A big jewellery trend at the moment that is totally about female power is the right hand ring. Traditionally women have received rings from male partners as commitment, engagement or wedding rings. These days most women are striving to get ahead in the work force and are earning salaries which reflect their elevated positions. Hard work deserves its rewards and now women are looking to buy themselves an extravagant bejewelled ring of their choice. It's a natural decision to wear to such a ring on the right hand so it won't be mistaken for an engagement or wedding ring. The ring could be celebrating a career milestone, a significant birthday or even a divorce!

The wonderful thing about right hand rings is that there's no conventions to follow. You can go as big and bold as you wish. Statement cocktail rings are all the rage and we have the most desirable designs featuring the most exotic gemstones. Here are three of our favourites.

Our Atlantic ring is pure splendour. It showcases a 6.67 cushion cut indicolite tourmaline set in 18ct white gold with 48 top quality round brilliant cut diamonds. The superb setting has a diamond set open profile which allows maximum light to enter the stone and is gorgeous to admire while wearing. Indicolite tourmaline is very rare and is mostly only found in small stones under one carat, which makes the gemstone set in Atlantic a true marvel.

If you love the divinely feminine then our Orchid ring is for you. This delightful ring features a lovely warm pink 2.02ct pear cut tourmaline set in luscious rose gold sprinkled with sapphires and diamonds. The setting is inspired by the exotic flower its named after and the ring's profile is also set with sapphires and diamonds so it sparkles from all angles. A true beauty!>

If you love simplicity coupled with impact then our Illuminaire ring is just perfect. It's set with a London Blue topaz which is a dreamy deep teal colour which is neutral enough to compliment any colour you wear. This ring is all about the gemstone, and at 20 carats this impressive topaz is a whopper! Rose gold provides a nice foil to cool tones of the gemstone. The topaz has a fine bezel setting and this ring is a contemporary classic that you will love forever.

In Europe the latest trend is to feature lesser known hard gemstones such as agates, ruby in zoisite and rhodochrosite. Set back with more familiar transparent gemstones, they make unique and intriguing combinations.Lizunova has been designing with hard stones since its inception. Mookite (an Australian jasper), Chrysoprase (a translucent chalcedony that rivals jade in its beauty) and Amazonite (a turquoise coloured feldspar) have featured strongly in our collections.

Amazonite with its alluring Verdigris blue to green colour could easily be mistaken for turquoise. It belongs to the feldspar family and its chemical composition is a potassium aluminium silicate. The word feldspar derives from the German words Feld and Spat, which translates as field mineral. Feldspars are incredibly abundant and comprise approximately 54% of the Earth's crust. Australia has deposits of Amazonite in South Australia.

Luckily this abundant mineral family produces exquisite ornamental gems such as Amazonite, with its lovely soft low sheen. The best material has less white mottled through it and a striking turquoise colour. It has a vitreous lustre and is quite hard at 6.5 on the Mohs scale. With its gorgeous vibrant colour it's the perfect gem for accenting a summer wardrobe.

Chrysoprase is becoming increasingly popular as its stunning translucent apple green colour is reminiscent of fine quality imperial green jadeite. In fact, one of its misnomers is Australian Jade. In reality, Chrysoprase is a type of cryptocrystalline chalcedony which is part of the quartz family of minerals. Chalcedony is a form of silica which consists of sub-microscopic fibrous crystals of quartz. It has a vitreous lustre and good hardness at around 7 on the Mohs scale.

Chrysoprase's unique green colour is due to trace quantities of nickel. It looks amazing paired with violet and blue gemstones and can be set in any of the gold colours. Australia is fortunate to have an abundant supply of Chrysoprase and the major localities for mining are The Mount Davies deposits in far northwest South Australia and the Whingellina deposits just over the border in Western Australia.

Another uniquely Australian hard stone is Mookaite Jasper. This stunning multi coloured stone is mined near Mooka Creek  hence the name Mookaite  in the Kennedy Ranges near Carnarvon in Western Australia. Its bold earthy beauty reflects the colours of the Australian desert.

Jasper is another variety of cryptocrystalline silica which is coloured by large amounts of pigments (usually iron oxides). Sometimes the amount of pigment may be as high as 20%, hence the rich strong colours of Mookaite. This stunning ornamental stone would make the ideal gift or memento of a trip to Australia and makes a much more affordable alternative to precious opal.

A princely gem for our times

Spinel is a rare, gem qualityoxide mineral with a composition of MgAl₂O₄and is often found in octahedral crystals. Despite being rarer than sapphire, spinel is more affordable. Like sapphire, spinel is a hardwearing stone, makingit a great choice of gem to be worn in everyday jewellery, such as engagement rings.

Spinel colours

Spinel occurs in a variety of colours, from white and black, to shades of grey, blue, purple, orange, green, teal and red. Bright red and blue spinel are the most valuable of itscolour spectrum.The pure blue coloration of spinel is caused by small quantitiesofcobalt. Cobalt bearing spinel is rare and highly prized.

Red spinel has been mistaken for ruby over the centuries and some of the most famous rubies in the crown jewels are in fact, red spinels, including the famous Black Prince's Ruby in the Crown of England.

Ruby has received wonderful marketing over the past two centuries which is reflected in its price tag. Spinelwas for a timeleft on the shelf, relegated as a collector's stone. Luckily things are changing and this princely gem is receiving the recognition it deserves. So many rubies are heat treated and fracture filled while the price of pink diamonds is unobtainable for most people. Spinels remain mostly untreated and have an amazing, almost diamond-like sparkle and transparency while most rubies have a cloudiness due to silk and inclusions. There are many world sources and prices are still competitive, however are now rising quickly.

Fine red and blue spinelis more rare than corundum (ruby and sapphire) of equal colour but costs on average 30% less.

Durability ofspinel

Spinelhas excellent hardness (7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale) and durability, making it the perfect gem for rings worn daily, such as engagement rings. Like any other precious gem, it should be treated with care, and spinel rings should be removed prior to exposure to harsh chemicals or abrasive surfaces, and tasks such as gardening or gym, where it could get damaged.

Value

Cobalt bearing blue spinel and pure red spinel are the most valuable colours, with bigger gems of vivid colour and high clarity commanding considerable prices. Red spinel is the most expensive red gem next to ruby and the rare red diamond. Bigger gems of high clarity and lustre in blue-grey, grey and pink are also rare and continuing to increase in value.

Sources ofspinel

Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar.

Treatments

Unlike sapphire and ruby, spinel is generally not treated.

Synthetics

Spinel has been synthesised for industrialpurposes since around 2000. Synthetic spinel looks like glass but has notably higher strength against pressure.The first synthesis of spinel occurred in the 19th century, and in the 1930s synthetic spinel was a popular substitute for a number ofnatural gems such as aquamarine, emerald, tourmaline and ruby.

SpinelSPECIFICATIONS

Hardness: 7.5-8 Mohs

Specific Gravity: (Depending on the composition) The rare Zn-rich spinel can be as high as 4.40, otherwise it averages from 3.58 to 3.61.

Refractive Index: 1.719

Crystal Form: Octehedra or flat triangular plates caused by twinning

Treatments:None

Special Care: None

Durability: Very good

Image: Lotus earrings with red spinel and peach sapphire by Lizunova Fine Jewels.

Diamonds are the hardest known natural substance known to man. They can cut through any metal or rock and the only way to cut diamond is with another diamond (with the exception of lasers). They are such a popular choice for jewellery as they sparkle more than any other gemstone and due to their exceptional hardness and good durability they make the perfect choice for every day jewellery, such as diamond engagement rings and wedding rings. Due to their top position on the Mohs scale, 10, they can take a very good polish and they are assigned the highest lustre named adamantine, after the Ancient Greek word adamas, which means firm, rigid or unyielding. Clean diamonds are beautiful diamonds! Here are our tips to keep your diamonds clean and looking their best every day.

Diamonds in everyday wear

Diamond has an interesting property named hydrophobia.

Being made of carbon, diamond may be compared to the organic compounds (diamond is elemental carbon). It has one property where it is described as being hydrophobic (a property also possessed by fats, oils, greases and waxes - all organic compounds) where droplets of water bead up on the surface of a diamond, because it has no affinity for water and its surface cannot be made wet by water. This is an important point because the hydrophobic nature of diamond means that this allows fats, oils, greases and waxes to adhere to the surface of the diamond reducing the visible brilliance and fire of the diamond. Anything from sunscreens, moisturisers, make up and oils used in cooking and food preparation can reduce the sparkle, fire and brilliance of diamonds. Even the natural oils and grease from your fingers will adhere to your diamonds thus making regular cleaning inevitable.

It's recommended that one doesn't wear diamond jewellery while preparing food, gardening, performing heavy exercise and showering as oils from hair products and body washes can stick to diamonds and dull their lustre. Fats and oils won't harm your stone, however they will affect your diamond's performance.

Cleaning diamonds at home

Due to diamonds' hydrophobic nature it's necessary to give them a regular clean. This can be done at home with a few simple tools. A simple plan to keep your diamonds sparkling is to soak them once a week in a gentle degreasing solution such as warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap or cloudy ammonia. After the soaking, gently brush with a soft toothbrush that is used exclusively for this purpose. Be sure to get underneath the settings and clean the pavilion facets where oils and dirt can be trapped. Gently rinse in warm water then leave to dry on some clean paper towelling. A hair dryer is a great way to quickly dry jewellery without getting fibres from towels trapped under claw settings.

Precautions

Be careful cleaning jewellery near sinks and open drains. Make sure plugs are securely fitted before rinsing or rinse in a bowl away from drains. Use a rubber sink mat where possible to avoid breakages or knocks to settings if the jewellery is accidentally dropped.

Do not use harsh chlorine based cleaning products (such as household bleach) or abrasives (such as toothpaste) to clean diamond jewellery. These types of harsh cleaners can erode or even dissolve metal resulting in damaged settings or loosened claws. (NB: Do not wear precious metal jewellery in swimming pools or spas as chlorine erodes metal).

Settings check

Check to see if your diamond is still secure in its setting after cleaning, as sometimes dirt accumulation can be the only thing that is still holding a small diamond in place, when a claw has worn away. Gently shake the diamond jewellery piece close to your ear and if you suspect you hear the diamond rattling, take it immediately to your jeweller for inspection.

Other cleaning solutions

There are also good commercial cleaning solutions available to clean diamond jewellery at home. Your local jeweller may sell it or you can visit a jewellery supply store. Normally it's a solution in a small pot that contains a plastic basket. The jewels are dropped into the basket, then lowered into the solution and left to soak for 30 seconds or more depending upon the product. Once the diamonds have soaked, retrieve them and gently clean with a soft brush. Finally rinse them in warm water then dry with a hair dryer. Be careful to read any instructions and only use these solutions for diamonds and perhaps ruby and sapphire. Other gemstones, especially pearls, turquoise and opals can be damaged by these solutions.

If you're passing by your jeweller ask for a quick ultrasonic quick clean. This is normally a free service or a small charge may be incurred for jewellery purchased from other stores. It's also recommended that you get your diamond jewellery cleaned professionally once every 18 months to two years. You'll be delighted to see it all looking brand new again and this is the perfect opportunity to have a jeweller check all your settings and rhodium plate any white gold that may have lost its coating.

The advantage of having big hands is that you can wear big gems set into knock-out cocktail rings. No delicate stacking rings for you  just big bold beautiful designs. Go for flamboyant settings such as larger stones in bezel settingsor substantial claw settings. Leave the delicate 2mm wide bands for those with petite digits; choose wider bands.

Our Viva ringwith a carre rutilated quartz is a perfect example of a bold statement ring with a nice heavy setting that will look magnificent on a larger hand. Rutilated quartz is right on trend and will make a fascinating talking point at any gathering.

Wide fingers may not seem ideal however they offer scope to wear some interesting and unusual styles. The secret is to avoid wearing long, vertically set narrow stones such as baguettes and marquise shapes  you want to avoid having too much skin visible on either side of each stone. Larger round stones or rounded ovals look amazing. You can also experiment with cluster styles and asymmetric and angular shapes.

Our spectacular bespoke sapphire, emerald and diamond ring set in deluxe 22 carat yellow gold, would look majestic on a larger hand with wider fingers. The stones are slightly asymmetrical and are flanked by pave diamond clusters producing a very regal, rich look.

If you have delicate slim fingers you'll want to showcase them by selecting the right ring style. Avoid overpowering them with gemstones that are proportionally too big for your hand. Choose smaller stones on fine, elegant bands of 2-3mm width. The trend for now is to stack multiple fine diamond or gemstone set bands which look fabulous on slim fingers.

Our beautiful Empire State ring from our New York New York Collection is a symphony of colour and sparkle and would look amazing on slim fingers. It features our favourite colour combination of electric green emerald and cornflower blue sapphire set together on a delicate diamond set band. The ring can be stacked with fine diamond set bands and makes a sensational alternative engagement ring.

If you are blessed with long fingers you are able to wear dramatic ring designs. Bigger stones will look amazing and can be worn set horizontally for a modern look. Wider bands will also flatter long fingers.

We have many styles featuring luscious big gems. Here we feature our statement ring called Illuminaireset with a 20 carat oval cut London Topaz handcrafted in 9ct rose gold. This knock out ring will be noticed wherever you go.

When selecting a ring that you will love and wear everyday it's very important to consider the shape of your fingers and the size of your hand. Those who are blessed with long slim fingers can mostly wear any style. However, with careful selection it's possible to find ring styles to suit everyone.

If you have short fingers, you need to look for longer shaped stones that are vertically set to give the illusion of length. Shapes such as ovals, pears, marquises and baguettes are elongating. Setting the gems on a narrow band will also make your fingers appear longer. If it's appropriate wear your nails long with a neutral shade of polish to create added length.

Our stunning Manhattan ring in 18ct white gold features a vertically set baguette cut aquamarine and a round brilliant cut diamond. This timeless yet contemporary ring is delicate and flattering and can be stacked with a fine diamond band.It makes a beautiful alternative engagement ring.

The holy grail of the multi-coloured tourmaline family is undoubtedly the electric coloured gemstone known as Paraiba.

Tourmalines are complex boro-silicates that have incredibly long chemical formulas that resemble a mediaeval apothecary's script. They are coloured by various transition elements such as magnesium or traces of chromium and vanadium (the two metal ions responsible for the brilliant hues of emerald and ruby) and even bismuth! The intensely coloured, almost neon blue through to green coloured tourmalines from the Paraiba state in Brazil are unique in the tourmaline family as they are coloured by copper (which is responsible for the beautiful vibrant blue colour of turquoise). Paraiba tourmaline is often included with copper platelets which can be dendritic in form and have a yellow, metallic lustre.

Tourmaline is so appealing to jewellers as this family of gems offers the greatest variety of colour choices. Since the discovery of Paraiba tourmaline in the 1980s by Heitor Dimas Barbosa, extra neon colours have been added to the already extensive rainbow palette of tourmaline. Mr Barbosa toiled for years digging in and around the hills of the state of Paraiba in Brazil, hoping to discover something unique. Imagine his delight when he uncovered the first neon blue beauty!

The colours of Paraiba tourmaline are: electric neon turquoise, neon sea green, electric cobalt blue and a sizzling purple. The most sought-after colour is the electric neon turquoise which looks so spectacular coupled with diamonds imagine how fresh and appealing a neon Paraiba centre stone and diamond and Paraiba melee pave set looks in brilliant white gold!

Paraiba tourmalines seem to have a unique incandescent glow that sets them apart from all other gems. Since the discovery in Paraiba, Brazil, other similar gems have been excavated in Mozambique and Nigeria since 2003. These gems are so close in their chemical composition to the original deposit in Brazil that they are known as Paraiba type. Gems weighing over five carats are being unearthed in these newer deposits which is a true gift from Mother Nature! There's an ongoing debate on whether only tourmalines uncovered from the Paraiba state in Brazil have the right to be called Paraiba. Gem dealers are getting around this by calling stones from the other countries Paraiba type. Surely the main point is the stunning colour and the copper content to qualify as a true Paraiba!