Each month brings with it a different beautiful birthstone, but October highlights two—opal and pink tourmaline. So, October babies, take your pick! These stones are lovely as individual pendants on necklaces, bracelets, a pair of earrings or hair clips. They can also be placed together with others of the same stone for uniformity, or chosen to add contrast to a piece. Opal and pink tourmaline are each in their own rights a standout jewelry enhancer, but it’s your choice how you wear them as jewelry.

After learning about opal and pink tourmaline, you might be curious to see what they look like and how they feel. Head on down to your local jewelry store in Sterling Heights, MI to find out!

Here are some interesting facts about the two birthstones.

Opal

  • The word opal comes from the Greek word opallios, which means “to see a change in color.” This makes sense, since opals are an iridescent gemstone, meaning that they seem to change colors when you look at the stone from different angles.
  • Although there are dozens of opal varieties, opals are typically characterized by their background color, which is either black or white.
  • A top characteristic of opals is the “play of color.” Submerging the stone in water or oil is a way to enhance the play of color.
  • The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) states that play of color is one of the most important factors when opals are being valued. This characteristic includes a range of colors, patterns, color intensity and the percentage of colors when compared to the background shade of the opal.
  • Each of the gemstone’s colors is represented by mystical properties, and it’s said that the wearer is filled with whatever those properties may be.
  • Australia’s national gemstone is the opal. Interestingly enough, many of the world’s most precious opals are found in Australia.

Pink tourmaline

  • The word tourmaline hails from the Sinhalese word turamali—sometimes written as two words, tura mali—meaning “stone of mixed colors.” There are very few gemstones that come in as many colors as tourmaline. Because of the vast color options, pink tourmaline has been assigned to October as a birthstone.
  • Tourmaline gemstones are mostly classified by color—red, blue, green or pink.
  • There is a prized variety of red or pink tourmaline known as rubellite. A true rubellite will display the same vibrant red or pink shade whether in artificial light or natural daylight, while the average pink tourmaline can appear brown in artificial light.
  • Those who use gemstones in the spiritual sense say pink tourmaline reduces stress, anxiety and clumsiness in adults, and soothes and calms children.

Owning jewelry with your birthstone—like a watch, necklace, ring or another piece—adds a little something more to your identity, and it doesn’t even have to be a piece that you wear all the time. Visit the team at Howard’s Fine Jewelry to learn more about these October birthstones, or feel free to browse our jewelry cases. We hope to see you in our jewelry store in Sterling Heights, MI soon!


Accessorizing your summer ensembles with the right jewelry in Sterling Heights, MI is a blast, but it is important to make sure it is done right. With the help of this guide, you can make sure that you are outfitted in the right jewelry for the rest of the summer!

Accessorizing in the summer

When the heat of the summer is beating down and you begin to sweat, the last thing you want is heavy jewelry pieces clinging to your sticky skin, leaving you in an uncomfortable situation. If you are looking for pieces that don’t have as much heft to them, but that can still complement your outfit well without the added discomfort, consider lighter pieces of jewelry such as earrings, bracelets or watches. All of these pieces of jewelry can easily be statement pieces on their own, and can definitely make a lasting impression.

In addition to being much more comfortable, lighter jewelry is also more convenient for summer activities. If you will be spending a lot of time at the beach, in the pool or working the grill at various cookouts, you will want hassle-free jewelry that can easily be removed and quickly put back on again when you are ready for it.

Choosing the right colors

If you really want your jewelry to stand out, it is also important that you focus on vibrant colors that will blend well with your colorful warm-weather looks:

  • Orange: There probably is no other color that represents summer better than the color orange. When you think of orange, you probably immediately think of the bright sun and warm, beautiful weather. In addition to spreading around happy thoughts, orange is a color that really pops, and it can be used to create some eye-opening jewelry pieces.
  • Shades of blue: Blue is also another color that has become very popular for jewelry during the summer months. The great thing about this color is that there are so many varieties and shades that accessorizing with different types of blue hues will be a breeze. Whether you opt for a light, turquoise blue or you want to explore the depth of a dark sea blue, this color is sure to be a part of some captivating combinations.
  • Green and olive: Since peridot is the birthstone for the month of August, you could also consider some pieces in this olive green color to close out the summer on the right note. Ranging from olive green to brownish green, this gemstone has an amazing shine in the sun, and sparkles just as much under the cover of night as well.

If you were born in the month of August, now is the time to head to Howard’s Fine Jewelry. We are currently offering peridot birthstone jewelry in Sterling Heights, MI for 50 percent off, which means that right now is your chance to add quality pieces to your collection that you can wear for the rest of the summer and beyond. We are ready to help you find the best selections no matter what you need, so make sure you pay us a visit today!


This year, July isn’t just when people will be celebrating the country’s independence or spending quality time with their family. For those who enjoy looking at or wearing beautiful pieces of jewelry, this month is the one time of year you’ll want to visit your favorite jewelry store, Howard’s Fine Jewelry. You might be hesitant to stop by because you have so much jewelry already, but our Christmas in July sale is one sale you’ll regret missing!

Here are some of the benefits of buying jewelry from Howard’s Fine Jewelry during our Christmas in July Sale:

  • Great prices: When you don’t have to pay full price for items, whether it is clothes, shoes or jewelry, it is always a great feeling. During our Christmas in July sale, you’ll get to purchase various pieces for a discounted price. Perhaps you have been looking to add to your ring collection or pick up a new pair of earrings for an upcoming wedding. July would be the time to stop by and find the pieces you have been searching for.
  • Variety: It can be a boring shopping experience when stores don’t have a lot of variety or have lots of pieces that you already own. You don’t just want to see different types of jewelry—you’ll want to see jewelry in different shapes, sizes and colors. At Howard’s Fine Jewelry, you’re always able to find the variety you are looking for, but this July, many new pieces will be added, increasing your chances of finding something you’ll love.
  • High quality: Quality is important when you are spending your money on anything. Jewelry is going to be an expensive purchase, so you want to be sure the pieces you buy are of the highest quality. They don’t need to just look good—they need to last for many years and still look like they did when you first bought them. Since the new pieces being showcased this July were featured in JCK Las Vegas, the world’s largest jewelry expo, you can feel comfortable purchasing them because you are pretty much guaranteed they are of very high quality.
  • Unique: You don’t want to have what everyone else owns, so you have to be careful what you buy, and that’s true even when it comes to jewelry. When you go to the store to pick out jewelry for yourself or a loved one, you might want to avoid those pieces that are boring and simple. Rather than buy something that looks just like what everyone else has on their wrists, fingers, neck or ears, you can opt for something that is unique and one-of-a-kind.

If you are looking for a new ring, necklace or other piece of jewelry, you don’t want to purchase it at just any jewelry store. You want one that offers you a variety of high quality, unique pieces for an affordable price. During the Christmas in July sale at Howard’s Fine Jewelry, you can find exactly what you are looking for and much more.

If you are a VIP customer interested in checking out the new pieces first showcased at JCK Las Vegas, you can stop by Howard’s Fine Jewelry today.


July has arrived, which means that, if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to get your loved one’s birthday gift. Since the ruby is the July birthstone, purchasing them ruby jewelry would be ideal. You might want to rush out the door to the jewelry store, but before you do that, you should ask yourself a few questions to ensure you get your loved one the perfect piece of jewelry.

Here are a few tips for buying ruby jewelry from a jewelry store in Sterling Heights, MI to celebrate a loved one’s July birthday:

  • Do they wear jewelry? Before you head out to the jewelry store to pick up your loved one a great piece of ruby jewelry, you want to be sure that this person will actually wear it. You may be able to find a beautiful pair of earrings or a nice necklace, but if your loved one isn’t one to wear jewelry in the first place, it might be a good idea to get something you know they would like to wear or use.
  • What is their personal style like? If you are trying to decide what piece of jewelry to purchase as a birthday gift, considering your loved one’s personal style can point you in the right direction. Do they tend to dress up, or dress down? Maybe their personal style is somewhere in between. From trendy and chic to sexy and elegant, whatever you choose should stick to this and be something they can easily wear and use to complete their look.
  • What is their lifestyle like? A person’s lifestyle can affect a lot of things, including whether or not they wear jewelry and what kind of jewelry they can wear. You don’t want to just take into account what they do with their free time; think about their profession, too. For example, if someone is a chef, they will constantly be using their hands. It might be better to purchase a necklace or earrings instead of a ring that they may rarely get the chance to wear.
  • Is there anything they don’t currently have in their jewelry collection? It is always a good idea to purchase something that people don’t already have when you are getting them a gift. Even when buying them jewelry, you want to be sure they don’t currently own the exact piece you plan to buy, or that they don’t have anything too similar. Buying the exact same piece of jewelry or something similar to a piece they already own might require you to return to the jewelry store to find something different.

Picking out a birthday gift can be hard. It may be the thought that matters the most, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put in the effort to find something your loved one will actually love. There are a lot of available pieces of ruby jewelry that you can purchase, so you can be sure your time and effort will be worth it and that your gift will be a hit.

Looking for a jewelry store in Sterling Heights, MI with a great selection of ruby jewelry? Stop by Howard’s Fine Jewelry to find the perfect gift for your loved one.