Show off your "sparkle" with gemstone jewelry

What’s your favorite color? Is it blue, green or red? Maybe purple or yellow? No matter what – you’ll find a piece of gemstone jewelry in that color; it may be a stunning bracelet, a necklace, a ring, or a pair of earrings, but the choice exists. Gemstones appear in every color of the rainbow, and many have important meanings – some memorable, like birthstones, others more spiritual, such as “strength” or “peace.”

Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds

Each of this trio of vividly colored stones are the most popular, and are the first thing to come to mind when one hears the words "gemstone jewelry". They appear in all different types of jewelry, from bracelets to rings. Some even appear alongside each other, resulting in a brightly colored masterpiece for your wrist, neck or hand.

All three of these gemstones are also birthstones: rubies for July, sapphires for September and emeralds for May. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to the stone that represents your birthday; if you like red, wear ruby earrings; prefer blue, put on a sapphire bracelet; think green matches your eyes, choose an emerald necklace.

Peridot, Citrine, Garnet and Topaz

All four of these stones: peridot, citrine, garnet and topaz, have meanings beyond those of birthstones. Peridot, which are usually yellowish-green in color, are said to have healing properties, while yellow citrine can regenerate and cleanse. Garnets and topaz (the former a deep red stone, the latter a golden yellow or sometimes blue) have healing properties as well. Whether or not this is true is up to you, but what does matter is that they make great gemstone jewelry and are commonly found in rings and earrings.

Opals, Pearls and Quartz

Supposedly, it’s bad luck to wear opal jewelry if it’s not your birthstone (which is October, for the record.) However, if you like their iridescent beauty and don’t believe in that type of luck, then look for opal rings or earrings to add to your gemstone jewelry collection. Pearls are also slightly iridescent, as are certain types of quartz. Both can be found in necklaces and bracelets.

Tanzanite, Tourmaline, and Amethyst

Tanzanite is a fairly rare stone that comes in a striking shade of bluish-purple. They are usually found in gemstone rings. The same is true of tourmaline and amethyst –maroon and lavender stones, respectively. All three are birthstones (in order: December, October and February) and they each make a statement, regardless of what type of jewelry they are set into.

No matter the types of gemstone jewelry you prefer, wear them with pride. They make great accents to any outfit, and can go from day to night with ease. With so many different gemstones to choose from, you’ll have no trouble at all finding the right ones for your budget or style. Please visit http://www.24diamonds.com/gemstone-jewelry/ for a rich gemstone jewelry selection!

Hoop Earrings for Every Occasion

There are some universal pieces of jewelry that can be worn anywhere at any time. Hoop earrings are one of them. Due to the many different styles, sizes and types of metal that they come in, you can wear a different pair of hoop earrings every day – and turn them into your signature statement piece. Or, you can pick up a few great pairs of them and save them for special occasions; the choice is yours. That is the best thing about hoop earrings – their versatility is endless!

Pave Hoop Earrings

Pave hoop earrings consist of a metal base with hundreds of tiny gemstones (usually diamonds, but sometimes a mix of diamonds and other stones like rubies, sapphires and emeralds) are stunning when worn with evening wear or a cocktail dress. When worn with other jewelry, such as necklaces and bracelets, make a nice accent piece. However, you can also wear this type of hoop earrings alone, using them to accentuate your face and the neckline of your dress.

Small Hoop Earrings

This type and size of earrings are very versatile, and can make any type of outfit look polished. They can be worn with everything from business wear (particularly a pants or skirt suit) to jeans and a nice pair of boots. Small hoop earrings are usually measured in millimeters – 2 to 3mm is the standard, and come in many different types of metals, including sterling silver and 10K gold. Feel free to wear other jewelry with them – even if the metals are different – or match them accordingly.

Large Hoop Earrings

Larger hoop earrings make more of a statement. You are more likely to see these decorated with gemstones, have an open metal work design, or have an embossed or “cut” pattern on them. Their larger size makes it easier to design intricate patterns around and on them. These earrings are measured in inches, and the size refers to the diameter. For example, you may see them sold in 1.25 or 1.5 inch sizes. You can wear this type of jewelry with the same outfits and on the same occasions as small hoop earrings, however, they will call a little more attention to themselves – and you, of course!

Hoop Earrings with Precious Gemstones

Some hoop earrings – usually the larger ones – have larger gemstones embedded in them. You’ll often find them in a mix of diamonds and a colored stone, arranged in a pattern. If you happen to find a matching necklace, bracelet or ring, you can wear them as a set for maximum impact, as long as you keep in mind that these should be worn for special occasions, otherwise people might just get used to seeing you in them, and that would detract from the attention you’ll get for wearing them!

As you can see, hoop earrings are indeed a universal type of jewelry. Thanks to their many different styles, you might put on a pair for date night, for work, or for a wedding or other black-tie event. There is nothing you can’t wear a pair of them to!