Pearls are in a class all their own. The product of an irritation, the pearl begins as a grain of sand or even a parasite that has gotten inside the mollusk while it was feeding. The animal excretes a substance which coats the invader and eventually forms a pearl.

Amazingly, natural pearl producing mollusks are only one in a thousand. Each species of mollusk produces its own individual color, and that’s why there’s such variation.

Not all mollusks produce attractive pearls; in fact there are just a few varieties that produce the really beautiful specimens. But interestingly enough, all mollusks, whether salt water or fresh water are capable of making pearls.

Men wear jewelry, have for a long time. But Henry VIII was the epitome of male adornment. He wore more jewelry than any of his 6 wives did, possibly more than all of them put together. He had whole suits of clothing that encompassed peals and jewels, sewn right into the fabric.

King Henry is thought of as a manly man (if possibly a tad off his rocker) but nonetheless he was a man that enjoyed the beauty of the gemstone. Even his feathered hat is adorned with jewels. In the famous portrait by Hans Holbein, the good king is depicted broad-shouldered and proud, displaying his fantastic parure, which means “suite of matching jewelry.”

That must have been a heavy outfit, but Henry was a fellow who could carry it off.

Have you ever heard of jewelry created from paper? How about a necklace made out of sugar solution, creating crystal-like clusters?

Many artists and designers live on the fringe of jewelry making. Their unusual efforts are admired by some, scoffed at by others and looked at with puzzled amusement by many. This is jewelry as an art form. No, it may not last as long as a diamond or shine as brightly as a ruby, but it can evoke an emotional response which certainly has its own reward.

Artists that experiment with non-traditional materials are being seen in many top art shows and galleries across the US. I think it’s wonderful to expand the horizons of what makes something art, and indeed what makes something jewelry!

You don’t have to spend a fortune to own a lovely pendant in sterling silver . Put a meaningful charm on a silver chain and no matter what you’ve spent on it, you’ll feel like a princess.

The best necklace pendants are the ones that reflect something about you. That’s what makes collecting them so enjoyable. Pendants in sterling aren’t necessarily costly, yet hung around your neck they’ll reflect the light in a beautiful silvery gleam and can be the perfect accessory for any outfit.

Some of the most glamorous women I’ve met have worn simple black dresses with an elegant silver chocker, all that was necessary to enhance their loveliness.