Whether it is gorgeously gaudy or delicately divine, gemstone jewelry is the preferred choice of women for every occasion. There is something special about the way a carefully crafted piece of gemstone jewelry looks in the display case, like the most delicious piece of candy that you can't wait to put your hands on. Perhaps it comes from knowing that gemstones are the most expensive form of jewelry that you can purchase. Just why are they so costly?

Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires are formed by and found deep within the earth, making them difficult to find and even harder to access. It takes pure carbon, heat, and extreme amounts of pressure to form diamonds, normally at depths of 90 miles or more. They come closer to the earth's surface carried by magma to where humans can find them.

This then requires knowing where to look, having the proper technology to extract them, and the manpower to do so. Since they are formed naturally, there is no single size, shape, or color that is uniform to each diamond. It is completely up to nature how they appear when they are extracted.

The majority of the world's diamonds come from Africa where they are mined daily, polished, and cut to order. Other gemstones have their origins in countries around the world. Rubies are found in Ceylon, Burma, and Myanmar. Brazil, Columbia, and Chile are active miners of emeralds.

Sapphires can be found in Thailand, Australia, and Cambodia. Although these stones are often known for their hard density, the process of removing them is both cautious and exact. To mine a single area may take weeks, months, or years depending on the amount of gemstones that are found there and manpower available to do so.

What you see resting so perfectly on black velvet backing at the jewelry store is the result of intense labor mixed with the artistic vision of the designer. Each piece of gemstone jewelry is one-of-a-kind, as no two stones are ever alike. When designing a custom piece of jewelry like an engagement ring, it should be a careful process that requires three primary steps.

First, you must consider the person you are designing the jewelry for. Take into consideration their personal taste, the size of jewelry they prefer to wear, and the occasion. Next you will be given an array of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, or emeralds to choose from.

It can be overwhelming and awe-inspiring to see these gemstones alone before they are set into a piece of your choice. Carefully examine their size, shape, and clarity to decide which piece she, and you, will love forever. Finally, the style of the setting will be the final touch on your masterpiece.

There are few times in our life when we make a large financial investment such as buying a piece of gemstone jewelry. However, when it comes to gemstones, there is nothing that will make a woman swoon faster, especially when it has been thoughtfully composed by the love of her life.