The December 2011 Christie's New York auction of Elizabeth Taylor's jewels set a new world auction record for a single-owner sale: $137,235,675. This puts the 1987 sale of the Duchess of Windsor's collection in second place with $50,281,887. The Grande Dames of Jewels knew how to collect!

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I am always looking for 'green' options other than emerald, peridot, tourmaline or jade. Here are two new gem 'finds' sure to please those who are green with envy.

Prasiolite:

Also called 'green' amethyst, prasiolite comes from one mine in Brazil. When the rough quartz is irradiated, a permanent and stable gem enhancement, this soft green color results. I love the subtle color of this material, and praiolite looks great set in either white or yellow gold.

Prehnite:

The tranquil color of prehnite explains why the stone is thought to facilitate dreaming and create a calming, protective sensation. The bright, translucent gem material is generally cut into beads, drops, and cabochons. The gem material is named after Colonel Prehn and has the distinction of being the first gemstone to be named after a person. Colonel Prehn, a Dutchman, is said to have brought the gemstone from Africa to Europe circa 1774.

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Have you seen the Carmen Lucia ruby? The next time you are in Washington, D.C., stop at the Smithsonian to see the 23.1-carat Carmen Lucia ruby, one of the largest faceted Burmese rubies known to exist. The ruby is set in a platinum ring with triangular colorless diamonds weighing 1.10 and 1.27 carats. The stone is a gift from the Subway sandwich chain co-founder Dr. Peter Buck to the Smithsonian collection in memory of his wife Carmen Lucia who passed away from cancer. (Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian.)

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