The August birthstone is peridot, a vibrant green gem that is found in shades that vary from lime green with a touch of yellow to a deep olive green.

Seeking inspiration, and having a father in the jewelry industry, William Schraft found that jewelry design satisfied all of his creative desires and individuality.

Yellow gold is everywhere. It’s bright sizzle is the perfect complement for every skin tone. It’s sunny color warms up any wardrobe. And if you generally prefer silver tones, don’t be afraid to mix metals. Layer. Sprinkle in a little yellow as an accent. Alternate yellow and silver colored bangles.

Platinum gained popularity in the late 1800’s when metal smiths developed the technology to work with the rare metal and discovered its unique properties. Platinum is remarkably pliable, allowing it to be drawn into very fine wire while remaining strong and durable. This opened up a world of intricate, lacy jewelery design possibilities. Most platinum jewelry is 95 percent pure platinum. The other 5% is usually palladium, iridium, ruthenium or other alloys. Look for a stamp or mark in jewelry that reads Plat or 950 Plat to be sure you have acquired this glamorous metal.