“No.”

It’s a word with an international translation. It is a favorite of toddlers. It is probably one of the most despised in sales. Despite its equally revered and abhorred reputation, BMW made the word “No.” the cover of a recent marketing pamphlet.

When I glanced over at the display rack and eyed the “No.” pamphlet, I stood back on my heels a bit shocked and then quickly beelined over to the rack to discover the what and how. What could this be about? How in the heck did they have the audacity to go this direction? Upon opening this pamphlet, I was instantly drawn into the material with their emotionally riveting photographs, succinct scrawl and smattering of white pages with black text. Then, “No.” made perfect sense. The concept and content of this pamphlet was absolutely brilliant. It took less than five minutes to read, but has occupied my mind for the last five days.

My favorite page reads like this:

“No, we will not compromise ideas.
No, we will not do it the way everyone else does it.
No, we will not give in to mass-market vanillaism.
At BMW our independence gives us the ability to say No for all the right reasons.
And while most companies choose to hide behind No, we see it as a way to say Yes – to ideas that inform not only our cars, but every aspect of who we are.”

They go on to invite you into a retrospective of where No has taken them. From concept designs to participating in the arts by allowing artists to use their vehicles as a canvas to next generation near-zero emissions cars and other innovative achievements. If you are interested in their car art, check out their New York exhibition March 25th through April 6th. More here

I say thumbs up to BMW for vehemently standing by their product and weathering the current downturn in the import luxury auto market. In a nutshell, BMW’s “No.” pamphlet is further confirmation of this little thing called integrity. It’s the thing that this site is all about. No I will not compromise on quality. No I will not design or present designs that look like the smattering of mass-merchandised fare. No I will not give away my product.

Because of No, I am even more empowered in my self definition and my business offerings. Because of No, I am further impassioned to redefine the way jewelry is purchased online. And because of No, I have become a BMW fan.

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The reemergence of the ’80’s seems to be permeating the fashion, art and music worlds by experimenting with its range of punk edginess to refined splendor with a new millennium twist.

DKNY is celebrating 20 years of great design with a short film that pays homage to the ’80’s cult classic “Liquid Sky.” Check out the fashion house film’s neon imagery set to hypnotic music.

And then there is the queen of androgyny herself - Grace Jones. She silences her 20 year absence from music to strike a polarizing pose for the cover of V Magazine’s Spring issue. Her signature amplified attitude and provocative look is as intoxicating today as it was when she took center stage during the asymmetric silhouette decade.

Recently, artists have been paying tribute to Stephen Sprouse with the launch of a book that celebrates his short-lived but creatively fierce life. He set a tone for the ’80’s fusion of graffiti punk and fashion pop that designers are emulating today.

There is an element of the decade that symbolized glistening elegance, unabashed taste and cultivated style that is coming full circle as well. Women are rediscovering that period of refined and unapologetic feminism packaged in power-claiming frocks. Should pads, hourglass silhouettes and regalia resembling Dynasty days, seem to be making a triumpant catwalk comeback.

So, it’s official. The ’80’s are back! Choose your range of artistic expression with a modern interpretation from a decade that danced with danger and decadence.

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Like your love for each other, your sugar’s jewelry should sparkle brightly. The necklace has just that touch to make it remain close to her heart.

Freshwater Pearls, Swavorski Crystals and this outstanding Druzy pendant create a mesmerizing triple strand combination. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

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As I reflect on the influence of my mentor Alan, aka giorgio, I am compelled to share his views on style and life. I’ve classified them as giorgioisms. Stay tuned as I channel his words.

From an uncompromising aspiration to achieve in a world which too frequently rewards conformity and mediocrity. The giorgio collection has always been strikingly individual. Definitively iconoclastic. Decidedly a classicist.

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Layered, stacked, draped, pinned or crowned, jewelry has always been a statement of personality, style and power. Even the earliest known civilizations exhibited a desire for personal adornment, using jewelry as an expression of their rank. These ornamental findings show that as each society advanced, their jewelry also developed a distinctive style that reflected their cultural voice.

What is known today about ancient jewelry has quite literally been unearthed. Most often, ancient jewels have been found buried with the dead or in hidden caches, most likely secreted during uprisings and wars. Excavations show that both men and women wore jewelry - and lots of it.

Both genders wore earrings, arm bands, bracelets, bangles, necklaces, head pieces, ankle bracelets, brooches, rings and more. Headbands were prominent amongst royals and attendants. Full body adornments and common layering of multiple pieces was part of their daily dress. In death, especially amongst royals, they were adorned to the hilt with jewelry worn during life. Even the poor were buried with simple necklaces.

Read the first part in its entirety - Fashion Collaborative.

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Druzy is formed when water carrying dissolved silicia is forced into a rock cavity and quickly cools. The tiny crystals that from form this are called Druzy.

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So, what are you going to do with your new year? I decided that I’m not dressing in depressing grey garb despite the big R word. No, honey, I’m going to live it up and have some fun. Life marches on one way or another and I’m doing it to the beat of my own drum.

So, it’s appropriate that I kick off the first ‘09 ‘Folio Files’ with this piece. Feathers = frisky.

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This mineral may be blue, violet, pink or brown. If it contains a streak it will be white. It is transparent to translucent. It is attributed to helping one to speak his/her mind.

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Is a pale blue and white banded variety of Agate.  Agate is actually a derivative of Chalcedony. It can be obtained in all sizes through the world. It is proclaimed to have qualities that balance yin and yang energy.

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What in the world could this man teach me? You’d be surprised. Listen up.

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Discover what my amazing grandmother taught me about life, all 92 years of hers, from thousands of miles away.

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Metallic is marvelous darling, just marvelous. Silver metallic is also a magnet for excitement and can double as a disco mirror chip in a pinch.

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Yvette loves to be creative and is always looking for new ways to express herself. In addition to designing some of her own clothes, painting, sketching, writing and a host of other artsy activities, she now adds jewelry designer to her repertoire. After all, this site is her new baby. Her pieces are peppered throughout the site under the label of Fiscally Fabulous. The collection, inside and outside of this label, will expand.

Jewelry gives her the opportunity to explore combinations of color, texture, scale and other factors to create wearable art. She views jewelry as one of the ultimate outlets for personal expression. One closet is definitely not enough. A self-professed lover of clothes (never too many), shoes (never to high), jewelry (never too much) and all things girly; she covets dressing up so that she can layer on all of her goods.

Stay tuned as she expands her artistic horizons.

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Why is it that a few simple strands of these marine marvels always envelop a woman in a cloak of style, grace and class?

Historically, every culture placed high value on pearls even during abundant supplies. Woman of modest and substantial means draped themselves in pearls, sometimes from head to toe.

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Whether you are in retail or not, like me, you consume the news. Everyone is having a sale. It’s a sale bonanza with virtually every retailer giving away their shop. Well, as a retailer, I’ve contemplated about what I should do about this shopping season. Sure, I like everyone else could use more business. However, I’ve read some material which has shaped my unusual position.

One was from an affirmation book that states if you expect to get something for nothing you are violating the law of abundance. It also noted that if you are a bargain hunter you are violating the laws of vibration. I like everyone else who loves a bargain (although I prefer to save up for one quality item then to have a barrage of mediocre things), but I was a bit rocked by this perspective. Through an online fashion enewsletter I read that Abercrombie not participating in this year’s Black Friday discount madness. Both of these sources have inspired me to share my viewpoint which I expressed in this week’s StyleFolioJewelry.com “Folio Files” newsletter. My comments are as follows:

“With everyone discounting to the point that the cows have no home to come to, I have decided to take a different approach. Discounting to a negative profit margin does not revive or sustain our economy. Businesses will continue to go under, people will continue to lose jobs and communities will continue to crush under the weight. So, as anything in life, what you give you get.”

The give part is sharing your unworn items with other women. The get part is getting a discount from me for doing so. It’s the Purge to Splurge program. Please help me spread the word for participation. And, no purchase is required but appreciated.

Details: http://www.stylefoliojewelry.com/jewelry-fashion-news-folio-files/exclusive-stylefolio-programs/

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Brighten up your disposition and set your creative juices on fire! The varied hues of fluorite have a fantasy appeal. This crystal’s chemical composition is said to overcome chaos and bring balance, structure and form to ideas.

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Why is it that a few simple strands of these marine marvels always envelop a woman in a cloak of style, grace and class?

Historically, every culture placed high value on pearls even during abundant supplies.

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Turquoise is said to bring good fortune to those who wear it, and apparently people feel the same about its influence elsewhere. Turquoise is a hot trend item in home décor right along with its presence in jewelry design. Sounds like good fortune is on the upswing everywhere.

This newsletter is reserved exclusively for recipients.

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Vibrant colors can boost your mood like vitamin C can boost your immune system. And in the case of orange, a color that denotes hospitability, you can warm up the environment you inhabit.

Orange became a popular color right after 9/11. Studies showed that its warmth appealed to people as they searched for hope.

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This look is rock fantasy meets Palm Springs poolside bling. The color Cobalt blue and shoulder length earrings are making more pronounced appearances on designer runways and red carpets.

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Yvette laments the sad state of fashion and the importance of feeling good about the way we present ourselves.

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Getting your wedding style and beauty plan together requires thoughtful consideration and planning. Since your wedding is essentially about you, the bride, then it behooves you to address these details:

Your Style
Vera Wang, www.verawang.com, has identified five bridal styles – Traditionalist, Individualist, Modernist, Romanticist and Minimalist. Select the dress style that best fits your personality and find the most beautiful and comfortable gown that interprets your style. Make sure that you and your groom complement each other and your style is cohesive with your overall wedding theme.

Gown Trends
The fall bridal runway is a white sheet filled with bling, lace, flowers, tiers, ruching, intricate detailing including seams and a mix of short and long designs. It seems like Carolina Herrera, Kenneth Pool, Liancarlo and Monique Lhuillier are in love with strapless numbers.
Oscar de la Renta, one of my personal favs, is doing what he does best – feminine ruffles, lace, tiers and intricate detailing. Dynamic duo, Badgley Mischka is bringing home the bling.
David’s Bridal is always an affordable and creative outlet for gorgeous gowns.
Resources: www.carolinaherrera, www.kennethpool.com, www.moniquelhuillier.com, www.liancarlo.com, www.oscardelarenta.com, www.badgleymischka.com, www.davidsbridal.com.

Jewelry
The perfect accent can not be overlooked. Since jewelry frames your face from your eyes to your collarbones, it is critical to select shapes, styles, length and quality that are in line with your gown, your features and your budget.
If you wear a gown with lots of detail such as flowers, asymmetrical shoulder lines and bling, you probably want to focus on a beautiful but small to medium set of earrings. You can also wear a beautiful bracelet, stack smaller bracelets or a delicate cuff to amp up your wrist.
If you chose a strapless version, you can play with a larger scale necklace or draw eyes up to some chandelier style earrings. Add some body glitter to give you just a little bit of glow around your decollate and shoulder area. Think of Mariah Carey’s tan with flecks of gold glitter (but not so much).
Gowns featuring ruffles, lace or tiers should have jewelry that has the same elegant, airy feeling that most designs exude. It is a perfect opportunity to add jewelry with texture and dimension.
Basically, your gown, accessories, makeup and hair should not compete for attention. The focus should be your face, especially your eyes and smile, and everything should flow together to accent all of your positives.

Check out our custom design services for bridal and other jewelry needs by emailing define@stylefoliojewelry.com. This custom designed Fresh Water Pearl and Red Swarovski Necklace is in the $300 range. Shop the Bridal Bliss Collection.

Hair
Gentle waves from the ‘20’s and ‘40’s, sophisticated chignons, avant-garde creations or ‘70’s straight all take the stage. Remember to practice your hairstyle with your stylist in advance to make sure that it is the best look for you and your gown. Take photos of yourself. Sometimes what looks good in the mirror doesn’t translate well in a photo or video.
www.toniandguy.com, www.sassoon.com

Make up
Simply put, hire a professional. This is one day of do-it-yourself mistakes that can’t be redone nor the event repeated. Makeup Pro, Robert Saenz, states that his goal is to make the bride the best version of themselves. “It is important to be patient when a makeup artist works on you, so plan your day accordingly. Avoid high-frost, metallic looks and amp for full pigmented, natural hues like those from MAC and waterproof mascara,” adds Robert. Ladies, please don’t overlook the importance of a great facial and perfectly arched eyebrows. Test some makeup looks with your artist (including photos) in advance to see which one really makes you shine!
Resources: RobertSaenz@hotmail.com, www.maccosmetics.com, www.damoneroberts.com.

Shoes

Two words – Manolo Blahnik. Ok I know a few more. Your shoes will be seen, so pay attention to the color, height, style and comfort level. In fact, like your hair and makeup. A mistake I often see is women choosing a shoe that is too heavy or clunky for the fabric weight and style of garment she is wearing. So, try to mimic the fabric weight and texture in your shoe selection. Make sure shoe accessories or details like studs or diamonds don’t snag on your gown. Try them on next to your honey so you can avert any alter surprises.
Resources: www.manoloblahnik, www.sergiorossi.com, www.ninewest.com, www.zappos.com.

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Fall is a FAB-U-LUSH assortment of creativity. Bold, beautiful accessories continue to take center stage. As Michael Kors says, “Statement pieces give the simplest sweater and skirt a whole new personality.” Ah, yes, ladies, it is time to showcase your personality.

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The name “iolite” comes from the Greek word for violet. Gem quality Iolite varies in color from sapphire blue to blue violet to yellowish gray to light blue as the light angle changes.

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Typically thought of as blue, sapphire can also be colorless, green, pink and a range of other hues. It is mined in parts of the US, India, Russia and countries throughout Africa. In ancient Greece and in the Middle Ages, there was a belief that sapphires cured eye diseases and served as an antidote against poison. It is September’s birth stone.

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Brass has been used throughout time as decoration for its bright gold-like appearance and its nearly tarnish-resistant properties. Back in the day, polished brass was often used as a mirror. Brass has likely been known to humans since prehistoric times. In the German village of Breinigerberg, an ancient Roman settlement was discovered where a calamine ore mine existed. Thus, brass was produced by melting copper together with calamine, a zinc ore.

Note: This image is actually 22k plated gold over brass.

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StyleFolioJewelry.com introduces its Bridal Bliss Collection. The collection fits the most demure or dramatic bride-to-be. Some pieces are designed to add the just-there touch and others are created to play center stage, second to the bride’s breathtaking beauty. Think of the collection as tradition with a twist.

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If you consider yourself a fashionista, then chances are you are a Folioista™ too. What is a Folioista™? A devoted StyleFolioJewelry.com™ patron who loves the original, stylish, jeweled treasures featured on this site.  Every purchase counts towards your style revolution.

Learn More Sign Up Now

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Is a massive stone, typically of deep-blue color, but sometimes with mottlings of white. It is an expensive mineral and crystals with vivid color are even more valuable. It is dull except when given a polished surface.

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Is a solid organic substance exuded from pin or fir trees. It is formless and translucent and generally yellow to brown.

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Clothes, cars, shoes and hangbags are just some items that seem to work best in the decadent color black. Black has always been associated with mystery, intrigue and power.

Pure black onyx is common and probably the most famous variety of quartz.

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A variety of precious opal that is transparent to translucent and is reddish-brown to orange-red in background. Sometimes shows iridescence when viewed in certain directions.

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Highly coveted for its apple-green to deep green color, Chrysoprase is a gemstone variety of chalcedony. It is composed of crystals that remain undetectable under normal magnification. This gemstone is found throughout the world in Australia, Germany, Russia, Arizona, California and Brazil.

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The fashion world continues to be enamored with all things native, especially the cultures throughout the African, Oceanic and Asian parts of the world. This fascination continues through Fall ‘08 which I’ll chat about in a future issue. The Artistic Tribe collection pays tribute to the outstanding creativity prevalent in these cultures with a modern day twist.

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“If one is good, more is better”, professes my friend and designer Mary Jane. She took the words from right out of my mouth. Layering your jewelry is a fun way to add visual imagery and dimension. Baubles come in many shapes, sizes, stones and textures and when they are mixed together, magic happens. Plus, ladies, you know that you can never have too much shimmer to go with that shake!

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A massive, amorphous copper mineral of blue to green color that is sometimes confused with Turquoise. The name comes from the Greek chrysos, “gold”, and kolla, “glue”, in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold.

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Get kissed with silky hues of rose, caramel, cloud, clay, taupe and dove. Showcase these colors in rich fabrics from chiffon to satin. Embody feminine fantasies in draping, billowy designs or something a bit more masculine tempered by fabric weight and color. Add some sheen for an overall luminous affect.

Demure meets rock star.

Flesh for Fantasy - by StyleFolio on Polyvore.com

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This shape has a wide hairline and fullness below the cheekbones. Adding length creates balance with this shape.

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Longer than wide with a jaw that is narrower than the cheekbones, this shape offers the most versatility in hairstyle and jewelry options.

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This face shape is characterized by a small or narrow forehead and a rather large pouchy-appearing jaw line. Add length and volume around the mid-chest area to offset the difference.

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This shape is an elongated oval, characterized by long and narrow bone structure. The forehead and chin are proportionate. Add width to the cheekbone area.

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This face shape features a wider forehead than chin. Balance this shape by adding volume to the chin area.

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A shorter version of the rectangle, this face shape is proportionate from the forehead to the jawline.

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This face shape is proportionate from forehead to chin with an angular jawline. It is an extended version of the square face shape.

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Virtually a reversal of the V-triangle, an A-triangle face features a broad, square jawline with a slightly narrower forehead. Add length to decrease the broadness of the jawline.

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Similar to a diamond-shaped face, a V-triangle face has a wider forehead and a narrow chin. Balance out the shape by focusing on fullness around the chin.

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This shape features a narrow chin and forehead with wide cheekbones. Balance out the shape by focusing on fullness around the chin.

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Comes in an assortment of colors, however the natural hues of brown and black are most common.

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Is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hues. It is a water rich mineral yet only forms in dry regions of the world. It is extremely flexible and favored by artisans because it serves as an excellent carving surface.

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Is found in a variety of colors due to its complicated and varied chemical composition. It is commonly found in black but other colors include blue, red, pink, green, brown and yellow.

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Has a glassy luster. Pure topaz is transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine or straw-yellow. They may be made white, gray, green, blue, pink or reddish-yellow and transparent or translucent.

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A variety of Epidote, a complex mineral, and is generally a pale-green color when first mined. However, they typically are bluish-violet and sometimes other hues.

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Material ranging from pale brown to virtually black. Color results from natural radiation, and radioactive mineral grains ensconced in massive quartz are often surrounded by a ‘halo’ of smoky quartz.  

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Includes needle-like inclusions in some gemstones.

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Its color ranges from pink to blood red. Only diamonds are harder than rubies. Lab-created rubies have been around since the 1890’s and are difficult to distinguish from natural. 

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Color ranges from pale pink to a deep rose-red. 

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Is a variety of the gem Olivine that is golden-green; but also ranges in shades from dark green to yellowish-green and can even be brown, black or colorless.

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The most valuable of all organic gems, pearls have been prized for their delicate iridescence and unique forms for at least 6,000 years.  Pearls are formed when a foreign body such as a grain of sand or a parasite becomes trapped inside the shell of a mollusk. Pearls are relatively soft, but their concentric structure and organic binder give them great toughness. Due to the nature of pearls, they are susceptible to dehydration and exfoliation. 

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There are two types of opal: 1) precious or noble that is iridescent and 2) a common opal characterized by a white, milky appearance with numerous sub-varieties.

Opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, shore, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare and dear, whereas white and greens are the most common. 

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Is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color. Pure black onyx is common, and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as banded onyx, which contains bands of white, tan and brown. Onyx is originally an Assyrian word meaning ring, and so could refer to anything used for making rings.

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Also known as nacre, it is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks. It is strong, resilient and iridescent.

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An opalescent variety of orthoclase (a major rock forming mineral) and some other components give this stone a blue or white sheen known as a schiller. 

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Is a variety of natural glass and is transparent and bottle-green to greenish-brown. It is used as a gemstone when faceted (cut) and polished. 

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The real mineral is almost white and can resemble pale bronze. It is generally cut and mounted in a fashion to enhance its surface sparkle. 

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Traditionally red in color, garnet is part of a group of minerals that includes six main varieties. The chemical composition of garnet influences its many colors and shades.

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This rare and valuable precious stone comes in shades of green to blue-green. The more saturated the color, generally the higher the price. Synthetic emeralds, developed in the 1930’s, have fewer imperfections and are difficult to distinguish from natural. 

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Is a rare, organic gemstone which can no longer be gathered due to environmental restrictions. A renewable resource collected in the wild from a limited environment, it is the remains of a delicate and beautiful living organism that flourished deep beneath the waves. Found primarily in Asia, Africa and Mesoamerican. Ancient societies believed in that coral was a protective charm that brought good fortune and protected people from harm.

NOTE: StyleFolioJewelry.com’s coral pieces were made before the extraction of coral was prohibited.

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Is less common than the amethyst. Yellow to yellow-brown in color and resembles the gem topaz. Good citrine crystals are surprisingly rare. 

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Is a variety of quartz that is usually pale blue or grey. It is generally uniform in tint but some varieties have multiple colored internal markings.

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A semiprecious stone that is usually translucent blood red to reddish orange in color. It has been believed that it calms the temper, gives its owner courage and helps the timid to speak eloquently.

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Calcite has a variety of habits which makes it an especially interesting crystal. Scientist have discovered its optical properties such as double refraction of light, such that objects viewed through a clear piece of calcite appear doubled in all of their parts and producing wavelengths of extraordinary refractive indices. It is generally transparent to opaque and can be gray, yellow or green.

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Most bone beads today are made of ox or cow bone. 

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Is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. It is well regarded for its strength and diverse uses. Throughout Asia, Bamboo are economically and cultural significant. Its long life makes them a symbol of longevity, whereas in India it is a symbol of friendship.

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The mineral beryl has been considered a gemstone since prehistoric times. Aquamarine is a transparent variety of beryl, having a delicate blue or turquoise color. It is closely related to the emerald.

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Is lilac to deep purple is the most highly valued of all the quartz varieties. In ancient times the amethyst was thought to have mystical and protective powers, particularly the ability to prevent intoxication; for this reason the stone’s name is derived from the Greek phrase amethystos, meaning ‘not drunk’. The deeper the color, the more valuable.

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An organic gem that comes from preserved tree resin. Its basic orange ranges from dark honey to reddish orange to hazy lemon. Although rarer, amber may vary in color from green to blue.

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Is a general term for a solid in which the constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are packed in a regularly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. Natural crystals include quartz, diamonds and emeralds. Glass crystals, such as Swarovski, are manmade and incorporate lead to produce a sparkling, crystalline appearance. Both natural and glass crystals come in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes.

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What’s hot now? Check out Pantone’s Spring Color and Fashion report for details.

Learn More

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