Stories of Gems

Dive into the history of signet rings, and check out some modern examples.

Learn more about the history and beauty of halo rings.

t’s very possible you already have a cocktail ring in your jewelry box or collection. The ring is a little bit show-y, perhaps borderline ostentatious. They are sometimes called statement rings, or right hand rings.

Learn more about claddagh rings and their symbolism and history.

Today let's talk about one of the most influential jewelry design houses, Van Cleef and Arpels. A favorite of royalty and celebrities, they are known for their amazing craftsmanship. This fabulous French jewelry house was started with a marriage in 1896 between Alfred and Estelle. Both came from families in the jewelry industry. Alfred was the son of a stone cutter, and Estelle was the daughter of a gem dealer. These two loved jewelry and loved to travel. They had an eye for

Learn what salt and pepper diamonds are and why they've become a popular stone for engagement rings.

What kind of jewelry inspires that hopeful feeling? And I thought of the beautiful, magical fairies that Van Cleef & Arpels made during Word War II. So if you don’t know about these lovely, sparkling creatures, read on! I’m happy to tell you all about them.

In this post, I’d like to focus on how jewelry can create beauty and hope in times of war. Like a previous post about the bird pins made by the Japanese during their internment, these bird pins are also from the World War II era. They also have real sentimental value. But our location has changed. Instead of America, we find ourselves in occupied France. With Cartier. Perhaps you think of watches when I say Cartier, but Cartier was all about jewelry. Founded in 1847, they w

By now, you should all know how much I love brooches and pins. I have a great little collection of owls and other animal pins. But one day, a good friend showed me something like I had never seen before! In his hand was an exquisitely carved wooden bird pin. Now, some jewelry designers do incorporate wood into their pieces, but it’s pretty unusual. And to have a whole piece made entirely from wood, it’s quite rare. So I had lots of questions. And I learned a fascinating story

Fun facts about the jewelry worn when America was just a baby!

Let's celebrate the amazing female jewelry designer Suzanne Belperron!

Take a look at how Celtic Knots are showcased in jewelry design

Turquoise is one of my favorite stones! And lucky me, I’m seeing it everywhere! Of course, in my view, turquoise has never gone out of...

Friends, I am not in the market for an engagement ring, but SO MANY other people are! I know plenty of millennials excited for an...

Today I'd like to feature a very particular father and son who are jewelry designers. Fred and Michael Kabotie are Hopi silversmiths and...

I’ll be honest, I was slow to get on board with rose gold. I was convinced it was a fad, and so I stayed away from it, and tried to wait...

All my tips for spending your hard-earned money on jewelry

It's true! The best American jewelry is made by Italian designer Bulgari. Learn the history of their Stars & Stripes collection.

True confession: I love Princess Kate! For me, she is my aspirational style icon! I love how she always looks classy and elegant. I love how she’s showed you can be modern and causal, but still stylish. And she introduced me to nude heels!! There has been plenty written about what Kate wears clothing-wise, but not as much about her always fabulous, on point jewelry! So let’s take a look see at Kate’s best jewelry! Kate’s best jewelry Kate is skilled (or her stylist is) at

Besides my wedding ring, there’s another piece of jewelry I wear daily – earrings! In my opinion, they’re one of the most versatile kinds...