[Illustration: 20. PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE. _Wild roses of diamonds divide the three strands of pearls in front from the two strands in back. The clasp is hidden in one of the roses. From the collection of Mrs. Cummins Catherwood._] [Illustration: 21. PEARL RING. _The delicate lustre of a pearl is highlighted by six marquise diamonds._] [Illustration: 22. QUEEN GERALDINE OF ALBANIA. _The Queen’s coronation tiara, made of diamonds and platinum, shows the royal crest of the “Ram of Skanderbeg” held by a bandeau of Albanian wildflowers. Her diamond and ruby pendant earclips accentuate her violet-blue eyes; her Rivière is of alternating round and baguette diamonds._] [Illustration: 23. DIAMOND NECKLACE. _A diamond and platinum necklace in a youthful, flower design. The center motif is formed by an emerald-cut diamond. This necklace can, with the aid of a simple device, be worn as a tiara. From the collection of Mrs. Theodore Newhouse._] [Illustration: 24. DIAMONDS CAUGHT IN A NET. _This earclip and clip ensemble in platinum and diamonds received the Diamond U.S.A. Award._] [Illustration: 25. NECKLACE FOR A BRIDE. _Motifs of marquise, baguette and round diamonds form a delicate pattern of orange blossoms for this completely flexible necklace. Recipient of the Diamond U.S.A. Award, the original of this design is in the collection of Mme. A. Jaglom._] [Illustration: 26, 27. DIAMOND PINCUSHION ORNAMENT. _A versatile clip, it is seen at the left gathering a scarf about the hair. It is designed particularly for evening wear. The same clip, right, is worn on a neck chain._] [Illustration: 28. MARIANNE OSTIER. _To compliment her red hair and fair complexion, the author is wearing a necklace of three strands of emerald beads with two diamond and platinum motifs; matching diamond and emerald earclips; and a diamond and emerald dome-shaped ring._] For less extravagant desires, the gem will exercise its most beneficent influence if worn upon the index or the little finger. The December-born may find a new birth of good fortune with the turquoise. Short the days, the cold spreads wide; Be there merry Christmastide! Blessed things remember. Old year dying, New hopes flying: Turquoise for December. _Signs of the Stars_ There are some who regard the month of their birth with less concern than the star, the constellation, under which they were born. They look into the heavens for the beasts that prowl the sky in the outspread forms of the stars. The ancients, and all astrologers since, have discerned a close connection between us in this world and the “animals” in the sky. For, though a few other forms have slipped in, the circle of stars that mark the year is called the zodiac, from Greek _zodion_, which means little animal, from _zoon_, animal. The zodiac is the zoo of the sky, whose beasts “beset us round.” _The Zodiac_