Have you ever seen a red diamond ? Probably not. They are said to be the rarest and most expensive gemstone in the world. The Moussaieff Red Diamond was reportedly discovered by a Brazilian farmer about fifteen years ago. The rough stone was around eleven carats. It was transformed into a gorgeous red diamond weighing 5.11 carats. The cut is spectacular and known as a trilliant cut.

Apparently this diamond made a visit to the Smithsonian in 2003. I was there somewhere in that time period, but I’m sure if I’d seen it, I would not have forgotten it.

I wonder what that humble farmer thought of the red, rough diamond when he spotted it on his property? And more to the point, was he paid well for it? I may look into that sometime!

I have decided to change my look this year. For the past year I’ve worn a small diamond stud earring in one ear. I thought it was classy, but I’ve changed my mind. Who wants to be conservative in their adornments these days?

Men tend to be nervous about this sort of thing, but long ago I learned to follow my own drum beat. I spent enough time trying to fit in.

Just for a laugh, I think I’ll try a dangle earring. One that says something about me. I’m an avid gardener; maybe a butterfly? Too feminine? Well, a ladybug earring might be just the ticket. Don’t laugh! I’m going to San Francisco next month and there you can get away with wearing almost anything..

What are organic gems? I’ve seen them defined as gem-like products of a once-living animal or plant. This would include amber, coral, ivory and the like. Of course, pearls would be in this category as well. Gemstones created from organic materials have a certain warmth that I find appealing, The only drawback is that they are not as durable as mineral based gems. On the other hand, they can often be carved into aesthetic shapes and designs without the danger of cracking.

Amber is my favorite. This is the fossilized resin or sap of ancient pine trees. To discover an insect in a piece of resin is like riding a time machine into our ancient past Magnificent! If I had such an amber jewelry piece, I would spend way too much time pondering its inhabitant.

I collect earrings. Not for myself, of course. (Except for the bat, which I’ve already explained)  But I do have female relatives that are gaga over fashion jewelry, and they think I am the one to keep up with all the latest styles. I don’t mind a bit. It gives me an excuse to see what’s out there, and prowl around on the internet to my heart’s content. Especially this time of year. What could be more fun?

If I’m feeling flush, I invest in ruby and emerald earrings for that seasonal look. If not, I stick with simple enamel designs, or sterling silver holly posts, one of my favorite looks. My ladies aren’t picky, and they think anything I come up with has to be good. Pretty sweet!

Now that another holiday season will shortly be upon us, it’s time to locate those fun fashion earrings and necklaces that celebrate this time of year. Why am I mentioning this so early? It’s because I am a Halloween addict, and can’t help bringing it up for your own consideration.

For the past 20 years I’ve gotten into costume every Halloween, even if that just means strolling to the post office dressed like a hillbilly from the 1920s. The stares I get make it worth while. I anticipate them eagerly as I apply stage makeup and fake beard.

Do I myself own a pair of Halloween earrings? Well, half a pair, anyway. Years ago I purchased a bat earring in sterling silver, and October 31st is the ONLY day I allow myself the pleasure of wearing it. With the hillbilly costume? Oh yes.

I start my holiday celebration early.

The adventure began over a decade ago. Before that, the only accessories I wore were gold. Not only was this possibly wrong for my skin tone, but buying gold was a very expensive way to make a fashion statement! Finally forgoing the sometimes painful activity of looking for something in 14K gold that I could actually afford was very freeing!

Since that time, accessorizing in silver has become a real pleasure. No matter my current economic status I can always pick up a beautiful pair of silver cufflinks, a smart-looking tie tack or an attractive chain. Cost isn’t much of a factor, at least not yet. There are predictions that silver prices will someday go sky high, but I don’t think anyone really knows for sure. My advice? Buy as much of it as you can now just in case!

In these challenging economic times, I’ve noticed a profusion of ads professing to “turn your gold jewelry into cash.” How good an idea is this anyway? Well, when you sell gold jewelry for its scrap value, you will get quite a bit less than if you sell it as jewelry. When you think about it, your jewelry has aesthetic value far beyond the value of the gold it contains.

On the other hand, gold is continuing to go up in value, and I believe we will see some real surges upward in the months and years ahead. If you can, hold onto unwanted pieces of gold jewelry and wait for the moment when it may really be worth something.

I hate to see people forced into selling their heirloom pieces just to pay the bills. And when you think about it, that is a very short-term solution. Once all the jewelry is gone, then what? How much better to come up with a way to support your family and yourself without resorting to parting with beloved jewelry pieces.

It’s true, diamonds have been found in this country. Most people associate South Africa with diamond mining, but the gemstone also occurs in the Sierra Nevada area of California as well as the southeastern USA. Most of these diamonds have been discovered while searching for gold in California. What a bonus that would be!

The diamonds in the southeastern US are much older than those of the Kimberly mines. And the type of land where they were found is similar to the diamond fields of India and South America.

According to one source, it is unlikely that the USA will ever be a big producer of diamonds, but who knows! All sorts of wonders are still being discovered, and we may yet strike it rich in this country. Heavens knows we could use the wealth right now!

What are lab created gemstones, and are they any good? There’s a difference between lab created gemstones and simulated gemstones. It’s a legal as well as a chemical one.

The term “simulated gemstone” indicates a laboratory stone that is created to look like a natural stone, but does not have any of the optical, physical or chemical characteristics that an actual stone consists of.

But a “synthetic” or “lab created” stone has the very same properties of a natural stone, including the optical, physical and chemical ones. Why is this also a legal difference? It’s because the Federal Trade Commission makes the distinction, and it’s illegal to call a simulated gemstone a synthetic stone. A synthetic stone must be identical in every way to the “real thing.”

Simulated gemstones sell for a much lower price than the synthetic ones. I just thought you might like to know!

After my last blog post, a friend of mine reminded me none-too-gently about the great arts and crafts shows that appear all over the country every spring, summer and fall. Thanks Jerome, my jewelry making friend. This is an important point. For many craftspeople and artists, the venue for selling their work centers on crafts shows.

Attend these fascinating events and pick up some wonderful gifts for birthdays and the holiday season. If ever there was an easy way to support your country’s artists, going to crafts shows and purchasing from the artists themselves is it. Keep in mind some of these folks travel all the way across the country to attend these events. Make them happy they came!

After all, if we want artists and their work to remain a part of our lives, we have to help create the environment to allow them to survive as artists.