Something that sparkles is always a wonderful gift!  Why not put a piece of classic Crislu in her stocking this Christmas?  Crislu is beautifully cut cubic zironia in fine jewelry settings of platinum coated sterling silver.   Ann’s Crislu gives you lots of dazzle for a lot less!  Leave your real diamonds safe at home when you travel, or just mix lovely Crislu pieces with them.  No one will know…unless you tell!

Ann's Crislu cz "diamond" ring, $137

Ann's Crislu teardrop "diamond" earrings, $148

Ann's Crislu teardrop pendant necklace, $181

Ann’s customers love her cubic zirconia “diamonds” from CRISLU!   Get sparkle and color just like mined stones when you choose CRISLU rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.  They are mounted on fine-jewelry settings made of vermeil and sterling silver covered in platinum, and no one but YOU will know they are not real, mined diamonds and precious gems.  Your money goes so much farther when you choose world-class cz jewelry from CRISLU at Ann’s Fine Gifts! 

Get FREE Texas chocolate truffles with every jewelry purchase now through February 14, 2011!

Here are some lovely cubic zirconia pieces from CRISLU available at Ann’s for Valentine’s Day.  For more CRISLU pictures, click here and here.

Ann's CRISLU cz bracelets look like diamonds, but cost so much less. (left, $226; right, $136)

Teardrop CRISLU cz ring at Ann's Fine Gifts, $104

CRISLU Cubic Zirconia Necklace at Ann's, $324

CRISLU Cubic Zirconia Earrings, boxed and ready for Valentine's,$88.

Ann’s Majorica pearls are so pretty, and they cost a fraction of the price real, cultured pearls.  All are handmade from Majorica, Spain.  A Majorica pearl ring would make a wonderful Christmas present!  Come pick one out:  (For more of Ann’s Majorica pearl jewelry, click here.)

Give her beautiful jewels without robbing a bank to pay for them.  These pieces are from CRISLU, world-class makers of fine cubic zirconia jewelry.  The only difference between these stones and mined diamonds is that CRISLU manuafacturers their own stones.  They add beautiful color to simulate other precious gems (like sapphires) and cut the raw manuafactured stones, then set them with the same techniques used for fine diamond jewelry.  And you have beautiful, pageant-worthy jewels that she will enjoy.   Make it a CRISLU Christmas with a breath-taking present from Ann’s!  Shop now, we’re having Christmas every day.  For more CRISLU at Ann’s, click here.

Stunning teardrop "diamond" and "sapphire" necklace in CRISLU cz's, $324.

Large teardrop "sapphire" ring flanked with "diamonds" from CRISLU, $137

Ease into Monday with lovely jewelry:  earrings, ring, and bracelet compose a very elegant ensemble in a flattering “melon” color.  These pieces are sold separately, but don’t they look wonderful together???

Vermeil and high-quality jeweler's resin polished to a glossy sheen make a wonderful trio.

How do you choose which accessories to wear if you’re a Texas gal?  You don’t,  just wear them all!  Today,  Ann wears one of her  Urban Cowgirl hats and enough turquoise jewelry to choke a horse.    Get it all and lots more at Ann’s!  Come try some on!

Ann has a great time wearing all the jewelry she sells in her store!

Today’s featured CZs are set in vermeil, which is sterling silver coated with 18K gold, then given a platinum finish (prevents tarnishing).  They look like gold jewelry settings with diamonds mounted in them.  Except they’re not. 

How is cubic zirconia made in the first place? 

Cubic Zirconia is a synthetic stone formed by melting zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide at almost 5000 degrees fahrenheit to create flawless crystals of exceptional clarity and brilliance.  Cubic zirconia stones replicate the physical characteristics of a diamond more closely than any other gem material, for  a fraction of the cost of real diamonds.  Trained jewelers need a loupe to tell cubic zirconia stones from diamonds. 

Here are some examples of Ann’s CRISLU Cubic Zirconia Jewelry set in gold vermeil:

Ann's CRISLU "gold" and "diamond" ring

Ann's CRISLU "gold" and "diamond" earrings

Ann's CRISLU "gold" and "diamond" pendant necklace

The pendant, above, is 1.35 cttw, $66.  Perfect for a graduation gift! 

Tomorrow:  colored stones!

Did you know that the only difference between manufactured Cubic Zirconia and mined, natural diamonds is the raw stone?  CZs are manufactured; diamonds are mined.  How the raw material is cut, then set, determines the brilliance and quality of the jewelry.   

Why is this on our minds this morning?  Because Ann’s carries the best cubic zirconia jewelry made, and we’re getting ready for CZ Saturday, April 17, 2010, where we will give away a pair of CRISLU earrings with every CRISLU purchase at Ann’s that day!  So visit us this week and learn why CZs are your new BFF.

CRISLU began making world-quality cubic zirconia jewelry in 1961.   Each CRISLU stone is hand-polished and hand-set into fine-jewelry quality settings of platinum finished sterling silver by a master jeweler.  CRISLU stones are fully faceted and cut to the exact specifications required for fine diamonds.   Every CRISLU cubic zirconia stone has the same color, clarity, and cut of the highest quality diamond jewelry.  Only a jeweler would know it’s not a mined, natural diamond!

CZs are compared to diamonds by “carat weight” or cttw:

CRISLU Cubic Zirconia Ring

CRISLU Cubic Zirconia Necklace, $324

CRISLU Cubic Zirconia Earrings, $66 to $85 (depending on size)

The earrings pictured are 3 cttw, $83.

More tomorrow….