In order to be more flexible for everyday wear; that is easy to slip on and give an even more "layered" look, I gave the Gem Gossip Charity Bracelet a makeover! The new design lets you wrap it around your wrist a few times, and then adjust the knots by sliding them for a perfect fit. At its full size you could even wear it as a necklace! Pretty neat!
I wore mine while in California, and it withstood a lot of activities like hiking, kayaking in the ocean and treking through the San Diego Zoo all day! If you would like to own your very own, email me at charitybracelet@gmail.com Read More
Do you have a long, gold chain just laying in your jewelry box? Not too sure what to do with it? Well I've got the perfect pendant solutions to a long chain. First off, hopefully you've got a good, long chain to work with, preferably 20" or more. A box link chain will do fine, or you could change it up with a different type (maybe like the ones in the picture above). If you don't have one, and need to purchase a long chain, don't be afraid to pay anywhere from $300+ because a heavy gold chain will last a lifetime, is very versatile, and is actually an investment in terms of gold prices.
Next, you need the perfect pendant. The size is important because it needs to be large either vertically or horizontally. I've noticed that this could get expensive, so certain gemstones like jade or mother-of-pearl are great choices because they are affordable and look great as a large pendant. Check out my choices below!
Smokey Quartz is a great gemstone and very affordable. This pendant is almost 12 carats, however the price is still a very affordable $50. The elongated style is a great one to wear on a long chain. This pendant is from Jewelry Television--I'd recommend sticking to browsing the website and not watching it on tv.
Hearts are always classic, and this pendant is not your typical diamond\plain\boring. The white part of it is called mother-of-pearl, and has a 14k gold filigree etched heart. It would be very pretty hanging from a long snake chain. It is from Ross-Simons and is $165.
I love this pendant! I never usually like this many gemstones in one piece of jewelry, but I can make an exception! There are peridots, garnets, citrines, amethyst, and diopsides. The emerald cut gems mixed in with the round makes it so unique. It can be purchased for $265 at Ross-Simons.
Did you know jade can be carved into beautiful designs like this? This is brown jade and the design is an intricate knot, called an endless knot. Jade has continuously been known for being a luck charm. Maybe this pendant will bring luck to its wearer. At only $100 from Ross-Simons, this would pull off the long chain look superbly! Read More
Sapphires are my favorite gemstone. Most people do not like their birthstone, but I love mine. If you are also a September baby, I hope you love your birthstone too! Any piece of sapphire jewelry given as a gift represents trust, honesty and loyalty. When worn, sapphires are said to provide mental clarity and preception. I like that sapphire comes in all sorts of shades, not just the blue that one would normally picture. Its strength and hardness is also a huge plus, being able to be worn daily and cleans up well in a sonic cleaner.
I've had a new found love for layering charm-like necklaces. Here are a bunch that would be perfect for just that! Just click on the picture, and it will take you to the website where you can learn more information about it, even purchase the necklace if you like it! Read More
The west coast was nothing but fun, especially getting a chance to head to the Oceanview Mine in Pala, California. Known for housing an abundance of tourmalines (pink, green, and the combination of both known as 'watermelon'), aquamarines, kunzite, morganite, quartz crystals and many others. The mine was even featured on Travel Channel's Cash & Treasures.
Getting there was tricky--many curvy dirt roads and even going outside of the navigation system range. We paid a fee to sift through a gigantic pile of tailings from the active mine. Tailings are all the "leftovers" from blasting inside the mine. We got downright dirty and super sweaty, shoveling all we could into our buckets and then sifting through it all, using the screens. Our day pass got us 4 hours of digging and a tour deep into the mine--450 feet into the Earth!
I actually got extremely lucky, and stumbled upon a large chunk of Kunzite--about the size of my palm. And it was only my second bucket full! One of the owners of the mine came around to help everyone out and help identify what had been found. He was amazed by the deep purple/pink color of what I had found and its size. He guessed it to be worth anywhere from $400-600! I couldn't believe it! Check it out below!
Kunzite was actually first discovered in Pala, California in 1902. It is interesting to think that my chunk of kunzite had been in the Earth for millions of years until a few days ago when I found it! With that in mind, and having the feeling of how exciting it is to have found something so rare, I knew I wanted to keep it instead of trying to sell it. All that sweating and hard work definitely was worth it!
If you want to try your hand at gem mining or just want to do something different for a change, I strongly recommend the Oceanview mine. You just have to call ahead of time to make a reservation and get the directions. Mining reservations can only be made on Sundays or Thursdays, so make sure to check the website. Pala, California is just 50 minutes outside of San Diego. It is exciting because you never know what you're going to find! I ended up walking away with a $600 Kunzite!! Read More
I've decided to start a weekly post for my pick of the week. There are no rules or stipulations--just whatever bracelet, necklace, ring, or earrings I feel should be mentioned, or is currently on my personal wish list. Hopefully you will enjoy my choices, and you can even chime in with items you've spotted that you just "can't live without!" Feel free to post links in the comments section below each weekly "pick of the week!" So check back every Wednesday.
This week's pick is this princess skull necklace. It is made of 9k gold, and rubies with white sapphires. Definitely a glammed up version of the rocker chic look. The shape almost resembles a cross--done purposely? Not sure, but you can purchase this at Kabiri which is a website that houses all sorts of eclectic pieces of jewelry from across the pond. Check it out at www.kabiri.co.uk Read More
Sweet Sixteens only come, well, once in a lifetime--so you better make your wish list count! Miley Cyrus' sweet sixteen will soon be upon us (November 23), and the whole world will be watching. Let's hope she is more grateful than those bratty girls on MTv's Sweet Sixteen tv show. And it seems that may be so...
Miley's birthday party will be held at DisneyLand, where she will have the whole place to herself and her birthday "guests." Anyone who purchases a $250 ticket will be an official partygoer. So not only is she sharing her fun-filled day with complete strangers, but all of the proceeds will benefit a charity. Seems like Miley has a good-heart and is not a greedy birthday girl.
But, of course anyone who is anyone needs at least one present on his or her birthday. So I've devised my own list of potential birthday presents. Some sort of jewelry item has got to be on her wish list! Maybe she will choose one of these great finds! Enjoy!
This heart necklace is dainty and cute, while still having a "grown-up" side to it. The purple amethyst is encased in 14k gold filigree, with a magnificent detail on the back. Designed by Becky Kelso and priced at $763, I could see Miley rocking out with this on. www.ElizaPage.com
Miley is not one to obstain from the multiple bracelet trend. She's been seen wearing plenty of bracelets--on both wrists! I think this vintage diamond bangle would really add some elegance and edge to what she normally wears. And besides, the older you get, the wiser you get--why not opt for diamonds and gold, while other teenie boppers are wearing plastic bangles? This one is $550 from Fay Cullen.
And lastly, Miley needs something extremely unique for any red carpet event. This ring will get heads turning! It is a purple sapphire (very rare) surrounded by champagne diamonds, set at an angle. Something so slight, like angles, will turn any ring into a piece of artwork. This unique ring is designed by Fatima Maria, and can be purchased for $2570 at Twist.
Well, there you have some great gift ideas for Miley's sweet sixteen. Any of these are worthy and might very well be unwrapped come November 23. Did you receive any memorable piece of jewelry for your sweet sixteen? Read More
