Unless another source is discovered there is only enough Tanzanite in existence to last a few years at the current rate that it is being used for jewelry making. Now may be the only opportunity you ever have to own a pair of stunning Tanzanite earrings. The wonderful colors of Tanzanite range from pale lilacs and velvety blues through to deep rich purples and violets and it looks amazing combined with other gems such as diamonds. It is such a precious stone that it is rarely set in anything other that high carat gold or platinum.

The history of the discovery of this stunning gem is a romantic one. The story goes that it was first found by Masai tribesmen when they noticed sparkling stones on the ground near Mount Kilimanjaro in the late 1960s. Tiffany & Co of New York were the first well-known jewelers to use this exquisite gemstone in their fashionable jewelry and are supposed to have been the first to use the name. Their promotion of Tanzanite led to it becoming one of the most sought-after and valued gems in existence.

It is normal for mined Tanzanite to be heat-treated before being used for jewelry as this enhances and brings out the colors and far from decreasing its value, creates the beautifully colored stone that we recognize.

Tanzanite drop earrings show the wonderful range of colors and clarity of the stone off to best effect. But unfortunately because of the extreme rarity value of the stone and also because it requires expert cutting, any jewelry made with more than a tiny piece of Tanzanite is likely to prove expensive. You can expect to pay $500 or more for 1 carat of Tanzanite made into a pair of stud earrings set in 14k gold; and around $1,000 for the same 1 carat as drop earrings with accent diamonds. Anything a great deal cheaper than this is likely to be lower quality gemstones or even fake.

The main problem with Tanzanite jewelry is that it is so sought after that a large quantity of simulated and created Tanzanite has been made and some unscrupulous sellers may try and pass this off as genuine. So it is advisable to only buy from a reputable jeweler, or if you are buying from an online store or auction site such as eBay, check the seller’s feedback before you make your purchase.

If you would like a pair of Tanzanite earrings but cannot afford the price, you have a few alternatives. Iolite is cheaper and does resemble Tanzanite although it does not have the depth of color. Sometimes Iolite and other stones are combined in jewelry with small amounts of genuine Tanzanite to reduce the cost. Or, of course you could settle for a pair of earrings containing created or simulated Tanzanite. These can provide the look of the genuine stone but without the value or romance. Find out more about Tanzanite Jewelry.

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Cultured pearls are not the same as created or synthetic pearls but are made by inserting a tiny mother-of-pearl fragment into the body of a pearl producing mollusk, which then reacts to this fragment as it would to any irritant and builds up layers of “pearl” around it. So really the only difference between natural and cultured pearls is the way in which the irritant particle entered the shell.

With their increasing popularity, pearl drop earrings now come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, styles and colors. A good pair of earrings can be made of sterling silver, white or yellow gold or platinum. Gold or platinum pearl earrings often incorporate diamonds in the setting. This type of earring can complement any outfit or style of clothing. Whether you are attending a wedding, a birthday party, a conference, or any formal occasion, these gorgeous earrings will surely make you stand out from the crowd.

Many are captivated with the irresistible charm of pearl earrings due to their simplicity, grace, and distinct elegance. If you plan to purchase pearl earrings, you’ll soon discover that there are now many options to select from. To help you find the right earrings that will match not only your face but your dress as well, here are some of the popular types that you should look into.

• Pearl earrings with fish-hook wires – These are lightweight earrings perfect for attending lengthy parties. However, these earrings are only secured by a long wire and it is possible that they will become dislodged or fall off if you are not careful. Some are now made so that the wire fits into a hook at the back to make them more secure.

• Pearl earring with lever backs – This type of pearl earring is ideal for both formal and informal events. They feature a closing hook clasp that firmly holds each earring in place, thus ensuring that your lovely earrings will stay in place until you decide to take them off.

Pearl drop earrings look amazing on women with short cropped hairstyles or with long hair swept up. Whey buying any earrings make sure to take note of the shape of your face. Different types of pearl earrings complement varying shapes of faces. For instance, if you have a round face, it is best to select long pearl drop earrings since it can make your face look slimmer. Indeed, pearl drop earrings are indispensable accessories that should always be present in your jewelry box.

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It is so difficult to describe opals because they can change from one minute to the next. They look completely different in daylight than they do under electric lighting. The only thing that is constant with opals is that they are always beautiful. Opals have been prized since ancient times for their unique fire and beauty. White opal is almost opaque and looks a little like fine porcelain that has been dusted with glistening flecks of fiery color. Good quality white opals, known as precious opals are the type you will usually find in fine jewelry. Black opal contains the same rainbow fire but the main body color varies from deep gray to jet black. The black color enhances the fiery colors within and the finest quality genuine black opal is rare and extremely costly.

There are other types of opal, such as water opal which is much like white but with an almost colorless, transparent appearance that gives the flecks of color the look as if they were suspended in water Fire opal is translucent with a flame orange or red color, which may or may not contain the characteristic flecks of color within. The term “fire” opal can be confusing as the fire of an opal refers to the brilliance of the colors within, so any type of opal: black, white, water or fire; can display fire.

In recent years high quality synthetic or created opal for use in jewelry has been developed. Modern technology can create the “fire” of opals so that these created opals can look as good as the very best natural opal. In fact it can require testing to be able to distinguish genuine opal from created opal. Opal is the birthstone for October and legend has it that it will be unlucky for anyone not born in that month to wear it.

Created opal has made beautiful opal jewelry much more readily available and there are now opal earrings to buy in every color, design and metal. Pretty pink or dramatic blue created opals in sterling silver are popular as earrings in either drop or stud styles and can be purchased for less than $20 online. Whilst at the other end of the scale, designer genuine opal earrings set in 18k gold can cost upwards of $500 and if diamonds are included in the design expect to pay $1,000 or more. Of course if you are looking for antique opal earrings you will need to double or triple those prices.

Many famous royals are known to have worn opals; Louis XVI of France, Queen Charlotte of England and later Queen Victoria among them. Napoleon gave to his Empress Josephine what was then the largest and most valuable opal in the world.
So you know now that when you are wearing opal earrings and other opal jewelry, you are following in very illustrious footsteps.

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The cost of aquamarine can vary wildly according to the color of the stones. The most expensive are the beautiful blue-green that the gem is named for. Although today the stone can be, and often is, heat treated to enhance the color. Although blue beryl is widely available the particular color and quality required for jewelry standard aquamarine is much rarer.

If you ask any woman what type of gemstone she prefers, the top answers will likely be the precious gems diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire. However, closely following this is often aquamarine. The appeal of this gem is entirely connected with its color. Wearing aquamarine jewelry, such as a set of matching pendant and earrings, enhances any style or color of clothing and is much more wearable than the more strident colors of the precious gems.

Because of its color and sparkling water appearance, aquamarine has always been seen as connected with the ocean. Legend has it that aquamarine has healing properties, particularly for the heart and stomach and enhances the immune system. It is also supposed to improve intellectual capacity – so the aquamarine jewelry wearer should not only be healthy but also more intelligent! Even more strangely, the stone was at one time carried by seafarers as they believed it could prevent drowning. Aquamarine birthstone celebrities include Celine Dion, Sarah Jessica Parker and Mariah Carey.

Aquamarine looks good in any setting for earrings, so whether you have a preference for gold, be it white gold, yellow gold or rose gold or even platinum or sterling silver, this gem will look perfect. If you want to be a bit more daring buy aquamarine earrings that also have other gems included in the setting, a gorgeous color combination can be made by incorporating amethyst, peridot or pink topaz. The turquoise color also looks stunning with pearls or opals.

Jewelry incorporating aquamarine is extremely popular with brides, perhaps because of the “something blue” tradition. A pair of drop earrings made from a drop of this gem suspended in gold or platinum makes a stunning accessory to the traditional white wedding gown or a fabulous gift for the bridesmaids. Imagine how fabulous bridesmaids in aquamarine colored dresses with matching jewelry would look for a beach wedding!

It is not only in recent years that beautiful aquamarine jewelry has been made. It was also popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries so it is now possible to find genuine antique aquamarine earrings, pendants, pins and bracelets. Genuine vintage or antique gemstone jewelry is likely to be a bit more expensive than their modern equivalent but you can often find exquisite designs that you cannot find now and stones of amazing color and clarity. Whether you buy ancient or modern, aquamarine earrings are a perfect choice. Find out more about Aquamarine Earrings for sale.

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Ruby is the birthstone for July, so what better gift could there be for the woman with a birthday in July, than a gorgeous pair of ruby earrings? Rubies look particularly beautiful combined with diamonds in white gold.

Large rubies can be prohibitively expensive, but fortunately they are such a colorful and glamorous stone that small rubies in a pair of ruby earrings are enough to give a dramatic effect. A popular design for rubies in stud earrings is to have five or six marquise cut rubies, to resemble petals, around a central diamond. These little flower earrings are very attractive but not ostentatious, so they can be worn every day.

Because of their color, rubies also lend themselves to being cut into heart shapes for earrings, pendants and rings. A heart shaped pendant together with a pair of matching ruby earrings is a stunning combination for a special occasion or even a bride on her wedding day.

Rubies can sometimes be confused with garnets, another red gemstone, which is not nearly so rare or so precious. However, if you look carefully you will see that the garnet is a deeper brownish red while the ruby is brighter with more pink tones.  As good rubies tend to be costly, there is a lot of ruby jewelry being sold today with lower quality, but still genuine rubies. It is easy to recognize these as they are not clear and appear to be a solid pink rather than red. There is also a large quantity of synthetic rubies on the market. These created rubies can look very good and if price is an issue then a top quality pair of created ruby earrings could be preferable to a pair containing low quality but real rubies.

Although rubies tend to look better combined with white metals such as silver, white gold or platinum, they can also look striking set in rose gold. As gold is quite a soft metal it is usually combined with other metals before being made into jewelry to make it more durable. Often gold is mixed with a small percentage of silver which creates the yellow gold that is most commonly used for jewelry today. However, sometimes gold can be mixed with copper and this gives a warmer pinkish tone to the gold, known as rose gold. This rose gold can be somewhat overpowering in large pieces but is a wonderful setting for a dainty pair of ruby earrings.

If price is no object then you might like to consider an extravagant pair of ruby earrings, each containing a square cut ruby, beautifully clear and each over 1 carat, set in platinum, for around $5,000. Get more info and prices for Ruby Jewelry.

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Throughout history, turquoise has been used for jewelry and adornments of all kinds. However, it went out of fashion somewhat in the latter half of the 20th century, probably because most young women of the time could remember their grandmothers wearing it. Today though it is becoming as popular as it ever was and modern jewelry designers are now creating some stunning pendants, bracelets, rings and turquoise earrings.

The name turquoise came originally from the French meaning Turkish as hundreds of years ago the stone found its way to Europe via Turkey, although the best turquoise was from Persia (Iran) and good uniform color stones are still often referred to as Persian turquoise. Now the name is applied to the color as well as the stone itself which can actually found in different variations from a bright blue, through the various shades of turquoise blue to an apple green or grey green. The color is produced by copper and in contrast to most gemstones, turquoise is opaque.

Turquoise looks particularly striking with yellow gold as it is a warm blue. This combination was favored by Queen Victoria who is known to have given gifts of gold jewelry set with turquoise stones. Natural inclusions in turquoise are often a brownish gold color and this also blends well with a yellow gold setting. However beware a regular mottled look to the inclusions as created or reconstituted turquoise is frequently made to look like this. That is not to say that buying simulated turquoise is always a bad idea as many pieces of very attractive costume jewelry are now made with this.

Many of the modern jewelry designs for turquoise earrings set the stone in sterling silver. This has the double benefit of reducing the price of the earrings as silver is cheaper than gold, and also adding to their appeal for young women who tend to prefer white metal over yellow. The trend for funky geometric designs incorporates turquoise and sterling silver in triangular, square and circular drop earrings which will certainly appeal to the fashion conscious woman.

Turquoise is the birthstone for December and its rich shades tone well with the darker clothes that tend to be worn in winter. The vibrant blue stands out against black, brown and navy and is a particularly stunning combination with deep reds, burgundy and purple. Coffee brown with turquoise is a fashionable color combination in home décor. However, turquoise does not sit happily with many other gemstones. It is very rare indeed to find a pair of diamond and turquoise earrings for example although pearls do go with it rather well.

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Amethyst was also extremely popular in Victorian times and there is a great deal of antique and vintage jewelry containing this lovely stone still available today. Most Victorian amethyst jewelry features the gothic look in vogue at the time and so is usually made from the deeper purple colors. Often amethyst drop earrings were made with an open setting in yellow gold. This type of setting allows light to shine through the stone and show off its colors to their best effect.

Many pieces of this semi-precious stone are banded, which means the color is not constant throughout and although this can be an attractive feature, most jewelers prefer to match amethyst earrings precisely. While it may be better to have identical earrings, a large piece of the quartz, cut and polished to show the color banding effectively can look beautiful as a pendant.

Pink gemstones are particularly fashionable at the moment and for those who cannot afford pink sapphires or pink diamonds, pink amethyst earrings are a more economical alternative. Pink amethyst looks most striking set in white metal, such as sterling silver, white gold or platinum. The fashion is for large pieces of the stone set in chunky rings and pendants. Today’s celebrities are frequently seen wearing this type of jewelry which naturally makes it popular with young women who like to emulate their idols. So if you are looking for a gift for a daughter or a young female friend, a pair of pink amethyst earrings, preferably drops and set in sterling silver, would be perfect.

In recent years a variety of amethyst that appears green has been widely used in jewelry making. Although this unusual coloration is stated to come from Brazil and be a natural phenomenon, it in fact results from the effect of heat on the pink or purple quartz, whether that heat is naturally or mechanically generated. Whatever its cause, the green stone is attractive and unusual and often tones better with modern fashions than the purple variety.

Amethyst is the birthstone for February so a birthday gift of amethyst jewelry for either women or men is appropriate. If your budget does not run to fine jewelry, it is possible to buy single polished stones or even lumps of the natural crystals just as they are mined as a good-luck charm or paperweight perhaps.

Legend has it that a wearer of amethyst could not become intoxicated by alcohol. This strange folklore, although it persisted for many years, is unfortunately not true. Learn more about and buy Amethyst Jewelry.

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