Day of the Dead (the Mexican holiday honoring deceased loved ones) lingers long after its passing at GIA’s world headquarters with Faces of Eternity – a collection of 15 gem skulls by Peruvian artist and master carver Luis Alberto Quispe.

More than a century after Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published, fascination with vampires continues, as seen in film, television, fiction, fashion, and jewelry.

Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series has not only dominated the New York Times Best Seller list and the box office, it’s also unleashed a torrent of vampire-themed shows and movies, including Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and coming in 2014, Vampire Academy.

Black never goes out of fashion, and this season it’s taking a prominent place in fashion trends, especially in jewelry.

Black diamonds. Black pearls. Black spinel. The love of black-color gems and jewelry ranges from the most affordable to the most luxurious, and for good reason. It’s incredibly versatile. It’s the color of sophistication and elegance. It’s both edgy and timeless.

As artists, jewelry designers are inspired in different ways. Some create to echo iconic eras of the past, like Art Deco or Art Nouveau. Some provide their own perspective on famous works of art in galleries and museums. But some have a keen eye for taking a part of their ordinary, everyday life, and turning it into something exquisite.

Affordable, prestigious, and trendy, it’s no wonder that silver is enjoying a renaissance. Considered one of the three Noble Metals – gold and platinum being the other two previously covered – silver sales have been on the rise, with an average increase of 19% from 2011 to 2012 (according to the National Jeweler/Nielsen silver survey).

How many times have you moved in your life? The average American moves 11 times, according to US census data, and this on-the-move lifestyle has fueled one of the biggest trends in jewelry right now, tribal-inspired jewelry design.