I think children’s jewelry is so precious. My little grandniece is not yet one, and her mother (my sister’s daughter) had her ears pierced when she was only 3 months old. Now some people may find that cruel, but Alicia never cried, and she looks so adorable in her little sapphire earrings. (Given to her by her old Uncle Robert, of course. Only the best for my family!)

I think kids should have real jewelry. What I mean is, forget the plastic throw-away, non biodegradable junk that passes for little girl’s jewelry these days. Give your child something that she will be proud to wear, not just as a child, but when she is older as well. Of course a child’s pearl bracelet won’t fit an adult, but she can have it restrung at some point, with pearls added. And it will always have meaning for her.

You may say "What does Robert know, he’s not a dad!" And they would be right in that. But one thing I can say is that children are capable of taking care of quality things, and they will have more meaning for them than junk jewelry. So purchase children’s jewelry that is beautiful and long-lasting.

Costume jewelry is defined by Answers.com as "Jewelry made from inexpensive metals and imitation or semiprecious stones." Hmm, this would include quite a few things that I would not normally put in that category. And what, exactly is an "inexpensive metal?" Silver is still reasonably priced, although that could change.

Semiprecious stones can include such beauties as opals, onyx, amethyst,  turquoise and even diamonds and rubies, depending on the grade of the gemstone. The term precious or semi-precious may change according to the fashion of the day.

The key to  jewelry shopping and wearing is "What makes you happy?" Choose those gemstones, precious or not, that seem to lift your spirit. What seems "precious" to one person may be ho-hum to another. For instance, I have known women who wouldn’t be interested in owning a diamond ring, but would go gah-gah over a topaz birthstone.

I prefer my unique gemstone rings to be, well, unique! If you have followed my blog for a while, you will understand that I am someone who prefers to march to the beat of a different drummer. And what that means in the area of jewelry is this; handcrafted designs over jewelry spewed forth from a factory.

Now what I consider tasteful may not match your idea of same. But when a design has been “touched by an artist”, there is an almost mystical quality that is like no other. Of course, one might argue, it depends on the artist. Of course. But when I say artist, I am talking about someone who has that magical gift. A beautifully designed ring which has been set with a perfectly cut ruby might or might not have that special touch. All art is like that. When you see it, you know it.

And if you are honest with yourself, and can reach into the deepest reality you have as a spiritual being, I think you will recognize true art as well. It may take many forms, only some of which might be unique gemstone rings.

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.