie and her fiancée are thrilled.  They love the white gold.

The cubic zirconia is widely known as a diamond stimulant. It is actually a mineral rarely found in nature, but commonly created for this use. While its most common use is to simulate the diamond, cubic zirconia (CZ) is available in a wide variety of colors to represent most gemstones.
The cubic zirconia is inexpensive, durable and extremely clear with a flawless appearance. In fact, the cubic zirconia shows far more brilliance and clarity than a genuine diamond.

Cubic Zirconia and the Diamond

Due to its inexpensive nature and similarities in appearance, cubic zirconia has been the leading diamond imitator since the middle of the twentieth century. It is so close in appearance, in fact, that often it can only be distinguished by a trained eye. Basic guidelines in distinguishing CZ from diamonds include:

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• Cubic zirconia has greater dispersion than the diamond. This simply means that the CZ reflects more light, offering extra sparkle.
• Cubic zirconia weighs nearly twice that of a diamond the same size.
• The diamond’s hardness is ranked a 10 compared to the CZ’s 8.5. This discrepancy is reflected in the CZ’s susceptibility to surface scratches.
• The appearance of the cubic zirconia is nearly flawless. Nearly all diamonds include some defect.

Colorless diamonds are extremely rare. By contrast, cubic zirconia is easily made colorless. Also, the shades achieved with colored CZ are distinct from the shades of fancy colored diamonds.

History of Cubic Zirconia

Cubic Zirconia in its natural state is extremely rare. In fact, it was discovered in the 1930’s by German mineralogists and has been found nowhere since! The discoverers did not name the substance, which explains why it is still known by its scientific name. In the 1970’s cubic zirconia crystals were grown in Soviet laboratory. CZ became widely popular in the 1980’s when it began to be produced by the Australian jeweler Swarovski & Co.

What is White Gold

White gold is an alloy of gold and other white metals including silver and palladium. Like yellow gold, white gold can be 18kt, 14kt, 9kt or any karat.

Just like 18kt yellow gold which is 75% gold mixed with 25% of other metals like copper and zinc, 18kt white gold is 75% gold mixed with 25% other metals such as silver and palladium.

What Constitutes White Gold

The properties of the white gold vary dependant metals and proportions used. As a result, white gold alloys can be used for different purposes. Whereas a white gold, nickel* alloy is hard, strong and great for rings and pins, white gold palladium alloys are soft, pliable and great for gemstone settings.

*Although nickel was traditionally used in white gold, it can cause skin reactions. Now white gold is commonly made with other white metals.

White Gold Jewelry

You can find all sorts of white gold jewelry. From pins and brooches to necklaces, chains, bracelets and rings, beautiful white gold jewelry is easy to find. White gold wedding bands and engagement rings are also becoming increasingly popular.

Taking Care of White Gold

White gold rings are coated with Rhodium. Rhodium is similar to platinum and shares many its properties including its white color. Because the natural color of white gold is light grey, rhodium plating makes white gold whiter. Since rhodium eventually wears away, white gold should be re-rhodium plated every 12 to 18 months.
Whatever white gold you choose, however you choose to buy it, white gold is beautiful. Get what you want and enjoy!

Choosing a wedding ring is important!  A wedding ring can reflect your culture, family tradition, relationship or personal style. It’s essential that you choose the wedding ring you love.

Wedding Ring Style

What is your wedding ring style?  Whether you’re looking for a traditional or trendy wedding ring, here are some ideas to help you on your way.

Cultural Wedding Ring

• Irish Claddagh Wedding Ring: In a Claddagh wedding ring, the heart symbolizes love, the crown, eternity and the clasped hands, friendship.  
• Jewish Wedding Ring: The traditional Jewish wedding ring is an unbroken gold circle representing pure and eternal union.    
• Russian Wedding Ring: A Russian wedding ring has three interlocking rings representing the Holy Trinity.

Gold or Platinum Wedding Ring?
 
Most wedding rings come in gold or platinum.  Both metals are beautiful so make sure to choose your favorite.

• Gold Wedding Ring: A gold wedding ring is most traditional and can be found in yellow, white or rose gold. Gold is soft.  The purer the gold, the softer it is.  As karat weight increases, price, vibrancy, and purity increase but durability decreases so keep this in mind if you are planning on buying a gold wedding ring.  Although a 24k wedding ring might be the most beautiful gold, it will also bend, so you may be better off with an 18K or 14K gold wedding ring. 
• Platinum Wedding Ring: Platinum is becoming a very popular wedding ring metal once again.  If you buy a platinum wedding ring, you are sure to be at the height of wedding ring style.

Wedding Ring Settings 
 
There are many setting available for your wedding ring.  Here’s a list to help you decide.

• Shared Prong Wedding Ring Settings:Gemstones are held in place using grooved metal wire.
• Channel Wedding Ring Settings:Gemstones are set side by side into the metal so no metal shows between the stones.  
• Pave Wedding Ring Settings: Small jewels are set into drilled holes so the entire surface of the ring glimmers with a “paving” of gemstones.

The Perfect Wedding Ring for Your Hand

When buying a wedding ring, you’ll want to buy a style that complements your hand.  Whereas people with larger, wider hands may want to choose a larger wedding ring with large stones, a person with a small hand would probably do best to buy a delicate or narrow wedding ring.  Take height into consideration when buying a wedding ring. A slim finger can look very graceful when wearing a wedding ring with a tall setting. 

Your wedding ring should be a reflection of your love.  Choose what you love and cherish your wedding ring always.

Every anniversary year has a corresponding gemstone. Below you will find a chart showing you which gemstone goes with which year.

YEAR	GEMSTONE	YEAR	GEMSTONE
1st	Amethyst	17th	Pink Tourmaline
2nd	Garnet	18th	Aquamarine
3rd	Peridot	19th	Golden Beryl
4th	Blue Topaz	20th	Emerald
5th	Rhodolite Garnet	21st	Iolite
6th	Lapis Lazuli	22nd	Spinel
7th	Zircon	23rd	Imperial Topaz
8th	Pearl	24th	Tanzanite
9th	Andalusite	25th	Imperial Jade
10th	Green Tourmaline	30th	Fancy Sapphire
11th	Turquoise	35th	Cat’s Eye or Chrysoberyl
12th	Tsavorite Garnet	40th	Ruby
13th	Opal	45th	Emerald
14th	Kunzite	50th	Golden Sapphire
15th	Blue Sapphire	55th	Alexandrite
16th	Golden Topaz	60th	Diamond

Diamonds have been associated with many concepts over the course of time. In the Middle Ages, diamonds were believed to produce courage in their wearers. Diamonds were reserved for the use of royalty in the 13th century, and today diamonds symbolize wealth and status as well as the commitment of marriage. In the past, diamonds have also been associated with magic, lightning, healing and protection.

Engagement rings

Diamond rings have been exchanged as tokens of love and marriage for several thousands of years. The modern solitaire diamond engagement ring has a lineage dating back as far as the second century when diamonds came to symbolize fidelity and lifelong commitment. Have you ever wondered why the wedding ring is traditionally worn on the fourth finger? Ancient perception held that a certain vein runs through this finger directly to the heart.

Exotic origins

Diamonds form deep in the earth and are usually made available for purchase once they are around three million years old! They surface from these depths in violent volcanic eruptions.

Fashion Jewelry

The high cost of diamonds has generated a market ready for moderately priced diamond-like gemstones. Cubic Zirconia is an actual gemstone with a likeness to the diamond. Accessible pricing allows for casual collections of trendy and fashionable jewelry featuring the look of the diamond.