Stories of Gems
Your source for gem and jewelry information
Stories of Design
Faberge eggs were an obsession of mine from the beginning, not to mention the iconic looks from Van Cleef and Arpels, and their beautiful fairies. There's also tutti frutti jewelry, dragons, Celtic jewelry, rose gold, and Native American silver.
Stories of People
Meet America's first gemologist. Learn about our First Ladies. Look at the creativity shown by designer Suzanne Belperron. Read how a countess was responsible for modern watches, and the beautiful jewelry of Princess Kate.
Jewelry History
Learn about the meaning behind wartime bird pins from Cartier and World War II, and a famous flamingo. What kind of jewelry was popular during the American Revolution? How have earrings evolved over time? Read about patriotic jewelry, how it celebrated the Apollo moon landing, and how an American company showcased beautiful orchids.
Stories of Diamonds
Diamonds are the shiniest and sparkiest the world has to offer. Read about how England stole Koh-i-Noor diamond from India. Or learn about salt and pepper diamonds.
Stories of Gemstones
Beautiful gems are located all over the earth. Some are in America, like Montana sapphires. Some are in Brazil. Some are precious, and some are semi-precious. And some commemorate milestones, like birthdays and anniversaries. I love purple gems, green gems, and citrine. Turquoise is a favorite too. Wondering about birthstones or alternative gemstones for your engagement ring? Want tips for buying jewelry?
About Me
I'm Valerie Drew, a gemologist and jewelry historian. I love sharing my stories of gems and jewelry and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
There are almost 40 posts on this website. However, new posts are on Substack, where I write my stories of gems as The Jaded Curator. ​Substack is a community of independent authors, and a home for great writing. I encourage you to become part of the community.
I have my own website there, and if you subscribe, any future posts come straight to your inbox. I hope you'll join me and take the opportunity to learn even more about my favorite topic.