If your birthday is in April, then your birthstone is the diamond!

You may already have read our intro to diamonds (Diamonds 101 in WooU), but let’s review anyway.

The diamond is the hardest naturally-occurring mineral on earth. Its name comes from the ancient Greek adamas, which means invincible. Another mineral that gets its name from this Greek root word is adamantium — the fictional mineral that is infused into Wolverine’s skeleton in X-Men to make his bones into indestructible metal.

All geeky fangirlishness aside, a diamond is the quintessential gemstone — the first gem that comes to mind when you think of jewelry. Songs have been written celebrating it, nursery rhymes comparing stars to their luster. It’s often imitated and even duplicated.

So let’s celebrate all of you fabulous April Diamonds out there with a few different ways to rock your birthstone!

Affordable Accent

fettY Aries Zodiac Necklace (also comes in Taurus), $675 at barneys.com.

Whether you’re a courageous Aries or a determined Taurus, these ultra-hip Zodiac necklaces will show your true self to the world. And the diamonds used in this necklace are conflict-free!

The Investment Piece

Frank Gehry for Tiffany & Co. Torque Bead Ring, $1,650 at tiffany.com.

Y’all know how I feel about Frank Gehry. And, since I know that you April Diamonds will accept nothing but the best, I suggest you try on Gehry’s Torque ring for size. The idea is classic, but the execution is so modern — everything we’ve come to expect from the fabulous Mr. Gehry!

Living in Luxury

Diamond in the Rough Champagne Bubbles Necklace, $22,000 at neimanmarcus.com.

It’s your birthday — this calls for a celebration! And a celebration always calls for the best champagne! I love the paradox of these rough diamonds creating such a refined piece of jewelry.

You April diamonds are tough, but beautiful. Shine on, my friends, shine on!

Brilliantly,
Olivia

If your birthday is in March, then your birthstone is the aquamarine!

Aquamarine is a gem-quality, turquoise-hued variety of the mineral beryl. The name “aquamarine” means “water of the sea” — so apropos! The color of fine aquamarine is an exact match for the clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Maybe that’s why ancient sailors slept with aquamarine under their pillows. They believed that this seaworthy gem would protect them from harm on their voyage, guarantee a safe passage home, and even help them to sleep soundly!

At a 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, aquamarine is a low-maintenance, high-quality gemstone to invest in.

And here are three of our favorite ways to do just that!

1. Affordable Accent

Baccarat Galet Women’s Pendant in Aquamarine, $230 at neimanmarcus.com.

This Baccarat pendant is a lovely abstract shape that will go with anything from a little black dress to a white cotton tee. And since the shape is so nebulous, it just adds to the mystery of your look!

2. The Investment Piece

Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co. Sugar Stacks Pendant in Aquamarine, $750 at tiffany.com.

I once said (okay, maybe twice) of Paloma Picasso’s Sugar Stacks collection for Tiffany & Co. that the pieces looked so good that I almost wanted to taste them!

Well, I imagine that this yummy pendant from Paloma’s collection would somehow taste like the sea. A versatile piece like this is always worth the investment!

3. Living in Luxury

Linda Lee Johnson Mermaid Pendant, $10,550 at barneys.com.

The same ancient sailors who used aquamarine as a good-luck charm also believed that a mermaid’s fishy parts were made of them. Linda Lee Johnson pays homage to this old seaman’s tale with this adorably nautical necklace. The perfect combination of elegance and whimsy, it’s a great way to show that your birthstone has a history that you can be proud of!

You March Aquamarines are mysterious, tranquil, and as deep as the blue sea. Happy birthday to you, and may the coming year be filled with halcyon days.

Peace Out,
Olivia

“Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?” – L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

If your birthday is in February, then your birthstone is the amethyst!

All hail the almighty amethyst!

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz. It gets its violet hue from the interplay between iron and aluminum in the quartz. It can range in color from light pinkish violet to deep purple. Despite scoring a hardy 7 on the Mohs scale, it is extremely sensitive to heat and can discolor at high temperatures. In fact, citrine and yellow quartz are often called “burnt amethyst,” as the color turns from purple to yellow with exposure to heat.

Amethyst gets its name from the Greek “amethystos,” meaning “not drunken.” The ancient Greeks believed that it prevented intoxication and would often wear it during revels in order to combat drunkenness. Many people today still believe that it has healing powers – although I wouldn’t recommend that you buy an amethyst cell-phone case to prevent drunk-dialing.

And now for some fun ways to wear this passionate gem!

Affordable Accent

Stephen Dweck Chain Amethyst Dangle Earrings, $440 at bergdorfgoodman.com.

These earrings from Stephen Dweck’s Avignon Collection are proof positive that February amethysts often have a wild streak. The sterling silver chains bring balance to the fanciful amethyst beads.

The Investment Piece

Tiffany Amethyst Cocktail Ring, $800 at tiffany.com.

It’s a well-established fact here at WooMeOver that Olivia loves cocktail rings like nothing else. And this juicy offering from Tiffany fits the bill with a vengeance.

Living in Luxury

David Yurman Small Amethyst Half-Moon Enhancer, $1,300, and David Yurman Garnet Bead Chain, $425, both at neimanmarcus.com.

A true February amethyst couldn’t be truly satisfied with just a run-of-the-mill cocktail ring, no matter how fabulous. She needs to acknowledge her inner goddess with something like David Yurman’s ethereal Half-Moon Enhancer. It’s the perfect piece to compliment your toga at that midnight bacchanal!

You February amethysts are passionate and mysterious. You deserve a gemstone that satisfies the diva within. And the amethyst is the perfect offering to appease the goddess within.

Divinely,
Olivia

If your birthday is in January, then your birthstone is the garnet!

The garnet ring I bought in the Czech Republic!

I first discovered the beauty of this gemstone last summer on a trip to the Czech Republic. And everything I’ve seen of them since then has only made me love them more!

The garnet gets its name from the Latin word for pomegranate – these juicy red gems do look an awful lot like pomegranate seeds! They’re a nesosilicate and can range in color from the standard red to blue or green – they can even be colorless! At a 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale, I’d say that this deep red gem is a pretty solid investment.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the ways to wear this beautiful birthstone!

Affordable Accent

Dana Kellin Women's Garnet Drop Pendant, $190 at bloomingdales.com.

A glint of gold is a subtle way to set off this gorgeous pendant. Dana Kellin’s classic pendant showcases everything that this deep red beauty should be. And the best part of it is that it’s totally affordable!

The Investment Piece

Sydney Evan Om Beaded Bracelet, $575 at saks.com.

Ever feel the need to relax? Well, Sydney Evan knows just how you feel. Her simple bracelet of garnet beads also boasts a sacred om symbol. So you can rest easy, knowing that you can relax and look great!

Living in Luxury

You January garnets have sparkling personalities, but these brilliant David Yurman earrings might give you a run for your money!

What a great way to start off a whole new year of birthstones! So to all you passionate January garnets out there, get down to the depths of your souls and be the beautiful people that you are!

Warmly,
Olivia

If your birthday is in December, then your birthstone is the turquoise! Turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum. The gemstone is valued for its beautiful, blue-green color!

The birthstone for December: Turquoise!

This gem of a gem gets its name from the French word for “Turkish” (turquois). Although there aren’t any turquoise mines in Turkey, most European merchants got their turquoise from Turkish bazaars.

For the last two millennia, Persia has been the greatest source of this brilliant gemstone. In America, there are also abundant sources of the gemstone to be found in the Southwest, which explains why it figures so prominently in Native American jewelry in that region.

Rating a mere 6 on the Mohs scale (about the same as window glass), this gem is one of the most fragile gemstones. But it’s the only fragile thing about this bold blue birthstone!

And now let’s get to the fun part: some jewelry that showcases your December birthstone!

Amy DiGregorio Lexington Earrings in Gold, $78 at couturecandy.com.

Affordable Accent

I love Amy DiGregorio’s clusters of polished turquoise cubes. I love the variety in the shades of the December birthstone – what a gem of a find!

Kim Riedel Turquoise and Gold Vermeil Cuff, $475 at vivre.com.

The Investment Piece

Kim Riedel’s gemstone and gold cuff is what I call “goddess wear” because wearing this cuff will make you look like a goddess! It reminds me of the Greek islands and classic architecture and classic beauty – close your eyes and you’re on a December vacation to the Mediterranean! What a classy way to sport your birthstone!

Yossi Harari Ring, $2,300 at marissacollections.com.

Living in Luxury

Flaunt your December birthstone in style! I love this Yossi Hasari ring because it reminds me of an ancient earring I recently wrote about. It certainly has the same feel of timeless style to it.

So, remember this December: no matter which piece you choose to represent your birthstone, you December turquoises are going to look like the classic, earthy beauties that you are!

Grounded,
Olivia

Tis the season to be thankful!

I’d like to take this opportunity to fulfill the purpose of this lovely holiday by giving thanks for the many blessings in my life.

Macy's Sterling Silver Diamond Bracelet, $99 (originally $400) at macys.com.

1. Black Friday

My favorite thing about the Thanksgiving holiday is the day after Thanksgiving. That’s the real holiday for me because “Black Friday,” as the day has been dubbed by retailers, means that I can get tons of cute holiday gifts (including jewelry) that my friends will love – at sale prices that I love!

And since online retailers are participating, too (everyone from Macy’s to JC Penney), you won’t have to wait in the long lines that make Black Friday so black – you can order your favorite jewelry from the comfort of your own home!

I think they should make it an official holiday and change the name to “Gold Friday.”

Ten Thousand Things Pinned Black Opal Buttercup Bracelet, $7,745 at ylang23.com.

2. Birthstones

I was thankful to finally learn to love my birthstone! Opals (the birthstone for October) are so versatile – there’s an opal for every occasion. If anybody wants to know what I’d like (and even love) for the holidays, there’s your answer.

Designer Rita Chung of Asian2Woman, subject of an October 2008 interview.

3. Jewelry Designers

I’m thankful to know so many people with so much imagination and creativity that truly love what they do. They are as varied as the materials and methods they use, and it’s my privilege to write about their work and hear about what projects they’ve got coming up next.

A lot of them have holiday discounts, too, so check out their websites!

4. Jewelz

I’m so privileged to be friends and colleagues with fellow blogger Jewelz! Her knack for finding gems off the beaten path is unparalleled. We who love jewelry are lucky to have her! Happy Holidays, Jewelz! We love you!

5. WooMeOver

Most of all, I’m thankful for WooMeOver. The site has given me a unique opportunity to learn about jewelry and share my knowledge with an audience that loves jewelry as much as I do. It’s so nice to share my love with others.

I hope you have much to be thankful for this holiday season as well. Wear your thankfulness like jewelry – it’s the most beautiful holiday accessory you could flaunt.

Thankfully,
Olivia

If your birthday is in November, then your birthstone is the topaz!

Topaz is a mineral made of silicon, aluminum, and fluorine. In its purest form, it’s clear, but most topaz is colored by impurities (I guess you could say that it’s beautifully flawed). It can range in color from the straw-yellow typically associated with the gem to sky blue or white or even pink!

It’s got a nice Mohs rating of 8, which makes it tough, but still feminine. Yes, it’s tough, but it’s not tough to find!

Affordable Accent

Kohl’s 10k White Gold Blue Topaz Heart Pendant, $89.99 at kohls.com.

This vivid blue pendant shows how the wearer feels about love — she loves it! And accenting the blue topaz is an army of diamond accents, chiming in, “And WE love YOU!”

The Investment Piece

Bounkit for Vivre BiColor Drop Earring, $460 at vivre.com.

While blue topaz is bright and brash, gray topaz is seductive and sultry. These earrings start with lemon quartz and graduate on down to the smoky depths of the topaz. The allure is well worth the investment.

Living in Luxury

JudeFrances Jewelry Cinnamon Topaz Ring, $3,240 at neimanmarcus.com.

Okay, so I know that I didn’t feature any yellow topaz here, but can you blame me? I was too busy drooling over this tasty cinnamon topaz ring. Flanked by pavé diamond accents and set in 18k white and yellow gold, this ring is truly droolworthy. And, hey, if drool was money, I’d be able to afford it just by ogling it!

Topaz is a symbol of friendship, and it’s no wonder — you’d be hard-pressed to find a warmer gemstone.

So, to all you friendly November topazes out there, keep showing others your warmth and allure!

Warmly,
Olivia

Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday, dear Olivia
Happy birthday to me!

That’s right, folks; the “O” in “Olivia” stands for “October Opal.”

Last month, I mentioned that I used to be jealous of my sister because my favorite color is blue, but sapphire is her birthstone instead of mine. Well, that was before I knew just how cool opals are!

The Flame Queen Opal, the world’s largest cut and polished opal.

Opals are actually not a stone, but a mineraloid gel! They’re typically about 3-10% water, but can be up to 20%, which explains its rating of 5.5-6.5 on the Mohs scale. They’re basically a form of hydrated silica. Sounds simple, but the resulting gem is intriguingly complex!

Thanks to its lattice structure, it can be iridescent (or “opalescent,” if we’re going to get technical), and just about any color under the sun! Some of them even exhibit “eye-of-opal”, in which the gem takes on an eye-like appearance when it in-fills a cavity.

The Flame Queen Opal, viewed from a different angle.

The most famous example of this characteristic is also the world’s largest cut and polished opal: the Flame Queen Opal. Not only does it exhibit “eye-of-opal,” but it also changes colors when viewed from different angles. The two pictures above are the same gem, shot from different angles!

So, I’m convinced: the opal is just as good a birthstone as a sapphire! So let’s get to some ways to show your true colors by sporting opal jewelry!

Affordable Accent

Macy’s 14K Gold Opal & Diamond Earrings, $131.75 at macys.com.

White opal gives these earrings an antique look and feel. But the milky opalescence (well, what else would you have me call it?) gives them a hint of mystery — which will leave admirers turning back for a second look.

The Investment Piece

Annette Ferdinandsen Tiny Matrix Opal Ring with Orange Fire, $840 at ylang23.com.

Fire opal.

Sounds exotic, doesn’t it? Well, the name certainly does justice to the bright orange lick of flame showcased in this fire opal ring. The Investment Piece should always make a statement, and this ring’s statement is: “This is why I’m hot.”

Living in Luxury

Ten Thousand Things Pinned Black Opal Buttercup Bracelet, $7,745 at ylang23.com.

Once you go black, you can never go back.

Black opal is so versatile; it’s simultaneously sleek, sophisticated, and mysterious. The colors and opalescence (there’s that word again) combine to give it great depth.

October Opals (like Olivia) are cute and fun, but there’s definitely more to us than meets the eye. There’s more to us than what’s on the surface, and we’re always going to keep everybody guessing.

Mysteriously,
Olivia

If your birthday is in September, then your birthstone is the sapphire!

Blue is my favorite color and I was always jealous that my sister’s birthday is in September because sapphire is her birthstone. And it’s no wonder; with its deep blue hue, it’s one of the most popular and widely known gemstones in the world.

Sapphire is a gem-quality form of the mineral corundum. Rubies (the July birthstone!) are actually a form of the same mineral! While rubies get their color from chromium, sapphires are pure aluminum oxide. Not all sapphires are blue, however. Some contain trace amounts of iron, titanium and chromium, which can produce a whole spectrum of colors in the sapphire family!

The Star of India

The largest cut sapphire in the world is the Star of India, which is a star sapphire. Star sapphires have needle-like inclusions that cause a six-rayed “star” to appear when the gem is viewed under a single overhead light source. The Star of India weighs in at a whopping 563.35 carats.

Sapphire has such a classic feel to it, so it’s an easy choice for an accessory. Here are three ways to wear this gem of a gem!

Affordable Accent

Target Sterling Silver Genuine Sapphire and Diamond Earrings, $29.99 at target.com.

These sapphire earrings have a high-society feel at a flea-market price! Gotta love that about Target. These earrings would be the perfect touch for a special evening out; they could lend depth to a flirty cocktail dress.

The Investment Piece

Iosselliani Triple Ring, $795 at barneys.com.

This handmade ring is a great modern take on the sapphire. It’s great for adding a little edge to an otherwise tame ensemble. It shows that there’s more to the wearer than meets the eye.

Living in Luxury

Tiffany & Co. Victoria Pendant, $3,925 at tiffany.com.

If you’re going to do sapphire, do it up right. This classic design by Tiffany & Co. is sapphire as it was intended to be: the glorious centerpiece of a pendant, flanked by diamonds. You want elegance? Nobody does it better than Tiffany & Co.

So whether you’re just looking for the easiest way to represent your birth month or trying to make a loud and proud statement about it, there are plenty of ways to do it and make it your own!

Happy birthday, you September Sapphires! May your jewelry should be the only thing about you that’s blue.

Truly Bluely,
Olivia

If your birthday is in August, then your birthstone is the peridot!

Peridot is a brilliant green gem. It’s often confused with emeralds, but you can tell the difference by the shade of green. Emeralds tend to be a deeper hue, while peridots are lighter and have fewer inclusions.

Peridot is a gem quality version of the mineral olivine (so named for its olive hue). One of the best things about peridot is that much of it is mined right here in the United States!

This gemstone gets its green from the combination of iron and magnesium. The color of peridot can range from yellow to brown, depending on the ration of iron to magnesium. But the common peridot that we know and love is mostly green.

Peridot is a great choice for those with summer birthdays! Unlike emerald, which is a much heavier tone, peridot is a light green that adds a subtle glimmer of summer to an ensemble. Peridot can perfectly set off your summer tan, enhancing the golden tones of summer skin.

With that said, here are three ways to wear peridot:

Affordable Accent

Macy’s Sterling Silver Peridot and Diamond Bracelet, $50.15 at macys.com

This simple — yet elegant — bracelet, is delicate and pretty enough to wear to a garden party, but casual enough to wear to a summer barbecue. And at the sale price, you’ll have enough left over to buy a new summer frock to go with it!

Peridot has a hardness of about 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, so it can scratch. This means that you should probably wear something else to a beach party. But I recommend that you get all of your beach parties out of the way in July so that you can spend August showing off your peridot!

The Investment Piece

Rebecca Large Bronze Ring with Peridot Stone, $575 at nordstrom.com

Don’t think of it as jewelry; think of it as an investment. This cocktail ring makes a statement: it says, “I was born in August, and I’m beautiful!”

It’s another versatile piece that will go just as well with jeans and a t-shirt as it will with a sleek cocktail dress.

But the best part about this ring is that, while certain pieces may go out of style, your birthday will never change. That means that it will always be appropriate for you to wear this ring!

Living in Luxury

David Yurman Petite Albion Peridot Necklace, $2,150 at neimanmarcus.com

It’s your birthday. You deserve a little luxury.

And nothing screams “LUXURY!” like a peridot surrounded by pavé diamonds, suspended on a yellow gold box-chain.

Most of us will only own a few status pieces like this one in our lifetimes. So why not make it a piece that also showcases the month in which you were born?

You August Peridots out there are fresh-faced and light-hearted. Keep your friends green with envy — because you’re green with peridot!

Going Green,
Olivia