Everywhere you look, you’re likely to see lots of leather: leather bracelets, leather belts, and a wide array of leather jewelry.

PUNK: Chaos to Couture, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit on punk style, whipped up interest in leather. The Green movement (some people view leather as a natural product), urban fashionistas wanting to look hip, and the rising prices of gold and platinum have also spiked interest.

Those celebrating December birthdays are fortunate to have a few birthstones to choose from – zircon, tanzanite, blue topaz and lapis lazuli, among them. But one of the best known and most loved December gems is turquoise, a gem that has been mined and used for thousands of years.