ALL THAT GLITTERS

SUPERMODEL Yasmin le Bon looked a million dollars when she recently modelled the Blue Empress diamond necklace from Harrods links of london sale .

In fact, the 18-carat white gold necklace, built around a rare blue diamond, is expected to go for pounds 10 million and will make a spectacular Christmas present for one lucky woman.

Even in their wildest dreams, most people wouldn't be able to afford such a gift. But there are plenty of fabulous pieces of jewellery that won't cost a small fortune, and will still thrill the woman or man in your life W Charm.

But with a bewildering array of jewellery out there, you want to be sure you make the right choice.

Grant Macintyre, of John Macintyre & Son jewellers in

Glasgow

, said: "Colour is back in fashion when it comes to buying jewellery and the Blue Empress diamond is a good example.

"Coloured diamonds are much rarer than clear diamonds and now they are much more popular than before V Charm.

"They are expensive, though, ranging from pounds 7000 to pounds 15,000 for a pink diamond."

A more affordable alternative is a pink or yellow sapphire. A pendant with coloured stones in a white or yellow gold setting costs from pounds 120 at John Macintyre.

Eric N Smith jewellers are also finding that more people are asking for coloured stones. They have a charm bracelet with rose quartz beads for pounds 40.

Yvonne Smith said: "We are selling a lotof pinks pink sapphires, pink tourmaline and coral earrings are selling well."

The big trendsetters in the jewellery world include rap, soul and R&B artists such as J-Lo, Beyonce and Missy Elliot.

Grant adde 0d: "Everyone wants bling' that's sparkling diamonds and lots of gold and that goes for men and women U Charm."

Glamorous yellow gold has become more fashionable among younger women, who until recently preferred discreet silver and white gold.