Oct 15, 2007

Glorious glow: Gemstones are a key accessory here and around the worldBy LaMont JonesPost-Gazette.com

Viewers who got a glimpse of KDKA-TV news anchor Patrice King Brown’s purple necklace last Tuesday night may have considered it simply a piece of pretty jewelry.

But to James Schuster, the amethyst and tanzanite adornment — a gift from Ms. Brown’s brother — is also a sign of the times.

The chic gemstone strand “just represents what all of my customers are looking for now,” said Mr. Schuster, owner of Crystal River Gems in Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown.

Gemstone jewelry is enjoying renewed popularity, with gems and raw minerals showing up in home decor, conversation pieces and simple objets d’art. Gem-encrusted jewelry and accessories are a key look for fall and winter as onyx, marcasite and other black gemstones complement shiny and metallic fabrics, and gemstones in shades of blue, purple, red and yellow match the profusion of colorful clothing and accessories.

The gemstone jewelry trend isn’t just national — it’s international.

“The world is becoming a smaller place today,” said Helena Krodel, spokeswoman for the Jewelry Information Center, a New York-based trade group. “Trends are no longer local, they are global. With the Internet and the abundance of travel that people do today, jewelry has become influenced by all of the many cultures who have long appreciated jewelry as part of their culture.”

Read complete article.