"Rock Stars"

I believe in investing in classics. We know that cut, clarity and color ... are just a few of the qualities that determine a stones worth.

I think when investing in classics you can go with some lesser known varieties, gleaming with what I think has the "next-big-thing" potential. So let me take you through a few of my favorites, of course, including the coveted non-synthetic diamond.

I'm starting with Rubies ...

Here is the most important attribute:

Beware... hue is the only thing that sets it apart from its chemically identical relative, the Sapphire. That would be the true vivid red often called, “pigeon's blood”, which will fetch higher prices than any other colored gem.

Sapphires...

This stone is distinguished by its hardness. Sapphires come in a spectrum of colors. Colors include pink, yellow, green and my favorite, salmon.

(if you ever see or watch HSN…not me ha! It is also called Padparadscha)

The most precious Sapphire originates in Kashmir. They are rendered in a rich violet that appears ultra-bright even in evening light.

Emeralds...

You know this is my favorite. Hence my name... #Esmeraldasays. Yes, of course she's all about emeralds. Emeralds were first mined in ancient Egypt.

The most valuable today come from Colombia. They are highly transparent and pure green. Because these stones are so brittle they are usually full of flaws you can see with the naked eye. They are called fissures. The higher the quality, the less fissures you will see. The favorite cut and usually the cleanest cut is the stones name sake, “the emerald cut”.

Opals ...

Hailing almost exclusively from Australia, they are distinctively patterned Stones.

These Stones can be found in a wide variety of hues, but black (my favorite of all opals) have a bright play of color. That is why, as it sparkles on your finger or neck, the color changes as it rotates. These are the most valuable, sometimes netting $10,000 a carat.

Tourmaline...

Available in a multiple of hues, what is so interesting about tourmaline is that the stone can feature two or more hues in a single cut.

Brazilian Paraiba can also command over $10,000 a carat.

Affordable green and pink "watermelon" combos are currently having a fashion moment.

Pearls...

Once only obtained by professional divers, the shining orbs, which also come in a variety of colors ranging from white to Peacock green, are now cultured in controlled environments making them much more affordable and widely available.

They were the main stay and signature for Coco Chanel, so no one can go wrong with pearls.

It's nice to buy the very expensive Mikimoto pearls. But there are quite a few pearl companies to shop from that understand how this classic can be the finishing touch for any fashionista.

One of my favorites is a company called DSL. They can be obtained at most Preferred Jeweler Retail stores.

Coco has nothing on you! My Fashionistas-

Diamonds...

Ok! The Queen or some say "The King of Gemstones"

Diamonds are the most highly desired and generally the most expensive stones on the market. You know clean white diamonds are prized, BUT... red, green, pink, purple, and blue are rare and can sell for more than a million dollars per carat.

Maybe before you say “Yes to the Dress” you should first do some major bling shopping.

Here's some Great trivia... 81 billion dollars was spent on diamond jewelry worldwide in 2014! [Statistics by De Beers Group]

Hope you learned a little... and loved a lot!

Esmeraldasays