Besides the fact that they are precious or semi-precious stones, what does citrine, sapphire, amethyst and blue topaz all have in common? The answer is that jewelry designers are using them more than ever in their collections for 2005.

Since the day of the caveman, precious and semi-precious stones have been believed to possess a mystical quality. Fashioned with primitive tools and most probably worn as a form of adornment, the stones were also believed to ward off evil spirits and protect the wearer from danger. Quartz stones like amethyst and citrine, which are transparent in nature, were thought to aid in the healing of the mind and body, while opaque stones, such as onyx and carnelian, were thought to improve self-esteem.

In the jewelry industry, the ruby, emerald and sapphire are considered precious stones. These stones were held in high esteem in earlier centuries due to their rarity. Discoveries of newer, equally rare stones such as Tanzanite in the 1960's, have made this type of classification outdated. Semi precious stones include anything that is not precious.

The emergence of colored stone jewelry on a grand scale is a development that has not been seen in the jewelry industry in more than a decade. Consumers have typically leaned towards the safer, less extravagant looks of platinum and diamond jewelry, but now appear to be looking for a change.

Clear quartz is being faceted and layered over turquoise and coral to create a three-dimensional "haze-like" effect. Bold pins in the shapes of flowers and butterflies are set with multi-colored sapphires to adorn suit lapels and twin sets (and yes, theycome in a plethora of colors besides blue). Large and overstated cabochon-cut rings (no facets) are set in yellow gold and can be worn to a Sunday brunch or black tie affair. The trend seems to be that larger scale designs and inventive color combinations keep pieces interesting and in demand. It also seems that yellow gold is taking over the platinum reign when it comes to the colored stones and their setting. This new preference could be in fact due to the yellow gold's moldable properties and competitive price per ounce.

Emerald measures an 8, sapphire a 9 and quartz a 7 on a scale of hardness invented in 1812 by German Scientist Frederich Mohs. These high rankings on a scale of 1-10 makes these stones not only perfect for everyday wear, but for the focus of the new colored jewelry trends emerging in 2005.