You might think, from all the advertising you see, that the diamond is the be-all and end-all of the gemstone world. That if you’re not a diamond, you should be:
green with jealousy,
blue with melancholy,
or red with shame.

Did you know that it is only in the last century that diamonds have become a fashion demand for all things gemstone? A single, relentless, long-term advertising campaign sold the idea to us all, and we crowned the diamond “Queen Of All Gemstones.”

And who hasn’t thought of sapphire, ruby, emerald and amethyst as ladies-in-waiting to their queen? They accompany, surround, highlight and protect her.

It's time we shook off that thinking, all of us who thrive on color! And with it our devotion to the royal entourage, too!

Reaching toward the noonday sky,
I focused on that big, shining yellow oval above me.
Against a dreary sky, my citrine glittered
with accomplishment and aspiration.

Like tiny solar flares, citrine and golden topaz infuse any damp and dreary November with the luxuriant warmth of summer. Choose a classic round, oval or princess cut, or break away with a briolette cut (whose facets spread across its entire surface like ground blooms). Set your stone into a chunky, irregular pendant that could anchor your entire ensemble. Or into a karat-gold ring that could easily spark the envy of a queen. Set matching gems into chandelier earrings and complete a look that carries far into the night.

So smooth they were
almost slippery, they rattled
in my hand like dice. When I allowed it,
the stones rolled out onto the green baize,
face up, all. Truly, tonight’s best hand!

Every imaginable berry-bright shade of red is out there, too, ready and willing. Rich, burning, orange-red fire-opal; deep, blood-red almandine garnet; delicious cherry quartz. Cut with traditional facets and set into earrings, rings, necklaces or bracelets, you can watch them, one after the other, playing follow-the-leader around your wrists or fingers, across your throat or swinging from your earlobes.

I sat and pouted.
The party had been planned for weeks, and now . . .
I sighed. With that small movement,
gentle tones drifted from my tiered tassel
into my ear, teasing out a wry smile . . .

So soft and delicate, they seem to defy the raw weather by their very existence: petal-pink tourmaline, creamy rose quartz, muted moonstone and blushing coral adorn themselves in settings of gold and sterling. Who cannot feel lovely and carefree wearing such princess-pretty confections?
And carry around your own blue skies with the exultant shades of violet-blue iolite, or the many hues of azure topaz, or the incredible wavering iridescence of Rainbow™ and Peacock™ topaz. Queen, indeed! Who could pass up the chance to follow such fair skies as these?

How would I choose between them?
One deep, dependable and squarely in control;
another fun-loving, rarely serious, wildly impetuous?
The joy of gemstones is that I never have to—
I simply take them all!

Rich green gemstones take second place to none other. Tantalizing tsavorite garnet with its intense golden-green hues; color-saturated chrome diopside and green topaz; luscious, avocado-green peridot; all deck your style with this season’s most festive color. Find a combination that sings your special song; set it into a mix-and-match collection—earrings, necklace, ring, bracelet. Wear each piece in solitary splendor and partner them in perfect harmony as your mood changes.
Who needs spring, with so much fresh color so close at hand? Pluck a bouquet that brings out the blossom in your cheeks and puts a sparkle in his eyes. Laugh right out loud—even the dreariest November can’t put out your fire.