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Reflecting back on the celebration of Mother’s Day earlier in the month, it can be fun to see how the holiday continues to evolve and change. In fact, motherhood may be one of the most unique jobs any women could imagine. This is a 24/7 job where no day is ever the same and if you’re someone who is blessed with multiple children, you’ve probably found that what works with one child doesn’t necessarily work with another.

The end of May and the three-day Memorial Day weekend is the official start of the summer season. For many, the heat and humidity are a great excuse to adopt a less-is-more mentality of breezy dresses and simple shorts and tanks. The adjustment to simplicity can also be observed in the summer jewelry choices.

Throughout the centuries, mothers have played an important role not only in the raising and rearing of children but also in the function they play as peacemakers within the home and the community. As far back as the Civil War there are recorded examples of women from the North and the South putting aside their difference to gather together to heal the wounds of the divided nation. Mothers from both sides understood well the important role women play in raising the children of a nation and their unifying role as mothers.

One of the most enduring symbols of marriage is the engagement ring. Now with the advent of the internet, the opportunities for education and selection have never been more accessible. Just type, “gemstone buying” or “engagement ring” into a search engine and you’ll be amazed at how much you can learn. These searches also allow you to browse or compare before you even step into a jewelry store. It’s a truly modern take on time-honored methods for selecting the perfect ring.

The decision to propose is a momentous occasion in anyone’s life. It’s an event steeped in tradition yet one that continues to evolve with the times. For those on the receiving end of the proposal, this is often a moment in time imagined and re-imagined time after time. But what makes a proposal truly special is the individual touches that are unique to the couple. Whether that’s a proposal in a special location or in the presence of special people, no two engagements are ever alike.

For many of us our jewelry box is a collection of treasured memories. Special holidays and graduations followed by an engagement, wedding and possibly children and grandchildren. Throughout our life, these occasions are often marked with a symbolic jewelry purchase, each piece a tangible reminder of some of our most important life events.

During the month of February there’s no lack of moments to find love, propose love, or show love. While there might be the potential that you really love to celebrate the former Presidents Washington and Lincoln, it’s probably more likely that you’ll instead set your sights on some of the other February holiday options. Those opportunities kicked off on February 13 with Galentine’s Day.

Behind Christmas, Valentine’s Day may be one of the most favored days for a wedding proposal. Both holidays are filled with anticipation, love, and a fair amount of expectations. If you’re looking to propose this year, it’s a good idea to have an idea of the kind of gemstone your loved one would like for their engagement ring. In addition, it’s also valuable to have some basic knowledge in regard to you what should look for when buying a gemstone.

The holidays, especially from a marketing perspective, can become somewhat of a blur. Before one is close to taking place, the merchandising for another is sitting right alongside it. This year even before the New Year got underway, the stores began displaying hearts of red and pink and a variety of Valentine’s sweets.

Making the decision to spend the rest of your life with someone is often one of the most important and memorable aspects of life. Those who are lucky enough to find that special someone often want to make their proposal and engagement rings as memorable and special as the person they have pledged to marry.

December is the perfect time for the kick-off of the wonders of the season. Whether that means parties with friends and family, volunteering and giving back to the community or just hunkering down in the cold weather, this is a time of year that’s tinged with possibility and magic.

Ready or not, it’s December and that means that it’s time for the gift-giving extravaganza to commence. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza, there’s a very good chance that you’ll soon be checking off a long list of things to buy. But before you gas up the car and head out to the mall to wait for a parking spot that will lead you into the commercial winter wonderland, take a moment. Yes, a moment to just breathe and think.

Turn on the TV at any time of day and you’re bound to see an advertisement for a jewelry store promoting the holidays. At this time of year, it’s next to impossible to miss the onslaught of ads. Each one promising to wrap up a bit of magic in a tiny box, giving happiness to both the giver and the receiver. While there are few who could find anything wrong with a little bit of holiday sparkle under the tree, it does appear that these commercials are primarily geared toward women.

The holidays are the perfect time for bringing together family and friends for food, fun and fellowship. The cold, dark nights and warm, cozy firelight experienced during this time of year is also the perfect setting for a beautiful and festive wedding proposal.

If you’ve been thinking about popping the question to your significant other this holiday season, there’s really no more romantic time to ask someone one of the most important questions of your life. The glimmer of a beautiful diamond ring is the perfect counterpart to Mother Nature’s backdrop of frosted leaves and icy snow that give off their own natural brilliance and shine.

It’s getting to be the season when it’s time to start thinking about holiday gift giving. While jewelry is always a very personal gift between the giver and the receiver, why not think about choosing a piece that offers further personalization when it is adorned with a birthstone such as a gemstone bracelet, earrings, necklace, ring or estate piece?

The first notice of holiday creep began back in the hot and humid days of August when Halloween candy, pumpkin-flavored products and tiny ghosts began inching their way into the consumer mindset. By the time October finally arrived, we’re guessing that you’re grown accustomed to seeing the seasonal items for Halloween, Thanksgiving and, even Christmas.

Fall means that it’s time for the first peak at the Spring 2015 collections. This season the clothes were paired with bold jewelry that made as much of a statement as the clothes did. Some of the highlights of the spring jewelry selections included metal jewelry, saturated, child friendly colors, gold, translucent crystal, gunmetal and numerous global influences in texture, style and color.

For many of us, jewelry is a milestone marker for special times and a look into the jewelry box can be a mini trip back in time marking the major events in our life. As a child, many of us received our first real piece of jewelry when we chose to have simple gold studs or tiny birthstone earrings as our first pair of earrings. Later on, birthdays and graduations were marked with a traditional pieces such as a watch for men or a strand of classic pearls for females. After that, holiday gifts, birthdays and engagements became the main reasons for fine jewelry gifts. When you consider the powerful memories attached to those pieces it’s easy to see why it’s important to clean and store your jewelry in a way that will make the investment last forever.

In a counter play to the reality TV world of Bridezillas and bigger-is-better weddings, some couples are opting for simple engagements that give a nod to times past with a ring of vintage, antique or estate heritage. Estate jewelry not only means owning a slice of history through a unique piece of jewelry, it’s also a way to purchase jewelry that’s ethically gained and economically friendly. In some cases this may be an heirloom piece of jewelry or a stone that’s passed down over many generations or perhaps it’s a piece that was found after many days browsing through antique stores and estate sales to find the perfect piece.

Fashion is somewhat like the wind, ever changing and not remaining in one place for too long. In the world of fashion it’s a rare thing when something stays on trend for longer than a season but when it does then you know that it’s probably one worth participating in. Evidence of the continuing more-is-better stackable ring trend can be found in a variety of places. People are showcasing stacked rings on multiple Pinterest boards and in magazine features in InStyle Magazine and even Forbes. Fall’s trend of stackable rings encourages you to incorporate rings that you already love and wear along with something new — well maybe make that several something new!

Micro Pavé jewelry has become very popular, but what is it exactly? The term is commonly confused with "pavé." French for street-paving, pavé refers to the effect of "paving" a jewelry surface with small diamonds. This is done by drilling holes directly into the metal and fitting and laying diamonds into those holes like cobblestones. Around these diamonds, the metal is pulled and molded around the gem like grout, securing the stones in the setting.