As an aside, a brief list of memorable jewelry from fantasy books, feel free to chime in:
- the anklet with jade links clasped by emeralds in Paula Volsky's Illusion. And the scent locket. And the black diamond locket in The Wolf of Winter.
- September's key in The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Boat of Her Own Making.
- Theon's astonishingly phallic necklace in The Fall of the Kings.
- Mogget's necklace in Sabriel (and for that matter, just about all of the magical accessories in the world of the Abhorsen).
- I'm sure Liz Hand mentioned jewelry somewhere in the closet scene in Mortal Love. If she didn't, go re-read it anyway, as it's glorious adornment-porn.
- Ms. Coldwine's amethyst and garnet rings in The Scar.
- ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING in A Rumor of Gems by Ellen Steiber, one of my favorite books ever (pleasepleaseplease write a sequel? ::bats eyelashes::).
And that's just for starters. Feel free to add your own in the comments ....