Earrings: Catching the light of summer nights

Certain earrings come into their beauty in summer evenings on patios; the setting sun catches them and the reflected glow flatters your face. No matter what you wear, you'll look enchanting.

As my Aunt Magdalen advised, "Invest in something you can see above the table." (For new readers, I'll repeat my motto, "After fifty, your jewelry should be real." And it never hurts to get started early.)

So let's stow our studs and more discreet earrings for a few months, and have a party on our ears!

Jane Diaz 10k gold faceted cluster citrine earrings with three tear drops, $410 from Fragments, $410. The differing hues of the stones and harmonious proportions make these classic yet vivacious.

Anton Heunis sterling silver amazonite cluster clip-on earrings, $170, also from Fragments.

I love the retro feel and jumbled mix on these as much as the $170 price tag.

Of course nothing catches moonlight like diamonds. These are can be significant purchases or quite reasonable, thanks to the proliferation of micro-pavé and lower diamond prices.

Left, Fabrizio Riva Square by Night Earrings, $2, 050 from Barney's. 18k gold set with crown-cut diamonds, a 1.65 inch (4.2cm) drop. OK, that's my high end fit, but aren't they chic?

spacegeek recommended Ross Simons in my post about peridots, and didn't I just find a pair of charming diamond anchors set in 14k white gold (with post backs) for only $195 on sale, reduced from $495.

At just a half-inch drop, these are small, micro-pavéd dangles, but just right amount of sass with a swimsuit or jeans.

How about these double-circle dangles, with nearly 2 cts of garnet, blue topaz, peridot and citrine on hammered 14k yellow gold? Very wearable 1.5-inch drops of summer lusciousness for $195; also from Ross Simons.

How much fun would it be to open the box with these inside?

If you are not an earring person, a diamond pendant will also pop your patio outfit.

I'm super-picky about pendants, so many are boring. This is an investment piece; if you can find a pendant made in cz that's this beautiful (including the squared-bead chain detail), please send me the link and stand back while I order.

In the meantime: from Barney's, Jennifer Meyer's graceful and glittering 18k white gold Diamond Leaf Necklace, $2,775.

Jennifer Meyer will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each necklace to Healthy Child Healthy World.