Are you perplexed as to what to buy your mom for Mother’s Day?

The women at Charles & Colvard would say, “Moissanite! Give her moissanite!”

Women do love moissanite. It’s that incredible jewel that shines like a star and demands star attention as it will cause heads to turn from across the room. Some of the women here at C&C say, it has a “10 table” sparkle (a brilliance that is noticeable from 10 tables away when in a restaurant). And, it is just that. Women love the big, bold look of moissanite and they are absolutely intrigued by its brilliance and beauty!

Plus, women tell us that they receive so many “oohs, ahs and wows” from people when they wear their moissanite jewelry!

Let’s talk a little bit more about these reactions. Compliments make us feel good, they make us feel smart and they make us feel beautiful.

So, what woman doesn’t love feeling as if all eyes are on her?

Recently I was in Atlanta to observe a focus group of women who own moissanite jewelry. One woman was telling the others about the moissanite earrings that her son had given her for Mother’s Day (last year). She proudly told the group…she got lots of compliments on her earrings and she considered them to be very special because her son had given them to her.

Last year my boyfriend and I each gave our moms moissanite earrings. They were a huge hit and I don’t think either of the moms has worn any other earrings since!

Still perplexed as to what to give your mom this Mother’s Day?

Why not moissanite? Why not make her feel beautiful? She’ll love turning heads and receiving all the attention!

Check out these special one-day moissanite jewelry events. The shows are happening just in time for Mother’s Day gift shopping. You will be amazed by the huge selection of styles to choose from. You’ll find a perfect style for mom and maybe you’ll fall in love with one for you!

Wednesday, May 7
Dillard’s at 1101 Melbourne Road in Melbourne, TX
JCPenney at Clackamas Town Center in Portland, OR
JCPenney at Dover Mall in Dover, DE
JCPenney at South County Center in St. Louis, MO

Thursday, May 8
Belk at Ashland Town Center in Ashland, KY
Dillard’s at 3821 South Cooper in Arlington, TX
JCPenney at Washington Square in Portland, OR
JCPenney at Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie, MD
JCPenney at St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, IL

Friday, May 9
Dillard’s at 2501 Dallas Parkway in Plano, TX
Dillard’s at 4600 West Kellogg in Wichita, KS
JCPenney at Eastpointe Mall in Baltimore, MD
JCPenney at Vancouver Mall in Vancouver, WA
JCPenney at Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters, MO

Saturday, May 10
Dillard’s at 7700 East Kellogg in Wichita, KS
Dillard’s at 2401 S. Stemmons Freeway in Lewisville, TX
JCPenney at Alton Square in Alton, IL
JCPenney at Capital Mall in Olympia, WA
JCPenney at White Marsh Mall in Baltimore, MA

I am always curious about who is buying moissanite, where and what was the occasion. While we know that most moissanite jewelry is sold to women for themselves, there is a growing interest in moissanite for both gifts as well as for brides. In this month’s “Destination Weddings and Honeymoons” moissanite is featured as a possible selection for engagement rings.

So with June approaching and traditionally considered as a month for weddings, I heard a cute story about a marriage proposal that I want to share. It involves a department store that carries moissanite jewelry, a donut loving jewelry sales professional and one very clever boyfriend. For fun let’s call the girlfriend, Beth and the boyfriend, Evan.

One morning Evan called Beth to report that he had discovered a new donut shop and he was on the way over with the treats. Upon arriving he delivered the box of donuts, dropped to his knees and proposed to Beth right in the middle of the jewelry department! This was a total surprise to Beth, but not so for her colleagues as they had helped Evan in selecting the ring.

She enthusiastically said yes as Evan presented her with a beautiful solitaire engagement ring set with a 1ct. round brilliant cut moissanite!

That is my story about donuts and “I do!”

So if you are counting calories, carbs or don’t like donuts, you might want to skip the donuts this weekend.

But, check out these special 1-day only moissanite jewelry collections which are guaranteed to be fat-free, longer lasting than donuts and far more sweet!

Saturday, May 3
Belk at Foothills Mall in Foothills, TN
Dillard’s at 27001 West Hwy 19 North in Clearwater, FL
Helzberg Diamonds at Woodbridge Center Mall in Woodbridge, NJ
JCPenney at Northridge Mall in Salinas, CA
JCPenney at Woodland Hills Mall in Tuscaloosa, OK

Sunday, May 4
Belk at Colonial Pinnacle Mall in Turkey Creek, TN
JCPenney at Battlefield Mall in Springfield, MO
JCPenney at Park City Mall in Lancaster, PA

You probably have read “Moissanite: Born From the Stars” and you might remember seeing on ShopNBC a few years ago, a limited collection of moissanite jewelry set with star-shaped moissanite jewels, but now we at Charles & Colvard are talking in the halls about another “star”.

Nathan - born on Wednesday, April 23rd at 12:01 a.m.We just learned that a star was born and named Nathan. One of our managers at Charles & Colvard and her husband, became proud parents of a baby boy! Little Nathan was born on Wednesday, April 23rd at 12:01 a.m.

Seeing this little star just causes a smile.

First penned by William Shakespeare in his 1594 classic tale, Romeo and Juliet, the phrase “…a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…” has appeared in numerous references from traditional Valentine’s Day cards to modern romance.

Mr. Shakespeare intended for these flowery words to mean: that what matters is what something is, not what it is called.

So, while “65 Roses” might mean a quantity of flowers it also is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease (because the phrase is easier to pronounce than their life threatening condition). You might be wondering how this relates to moissanite or Charles & Colvard or Brilliance of Me. And, no doubt you are wondering, “Who is Christy?”

Under the brilliant leadership of Dr. Christy Shaffer, Inspire Pharmaceuticals located in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina is developing a medical treatment for CF–the chronic and inherited disease that predominately affects children. As its President and CEO, Dr. Shaffer is an experienced pharmaceutical executive and Ph.D. scientist (biology & chemistry) and has played the major role in making Inspire a leader in pharmaceutical products for ophthalmic and respiratory diseases.

We are especially proud to announce Dr. Christy Shaffer as the first woman selected in the 2008 Class of “Women of Brilliant Achievement”. Honored for her outstanding leadership in an industry traditionally dominated by men, her inspiration to other women and for her many community contributions, Dr. Shaffer is truly an accomplished role-model.

If you haven’t checked our “Women of Brilliant Achievement” program, please do so! Charles & Colvard honors these brilliant achievers with a stunning pair of 4 carat total weight round brilliant moissanite jewels set in platinum martini earrings, a big bouquet of spring flowers, a box of delicious Godiva chocolate truffles and a beautiful engraved crystal award—plus we donate another pair of magnificent moissanite martini earrings to a charity of the honoree’s choice.

In weeks to come you can read more about Christy and other WBA honorees!

The first comment Dennis mentioned about his trip to Dubai, was that the UAE’s national bird should really be the crane, not the falcon as it is. He wasn’t referring to the great bird revered by some Japanese and Chinese as symbolic of longevity and immortality but rather the industrial crane commonly seen at a construction site. As you have seen on the news and through newspapers, Dubai is exploding with development and quickly becoming an important world business center. From the engineering of the Burj Dubai (designed to become the world’s tallest structure) to the countless number of yachts docked at its shoreline, Dubai is an international scene of luxury.

I understand key discussions at the CIBJO conference focused on the acceptance of a worldwide standardization of precious metals (i.e. tolerances, alloys, weights); the development of a corporate social responsibility foundation, and creating a worldwide retailer’s guide on gemstones and precious metals. Charles & Colvard is not only an active and sponsoring member of CIBJO but we are very involved in the U.S. jewelry industry as a champion of disclosure and supporting consumer education.

One such project we underwrote and worked on with the Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee (another CIBJO member) is the “Buying Gemstones and Jewels with Confidence”. This is an informative brochure written to dispel the confusion consumers oftentimes encounter when some products aren’t identified clearly in their marketing. If you would like to request a copy of this brochure, simply visit www.jvc.org.

And with that said, please keep in mind, there is only one moissanite—Moissanite created by Charles & Colvard!