California native, David Heston, is known for creating jewelry with a bold and contemporary look, catered to both men and women.

An exquisitely crafted cuff bracelet can be a distinct statement jewelry piece. And it has recently become a trend, found resting on the wrist of so many people.

July brings hot heat and a fiery red gemstone – the precious ruby. Named the gemstone of the Sun, these sweltering red stones are a reminder of the warm, carefree months of summer.

The gem of desire, courage, passion and emotion – the ruby, considered a “precious” gemstone, has been coveted for centuries as Max Bauer wrote in 1894, “A clear, transparent, and faultless ruby of a uniform red color is at the present time the most valuable precious stone known.”

What’s more romantic than the moon? Wearing one on your finger. A gemstone said to be surrounded by mystique and magic, the moonstone is made from the feldspar mineral that covers much of the earth.

Thank goodness for of my good friend Karen, who had a period of being a bad girl herself. As did most of the interesting women that I know.

An amazing thing happened last week, justice prevailed and a talented young woman was set free. Roxana Saberi has lived a life that has been referred to as a “testament to diversity and democracy”.

It is hard to believe that there are emeralds that are worth more than diamonds. But it’s true. Emeralds can even be three times as valuable as that trusty diamond.

Delamina, the new fine jewelry site that speaks directly to women, and provides them with a place to explore their own unique style in a fun and relaxed environment is now showcasing the classic, feminine designs of Akiyo Matsuoka.

What is made of compressed CARBON, OLDer than sin and PRACTICAL to wear? It sounds like a bad joke and it certainly doesn’t sound very appealing. But wait… the answer is not Dr. Scholl’s inserts

Yes it is tax day, and while taxes are no fun, they are most definitely the preferred one of the two famous certainties. This week we are celebrating both Lilly Ledbetter, as our Delamina woman of the week, and President Obama for signing into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act early in his tenure.

Delamina, the new fine jewelry site that speaks directly to women, is now showcasing the versatile, cutting edge designs of David Heston.

Michael Vick is on my shit list. But thankfully, there is balance in the universe and for every Vick there is a Sarah McLachlan. Not only has Sarah got a voice that melts butter, she has devoted herself to several causes in a very selfless, passionate way. She’s helped out fellow female vocalists, raised millions of dollars for charity and she has been a spokesperson and strong advocate for the SPCA.

In all seriousness, maybe shoehorning your adorable pet into a two-piece designer jogging suit and carrying him around while you run errands, isn’t exactly what little Sparky had in mind?

The Beverley K collection is a line of handcrafted jewelry, available in 18k gold and platinum, with pieces that are adorned with fancy engravings, hand filigree, shimmering diamonds and strikingly colorful gemstones. The collection includes handcrafted bridal rings, all with their own exquisitely feminine touch, and each band showcasing “delicate vine-like curls to form a fancy bridal bed.”

Thirty-three carats of London blue topaz are showcased in Enamorata’s 18-karat gold and diamond earrings, which boast the richest topaz blue I’ve ever seen. Considering the hefty carat weight, the $1800 price is decidedly reasonable. If, however, a four-digit tag still induces a case of sticker shock, the company offers an equally beautiful pair of 7.5-carat London blue topaz hoop earrings for a third of the price.

It all started in the 1930s when Coco Chanel, the French designer of “all things glamorous” stated that “Elegance is Refusal”. Her fine jewelry offered the first glimpse of haute couture for women, the vibrantly feminine woman who considered herself ‘powerful while ladylike’. Her fashion jewelry designs were the first ventures into “high-low” fashion whereby exquisite jewels were combined with other stones to add interest and to bring the price point for one or two pieces of fine jewelry out of the “royalty only” range. In many ways, she set a bar that continues to stand. Coco Chanel’s most famous fine jewelry included elegant pins and bracelets.

But in dull economic times, there is a shiny nugget of good news: Now is the time to put your money on gold—or silver, platinum, diamonds, even enamel and wood. Jewelry, whether costume or the real McCoy, will weather both the economic storm and the ebb and flow of fickle fashion. Luckily, the Spring 2009 runways put forth a goldmine of investment-worthy statement baubles sure to give new life to last year’s looks.

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but this is truly a friend with benefits. Diamonds, unlike handbags, can last forever - and retain their value. They can be reset (or traded) to suit your changing taste over time.

And while it certainly can be, the meaning behind a personal piece of jewelry doesn’t have to be that deep. Coco Chanel pinned a white camellia to her lapel simply because it was a flower she loved. According to Chanel’s website, she “adored the camellia for its almost geometrical roundness and the regular perfection and classic order of its pure white petals.” Now a symbol of the French fashion house, the camellia adorns some of the most jaw-dropping pieces of Chanel’s fine-jewelry collection, in the form of rings, pendants, earrings, and watches.

A style of necklace, popular at the turn of the century, in which a neck chain suspends a gem stone or small pendant set with gemstones.

A loupe, pronounced loop, is any small magnifying glass mounted for hand use, that allows the user to take a closer look at a gemstone.

At one time they were even consider more valuable than diamonds. You probably can’t find a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I where she is not virtually dripping in pearls … in her hair, around her neck and sewn into her gowns. Elizabeth’s display of opulent pearls demonstrated her station in life; her power, wealth and her nobility. In 1893 Kokichi Mikimoto developed the culturing of pearls and subsequently changed the pearl market forever. Though not considered as rare as they once were, pearls are still a wonder of nature and a symbol of purity, elegance, beauty and sophistication.