Think about it. What type of gift does every woman love to receive? Hint: Jewelry. It can be colored gemstones, diamonds, pearls, or gold, but jewelry is always a sure-fire hit, especially if it is an item she can wear every day to complement her wardrobe.

This year, after seemingly endless seasons of minimalism, fashion designers have gotten the message that for the holidays, women want to dress up and look great. That means fabulous dresses of lush satins, velvets and lace, sexy high-heeled shoes—and the unmistakable luxury of real jewelry.

What items and colors will be best? Consider the directions from top international fashion designers. Valentino wowed Paris with a ruffled and layered Salome gown of lipstick red chiffon; Lagerfeld at Chanel, Galliano at Christian Dior, and Donatella Versace all showed cotton candy-like confections in the most delicate shades of pink. The look of the season is Hollywood glamour, and the strongest color spectrum ranges from the palest pink to the deepest burgundy.

According to experts at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the gemstones that may best complement this range of this season’s fashionable colors in clothes include the delicate pastels of morganite, kunzite, pink sapphire, and rose quartz; the lush red/violets of rhodolite, rubellite, and garnet; and the vivid shades of ruby and red coral. These versatile gemstones can take a wide variety of forms: as classical rounded cabochons or cut into sparkling facets for rings, pendants, and earrings, or expertly carved into beads or briolette drops for necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

The current trend in jewelry is bold. The newest pieces are scaled up in size and go for high drama. One of the hot items of the season is a chunky gemstone ring that calls attention to the hands. Another popular choice is to add a colorful pendant to a favorite charm bracelet or necklace, accented with stations of colored beads or briolettes. If she likes to stand out in a crowd, go for the ultimate in glamour: chandelier earrings with shimmering gemstone drops that lightly dust the shoulders.

Right now is the perfect time to browse through catalogs and visit jewelry stores to see the latest selections for holiday. With this season’s wide range of colorful, versatile jewelry, you can be assured whatever gift you choose will be a winner.

For more information on diamonds, colored gemstones, and jewelry, as well as education opportunities in these fields, visit GIA at www.gia.edu, or call 800-421-7250.

Sept. 23, 2003