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!

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.

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!

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!

Recently this wonderfully rich gemstone has captured my attention. I did a little research and discovered some interesting facts about opals .

•    Their color is the result of silica gel and water
•    Some opals are up to 10% water
•    The most, and best opals originate in Australia
•    They were considered quite rare up until the mid-1800s.

The other thing I find especially fascinating about this beautiful stone is the profusion of folklore surrounding their “birth,” as told by the Aborigines. Who knows how well these stories were translated, but I think it makes for a marvelous study!

To me, all gemstones have a wonderful beauty. Many, or most, hearken back to the beginning of our planet, and carry a history that is billions of years old. I think it’s fantastic that we humans have crafted these pockets of our planet’s beginning into things for men and women to adorn themselves with!

No, this isn’t a joke. There are artists creating beautiful paper jewelry out there. As to the durability of the pieces, I couldn’t guarantee this but I’m sure they have someway to protect them in an unexpected rain shower. I can’t believe anyone would sell a pair of earrings, full-knowing that the first bit of dampness would destroy them.

Different types of paper may be used. Either created by the artist him/herself, or paper that is purchased from designers around the world. I’ve seen some lovely jewelry made from Japanese designs as well as geometric, floral and so forth.

I love the idea of making jewelry from a renewable resource, and one that is so full of vibrant color, pastel softness and surprising designs.

Spring is here (sort of). The weather is at least barely warmer, crocuses are springing forth from suburban front yards, and birds seem to be making up their minds to fly back north. It’s time to get out the warm weather clothing and accessories. Put on those pastel jackets and soft colored butterfly jewelry so you can enhance the mood of the season.

Color is the key here. Spring evokes impressions of soft colors; new green leaves, yellow daffodils, pink and blue flowers everywhere. And, of course, the ubiquitous butterfly. If you live in the city, you may not have the same feelings about spring. The air may not be as fresh, the flowers and butterflies not so ever present.

But if you look, you’ll still see it. Maybe it’s only in the relief of your fellow passengers on earth, happy to have made it through another winter. But to me, the butterfly is the most evocative harbinger of all.

Pearls are a natural for bridal jewelry. Soft and natural looking, they have a feminine look perfect for spring weddings. Since the traditional bridal gown is still white, pearls are one of the best choices to accessorize.

The history of cultured pearls goes back to 13th century China. Entrepreneurial Chinese put small metal pieces and tiny Buddha statues between the mantle and shell of the mollusk and replaced it in its natural environment. They carefully watched them for a couple years, till the foreign substances were coated in layers of mother-of –pearl. How did they figure out this would happen? Maybe the first brilliant man (or woman) dissected a peal and discovered a small rock in the center, and extrapolated from there.

Not until the beginning of the 20th century was a method devised of creating perfectly formed spherical pearls. Personally, I find the irregular naturally formed pearls the most beautiful.

I don’t want to be mysterious, but one of the ways a man can provide a little personal adornment is with the ubiquitous key chain .  I love to collect them, and even if you don’t change your keys with every pair of pants, there are ways to own a lot of them. (I’m up to six now.)

Maybe I’m bitter. I love jewelry, but since there aren’t many ways a man can wear it, I’ve had to be creative. Until modern conventions change, I’ll work within the system, and key chains are not only acceptable but necessary.

There are hundreds and probably thousands of key rings to choose from. I’m not sure I can stop at six!

Garnets are beautiful , rich looking gemstones, modernly considered the birthstone of those born in the first 3 weeks of January. Most people think of them in their most common color, a deep burgundy red, but the truth is that garnets appear in a rainbow of colors. There are pink, green, violet and even (rarer) black garnets.

The name comes from an ancient Greek word for the pomegranate seed, which has a similar hue to the red version of the stone. The Egyptians long ago used garnets in their jewelry making. Today, garnets are still popular, beautiful and reasonably priced.

Like all gemstones, you have to be careful not to scratch them or expose them to chemicals or temperature extremes, but they are a sturdy stone that can last for many generations with proper care.