Leaves are falling and there is a chill in the air in the evenings but the days feel like summer....and this pendant expresses this time of year perfectly. The 14kt white gold dog-tag style is inlaid with icy white mother of pearl in a leaf pattern that also creates open spaces into which are set diamonds along with blue and pink sapphires (September's birthstone). It has a large bail so the spiga link chain can be replaced with a leather or colored silk cord or a small strand of pearls.....a versatile signature piece. I also think this is a great gift for a mom with both sons and daughters (mother of pearl, pink, blue....you get it).

• 14kt white gold, measures 1.5 inches in length and 3/4 inches across

• 2 pink and 2 blue sapphires 4=0.45cttw, 3= 0.159cttw diamonds

• 18 inch spiga chain with lobster clasp measures 1.75mm in diameter

• matching ring and earrings also available

Ask a Gemologist by Mary L. Harding, G.G.

What is the difference between synthetic gemstones, imitation gemstones and natural gemstones?

Natural gemstones are minerals, formed millions of years ago in the earth with an identifying crystal structure and chemical composition.

Synthetic gemstones have the same crystal structure and the same chemical composition as the natural gemstone, but they are manufactured in a laboratory.

Imitation gemstones are any gemstone, either synthetic or natural, being used to imitate another, often more valuable gemstone. Examples would be cubic zirconia (synthetic) for diamond and colorless sapphire (natural) for diamond.

What is the difference between 10K, 12K, 14K and 18K gold?

When gold comes out of the ground, it is considered nearly pure and referred to as 24K pure gold. Gold is mixed with alloys to add durability and strength. How much alloy is mixed in determines the purity. 18K gold has 18K of gold and 6K of alloys to make up the 24K. 14K has 14K of gold and 10K of alloy, 12K has equal parts of gold and alloy, and 10K is predominantly alloy with 10K of gold and 14K of alloy.

Interestingly, what type of alloy is used will determine how the gold expresses itself in color. If a an equal blend of copper and silver is used, the gold remains yellow in color. If a predominance of copper is used as the alloy, the gold is pink or rose. If a predominance of nickel is used, the gold looks white. If a predominance of sterling silver is used the gold looks green. Iron in the alloy mixture is producing blue gold and an undisclosed alloy is creating purple gold by a company named Azial.

Why is my white gold ring is turning yellow?
As described above, gold expresses itself as white in color from a predominance of nickel alloy. But if it is 14K gold, the metal mixture is still predominantly gold which is naturally yellow; therefore, even white gold has a slightly golden coloration. For this reason, many companies will plate a white gold ring with rhodium, which is a white metal and a member of the platinum family. When this plating wears off, the white gold underneath is revealed. In comparison to the rhodium plating, white gold looks yellow. The plating can be reapplied by your jeweler.