Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds – sparkling jewels can sure catch our attention! Most women own a few sentimental pieces of jewelry. After all, jewelry is a favorite gift for special occasions, like anniversaries and birthdays. Weddings often feature a little razzle-dazzle from the shiny diamond ring to the heirloom pearl necklace. Invite your group to share some heartfelt stories about a favorite gemstone. Here are some “sparklers” to get the memories flowing as you plan your activities.
- Cut out pictures of jewelry with gemstones (ex: diamond earrings, opal ring, emerald brooch, sapphire bracelet, pearl necklace), and ask participants to name the stone. Name other precious and semi-precious gemstones.
- Display old jewelry boxes or stands. Reminisce about family heirloom jewelry. Encourage the ladies to talk about some of their favorite keepsakes, like a locket or ring. Ask the men if they purchased jewelry for special occasions, such as anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day, or Christmas. What jewelry have the men worn – class rings, wedding rings, jeweled watches?
- List some synonyms for shine. (ex: sparkle, glitter, gleam, shimmer, dazzle)
- Listen to the song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” introduced in the 1949 Broadway show Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. (Or, listen to Marilyn Monroe’s 1953 movie version). Ask the ladies to name five reasons why or why not diamonds are a girl’s best friend.
- Look at pictures of engagement rings and wedding bands. Learn about the famous Tiffany diamond engagement ring with a 6-prong setting (see Charles Lewis Tiffany – Tiffany & Co.). Ask the ladies to describe their wedding rings. Talk about ring etiquette.
- Plan a simple Mardi Gras event (March 8) with jazz music. Make sparkling jewel crowns and tiaras (paste-on rhinestones and sequins) for the “kings and queens.”
- List gems used as people’s names (ex: Amber, Jade, Opal, Ruby, Pearl).
- Learn and explain the history of the famous jeweled Faberge eggs, a collection of 53 eggs made by goldsmith Peter Carl Faberge for the Czar of Russia. Talk about egg-decorating in the home.
- Enjoy the 1955 comedy/mystery To Catch a Thief, starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The movie focuses on the search for a jewel thief.
- Learn some fun facts about the March birthstone – the aquamarine, a pale blue gem. Ask participants to give month they were born and ask if they remember the name of the traditional birthstone for that month. (You can find a list on the internet. Search: birthstones)
- Read the short story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. Ask your group what lesson Mathilde learns about a diamond necklace.
- Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Make shiny rhinestone shamrock jewel pins or necklaces for your group to wear. Learn about the legend of Saint Patrick, shamrocks, leprechauns, and kissing the Blarney Stone.
- Display photographs of famous women who wore pearls, like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. Ask your group to name words that describe a pearl necklace (ex: classic, strand, luster, beadwork, cultured, refined, elegant, timeless, lush, velvety). List the words on a white board and write a group poem using some of the words.
- Invite a collector of 1950s jewelry to talk about favorite jewelry pieces (ex: pins, charm bracelets, bangles, chokers, earrings) of the decade. Ask the ladies to dress up with sparkling costume jewelry (colored crystals and rhinestones), scarves, and vintage hats.
PEARL TRIVIA QUIZ
- Where is a pearl grown? Inside a mollusk or oyster
- Which month has the pearl as its birthstone? June
- Finish the following quote from the Bible: “cast not your pearls before…” Swine
- Where is Pearl Harbor located? Hawaii
- Which American author penned the novella, The Pearl? John Steinbeck
- Which country comedy queen wore a straw hat with a price tag? Minnie Pearl
- Which Nobel Prize-winning author wrote The Good Earth? Pearl S. Buck
- What’s another name for farmed pearls? Cultured
- Which Big Band had the 1940s hit “A String of Pearls”? Glenn Miller
- Which book of the Bible refers to the 12 gates made of pearls? Revelation (21:21)
“JEWELS: BE DAZZLED” written by Sue Hansen. © 2011 ElderSong Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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