Rubies

The deep glow of a ruby radiates from the heart of the stone.  Vibrant reds will dull this effect, so stick with muted reds with shimmering tones (no mattes!)  Essie’s Wrapped in Rubies provides the perfect compliment with its reddish bronze gleam.  It enhances the stone rather than outshining it, and is perfect for warming a chilly fall or winter day.  Glitter up with Ruby Red Slippers by Deborah Lippmann.  You’ll get a Wizard of Oz experience that will make you click your heels together!

Diamonds

Shine on, you crazy diamond!  Shimmery, opalescent whites are best for pairing with diamonds.  Angel Wings, a silvery white created by Ciaté, is most flattering with diamonds set in either white gold or platinum.  The warmer toned Dandy Lyin’ Around by China Glaze was released in the Spring of this year in the Avant Garden collection.  It is a pure bright white with a mild shimmer that will bring out the brightness of yellow gold while also enhancing diamonds.

Emeralds

Emerald was Pantone’s color of 2013, and an even-keeled choice for green polish in a world of candy apple and lime. Deborah Lippman’s Laughin’ to the Bank is a medium emerald nail lacquer that will make you feel like you’re wearing a million bucks.  The queenly shade of green is elegant enough for jewels in a crown.  Bewitched by Sonia Kashuk is a little brighter and more vibrant if you want more of a hip princess look.  Bewitched casts a stylish spell that may bring out your magic powers.

Sapphires

Don’t be blue if you haven’t been able to find the right polish match for your sapphires.  From the Chanel Le Vernis nail lacquer collection comes Blue Satin, a dark blue that verges on black.  This shade is like a sapphire’s sidekick, making the gemstone pop while providing a seductive backlight.  In a medium shade of royal blue, DS Lapis by OPI has a glitter matte finish.  The lighter, textured polish coordinates with deep blue and smooth sapphire surprisingly well.

More than 200 years after its discovery, palladium has gained popularity in the world of jewelry. One of the rarest metals in the world, palladium has only recently been in the spotlight by fine jewelry makers. The naturally white, oil-resistant metal is hypoallergenic, non-tarnishing and a member of the platinum group of metals.  These metals, which are resistant to corrosion and oxidization, are commonly referred to as “Noble Metal”.

Palladium shares its name with the asteroid Pallas and its namesake Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom.  So why have jewelers only recently wised up to its starry charms?  Producers of the metal say that shifting a buyer’s attention away from the standards to market a new metal takes time and patience.  In an interview with the New York Times, a leader in the palladium industry explained that platinum took 15 years to be established as a metal “brand.”  Marketing palladium as an equal to other precious metals is a work in progress.

Palladium seems to be well on its way with its fast and trendy take on the traditional timelessness that is assigned to precious jewelry. Palladium engagement rings and wedding bands have spiked in popularity in recent years. While it may be similar to platinum and in the same group of metals, it is much lighter making it more affordable.

With over a decade of experience in high-end jewelry, read below for the Charles Jewelry take on platinum vs gold:

Appearance and Maintenance
The striking sheen of platinum makes it the precious metal of choice for the highest quality jewelry. Unlike white gold which on occasion will be treated with Rhodium to maintain its appearance, the magnificent appearance of platinum stands on its own. The heavy weight, resistance to corrosion and durability of platinum make it a metal that will not wear away with constant use. Platinum is the strongest of jewelry metals. It can, however, scratch and develop a patina of wear. Many people find this look unique to platinum as well as very attractive. Soaking platinum in a solution of soap and warm water while gently scrubbing it with a soft-bristled brush at home is all that is required to maintain the metal’s luster. Buffing with a soft cloth will usually bring mildly scratched platinum jewelry to its pristine luster. For more severe scratches, a jeweler can easily polish your jewelry to bring back the original finish.

Gold has been the most sought after of precious metals through all the ages of man. Its value dates back to prehistoric times. It has served as money, a store of value, and as jewelry. Gold occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks. Gold will not tarnish, rust, or corrode. Gold should be kept away from harsh chemicals. Warm water and detergent-free soap may be used with a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works well) to clean gold jewelry.

If a person is allergic to nickel or other alloy metals then 18 karat, 22 karat or even pure gold may be their metal of choice. Gold filled or plated jewelry will serve for occasionally worn jewelry. Every day use of gold plated jewelry will wear down the gold layer. This may result in discoloration of your skin or an allergic reaction. For pieces that will last a lifetime, we suggest using the highest quality your budget allows.

Pricing
Platinum is far more precious than gold. The price of platinum varies with market conditions but normally is almost twice the price of 14K gold.

The value of gold jewelry is dependent upon the karat weight, as well as the design, construction and beauty of the piece.

With this being said, we suggest that no more than ten percent of your overall budget for an engagement ring (or any jewelry design) should go towards the metal components. For example, if your overall budget is $6,000 and you want to go with platinum, that will use up a significant portion of the budget versus going with white gold. The additional money saved can go towards making a bigger visual impact with diamonds, etc. which often times our clients prefer.

Composition
Platinum jewelry is classified by the amount of platinum it contains. Platinum content is measured in parts per thousand of metal composition. The number you will see shows how many parts per one thousand is pure platinum. If you see ’850 Plat’ marking, it has 850 parts platinum out of 1000 total parts.

Pure gold is considered too soft for jewelry use in Western society. Western cultures are concerned that pure gold jewelry will easily be scratched or deformed. In Western culture, gold is mixed with metals such as silver, copper, nickel, or zinc to give it strength and durability. Yellow Gold found in jewelry is most often 14k or 18k. Because 14k jewelry has less gold in its composition, its color is not as rich as 18k. 14k gold is often the composition of choice when strength and durability are desirable. Examples might be earring backs, bracelet clasps, or a gold necklace or religious chain that is to be worn every day.

Jewelry grade gold is created by mixing it with rhodium, nickel, or Palladium. To many, rhodium is the alloy of choice because of its tough hard shine. Nickel can be mixed with gold to create a white (gray) color, but it may cause dermatitis in people sensitive to it. Palladium may also be used to create white gold but is less commonly used to do so.

The “Karatage” of gold is shown with a number followed by “k”. This refers to its purity, or the amount of true gold included in the metal. 100% gold is traditionally referred to as 24 karat.

The addition of copper creates “Rose gold”. The addition of copper gives gold a beautiful pink color; the more copper, the deeper the effect.

The color of gold is determined by:
• The metal alloys with which it is mixed.
• The percentage of each metal alloy in the total composition of the piece.

What this all boils down to is that there is no right or wrong decision to be made when it comes to determining what metal to use. The most important factor when choosing what metal (or any other component) is being informed. Finding a jeweler that you trust and is willing to spend the time educating you on what options are available will ensure an end product that you will love forever.

A big contributor to a diamond’s effervescence is its clarity. The clarity of a stone is defined by the absence or presence of tiny

blemishes called inclusions. Quite often these inclusions are not visible to the naked eye; none the less, the fewer inclusions a diamond has, the more sparkle it will produce. Clarity is important, however, a diamond’s cut is the key to its vivacity. A consistent and well balanced cut allows a stone to capture and reflect light evenly. It is this undeviating reflection of light that causes me to stare, mouth open, mittens pressed against the glass, every time I pass the store front.

Diamonds are the hardest of all stones, not to mention one of the most valuable. This can be both a positive and a negative for the significant other of a person born in April, because diamonds are readily available in many sizes, shapes, designs, and colors in the market. However, they are also very pricey, so you might have to work out a payment plan with your local jewelry dealer.

Diamonds come in a variety of hues from yellow to red, pink to blue, and even shades of green. These colors range widely in color saturation and intensity from dull or faint to eye-catchingly colorful. Usually, the more vivid in color the diamond is, the more expensive the price tag. Because of this, it should be noted that there are many diamond dealers who put diamonds through a coloring process to “fake” a patron’s desired color intensity. That’s why it is very important to always ask your dealer whether or not any diamond you’re interested in purchasing has been chemically treated or colored in any way.

According to Earthsky.com, “Diamonds are the rich cousins of graphite. Both are crystalline forms of pure carbon. The enormous differences in their properties are a result of the way the carbon atoms are bonded together. In graphite, carbon atoms are arranged in sheets that easily slide past each other, which makes graphite ideal as a lubricant and, of course, pencil lead. Diamond crystals, on the other hand, are a tight-fisted network of carbon atoms securely held in four directions, making it the hardest naturally-occurring substance in the world.”

Diamonds are one of the few gemstones which look good in just about any size, shape or fashion. Diamonds can be cut to fit in any standard necklace, bracelet track, earring set (both studs and dangles), or ring. Traditional diamond rings are a good choice if you’re trying to say something a little more special than “Happy Birthday” this April as well… perhaps something along the lines of: “Will you marry me?”

Flowers have been upheld by countless culters for thousands of years as symbols of purity and peace. Flowers worn as jewelry has been popular in areas such as Hawaii for over a century. As hawaiiflowerlei.com puts it, “Leis were constructed of flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers, and even bone and teeth of various animals. In Hawaiian tradition, these garlands were worn by ancient Hawaiians to beautify themselves and distinguish themselves from others.” The peoples of ancient India were also known to have used flowers in their jewelry traditions. As Shakunthlaa Jagannathan describes in his article entitled Traditional Jewelry of India, “The art of adornment goes back to primitive man who used, for decoration, flowers and beads, carved wood, shell, bone and stone. The material used changed in time to ivory, copper and semi-precious stones and then to silver, gold and precious stones, but our rich tribal heritage can be seen in the flower motif which is basic to Indian jewellery designs even today.”

This spring, dress up your sundress with floral themed jewelry, and perhaps even a splash of rose or poppy scented perfume, essential oil, or body wash.

The stone usually ranges in color from pale blue to a bluish green and is thought to be a calming gemstone because of its cool toned color scheme and icy demeanor. The countries where aquamarine is considered most plentiful include: Pakistan, Mozambique, Zambia, India, Columbia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Russia, and (most notably) Brazil. The best places in North American to source aquamarines are Colorado, North Carolina, and Maine.

Aquamarine is often referred to as “the poor man’s diamond” and falls into the mineral category of beryl alongside gems such as emeralds and morganites. As earthsky.org describes it, “Beryl consists of four elements: beryllium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. Beryl occurs as free six-sided crystals in rock veins unaffected by shock and weathering that otherwise destroy gem deposits. It is a relatively hard gem, ranking after the diamond, sapphire, ruby, alexandrite, and topaz.”

The technology is referred to as “thermoelectric jewelry” or “Wristify”, a term coined by the inventors of this exciting new technology, MIT students Sam Shames, Mike Gibson, David Cohen-Tanugi, and Matt Smith. This ingenious group of students thought of this new concept for heating and cooling the body through jewelry while they were competing in the annual MADMEC invention competition. It should come as no surprise that Wristify won first place for its potential in creating improved sustainability by reducing the need to heat and cool large buildings.

Everyone knows what it feels like to jump into a warm shower to soothe your chilled bones. When objects of certain temperatures are applied to the skin, a person’s entire body temperature can be affected. The concept behind thermoelectric jewelry is just that. According to ecouterre.com, “Human skin is very sensitive to rapid changes in temperature and a small change in a localized portion can affect the overall feeling throughout the body. The Wristify’s team learned that by applying a change of 0.1 C per second to a part of the skin can make the person feel warmer or cooler by a few degrees. Their prototype is a watch-like device that can be powered, for up to eight hours, by a lithium polymer battery.”

The original prototype was very crude and roughly mechanical aesthetically. However, the inventors decided to invest there ten thousand dollar competition winnings into developing Wristify’s design and technology standards. Because of this, a new Wrisity design is about to hit the market developed by award-winning designer Niccolo Casas. The laboratory that was founded by Wristify’s inventors, Embr Labs, describes the bracelet’s functions by saying, “Wristify is the first designer bracelet that heats or cools you. It gently glows blue when cooling you, and glows a warm orange while heating you up… It sends soothing waves of heating or cooling to the inside of your wrist. Wristify will become your favorite companion by matching your very own personal thermal set point.”

In celebration of the holiday of love, we have compiled a list of Valentine’s Day jewelry ideas to help get you inspired and/or prepared for February 14th, 2014. Perhaps you’re looking for some gift ideas, or maybe you’re in the market for cute jewelry items to pair with your V-Day outfit. Regardless, we’ve got enough Valentine’s Day jewelry ideas to keep your heart thumping until next year.

Anything Red:
Red is, without a doubt, the color of passion. So it goes without saying that wearing anything crimson colored this Valentine’s Day will make an eye-catching statement.

Heart Shaped:
Since Valentine’s Day is centered around expressing love, you can’t go wrong by wearing anything heart shaped. Hearts are cute, classic, simple, and elegant, so they’ll look great for just about any type of outing. Heart shaped jewelry is a great gift idea as well, because it says “I love you,” simplistically, romantically, and without words.

Cupid’s Arrow:
A fun and flirty Valentine’s Day accessory is to use Cupid’s arrow as a statement piece. Arrows look great in either gold or silver, and come in styles ranging from rings to necklaces to earrings.

Words of Love:
V-Day jewelry can even have a personalized flair when it is either engraved or features words which bring out the emotions or personality of the wearer. Try these fun styles featuring “words of love”:

Lockets:
A locket is the easiest and most romantic way to make a profound statement of love this year. Lockets are a wonderful choice, because they are more than just a simple piece of jeweler. Lockets are a portable memory that your significant other can open and adore any time throughout the day.

Valentine’s Day Coupon Book:
DIY crafts are a fun, cheap, and heartfelt way of saying, “I love you,” for just about any holiday. This year, try putting together a makeshift flip book of fun and flirty coupons for your significant other. If you’re the ladylove in the relationship, perhaps include a coupon giving your man a “free night out with the boys”, or maybe even a “get out of jail free card” for the next time he finds himself in the doghouse after an argument. If you’re thinking of making a coupon book for your girlfriend or wife this year, consider including certificates for “a free massage” or “a girlie movie night + dinner prepared by you”. If you want to have a lot of fun with this idea, a “your wish is my command” coupon might be a steamy addition to any his/her flip book.

Go Traditional – Valentine’s Day Jewelry
Everyone knows the famous quote by Marilyn Monroe: “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” Keeping this in mind, if you really want to make a statement this Valentine’s Day, jewelry of any kind is practically foolproof. When shopping for jewelry for your loved one, the most important thing to keep in mind is to not shop for things that you like, but to instead keep your loved one’s personality in mind. Ask yourself questions like, “What style of jewelry does she/he normally wear? Would this item look good with the clothes she/he wears? What am I trying to say with this jewelry item?” Questions like these can turn a mediocre gift into a Valentine’s Day present that could bring tears to your lover’s eyes.

The Good Things in Life are Free (And Simple!)
Sometimes, the most special and important moments two people can share with one another are without words, without investments, and without effort. Take more time to hug and embrace each other throughout the day. Science has proven that even the slightest amount of physical contact with those we love can boost our mood and even our health. Brush your girlfriend’s hair for her. Tell your husband you love him with eye contact and a smile of gratitude. Hold the door for your wife and pull out her chair for her. Hold your loved one’s hand and think about the connection you have and the memories you have shared. These little things can be worth more than all the gifts in the world.

Old Fashioned Valentine’s Day Cards
Try making your lover an old fashioned Valentine’s Day card this year. Yes, that’s right… like the ones you made for your sweetheart in the second grade. It may seem silly, but taking the time to sit down and create something for your significant other with your own two hands can mean a lot. So whip out the construction paper, the glitter glue, and all that leftover paper bunting from New Years and get to crafting!

Make a Reservation – For Your Living Room
Cook dinner at home together, and skip the traffic and madness the Valentine’s dinner rush creates! You’ll most likely have a better time if you stay in. You’ll also save money (more cash for presents… yay!). You will also get some much needed one-on-one privacy with one another. You’ll find that romance can escalate throughout the evening much smoother without all the stress of planning and leaving the house. What’s the secret to success this year? Keep it low key!