Girls love jewelry. Guys love to look at girls with jewelry. Guys also love to see their girl ecstatic because he gave her jewelry. So why is it so difficult for a guy to purchase jewelry? What is it about jewelry that is so mysterious and so intimidating? The best way to lose the intimidation is to tackle the subject head on. How about a little crash course in jewelry selection - just for the guys.

Metals - What the Jewelry is Made Of

You can get jewelry in a variety of metals. Gold and silver are probably the best known metals. As for gold, you can get yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, there are several varieties and some are pretty cool. Silver is, well, silver. No big surprises there. Platinum and titanium is a silver color usually. There are other metals, including some really cool metals of the ethnic variety.

Gemstones - What the Metal is Holding

A gemstone is a stone that is found in nature or can be grown in a laboratory. Gemstones include amethyst, which is a purple color and happens to be the birthstone for February, Peridot is green in color usually and is the birthstone for August. Oh, and it is pronounced Peri - dough (rhymes with Merlot). Aquamarine is the gemstone for the month of March and garnet is for January. There are many, many gemstones and some even have specific meanings in certain cultures. Rose stone, for example, is for love. Garnet is for success (if several stones are placed in the office) and for self esteem and popularity (if used as jewelry).

Pearls - In a Class by Themselves

Ah! Pearls exude class and refinement. But, wait, there are several kinds of pearls. There are natural pearls, cultured pearls, glass pearls, black pearls and they can come in any color of the rainbow. If your girl likes pearls, try to find out if she is particular about a certain type.

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend?

We can't talk about jewelry without mentioning diamonds. A Diamond's value is based upon its clarity, color, cut and carat. This can get very involved but many fine jewelry stores publish little pamphlets on diamonds and give them to prospective customers. These little jewels (pardon the pun) will prove to be a terrific help when choosing a diamond.

Cameo - A Natural Beauty

You can really impress your girl by bringing her a cameo and giving her the history on it. Real cameos are carved from a shell. The skill is passed down from father to son for generations. The boy begins carving cameos at a very young age but it takes many, many years for him to become a master. As a master he can then sign the cameos that he creates. When you purchase a cameo that is said to be real, look on it, sometimes on the back to see if it is signed. If so, you have a true, unique treasure.

A Jewelry Shopper's Mini Guide - A Quick List:

Ask about the refund and return policies BEFORE you buy. After you buy it's too late.

Ask if pearls are natural, cultured, imitation. There can be great differences in value between the three types. What could be a great bargain for a natural pearl would be a rip-off for an imitation pearl, and vice versa.

Ask if gemstones are natural, laboratory created or imitation. Agai, value can vary greatly based on this factor.

Ask if gemstones have been treated.

Ask about care of the jewelry. You do have to take care of jewelry, so it's good to find out a little about this.

When you get your receipt, make certain that the jeweler writes down any information that you used as criteria when selecting the item. This will help you ensure you're getting what you wanted.