Baffled by the array of jewelry items available for gift giving this holiday season? Can't stand the thought of negotiating the crowds at the mall? Here are five suggestions ranging in price that will fit just about any budget – and all are available online.
- Ruby Cocktail Ring - Lab-created emerald cut ruby cocktail ring set in 10K gold. This is a huge 11.8 total carat weight gemstone offered by JC Penney for $287. According to many birthstone lists, ruby is also the birthstone of December and the stone associated with the 40th wedding anniversary.
What is lab created? Lab-created gemstones are as the name implies – grown in a lab. The gemstone is not synthetic; it is of the same chemical structure as its natural counterpart. Therefore, it is a 'real' gemstone, but not a natural gemstone.
- Tribal Influence - "Ilona" plated gold necklace with geometric shapes connected by chain. $650 offered by Paul & Joe through Net-A-Porter. This is quite an impressive necklace that in size can be referred to as bib style. The necklace drops about 15 inches from the neck. Over the top, it would be the necklace to wear with the perfect black dress – maybe for New Year's Eve. The necklace comes with a Paul & Joe envelope clutch for storage.
What is gold plate? Gold plate refers to gold that is applied to a base metal using heat to bond the tone to the metal. In many cases when using gold tone, the base metal is brass. The care given to the plating procedure will dictate how the piece of jewelry will wear. There is no legal requirement for the amount of gold that is ‘plated’ over the base metal. Therefore, your plated-gold jewelry can start to look bad after a few wearings or look good until you are tired of wearing it. It just depends on each manufacturer.
- Ice Cube Lucite Bracelet - large, oval, hand painted and hand carved gold lucite links connected with smaller sterling silver links set with Swarovski crystals. $395 offered by Alexis Bittar.
What is lucite? Lucite is a clear, plastic material that became popular in the 1940s. While of a sturdy composition, care should be taken that any bracelet is not banged around too much so as to avoid creating dings in the material. Lucite can be cleaned by rinsing in cool water. Place on a soft cloth until it is dry. As sterling silver is a component of this bracelet, it is recommended the bracelet be stored with an anti-tarnish strip in a plastic bag.
What are Swarovski crystals? In business for over 100 years, Swarovski is the trade mark name for what are considered the finest crystals available for purchase.
Banana Republic:
Tim Gunn shops at Banana Republic, and if it's good enough for Tim Gunn, it's good enough for most shoppers. Check out these fantastic jewelry bargains:
- Earrings: sterling silver hammered hoop style drop earrings. $28.
- Wear the earrings with this necklace - pave-set cubic zirconia teardrop pendant hung on a sterling silver chain. $28. Both are just gorgeous.
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