For Valentine's Day, Give the Gift that Sparkles with Love

Valentine's Day, the most romantic day of the year, is a day for lovers to express their love and renew their commitment. Valentine's Day is also, not surprisingly, one of the largest jewelry giving occasions of the year.

The bond between fine jewelry and love dates back to the beginning of recorded time, crossing cultural boundaries. It is human nature to want to express emotions through tangible objects, and fine jewelry has always been a natural and beautiful choice to commemorate love and passion.

"Fine jewelry encompasses the emotional and the eternal, making it the gift of choice for Valentine's Day," notes Elizabeth Florence, executive director of the Jewelry Information Center, a nonprofit trade association based in New York City. "If well taken care of, fine jewelry can last for generations, remaining a lasting symbol of love." Whether an18 karat gold bracelet, a platinum heart pendant, a set of engraved cuff links, a pair of ruby earrings, or a diamond engagement ring -- the ultimate symbol of love and commitment -- a gift of fine jewelry is an expression of love.

It's as if the desire to symbolize love with jewelry is innate, engrained in us from birth -- and perhaps it is! The world's first lovers, dressed in animal skins and living in caves, most likely blessed their unions with rings of bone, plaited grass, and amber. Later, steel, ivory and gold were used, but it is the Pharaohs of Egypt that are credited with being the first to use rings made of precious materials as a symbol of eternity. The Egyptians regarded the circle, a shape that has no beginning and no end, as a heavenly reminder that life, happiness and love have no beginning and no end. One of the most famous Egyptians, Cleopatra, was a fan of emeralds, which are a symbol of fertility. Draped in gold and emeralds, Cleopatra dressed as the goddess of love, Aphrodite, to gain the attention of Marc Antony. The first recorded account of a diamond betrothal ring can be traced to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy, and the tradition has remained a mainstay of today's culture.

Heart shapes, cupids and red and pink gemstones have always been jewelry favorites for Valentine's Day. Pearls are considered particularly feminine and sensuous. Diamonds, invincibly hard and resistant to destruction, have long been the chosen symbol of eternal union. Some colored gemstone jewelry, such as earrings, rings and pendants with pink tourmaline or rose quartz, are lusciously colored and affordable. A simple heart-shaped pendant of platinum makes a loving statement that's as fashion-proof as love itself, while engraved pieces, such as lockets and charms, are a statement of love that lasts a lifetime.

Buying a gift of fine jewelry is exciting, but make sure you are an informed shopper. The first step in selecting your Valentine's gift, be it an engagement ring or a gold chain, is to shop at a professional jeweler. Look for a jeweler who is a member of a professional trade association, such as Jewelers of America (JA), which requires high ethical standards of its members and provides them with ongoing education.

For more information on fine jewelry and to find a list of professional jewelers near you, visit the Jewelry Information Center's Web site at www.jewelryinfo.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content