People are fond of gemstones partly because they are expensive and partly because they are gorgeous. Gemstones have the particular quality of being able to reflect and sometimes even refract to make the stone glitter.

Precious stones are also intended to express love and esteem. People also use them as a way of storing wealth rather than putting the money in the bank, particularly in Third World countries. However, investment jewellery and costume jewellery are not always the same.

People have their own favourite gemstones, but emeralds and diamonds are the most costly stones and so are among the most well-liked. However,deep blue sapphires and opals are also hugely well-liked.

The most prevalent jewellery are engagement and wedding rings, followed by earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches. Brooches frequently have numerous small stones arranged in a pattern that will reflect light and glitter brightly.

Bizarrely, brooches in the shape of animals like cats, butterflies and even lizards are very popular. Flowers and bouquets of flowers are also common. Pendants and necklaces tend to have a larger stone or not so many small stones as a brooch.

Tiaras are experiencing a comeback after decades in the wilderness; hair grips are also well-liked articles of jewellery for women. Men tend to go for tie pins and watches. In some regions of southern Europe, diamond-studded, retractable toothpicks are popular.

The setting or mounting of the gemstone is almost as important as the precious stone itself, although not usually as costly, particularly with rarer stones. Gold, platinum and silver are the most common metals used for setting the precious stone in jewellery.

If you are not buying gemstones for their value, you might choose to purchase your birthstone. If this is your goal, but you do not especially like your birthstone, keep in mind that there are three or four different lists of birthstones from different countries and different eras.

if you do not like your birthstone from perhaps the American list, you might like your birthstone from the Ayurvedic or the Tibetan lists. There is some overlap, but in general the lists are completely different giving you more choice.

If you would like something different again, you could investigate amber. Amber is not stone, but has similar properties. It is in fact ancient to prehistoric tree resin. Some articles have small animals trapped inside them and can be very valuable.

If you wished an unusual holiday, you could travel to Poland's Baltic shoreline where much of Europe's amber is washed up onto the beaches. Wouldn't it be great to find your own 'gemstone' and then have it polished and mounted by a jeweller?

However, the stone does not have to be valuable. When my brother was twelve, he found a pretty little pebble on the beach and, with my Dad's assistance, had it polished and mounted. My mother thought almost as much of that unique article of jewellery as she did of her wedding and engagement rings.