Beauty Information English German French Spanish Italian Portuguese Chinese Japanese Korean Russian

Trends in Gift Giving - Jewelry a Timeless Favorite


In times of rapid change, constants lend comfort to our lives. Since ancient times, jewelry has been one of the most popular gifts to give and to receive, and it still ranks among the top gifts as a universal, particularly pearls and birthstones. Jewelry ranks just beneath flowers as the gift that says "I love you," and it ranks just above flowers as a gift to convey that the recipient is someone special. A gift of jewelry delights the recipient and evokes a genuine smile.

It's the Style?

It's not the price; it's the style that determines whether your gift of jewelry is received in the same spirit in which it is given. To give jewelry that delights, match the gift to the recipient's style. Jewelry is one area where you cannot give a gift that you would love to own. Your idea of a fashionable bauble may be another's idea of junk. Is the intended's style casual or more formal, traditional or contemporary? You wouldn't give a Swatch watch to your great-grandmother any more than you would give a diamond tennis bracelet to your Goth niece. Select a compatible style and your gift will stand out among the recipient's favorites and ensure that the gift never finds its way to the regifting closet.

The Many Faces of Pearls

Any woman over the age of 30 appreciates a fine strand of pearls. They're elegant, timeless, and suitable for most occasions. Think back to your favorite old movies; most leading ladies wore pearls at some point during the movie.

Pearls are the only gemstone created within another living organism. Natural pearls are grown without any human intervention when a speck of sand or other irritant lodges itself inside an oyster. Deteriorating environmental conditions have rendered natural pearls all but obsolete.

Cultured pearls have quickly filled the void. The only difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl is that human intervention is required to place the irritant inside the oyster shell. By controlling the size and shape of the irritant as well as the environmental factors, cultured pearls guarantee greater quality control. You'll find pearls in many hues ranging from white South Sea pearls to black Tahitian pearls, and covering a lot of territory in between: pink, green, blue and ivory.

Freshwater pearls sport a combination of interesting shapes and hues not usually found in saltwater varieties. Freshwater pearls come from Chinese rivers and lakes where the Hyriopsis cumingi mussels can produce 50 pearls at once. They are usually less expensive than saltwater pearls, but no less elegant than their saltwater counterpart.

Birthstones

Precious and semi-precious gems linked to birthdays date as far back as the 15th century. Unlike today, early birthstones were linked to the signs of the Zodiac instead of to calendar months. Almost everyone appreciates a birthstone, and it shows that you actually put some thought into the gift. Many people believe that wearing their birthstone protects them and brings them good luck. When giving a birthstone as a gift, think beyond rings to bracelets, pendants, earrings, pins and chokers.

The chart below contains the official modern birthstones, as established in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers. Some birthstones have many legends associated with them; you'll find a brief summary below. This official list applies only to the United States. Several other birthstone lists exist, such as the mystical birthstones, which originated in Tibet and the Ayurvedic birthstones, which originated in India.

Month Birthstone

January Garnet

-Associated with blood, garnet provides victory, protection from injury and health and brings constancy

February Amethyst

-Said to have been worn by St. Valentine, amethyst signifies spirituality and sincerity

March Aquamarine

-The stone of serenity and courage, also associated with water

April Diamond

-Banishes evil, promotes goodness, improves financial situations - the world's favorite precious gem also signifies pure and eternal love, innocence

May Emerald

-Brings harmony, the stone of life and renewal, love and success

June Pearl

-Purity, chastity and modesty, health and longevity

July Ruby

-Devotion, integrity and success - contentment

August Peridot

-Dignity, success and fame - married happiness

September Sapphire

-Clears the mind and brings prosperity and clear thinking

October Opal

-Happiness, beauty, love, magic - hope

November Topaz

-Brings wisdom and strength of mind, fidelity

December Turquoise

-Good fortune and prosperity

Enclose a card with the gift explaining the meaning of the birthstone. While most people know their birthstone, few know the significance attached to it.

If you want to give jewelry as a gift, but you're at a loss for what to give, pearls and birthstones provide two safe options that are sure to please and make a lasting impression.

M J Plaster is a successful author who provides information on shopping online for jewelry and jewelry gifts. M J Plaster has been a commercial freelance writer for almost two decades, most recently specializing in home and garden, the low-carb lifestyle, investing, and anything that defines la dolce vita.


MORE RESOURCES:

Reality TV Magazine

Premierewatch: 'True Beauty' tests quantum physics on unsuspecting ...
Zap2it.com - 54 minutes ago
By Brandon Millman If there's anything that the series premiere of True Beauty teaches the insecure youth of America, it's that beauty is on the inside and ...
Truly Dull 'True Beauty' Hartford Courant
True Beauty or True Beast? Reality TV Magazine
The Search for 'True Beauty' Begins Tonight on ABC BuddyTV
Staten Island Advance - SILive.com - The Gossip Girls
all 19 news articles


The Beauty Diet treats from the inside out
Houston Chronicle, United States - 14 hours ago
That’s the main message behind Lisa Drayer’s book, The Beauty Diet. Drayer is a beauty nutritionist and the author of Strong, Slim and 30, ...


Finding that 'inner beauty'
KLEW, ID - 7 hours ago
Monday night is the premier of a reality show the Lewiston native will take part in - True Beauty. "For the past ten years I've actually owned and operated ...
Tampa man survives first night on one of the most vapid reality ... Tampabay.com
all 2 news articles


Cheryl Tiegs knows ‘True Beauty
Kansas City Star, MO - Jan 4, 2009
That perception will be put to the test at 9 tonight when ABC premieres “True Beauty,” a show that pits four gorgeous men and women against one another, ...


Annual Sally Beauty Best Tressed(R) Survey Recaps Highs and Lows ...
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 1 hour ago
6 /PRNewswire/ -- The 15th annual Sally Beauty Best Tressed(R) Survey takes a look back at Hollywood's best and worst celebrity hairstyles. ...


Trial delayed again in beauty salon triple murder
WREX-TV, IL - 22 hours ago
AP - January 5, 2009 10:34 AM ET BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - The trial for a Missouri teen accused of killing three people at a Belleville beauty salon in 2005 ...
Judge OKs fingerprint evidence in triple killing at Belleville salon Belleville News Democrat
all 14 news articles


No departures from reality
Los Angeles Times, CA - 5 hours ago
Last night brought ABC's "True Beauty" (10 pm), from the desks of Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher. Kutcher has previously given the world "Beauty and the ...


Examiner.com

New Year beauty blunders
Examiner.com - 25 minutes ago
by Charlie Kuchinsky, Norfolk Beauty Education Examiner A lot of people want to start the New Year fresh. Sometimes in anticipation of getting that fresh ...


Sovereign/Homestead Launches Organic Beauty Magazine
Trading Markets (press release), CA - 8 hours ago
Jan 05, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- -- Sovereign/Homestead said that it is launching Organic Beauty, a bimonthly magazine that will serve as the ...
Organic Beauty Yet to Catch On in US Luxist
Natural beauty market – 2008 review Utalkmarketing
all 3 news articles


Valley has lost its charm, beauty
Arizona Republic, AZ - 9 hours ago
Due to the desire for power and greed, this Valley has lost its charm and beauty. Those of us who have lived here a long time do not wish to live in LA, ...

Beauty - Google News

home | site map | towerlinks | link-partners

Map IP Address

Copyright © 2006-2007 - Beauty Information