People are fond of gemstones partly because they are expensive and partly because they are beautiful. Gemstones have the particular quality of being able to reflect and occasionally even refract to make the stone sparkle.
Precious stones are also intended to express love and esteem. People also use them as a way of storing wealth instead of putting the money in the bank, especially in Third World countries. However, investment jewellery and costume jewellery are not always the same.
People have their own favourite gemstones, but emeralds and diamonds are the most expensive stones and so are among the most popular. However,deep blue sapphires and opals are also hugely popular.
The most prevalent jewellery are engagement and wedding rings, followed by earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches. Brooches often have many small stones arranged in a pattern that will reflect light and twinkle brightly.
Bizarrely, brooches in the shape of animals like cats, butterflies and even lizards are very popular. Flowers and bouquets of flowers are also common. Pendants and necklaces tend to have a larger stone or not so numerous small stones as a brooch.
Tiaras are experiencing a revival after decades in the wilderness; hair grips are also well-liked pieces of jewellery for women. Men tend to go for tie pins and watches. In some parts of southern Europe, diamond-studded, retractable toothpicks are well-liked.
The setting or mounting of the gemstone is almost as important as the precious stone itself, although not normally as expensive, especially with rarer stones. Gold, platinum and silver are the most widespread metals used for setting the precious stone in jewellery.
If you are not purchasing gemstones for their value, you may decide to buy your birthstone. If this is your goal, but you do not especially like your birthstone, remember that there are three or four different lists of birthstones from different countries and different eras.
if you do not like your birthstone from perhaps the American list, you may like your birthstone from the Ayurvedic or the Tibetan lists. There is some overlap, but in general the lists are entirely different giving you more choice.
If you want something different again, you could investigate amber. Amber is not stone, but has comparable properties. It is in fact ancient to prehistoric tree resin. Some pieces have bugs trapped inside them and can be very valuable.
If you wished an unusual holiday, you could travel to Poland's Baltic shoreline where much of Europe's amber is washed up onto the beaches. Wouldn't it be fantastic to find your own 'gemstone' and then have it polished and mounted by a jeweller?
However, the stone does not have to be valuable. When my brother was twelve, he discovered a beautiful little pebble on the beach and, with my Dad's assistance, had it polished and mounted. My mother thought almost as much of that unique article of jewellery as she did of her wedding and engagement rings.
Precious stones are also intended to express love and esteem. People also use them as a way of storing wealth instead of putting the money in the bank, especially in Third World countries. However, investment jewellery and costume jewellery are not always the same.
People have their own favourite gemstones, but emeralds and diamonds are the most expensive stones and so are among the most popular. However,deep blue sapphires and opals are also hugely popular.
The most prevalent jewellery are engagement and wedding rings, followed by earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches. Brooches often have many small stones arranged in a pattern that will reflect light and twinkle brightly.
Bizarrely, brooches in the shape of animals like cats, butterflies and even lizards are very popular. Flowers and bouquets of flowers are also common. Pendants and necklaces tend to have a larger stone or not so numerous small stones as a brooch.
Tiaras are experiencing a revival after decades in the wilderness; hair grips are also well-liked pieces of jewellery for women. Men tend to go for tie pins and watches. In some parts of southern Europe, diamond-studded, retractable toothpicks are well-liked.
The setting or mounting of the gemstone is almost as important as the precious stone itself, although not normally as expensive, especially with rarer stones. Gold, platinum and silver are the most widespread metals used for setting the precious stone in jewellery.
If you are not purchasing gemstones for their value, you may decide to buy your birthstone. If this is your goal, but you do not especially like your birthstone, remember that there are three or four different lists of birthstones from different countries and different eras.
if you do not like your birthstone from perhaps the American list, you may like your birthstone from the Ayurvedic or the Tibetan lists. There is some overlap, but in general the lists are entirely different giving you more choice.
If you want something different again, you could investigate amber. Amber is not stone, but has comparable properties. It is in fact ancient to prehistoric tree resin. Some pieces have bugs trapped inside them and can be very valuable.
If you wished an unusual holiday, you could travel to Poland's Baltic shoreline where much of Europe's amber is washed up onto the beaches. Wouldn't it be fantastic to find your own 'gemstone' and then have it polished and mounted by a jeweller?
However, the stone does not have to be valuable. When my brother was twelve, he discovered a beautiful little pebble on the beach and, with my Dad's assistance, had it polished and mounted. My mother thought almost as much of that unique article of jewellery as she did of her wedding and engagement rings.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a number of topics, and is now involved with Good Diamond Quality. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Jewellry and Watches.
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