Three months after President Obama renewed the ban on rubies and jade from Burma, three pieces of Burmese ruby jewelry made the top 10 sellers at Christie’s Hong Kong on November 26th, 2013, and one set a world record.

Aquamarine has always symbolized renewal and eternal youth, so it’s a fitting birthstone for those born in March, the month when the long winter gradually gives way to spring.

Derived from the Latin for “water” and “sea,” aquamarines were a popular talisman for sailors who believed a stone engraved with Poseidon would keep them safe. It’s not hard to guess why aquamarine became a popular good luck charm for seafaring types. It embodies the ocean. Aquamarine can range in color from Caribbean blue to steely, icy blue or murky, opaque green.

As the stars filed on to the red carpet at this year’s Academy Awards, social media for the fashion and jewelry industries was buzzing – just as they were for the Golden Globes and Grammies.

Bold jewelry is back in a big way.

It’s that time of year when everyone starts speculating on who will design this year’s Super Bowl rings. Will it be a championship ring specialist such as Jostens, designer of the Ravens’ rings last year, or a big-name retailer such as Tiffany & Co., who designed the New York Giants’ rings in 2012?

Selling unwanted gold jewelry is a great way to earn cash. As gold prices remain above $1,200 an ounce, recycling unwanted gold jewelry into jewelry you love is an also great way to save money.

But there’s another compelling reason to recycle your gold. It’s good for the environment. Gold mining has been identified as a major cause of mercury pollution, particularly small-scale mining in unregulated countries such as Peru.