How to Get a Purple Gemstone

A purple gemstone may not be on the top of your jewelry shopping list because it's an unusual color for jewelry. You may be craving diamonds when a different gemstone will actually be more unusual & get lots of compliments. However, purple has been associated with royalty for centuries. There are several surveys where men choose purple as one of the sexiest colors. Here is how to find a purple gem that you can wear everyday.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
    
   amethyst rough

   Explore birthstones & traditional purple gems. Amethyst is the birthstone for February & it can range from a light lavender to a deep purple. It's often cheaper than a CZ or even costume jewelry.

2. 
    
   amethyst ring

   Class it up. Amethyst isn't seen on the red carpet a lot. Maybe they are afraid that the two colors will clash. It's a semi precious stone & the starlets usually go for diamonds. Change people's idea of purple by choosing a piece surrounded in yellow gold or filigree.

3. Make it casual. There are purple shades of turquoise & jade. Choose something in sterling silver for a casual look that still uses natural gems. these smooth gems won't catch on things & have a low profile, unlike faceted stones.

4. 
    
   tanzanite

   Invest in your favorite color. Tanzanite is a blueish purple gem. There are even light lavender shades of this stone. The more intense shades are worth thousands of dollars & have really appreciated over the last few years because it's rare gem & no one is sure of just how much of it exists. Buy the stone because you love it, not because you think it will go up in value.

5. Mix things up. Since purple gems can be found so inexpensively you can afford to go for a trendier, fun item that will only be in style for a few years. Resin is one of the newest trends in jewelry. It can be paired with a natural gemstone like amethyst for a unique look.

6. Treat purple as a a neutral color. Sport your ring everyday regardless of what color you are wearing to really create unusual combinations & think outside the box.

Tips & Warnings

• If people think that tanzanite was just a cop out for not being able to afford a more traditional gemstone, enlighten them. Tanzanite was named by Tiffany & Co & is thought to be 1000 times more rare than a diamond.

[kerrylf]

on 1/11/2009 Interesting.